Good morning. And let me say Happy New Year.
Can you believe it? We are already here, the
end of the year, the last Sunday of the year.
Today we will conclude Advent. And we will do
the very last study from moving on the Advent,
hoping for the first coming of Jesus and going
through that, to now the last part, which is
the second Advent, the second coming of Jesus.
So as we begin this study, please join me as
I pray. Lord, it's been a beautiful season. Thank
you for the fruit of hope, for the fruit of salvation,
of renewal that you have given us. What a joy.
And I can't believe that we are here already
at the end of 2025 and we're standing in your
presence, Lord, encouraged because we know that
we are following you. And as we follow you, Lord,
there is something that is so precious to us.
And that is your return. As we reflect on these
things today, Lord, give us insight, perspective.
That we may serve you well until the very end.
And use me in your grace and in the power of
your spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The
last study on the series on Advent today is the
returning king. I want to show you a couple of
pictures together. And I want to ask you something.
What does celebrating Christmas have to do with
caves in the desert? Now you may look at those
pictures and I know you don't know the answer.
That's why I'm asking. Because I want to tell
you the answer. Those caves in the desert that
you see here are in a place called Masada in
Israel. And in 1947, in those caves, there were
some manuscripts that were discovered. They were
placed in these jars and they were able to remain
for centuries like that. until their discovery
in 1947, and this became known as the Dead Sea
Scrolls. And for us Christians, the Dead Sea
Scrolls were very important because they included
most of the books that we have in the Old Testament,
and some of them were almost in complete condition.
And what that meant for us is that we could go
back to our Bibles and confirm whether the text
we have today matched the old text that they
had even before Jesus. And the answer was, yeah,
a good match. So it was very important for us
as Christians because it corroborated the veracity
of the Bible that you can trust the text. But
it was also important for two reasons. Two of
the prophets of the Old Testament that talked
about the coming of the Messiah had been criticized
by some people saying, oh, those things were
written after the fact. After Jesus came, that's
when those things were written, but they were
written in a way that made it believe they were
written before. Because the prophecies were so
precise. But now those people were silenced by
the evidence because these manuscripts included
the book of Isaiah and also the book of Daniel.
What did Isaiah say about this Messiah that was
going to come? Isaiah said it this way. By the
way, you can see these manuscripts in Israel,
in Jerusalem, at the museum. They are right there
on display for everyone to see. But this is what
Isaiah said. a child is born. To us, a son is
given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of
the greatness of his government and peace, there
will be no end. He will reign on David's throne,
and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding
it with justice and righteousness from that time
on and forever. And the zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. Isaiah told us that there
was going to be a child that was going to be
born who was going to be called Almighty God.
And this child that was going to be born was
going to be a king. That was going to have the
kingdom of King David. And his kingdom was never
going to end. Wow. How could a child be born
and have a kingdom and be called God? You must
remember these prophecies were written about
700 years or so before Christ. Then Daniel. The
other prophet also prophesied about this king,
about this Messiah, but he said something very
different. And in Daniel, we are told the vision
that prophet Daniel wrote about in chapter 7.
And this is what the prophecy says. As my vision
continued that night, I saw someone like a son
of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached
the ancient one and was led into his presence.
He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty
over all the nations of the world. So that people
of every race and nation and language would obey
him. And his rule is eternal. It will never end.
His kingdom will never be destroyed. So now you
have Daniel talking about this king who is going
to have that kingdom that will never end. But
wait a second. That king is coming in the clouds
of heaven. So you have Isaiah and you have Daniel
both talking about this king that is going to
come. And Isaiah introduces him as, oh, he's
a baby born, a child. And Daniel says, oh no,
he's like a son of man. He looks like an adult
that is coming in the clouds. So it's like, how
could this be? Do they connect? Are they talking
about the same thing? Now we know. Then they
didn't. Because now we know. As you enter to
the New Testament and you read the announcement
of the birth of Jesus, how these things connect.
Because when we are told in the Gospel of Luke
that when the announcement of Jesus is given,
it's specifically mentioned in connection to
these prophecies. You will conceive and give
birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He
will be very great and will be called the son
of the most high. The Lord God will give him
the throne of his ancestor David, and he will
reign over Israel for how long? Forever, and
his kingdom will never end. This event gave us
the name. Of this person that Isaiah was writing
about. A child that was going to be born. That
was going to be a king. That was going to establish
a kingdom. Of David that will never end. And
now. In the announcement he tells us this is
Jesus. Wait but you also said Isaiah. That this
guy was going to be known as almighty God. Yes.
