Participants: Carlton P. Byrd
Series Code: 14SCM
Program Code: 14SCM000009S
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00:38 Thank you for joining us.
00:39 We've been having church, haven't we, folks? Amen! 00:42 And never know what's going to happen here, 00:44 but we always pray that it's anointing of the Holy Spirit. 00:46 We can have a little fun in the Lord and have a good time 00:50 and praise His name. When I look at that little 00:52 intro - you just saw it - it kind of gives us a foretaste 00:55 of what it's really going to be like before too long 00:58 when those eastern clouds begin to come, begin to break 01:01 and all of a sudden we see Jesus coming back 01:03 in the clouds of glory. Anybody looking forward to that? 01:06 Amen! I know you are... that's why you're here 01:08 at 3ABN's special Spring Camp Meeting. 01:11 Nineteen sermons or more... nineteen at least... 01:14 on the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 01:16 I think we need to be encouraged. 01:18 If there's ever a time that we need to be focusing on 01:21 Jesus coming back it's right now. Can you say amen to that? 01:24 Amen! All right. Well our special speaker 01:27 in just a few moments is Pastor Carlton Byrd. 01:30 He's the senior pastor of Oakwood University Church. 01:33 He's the Speaker/Director of Breath of Life 01:36 television broadcast. Now listen to this: 01:39 he's a graduate of Oakwood University. 01:41 He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology, 01:44 a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. 01:48 He's a graduate of Tennessee State University. 01:51 He has a Masters of Business Administration degree. 01:55 He's a graduate of Andrews University 01:58 a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree. 02:02 Now I look at him... he looks like a young man 02:04 so I say he must have been going to school all of his life. 02:07 But all of that aside, we don't hold any of that against him 02:11 'cause he's a great man of God and a great speaker 02:13 and a great preacher, right? Amen! All right. 02:15 No, we love him. Absolutely been blessed by his ministry. 02:19 He and his family. We're so glad that he's here tonight. 02:22 But before he comes it's my privilege to introduce 02:25 Sr. Yvonne Lewis. 02:27 Yvonne, for many of those... You know, one of my favorite 02:30 singers in the world. She's spent many many years 02:33 in the world, and she sang with the Whitney Houstons 02:36 and Luther Vandross and all of those things. 02:38 But she says: "My greatest appointment 02:42 God has ever given me is when I came back to Jesus 02:44 and now I'm working with Dare to Dream. " 02:46 So she's 3ABN's Dare to Dream Manager. 02:49 Sr. Yvonne, what are you going to sing for us tonight? 02:51 That Name. That Name. All right... thank you so much. 03:08 There is a name 03:12 that is so precious... 03:16 a name so wonderful to me. 03:22 A name that's worthy 03:27 of our praises; 03:30 because of Him 03:33 I am made free. 03:37 And that name is Jesus... 03:40 oh how I love Him! 03:44 The One who gave 03:47 His life for me. 03:51 Because of love 03:55 so unconditional 03:58 I will have life 04:02 eternally. 04:20 His name speaks peace 04:24 to all my storm clouds. 04:30 His name speaks calm 04:34 to all my fears. 04:37 And when I think 04:40 that no one loves me 04:44 His loving presence 04:48 is so near. 04:51 And that name is Jesus... 04:55 oh how I love Him! 04:59 The One who gave 05:02 His life for me. 05:05 Because of love 05:09 so unconditional 05:13 I will have life 05:16 eternally. 05:20 Oh praise 05:24 that name... 05:28 praise that holy name. 05:35 Praise 05:38 that name. 05:42 Praise 05:45 that name! 05:51 Someday we'll leave 05:55 this earthly dwelling. 05:59 Through time and space 06:02 we all will soar 06:07 and finally see 06:10 the face of Jesus 06:14 and sing that name 06:18 forever more! 06:21 That name is Jesus... 06:25 oh how I love Him! 06:29 The One who gave 06:33 His life for me. 06:39 Because of love 06:44 so unconditional 06:48 I will have life 06:51 eternally. 06:56 Oh matchless 07:00 is that name Jesus! 07:03 All glorious 07:08 is that name Jesus. 07:11 How wonderful 07:15 is that name Jesus. 07:18 Oh 07:19 praise 07:26 that name! 07:36 Amen! 07:43 Come on. Give Sr. Lewis another hearty amen! 07:46 Amen! It's good to be here tonight, good to be here this 07:49 evening at 3ABN Camp Meeting. 