By Steven J. Hogan
Why Jesus is Returning
Every man and woman needs a Savior to save them from their sins. This is why, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to Earth.
But what do the cities, states, and countries of this world need? They need a king! There are all kinds of rulers and leaders – some good, some bad, and some wicked – but none are perfect. There are still crimes, conflicts, corruption, and problems in every part of this planet, and only one Person can solve them all: Jesus Christ.
This is why Christ is coming again, to be the perfect King, to take over this world and make everything right, to rule and to reign, and bring peace to Earth.
Jesus Brings Redemption
A long time ago, God promised He would send His Son to be the King of this world:
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Part of this promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Thirty years later, at the start of His ministry, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Then after 3 years of crisscrossing Israel, preaching to the people and making disciples, Jesus died on a cross to pay for the sins of all who repent and believe in Him. But most of the Jewish people rejected Jesus as their Savior, and therefore rejected Him as their King.
But the Jews’ rejection of Jesus did not negate His victory over sin, death and the devil. In fact, just before His death, Jesus declared, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). Jesus Christ was lifted up on a cross, dying for sinners and providing the means for their salvation.
But His death and resurrection also resulted in the defeat of the devil, and the outworking of that defeat is continually seen in the lives of Christians, and in individual churches. At Calvary, Jesus Christ paid the purchase price to reign over a redeemed people and a redeemed world (Colossians 2:14-15).
The Reign of Christ
The day will soon come when the devil – the ruler of this world – will be completely cast out of this world, and Christ will reign as King over Earth. Verse after verse speaks of this glorious victory.
In Psalm 2:6, God says, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” The prophet tells us, “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – ‘The Lord is one,’ And His name one” (Zechariah 14:9). We read, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:6-7). Psalm 22:28 also makes it clear: “For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.”
It won’t be long before the return and reign of Christ. You see, we are living at the end of this Church Age, for the Jewish people are back in their land, and Israel once again is a nation. But that impostor of a king – the Antichrist – must come first and rule this world, but only for a very short while (Revelation 13).
His evil dictatorship will suddenly be interrupted by the return of Christ and the rapture of the Church. Then will come the Day of the Lord, God’s righteous and punishing wrath being poured out upon the unsuspecting and evil unbelievers still living on Earth (Revelation 5-9).
1,000 Glorious Years
Finally, when we reach the end of Daniel’s 70th Week, loud voices in Heaven will triumphantly proclaim: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).
Shortly after this, in one of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenes you could ever imagine, Christ will return to Earth: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True …
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True … And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11, 16).
For exactly 1,000 years, Jesus Christ will reign on Earth, and all glorified believers will joyfully reign with Him (Revelation 3:21, 5:10, 20:6). To know we will soon see Jesus perfectly governing this planet should bring great joy and hope to our hearts. As King of the world, He will possess all authority, power and wisdom, resulting in justice, righteousness and peace on Earth.
Here is God’s promise to Mary, and to all believers:
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest;
and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and
of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).
Steven J. Hogan has been a pastor-teacher for 25-plus years and at Hope Bible Church of Tampa since 2003.
Zion's Hope 