Jesus. God. Was born. As us. Human like us. So
that he could be the savior of the world. But
one day. He was going to establish his kingdom.
And at the beginning of this time. Of his ministry.
As this Messiah. As this king is identified as
Jesus. He establishes his ministry. He starts
proclaiming the gospel. He dies. Then he resurrects,
he appears to the apostles, and then he's going
to ascend to heaven. And at the end of the Gospels,
once you get to that section where Jesus now
has died, resurrected, and you begin the book
of Acts, it tells us that the apostles were thinking
about something. Then they gathered around him
and asked him, Lord. Are you at this time going
to restore the kingdom to Israel? Because Jesus,
you are the Messiah that Isaiah talked about,
that Daniel talked about, so we're waiting for
the kingdom that will never end. Are you going
to establish it now? And Jesus says to them,
it is not for you to know the times or dates
the Father has set. by his own authority. So
I'm not going to tell you when this will happen.
And it's like, oh man, I wish you would have
given us the date and the time exactly because
isn't that what people want to know? When is
Jesus going to come back? In fact, this year
because of the war, the war in Israel, many Christians
were already predicting Jesus is coming back
this year and here we are. But Jesus says, look,
I know you want to know, but it's not for you
to know yet. This is something the Father, by
his own authority, will determine. And then he
continued, and he told them, but you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and
you will be my witnesses, where? In Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, and where else? In Samaria,
and where else? and to the ends of the earth.
I know that you want to know about the return
and the establishment of the kingdom, but I'm
going to tell you what you need to know is that
you need to now become my witnesses and take
the gospel to the nations. That is what is going
to be your focus. As he was talking to them about
these things, he was taken up before their very
eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. and
they were looking intently up. Just like that,
into the sky, as he was going. And when suddenly,
two men dressed in white stood beside them. And
they speak to them, and they say, Men of Galilee,
why do you stand here looking into the sky? The
same Jesus who was being taken from you into
heaven, what will he do? Will come back in the
same way you have seen him go into heaven. Bingo.
That's Daniel. Daniel saying that the Messiah
was going to come down in the clouds from heaven
to establish his kingdom. And Jesus now ascends
to heaven. And the angel said, hey, he's going
to come back. And now we connect. Yes, the prophet
Isaiah and the prophet Daniel were talking about
the same Jesus. The king that was going to establish
his kingdom. But Isaiah talked about the beginning.
The Messiah coming and he was born a child. And
he established his kingdom. He ascends to heaven.
But then Daniel is talking about the Messiah
coming back in the clouds. And the Bible says
that one day when Jesus comes back, he's going
to come back and his feet are going to touch
the Mount of Olives and that mount is going to
be divided into like a big earthquake. The Bible
gives us lots of details about these things that
will happen in the future. But what we realize,
Is that the New Testament and the ministry of
Jesus ends with the hope of his return. And therefore
to follow Jesus. means that we who are followers
of Jesus are awaiting for the returning king
that ascended to heaven on that day after he
had taken care of the sins of humanity so that
he could break the power of Satan, break the
power of sin, break the power of death, and now
bring salvation and restoration to all things.
And that Jesus will one day return when we do
not know. But in the meantime, we are concerned
about the very same thing that Jesus gave the
first Christians. And that is, be my witnesses
and take the gospel to the world. And that is
what we will continue to do until Jesus returns.
But that makes me realize that following Jesus
is really about a journey. Many Christians think
of their salvation simply in these terms. I believe
in Jesus. I'll die one day and I'll go to heaven.
And then that's it. All nice and happy forever
in heaven. And I hope that is fun because, you
know, just playing harps with little wings for
eternity doesn't sound very fun. But hey, that's
better than hell, I guess. You know, and some
people think of salvation just in those terms.
I die, I go to heaven. But actually, it's so
much more than that. And there are certain things
that are going to happen. The moment I became
a follower of Jesus, I stepped into this road
of following Jesus. But there's a whole history
behind me as we just read Isaiah and Daniel and
the Gospels and the life of Jesus and the promise
of his return. But also there's a whole road
ahead of me in the future that I have not yet
been at. And I am in this road driving my car
until I get to that future. We already looked
at what was behind us. Isaiah, Daniel, the Gospels.