07:54 This is God's country, and I'm just grateful to the Lord 07:56 that myself, my wife, and our three daughters 07:59 could be here. Last time we were here 08:01 we had two daughters. We have three now 08:04 so God is blessing as we are multiplying and building 08:07 His kingdom. Come on... say amen. Amen! 08:09 But we are grateful to be here. 08:11 We want to thank Bro. Danny Shelton, 08:14 Pastor Jim Gilley, and the entire 3ABN family 08:18 for the privilege that is ours to be able to come and worship 08:21 with you and praise the name of Jesus with you tonight. 08:26 I look out and I see some of my church members 08:29 from the Oakwood University church in Huntsville, Alabama. 08:32 I want to think that they followed me here. Amen! 08:35 But I'm grateful to see them here and I know they are praying 08:37 and I know that God is going to use them as well as you 08:40 and your prayers as I seek to speak a word for Him tonight. 08:45 Our theme this week has been on the second coming and so tonight 08:49 I have been charged with the responsibility of sharing 08:52 the manner of His coming. Everybody say: the manner - 08:55 the manner. Say the manner - the manner - of 08:58 His coming - of His coming. Amen! 09:00 And so we're going to get now into the Word of God 09:02 this evening. And so I would invite you at this time to bow 09:05 your heads with me as before we talk with you 09:08 we talk with God. Our Father in heaven, 09:10 this evening we are so grateful for the privilege of life, 09:14 of health, of strength. We are encouraged to know 09:17 tonight that truly Your name is a precious most awesome name. 09:22 And so God, as tonight we again focus on Your second coming 09:26 we pray that, Lord, Your Holy Spirit would now come 09:28 into this place. But not just in this place. Also the airwaves. 09:33 Those that are watching that You are anointing. 09:35 May be seen, it may be felt, and it may be heard. 09:39 God, hide me behind Your cross. 09:41 And when all is said and done we give You the praise, 09:43 the honor, and every single bit of the glory. 09:47 It's in the name of Jesus we pray. Let everyone say 09:49 amen - amen - and amen. 09:52 The manner of His coming. 09:56 And so with that charge tonight I want to charge you with 10:00 the subject: Here Comes Superman. 10:05 Here Comes Superman. Growing up as a little boy 10:09 in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian home - 10:13 in a PK or preacher's kids home - 10:17 in the church there were very few television programs 10:21 that we could watch. My parents were very guarded 10:25 about what myself, my brother, my sister... what we could watch 10:30 on television because they were concerned about the secular 10:34 influences that could potentially penetrate our 10:38 thoughts, our actions, or our behaviors. 10:43 Over 40 years ago, however, let me remind you 10:48 that there was no 3ABN. 10:52 There was no 3ABN Camp Meeting. 10:56 There was no 3ABN Today. 10:59 There was no Anchors of Truth, 11:02 Tiny Tots or Kids' Time, and good Christian programming 11:05 like we have today. So I must say this right now 11:09 Praise God for 3ABN. Do I have a witness in this place? 11:12 Amen! But because our friends and others would tell us 11:18 about other shows, we would plead. We would appeal to our 11:22 parents and we said: "Please mom, please dad: 11:26 Can we watch this? Can we watch that? " 11:29 And with a resounding voice they would say: "No! " 11:34 And we would say: "Well why? " 11:36 And they would say: "Because we said so. " 11:41 We would say "No, no" and we would get upset. 11:45 But then they would remind us that as long as we lived 11:49 in their house, as long as they paid all the bills, 11:54 as long as they cooked the food, 11:57 and as long as they were mommy and daddy 12:01 we would only watch what they told us we were going to watch. 12:05 I'm looking at you all. Some of you are saying amen 12:07 because you say the same thing to your children. 12:10 I also laugh now and reminisce about that because ironically 12:14 the same thing that my parents told me 12:17 is the same thing that my wife and I tell our daughters 12:21 giving credence to the Biblical admonition 12:23 that there's nothing new under the sun. 12:28 When we got a little older, 12:30 however, they began easing up just a little bit 12:35 and they began to let us watch every now and then 12:39 superhero shows. 