The Sequence of Events in the Return of Jesus

The Sequence of Events in the Return of Jesus

7.20.2025

Review

Last week, I mentioned that the Lord gave me 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 as I awakened on July 12, 2025

Then I was praying, and kept hearing the word – acceleration!

We could easily be the last generation. Time is speeding up. Time is short!

Matthew 24:32-35 (AMP)

From the fig tree learn this lesson: as soon as its young shoots become soft and tender and it puts out its leaves, you know of a surety that summer is near. 33 So also when you see these signs,all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation (the whole multitude of people living at the same time,in a definite,given period) will not pass away till all these things taken together take place. 35 Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Acts 1:9-11 (NLT)

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

I want to introduce to you another way of looking at Jesus’ return.

Jesus’ coming is a singular event.

It contains a number of phases as He returns.

Jesus’ coming is a parousia.

Parousia is used 29 times in 9 NT books.

Parousia

From – para – with

and – ousia – being.

Conveys the idea of an arrival, and a continued presence with…

It indicates a sequence of events.

When we speak of Jesus’ first coming, we think of the announcement of His birth to Mary, the incarnation in Bethlehem, His temple teaching at age 12, His growing up, His baptism by John, His public ministry, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension.

His second coming will include the rise of the antiChrist, the birth pangs spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, the great tribulation after the antiChrist desecrates the temple, the resurrection of those who have died in Christ, the rapture of the church, the Day of the Lord, judgment on the wicked with the trumpet and bowl judgments, His physical return to Jerusalem in glory and power, and His establishing His millennial kingdom. (p.4)

Of the 17 times the word coming is used in connection with the return of Christ, it is used only in the singular and always with a definite article or personal pronoun (i.e., thy coming, the coming, or His coming). (p. 10).

So again, there is a sequence of events in the second coming of Christ.

That sequence includes the rapture of the church. The rapture of the church is a part of the second coming of Christ!

Revelation 4 and 5

These things that we read in Revelation, the gospels, and in the epistles about Jesus’ return will come to pass just as it is written!

Revelation 4

Reveals God as the creator, owner, and sustainer of all things.

Revelation 5

Reveals that God has a scroll in His right hand with 7 seals securing it. No one in all the universe could be found who had the authority to take the scroll from God’s right hand, open the seals, and then open the scroll.

Suddenly, a Lamb appears. This Lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ. He was deemed worthy to open the seals on the scroll, and then to bring to pass the contents of the scroll.

In the scroll are the Trumpet Judgments of Revelation 8 and 9, and the Bowl or Laver Judgments in Revelation 15 and 16. These cleanse the earth from the defilement of Satan and from the disobedience of man. They make the way for Jesus’ return and His 1,000 year reign!

The Seals in Revelation 6 are the birth pangs spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24. Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 are parallel chapters and deal with the seals opening on the scroll.

Seal one – AntiChrist appears riding on a white horse.

Seal two – A red horse appears and takes peace from the earth as war breaks out

Seal three – A black horse appears, and famine and inflation come.

Seal four – A pale green horse appears; people die as the result of war and famine.

Seal five – Martyrs appear and cry out to God for justice.

Seal six – Cosmic disturbances occur. The sun, moon, and stars darken and a huge earthquake occurs that upsets life on earth.

Jesus appears in the rapture of the church right after this to take the church to heaven before the seventh seal is broken in Revelation 8.

In Revelation 8, heaven becomes silent for 30 minutes as the prayers of the saints, perhaps of all ages, come up before God.

When the seventh seal is broken, the Trumpet judgments begin, and with them the Day of the Lord begins. The Day of the Lord is the Wrath of God poured out on a sinful world.

The rapture has already occurred! The rapture precedes God’s wrath! We will NOT be here for the worst things that are coming.

Meteors hit the earth, changing the climate and causing massive amounts of destruction and death.

Believe me, you do not want to be here for this.

You WANT to be taken out of here by Jesus before this time.

The only way of escape is to be raptured away.

And only those born again and walking with God will go in the rapture.

Any sin in your life right now will leave an open door for the enemy to attack you. Keep the door to Satan shut by walking closely with God and seeking to be a witness for Jesus.

The world is changing rapidly, and Jesus is coming back.

Get ready!

Live ready!

Refuse compromise with the flesh and the devil!

2 Peter 3:9-15 (NLT)

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

Luke 21:34-36 (NLT)

Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

Action Points:

What can you do?

1. Develop a strong devotional time with the Lord. Read your Bible and pray to begin your day.

2. Ask the Lord to show you areas where you need to change, and be willing to change!

3. Pray for the salvation of your family and friends.

4. Ask God to use you to be a witness for Jesus every day.