But what is ahead of us? What is this map or
this road? As a summary of this, because this
is not a study on eschatology per se, on the
events of the end of times, I want to give you
just a top picture of what the Bible did prophesy
and the things that the Bible says about the
Messiah himself. He would be born in Bethlehem,
that he would die and resurrect. Then we are
told that after that he ascended to heaven with
the promise that he was going to come back. The
Bible says that one day he will return. And Thessalonians
tells us that when Jesus returns at that moment,
those of us who are still alive will be glorified
and will become sinless and immortal and will
be with the Lord forever. So when Jesus returns,
something very important will happen to us. And
those that were already dead in Christ will resurrect
at that moment. That's what the Bible says very
clearly in Thessalonians. So that we will grieve
with hope. When will Jesus return? We do not
know. So every time that you see someone on YouTube
telling you that, hey, Jesus is going to come
back this time, this time. I know every season,
every era. human history, ever since the ascension
of Jesus, political things happen that make you
feel like maybe this is it. Maybe this is it.
And it's okay to feel like that. Maybe it is.
Maybe it's not. We do not know. But we know that
it's coming down the road. And sometimes we're
like the kids. Guys, have you taken a road trip
with your parents? A long one? What is one question
that you like to ask your parents? Oh, every
adult knows the answer. They've been traveling
with you? Ah, did you like to ask the question,
are we there yet? How much longer? Are we there
yet? Right. And we, as we follow Jesus, are like
that too. We're saying, God, are we there yet?
Are you coming back yet? Is this it? And then,
not only Jesus is going to come back. But there's
a kingdom that the Bible talked about that was
going to be established. Jesus reigning in Jerusalem
in the throne of King David. And the Bible says
that he's going to reign until he puts all his
enemies under his feet. And the ultimate enemy
that will be destroyed is death. And then he
will submit everything to the Father. And at
that point, There's going to be a final judgment
where that final judgment is the final resurrection
for judgment that Daniel talked about. And all
of this is described in the book of Revelation
as well. And after these things happen, then
the new heaven and the new earth will be established.
So this is kind of like a summary of what the
prophets mentioned and what the Bible says about
these things. In the midst of so many denominations
here at ACB represented in our community, yeah,
the way people interpret all of these things
change. Some people say, well, that's symbolic.
Oh, well, that's literal. That's this, that's
that. That's fine. You can deal with that part.
But this is basically the map. And where am I
in that map? Well, you are here. We are in between
the ascension of Jesus and his return, and we
have one mission, to go and make disciples. Waiting
for his return, and when he returns, the prophecies
of Daniel, seeing the Son of Man coming down
the clouds of heaven, he was given authority
and dominion, and all peoples of the earth worshipped
him. That is going to happen. And therefore,
as a follower of Jesus, I am concluding this
year thinking, oh, well, we have a few days left.
Maybe it will be. Maybe it won't. But as I am
fulfilling this year, thinking, okay, not yet.
So we'll continue hoping, and we'll continue
driving the car, and we'll continue on this road.
But that reminded me of something. Many years
ago, when I was a teenager, we decided to take
a trip, a road trip, a long road trip. At that
time, I was living in Santiago, Chile, and we
did a road trip through Argentina, you know,
the Andes Mountains, and go through that into
the flat area of Argentina. Flat, I mean, flatter
than Texas. It's like flat. You could see the
highway straight ending in the horizon. And we
were going through Argentina. We were going to,
our destination was going to be Paraguay. We
were going to go to Uruguay, to the beach there
too. And there was going to be a main event with
missionaries and pastors in Paraguay that we
were going to attend. So it was a fun trip. But
as we were in the car, there were moments in
which just helping Dad, because we were all young
at that time, we couldn't help drive. But I could
help Dad stay awake while driving by reading
the signs of the road as they would come. Oh,
curve to the right. So I would see the sign and
say, Dad, curve to the right. Then curve to the
left. Dad. Curve to the left until we got to
Argentina. And then it was just flat. Not many
signs after that. But then we kept doing that
to help because it was like, I forgot, maybe
three days that we drove. A long road trip. It
was so helpful to have the signs ahead of us
to be aware of what's coming and be conscious
so that we would not fall asleep while driving.
But the moment I stopped paying attention to
the signs and I fell asleep, there was no one
to tell dad, hey, this is the sign that is coming.
And because it was a long road and because it
was late at night, dad fell asleep while driving.
And before you knew it, it was just a matter
of seconds. It was like... And I woke up. Like
this. And we exited the car, not through the
door, but through the front opening where the
glass was before. The windshield completely gone.