12:43 Batman and Robin. 12:46 Spiderman. 12:49 Wonder Woman. 12:51 Captain America. 12:55 They would all come on television. 12:57 But my number one - number one, numero uno - 13:03 all-time favorite superhero 13:07 was Superman. Superman was in my mind 13:11 he was and represented the best attributes 13:15 of humanity and the ultimate force for good. 13:18 When someone was in trouble, 13:21 when someone was in distress, 13:24 when someone was facing death, 13:28 there would be certain theme music that would come on. 13:32 And all of a sudden we would hear the infamous words: 13:36 "Faster than a speeding bullet, 13:39 more powerful than a locomotive, 13:43 able to leap tall buildings in a single bound: 13:47 look up in the sky 13:51 it's a bird, it's a plane... 13:55 no, it's Superman! " 13:58 And as a child, these words were etched in my mind. 14:02 Every time I would eagerly sit up and watch the adventures 14:06 of Superman, eyes glued to the television. 14:10 I would watch how Superman would fight crooked businessmen, 14:13 fight politicians, fight villains. 14:16 I'd watch how Superman would take on injustices 14:19 and inequalities by fighting and standing for social justice. 14:23 I watched how Superman would have x-ray vision 14:27 and he would be able to see through walls and buildings 14:30 and doors and cement block buildings. 14:33 And it was always that just in the nick of time 14:37 Superman would always come to the aid and to the rescue 14:41 of men, women, boys, and girls 14:44 who were being tattered, torn, and troubled. 14:46 Superman was my hero. 14:49 Superman was stronger than anybody. 14:53 Superman was smarter than anybody. 14:57 Superman was faster than anybody. 15:00 Superman could do anything; Superman could do no wrong 15:05 because Superman was the man! 15:09 But I learned Superman was fictional. 15:15 Superman was fake. 15:19 Superman was good... but Superman wasn't real. 15:24 Superman was TV. 15:27 Oh, but my Jesus... 15:31 somebody knows something about Jesus. 15:34 Jesus - the REAL Superman - was real! 15:40 You see, as a little boy I also learned that the real Superman, 15:44 Jesus... He didn't have to just be shown on TV 15:48 because He was everywhere. He knew everybody 15:52 and He could do everything. 15:54 I learned as a boy that Jesus - the REAL Superman - 15:58 was a member of the triune, all-powerful, all-knowing, 16:02 all-places God. Genesis 1:1 says: 16:06 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 16:10 And the earth was without form and void and darkness 16:13 was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God 16:16 moved upon the face of the waters. " And God said 16:20 in verse number 3 of Genesis 1 16:21 "Let there be light... and there was light. " 16:25 I discovered that God - of which Jesus was a part 16:28 of the triune God - created light on day one. 16:32 Vegetation on day two. 16:34 He created firmament on day 2. 16:36 Vegetation on day 3. Sun, moon, and stars on day 4. 16:40 Fish and fowl on day 5. 16:43 And on day 6 He created mammal and man. 16:47 In fact, the Bible says in Genesis 1:26 16:50 "And God said: 'Let US make man. ' " 16:52 Notice the text does not say: 16:54 "And God said: 'Let Me make man' " 16:57 pointing to the fact that God is three in one. 17:00 God said: "Let us make man in our own image 17:04 after our likeness. " 17:06 We find that Jesus was a part of the triune God. 17:09 But not just in the Old Testament but also in the 17:13 New Testament. It was John chapter 1 verse number 1 17:16 where the Word of God says "In the beginning 17:19 was the Word. And the Word was with God 17:23 and the Word was God. 17:26 The same was in the beginning with God. 17:29 All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything 17:32 made that was made. " But then it goes on in verse 14 and says 17:36 that the Word became flesh. 17:40 Which means then: the Word, Jesus, the real Superman, 17:46 existed from the beginning. 17:49 "In the beginning was the Word. 17:52 The Word was with God. The Word was God. 17:57 The Word became flesh. " 18:00 Jesus - Superman - is the beginner then of the beginning. 18:05 He is the beginner in whom the beginning began. 18:12 He is the beginning before the beginning was begun. 