When a loved one goes away, we treasure those things he gave us and the letters he writes. We dream fondly of the promises made to be fulfilled upon their return. None of these things can take the place of actually looking upon their face again. We, who hold Christ dear because of the redemption of our souls, do find great comfort in reading and hearing the message he sent us, called the Bible. We treasure the gifts he left us and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We look forward with anticipation to the fulfillment of the promises of eternal peace and happiness. Greater than all these, is the promise that we shall see him face to face. Those who are ready for this meeting can sing with great joy, "What A Day That Will Be!" The Bible, God's Word, has passed every test to which man has put it. It has been proven as no other book ever has. The greatest proof of all, however, is the proof of personal experience in the hearts and lives of the millions who have trusted Christ through the simple plan of salvation it presents. What does this have to do with the return of Jesus? Simply this. The same Bible that told me how Christ died for my sins and that I might have eternal life by accepting Him, has told me other things which I have proven, both by faith and experience. It told me I could have answered prayer; t have experienced this; It told me that He would never forsake me; He hasn’t. It also tells me that He is coming again. The same Book which tells me that in the last days the earth will see increased lawlessness, wars and rumors of wars, and of Israel returning to her land, but finding no peace there, also tells me that these things will culminate with the personal return of Christ to receive His Bride! I know that the Bible is true when it speaks of salvation, answered prayer and daily blessings, for I have experienced them. I know that the prophecies of the last days are true, for I see them coming to pass all around me. I know that His promise to return is true, for He told me in His Word that He would. I know that He has given me a gift of Hope that will be satisfied with nothing less than to be changed into His likeness and to look upon His face. Men often try to rationalize those things that are outside the realm of their own experience. Since the rapture has not yet occurred, and we haven't been gathered together to him, there are those who try to make it all something which IS in our experience. The coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church, on the day of Pentecost, was not the promised coming. The angels had specifically described His return; Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Neither is the promise of his return fulfilled in the diffusion of the Gospel over the earth. 1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: He has not come in the application of Christian principles to the lives of Christians. We know this, for it is to just such people that Paul penned the words; 1 Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. They were living for Christ and yet waiting for his appearing. The promise is not to be performed in the death of a child of God. We are told that at his coming, the dead shall be raised. The only way for all the scriptures concerning the return of Christ to be fulfilled, is with the real, literal, bodily appearing of Jesus Christ! He is coming again. He told us so himself. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. The angelic messengers gave us the same assurance. Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Every writer of the New Testament told us of the event, and John closes the book of Revelation with it. Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Jesus’ second coming has been the subject of many books by Christian scholars for the past two thousand years and most Biblical sermons refer to it. Paul expressed the thoughts of every believer. 1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. The hope this promise has brought to grieving hearts, is attested to by the engravings on millions of tombstones around the world. Even the scoffing of unbelievers is assurance that he is not only coming, but is coming soon. 2 Pet 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2 Pet 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Oh, I know that some of today's ' intellectual elite' claim that these things are not accepted by the 'intelligent community' but I also know that the Bible asks the question; Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? I am sure that the same class of people had a field day making fun of Noah, but all their scoffing didn't keep the water from rising. The people of Jerusalem didn't believe their temple would be destroyed. Yet when the armies of Titus Caesar marched in forty years later, not one stone was left upon another. Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Even if every man in the world should deny the possibility, Christ is coming again. Consider then, these things. 1.Christ is definitely and literally, coming again. 2. His coming will be either the most glorious event you have ever experienced or a great tragedy according to your acceptance or rejection of the gospel of Christ. For those who are saved, it will mean the receiving of a new body. 1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. We shall also see the raising of all the dead in Christ, from the days of Adam until then. It will mean the end of troubles, trials, tribulation and testing, for we shall bear the likeness of the second Adam. 1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Cor 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 1 Cor 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. From the earliest days of man's history, he has looked forward to this event. Its promise gave Job strength to bear his trials. Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Isaiah expressed it with exultation; Isa 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. It is a great tragedy that such an event shall not be experienced by many, simply because they refused to believe! Remember this is to be a one time occurrence. There will be no return engagements and no second chances, If you miss out on it, it is gone forever. Preparations for it, must be made NOW. 2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) When the trumpet sounds there will be no time to fall upon your knees, for it will take place in the twinkling of an eye. It is true that every eye shall see Him, but for the lost, they will not see the redeemer - king in his beauty, but rather they will experience a terror-filled appearance before the righteous judge. We do not make an emotion-filled plea to the lost, but rather a challenge that you make an honest search, made for and by the Bible. When you do, you will be convinced that Christ did indeed come, die for sins, raise again the third day, ascend into the heavens and is coming again. It would be foolish to shrug off such claims as these, for all eternity is at stake.