So we got out. Thankfully, we were all okay,
except for my sister that she got a wound on
her arm. And the car was like on its side, like
this. But thankfully, the windshield did not
break. It just came off. And there was a bus
behind us that was coming, full of tourists.
And the moment they stopped, all these guys came
down and then came, surrounded us, made sure
that we were okay. And everybody together, let's
grab this car. Boom, back on its four wheels.
Put the windshield back. And we kept driving
to our destination. And when we got to Paraguay,
we took the car to a mechanic so that everything
could be fixed because we put the windshield
back but we had to hold it. And it's not because
we were cheap. It's because there was nothing.
I told you, flat, horizon, nothing. I'm in this
long road trip called following Jesus that it
keeps going and going every year and going and
going and going. And I'm desperate for the signs
so that I will not fall asleep on the wheel.
So that I will be able to follow Jesus and stand
firm till the very end so that when he comes
back, We will be awake and fulfilled. So it took
time to ask the apostles, what are the road signs
that you want me to be aware of? Because Jesus
hasn't come yet. I was hoping, but he hasn't.
So I keep hoping. Keep driving. And the apostles
talked about these things. And there are three
signs of the road. that they are giving us. The
first one is from the Apostle Paul. Paul is reflecting
about the return of Christ and the things that
are going to happen in the future. And he says,
Pablo, you're surrounded by people that live
for themselves. They do not know the Lord. Their
hearts are closed. Their eyes are closed to the
Lord. They just live for themselves. Their destiny
is destruction. Their God is their stomach. And
their glory is in their shame. Their mind is
set on earthly things. That is the family where
you're in. That is the job that you're in. That
is your office people. That is your company.
It's like you are the only follower of Jesus
and you're surrounded by people that are just...
Living for themselves and their minds is set
on earthly things. But Pablo, you. Our citizenship
is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from
there. The Lord Jesus Christ. You may be surrounded
by people that are not following the Lord. Who
are just living for the here and now, but not
you. You are a citizen of heaven. That is who
you belong to. Jesus, the king of heaven. And
one day, by the power that enables him to bring
everything under his control, he will transform
our lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body. When Jesus returns, the resurrection
and glorification will take place. Pablo, this
is who you are. You are a citizen of heaven.
Don't forget who you are. Remember your identity.
You're going to be worried about the job promotion.
You're going to be worried about the bills. You're
going to be sad. That as a third culture person.
You have family here. You live in this other
country. And you never seem to have like a permanent
home. And people don't get you. Because it's
like some people have a place. And you don't.
But don't forget. You are a citizen of heaven.
And therefore continue living this year. As a
citizen of heaven, you are not working to make
a living. That's everybody else. Citizens of
heaven are working to make an impact. And that
is what you will continue to do. So, sign number
one, don't forget who you are. Keep driving,
but don't forget who you are. Citizen of heaven,
keep driving. And don't get back down. By everything
else that everybody else is concerned about.
Because they are not citizens of heaven. But
you have a savior that is going to come back.
Wow, that's nice. I think I need to hear that.
I'm a citizen of heaven. Is there another sign?
Yes, there's another one. And this one is from
the Apostle Peter. Peter wrote a lot about these
things too. He's the one that told us that the
current earth as we know it is destined to be
destroyed by fire before God establishes the
new heaven, the new earth, where we will be with
him forever. And Peter, when he talks about these
things, he says it this way. In keeping with
his promise, Because remember, he was standing
there looking up, seeing Jesus go up and the
angels talk to him and say, hey, why are you
looking up? This Jesus is going to come back.
So in keeping with his promise, I do not know
you, but we are looking forward to the new heaven
and the new earth where righteousness dwells.
Oh, it's going to be awesome. When we're finally
with the Lord in that new creation, free from
all this corruption and death and suffering,
that will be exciting. But until then, Pablo,
since you're looking forward to this, make every
effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at
peace with Him. Oh, we're getting a little bit
more personal here. Exactly. Because Jesus is
going to come back. This Jesus that you are following
today, are you ready for his return? Are you
ready? If you have stuff in your life that is
not aligned with him, don't wait until he returns
to then regret that you did not take care of
your business when you should have. Now is the
time, as you await for his return, make sure,
Pablo, that you make every effort to be found
spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. So
take care of your business. Get your life in
order. Don't wait anymore. And I know what he
means. Because sometimes we are following Jesus,
but we're not being faithful in how we're following.
And there are things in our lives, sometimes
secrets, sometimes things that Only a few people
know things that are not part of what God called
us to be. And therefore, you have no peace. You
feel shame and guilt and fear, but no peace.