18:16 He is the beginning who did not begin to be! 18:21 He is not stopped because He has no boundary line. 18:25 He did not start because He had nowhere to come from. 18:28 He is older than time yet He's younger than future 18:32 because He is what He was, He was what He is, 18:36 and what He was and is He will always be. Amen! 18:40 Jesus was always here, always has been here, 18:45 always will be here, 18:47 always was, always is. For even before Abraham was 18:52 He said: "I AM. " Amen! 18:55 What do we have here tonight? 18:57 Jesus - who was born 2,000 years after Abraham - 19:02 then He says He was before Abraham. 19:04 Jesus - who was David's son - 19:08 was also David's Lord. 19:10 Jesus - who was Abraham's seed - was also Abraham's Savior. 19:15 Jesus - who created flesh - 19:19 became flesh when God reversed the beginning 19:23 and He took a motherless woman 19:25 from the body of a man in creation but then turned around 19:28 and took a fatherless Man from the body of a woman 19:31 in redemption. Jesus... the God-Man. 19:35 Two natures in one personality. 19:39 He protected the interests of heaven with His divinity 19:41 but looked out for the interests of earth with His humanity. 19:44 In His divinity, He is God's way to man 19:49 but in His humanity He's man's way back on up to God. 19:54 He's the real Superman. 19:58 I learned as a boy that man - God's creation - 20:03 had sinned. I learned that man was in distress. 20:09 That man was tattered; man was torn. 20:13 man was troubled. Man had sinned, so God had a dilemma. 20:19 Either God said "I'm going to excuse sin 20:22 or destroy and start all over. " 20:24 But God's solution was: "Let me send the real Superman. " 20:28 Send Jesus, because He's faster than a speeding bullet. 20:33 More powerful than a locomotive. 20:37 He's able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. 20:42 But more than that... He saved my soul. Amen! 20:47 John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world 20:49 that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth 20:51 in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. " 20:56 Romans 6:23... "For the wages of sin is death. " 21:00 Which means then we deserve death. 21:02 That's what we deserve; that's what we should get. 21:04 "But the gift of God is eternal life 21:08 through Jesus Christ our Lord. " 21:09 Jesus then - the real Superman - came to our rescue. Amen! 21:16 "He was wounded for our transgressions. 21:18 Bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace 21:21 was upon Him, but by His stripes... " praise God... 21:24 "we are healed" today. We understand that back in 21:29 Old Testament times in order for one to receive forgiveness 21:32 from sin they had to bring a sacrificial offering 21:36 there to the earthly sanctuary. They had to bring a lamb. 21:40 They had to bring a goat. They had to bring an offering 21:42 that was without blemish, that was without any impurity. 21:46 And they would bring that sin offering, and the sin bearer 21:50 would symbolically place his hand upon the head of the 21:53 sin offering. The throat of the sin offering would be slit. 21:57 Blood would come streaming down 21:58 because there cannot be any forgiveness of sin 22:01 without the shedding of blood. 22:03 Jesus... "Behold the Lamb of God 22:07 which takes away the sins of the world. " 22:10 Jesus - the real Superman - had to come at His first coming 22:16 to save His people. 22:19 Matthew 1:21... And she shall bring forth a son. 22:21 Thou shalt call His name Jesus 22:23 for He shall save His people from their sins. " 22:29 Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. 22:32 That's why He came the first time. 22:36 But my Bible tells me that my Jesus - 22:39 the real Superman - 22:42 is going to have to come back a second time 22:45 because His people are tattered, 22:49 torn, and troubled again. 22:53 But the second time it's a little different. 22:56 This time He's not coming to save His people 23:00 but this time He's coming to get His people. Amen! 23:06 This time He's coming to rescue His people. 23:09 This time He's coming to redeem His people. 23:13 Last night we were reminded of the promise of His coming. 23:17 "Let not your hearts be troubled. 23:20 Ye believe in God... believe also in Me. 23:22 In My Father's house are many mansions. 