In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

Have you ever wondered what it will be like when Jesus returns on the Last Day? We know that Day could come at any time. But what will it be like? In this passage, our Savior tells us what his Second Coming will be like.

It will be...

1. SUDDEN

Many Bible passages teach us that Christ will return suddenly and unexpectedly. No one knows about that day or hour except God. Only God knows when Judgment Day will be. Not even the angels know. Jesus said that he will come "at an hour when you do not expect him" (24:44). And 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says, "You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly,... and they will not escape." So our Lord tells us to "Be on guard! Be alert!" (Mk 13:33f).

Once our Lord returns, that will be the end of the world. The world, as we know it, will be destroyed. Verses 29-30 say: "Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." Picture that scene for a moment! The sun will stop shining. The stars will fall. There will be signs in the sky and in space that have never happened before. The world will end, and people won't be expecting it. God will keep his promise. This will happen! Remember the Fall of Jerusalem.

God had predicted that Jerusalem would be destroyed. The people were wicked. They had rejected God. They were more into idols, politics and money. They no longer valued the pure Word of God. God warned the Jews about the coming destruction, but most people said that it would never happen. They ignored the warnings, and finally, Jerusalem was destroyed. Not one stone was left on another. The Temple was destroyed. Everything was ruined.

God kept his Word. The old German hymnals actually printed an account of the Destruction of Jerusalem in the back pages. They never wanted to forget the warning: Don't trifle with God! Don't ignore God's Word. God punishes those who reject him! Look what happened to Jerusalem! It was utterly destroyed.

Today, some actually have the gall to tell us that God's Word is not relevant to people anymore. We are told that God's Word must adapt to today's standards. Well, it will matter when Christ returns, won't it?! If people will not listen to God's Word, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead! God will not adapt his Word to suit the whims of wicked people! People must adapt to God's Word, or perish. God will not, and we will not, change God's Word to suit people. If people don't want God's Word and ways, they will perish. Don't forget: Christ will return like a bolt of lightning. His return will be glorious and...

2. BRILLIANT

If you are outside at dark, and there is a bolt of lightning, you can't miss it. It will get your attention. I will risk making a pun and say that it is shocking! Our Savior's return will be brilliant, shocking, and glorious. You won't miss it! Verse 30 (b) says that Christ will return "with power and great glory."

This is far different from his first coming, when Jesus was on a mission to redeem us. He came with great humility. He was born in the humblest of circumstances. He came to live a perfect life under the Law in our place. He came to pay our ransom price on the cross. He accomplished his mission. He was humble. He permitted himself to be mocked and beaten and nailed to a cross. Jesus could have stopped them, but he wouldn't, because he was suffering in our place. He paid our price in full. In fact, on Calvary's cross, Jesus paid for the sins of the whole wide world! He rose from death, because he had secured our forgiveness. Now, he exists in the state of exaltation, the state of glory, because he accomplished his mission. He saved us! Believe in Jesus as your Savior, and you will inherit eternal life in heaven! Believe in Jesus, and you will be ready on Judgment Day.

On that last, great Day, Christ will return with power and great glory. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Th 4:16). When Christ returns in glory, there will be a loud command. Everyone will hear the voice of the archangel! Everyone will hear the trumpet call of God! Can you even imagine what that's going to be like? The dead will rise! It will happen. But what a shock it will be. Our Savior's return will be like lightning.

It will be brilliant. Then we will finally experience for ourselves what that famous hymn, "Beautiful Savior" is saying in stanza three, when it says:

Our Savior's return will be brilliant like lightning on a clear night sky. Our Savior's return will be:

3. "VISIBLE"

This is the real point that our Lord is making when he talks about lightning. He says, "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (27). Christ will return visibly. The Bible says that "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him" (Rev 1:7). No one will miss it.

Skeptics who doubt that Jesus ever existed will see him returning as Judge. Jews who refused to believe in him will see him returning in glory as God! Unbelievers will realize their enormous mistake, but they will be out of time. Former believers who drifted away chasing worldly dreams will see Jesus and cry. Many will want to run and hide, but they will not get away. All will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, even Pontius Pilate.

Then, people will realize that what we were preaching here every week really was important. Then, people will understand why we will not change what we teach and believe! Then, those who remained with Jesus, gathering in God's house to receive the Gospel in Word and Sacrament will rejoice! They will rejoice with great gladness, for the time of sin and sorrow will be over. The time of everlasting joy and happiness will begin. The great joy of believers will never end. On that day, look up with joy, because your final redemption is at hand!

The great and momentous events of Judgment Day will happen, just as the Bible says. The dead will rise. Believers will receive eternal life. Unbelievers will be condemned to eternal punishment. The world will be destroyed. God will give us glorified bodies, and new heavens and a new earth to enjoy. Yes, God will make a home of righteousness, just for us! And we will be glad and safe forever. Finally, we will see Jesus. But there will only be believers in heaven. There are no exceptions! Everyone else will be in hell, suffering without end.

So, then, is the Word of God important? It sure is! May we all be found ready when Christ returns. Repent of every sin. Trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Be in God's house often to receive the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, to feed your faith so that your faith does not wither and die. Thinking about that Last Day can be scary, but it shouldn't be scary to believers. That's the day when our real joy begins! That's the day when our Savior will take us home to heaven. So we can even pray that believers' prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus. Quickly come!" Amen.