And if Jesus is going to come back, Peter says,
why wait? Make it a priority this year to get
your marriage in order. to get your life in order,
to take care of those addictions that are enslaving
you. Take care of your life now. And I'm here
to tell you that you are in a community where
we have a ministry called Core Journey that is
designed to walk with you in this place of misalignment
so that you can... Address these things in confidentiality,
but also with the help that you need. Because
what we desire is for you not just to follow
Jesus, but to follow Jesus well. So the second
road sign tells me, hey, put your life in order.
Make sure everything is aligned with the Lord.
And I needed to hear that. But there's a third
one. And this one comes from the apostle John.
John is the one that wrote the gospel of John.
He's the one that wrote the book of Revelation
that told us all these things that were going
to happen. And when he is reflecting about these
events that are going to happen with the return
of Christ, he simply says, Pablo, if I have a
word of advice for you as you are awaiting the
Lord to return and as you are following him,
This is what I would say. Now, dear children,
continue in him. Simply that. Continue in him.
So that when he appears, we may be confident
and unashamed before him and his coming. He has
saved you. He has gifted you. He has called you.
He has positioned you. And if you are where God
called you to be, if you are doing what he called
you to do, then remain faithful. Continue in
that place. Don't let anything move you to the
right or to the left. Stay where God has called
you to be. Continue in him. Because the time
will come where you will get discouraged. The
time will come where you will get confused. The
time will come where the cost, Of serving God.
Will feel too high. And in those moments. You
may be tempted to say. I'm done. This is too
much. But don't. Don't be done. Unless the Lord
is done. And he's calling you to something else.
Unless the Lord is done. And he's positioned
you to something else. Don't be done. Because
you are tired of driving your car. The road ahead
continues. But live in such a way that when he
returns, he can see you and say simply one thing
and one thing only, well done, faithful servant.
You did what I called you to do. You did it with
your best. You were faithful. Well done. And
that requires that we followers of Jesus remain
faithful to his calling. And this is it. Remain
faithful. Keep your focus. You are a follower
of Jesus and that is what we did this year and
that's what we will do next year and for as many
more years the Lord decides to take before returning.
I needed to hear that. Because it is true. We
get discouraged at moments or we get tired. We
may think plan B or plan C. Always to remember
that there's only one plan that I need to be
faithful in and it's plan A. The one that the
Lord gave us. So this is the word of advice from
the apostles. For us who are following Jesus
and are waiting for his return. May 2025 end
strong as a follower of Jesus. And may 2026 be
a year in which we are living like citizens of
heaven. Where we are waiting for the Lord to
come back. We are living to make an impact. Following
the Lord. Faithful to his calling. And we're
going to make it a priority to put our life in
order because when he comes back, I just want
to be simply a follower of Jesus that was faithful
to the Lord, the Son of God that came, that ascended
to heaven, and will one day return to establish
his kingdom that will never end. So with this
in mind, What the Bible is simply calling us
to do is to live with eternal perspective. So
I'm asking you today, are you living with eternal
perspective? Are you thinking beyond just the
next semester and your graduation from high school
and the college plans? Are you thinking beyond
that? Are you thinking beyond the dating relationship
where you're at now and the potential marriage
and then having a family? Are you thinking beyond
that? When is the last time that you were looking
forward to the return of Christ? Are we living
our lives with eternal perspective? Because if
we are not, as we worship the Lord together at
the end of this study, let's simply tell the
Lord, Lord. I look forward to your return. And
let me live the rest of my life serving you.
As if you could return anytime. Because I want
to be a follower of you. That is living to make
an impact for your glory. And that is what we
desire. Join me as we stand in God's presence
together. Let's read. These words from the Apostle
Paul out loud together. Therefore, my dear brothers
and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord because you know that your labor in the
Lord is not in vain. Never in vain when it's
done for the Lord. Lord, we stand in your presence.
with hope, with perspective, with anticipation.
Because the day will come when the Son of God
will come in the clouds. And on that day, our
faith will be sight. And on that day, these bodies
that are mortal and sinful will be transformed
in the blinking of an eye. glorify to be like
you and with you forever. What a hope. And it's
in that hope that we end this year. And it's
in the same hope that begin the new year. For
the glory of your name. Amen. Thank you for tuning
in to the ECB Sermon Podcast. Whether near or
far, if you are looking for community or are
in need of prayer, we welcome you to engage by
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And remember to join us next week. God bless
you.