23:24 If it were not so, I would have told you. 23:26 I go and prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare 23:28 a place for you I will come again and receive you unto 23:30 Myself, that where I am... " He said... "there ye may be also. " 23:34 The first time He came to save His people. 23:38 The second time He's coming to get His people. 23:41 The first time He came in humiliation as a self-effacing 23:45 servant but the second time He's coming as a glorious 23:48 conquering King. The first time He came as a babe 23:52 wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger 23:55 but the second time He's coming as King of kings, 23:58 Lord of lords, accompanied by a legion of angels. 24:02 The first time He came in the silent undertones of the night. 24:06 The second time He's coming to the majestic sound 24:11 of heavenly trumpets. The first time He came to 24:15 the audience of His parents, some oxen, and some wise men. 24:19 But the second time He's coming and the Bible says 24:24 every living eye is going to see Him. 24:27 Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement 24:31 and hope available to us all. 24:32 Just as the Old Testament is saturated with the prophecies 24:36 concerning Jesus' first coming 24:38 so both the Old and the New Testaments 24:42 are filled with references to Jesus' second coming. 24:46 It has been estimated that there are some 1,845 references 24:51 to Jesus' second coming in the Old Testament alone 24:55 and 17 Old Testament books give it prominence. 25:00 But then in the 260 total chapters 25:04 of the twenty-seven New Testament books 25:07 there are 318 references to the second coming of Jesus: 25:12 an amazing 1 reference to Jesus out of every 30 verses. 25:17 Of the 27 New Testament books 25:19 23 refer to this great event. In fact, for every prophecy 25:25 in the Bible concerning Jesus' first coming 25:28 there are 8 which look forward to His second coming. 25:32 So then this is what the Christian life is all about: 25:38 looking forward to Jesus' second coming. 25:43 The second coming of Jesus should be the most talked about, 25:48 the most expected, anticipated, projected event 25:54 in our lives. In fact, it's even implied in our name 25:58 as Seventh-day Adventists. 25:59 We observe God's seventh-day Sabbath 26:03 and we are looking forward to Jesus' second advent. 26:07 Advent means coming... 26:10 which then means as Seventh-day Adventist Christians 26:13 we observe God's seventh-day Sabbath and worship on that day 26:16 and we are looking forward to Jesus' second coming. 26:20 So we know about His coming. We know He's coming, 26:24 but how will He come? 26:26 What will be the manner of His coming? 26:29 Well the Bibles gives us insight on the matter. 26:31 Let's take our Bibles if you have them. 26:33 Go with me to the book of Acts. 26:35 What book did I say everybody? Acts. 26:37 Let's go to the book of Acts so let's go to chapter 1 26:40 and we're going to go to verse number 9. 26:42 We know He's coming; we're assured of that. 26:45 But let's go to Acts 1 and let's now talk about 26:48 the manner of His coming. 26:50 Acts chapter 1 verse number 9 the Word of God speaks to us. 26:54 It says... If you have it, let me hear you say amen. 26:56 Amen. The Word of God says in Acts chapter 1 verse number 9 26:59 "And when He had spoken these things 27:02 while they beheld He was taken up and a cloud 27:06 received Him out of their... " What everybody? 27:09 Come on, out of their what everybody? Sight. 27:11 "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven 27:14 as He went up... " How many men? 27:16 "two men stood by them in white apparel 27:19 which also said 'Ye men of Galilee, 27:24 why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 27:27 This same Jesus... ' " Now I'm supposed to preach 27:31 on the manner of His coming but I could preach a whole sermon 27:33 on this same Jesus. This same Jesus who locked the lion's jaw. 27:37 This same Jesus who provided air conditioning 27:39 in a fiery furnace. 27:41 This same Jesus who healed the woman with the issue of blood. 27:45 This same Jesus who raised Jairus' daughter. 27:49 This same Jesus who woke you up this morning. 27:52 But I don't have time to preach that. Let me preach 27:53 the manner of His coming. 27:54 "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven 27:58 shall so come in like manner 27:59 as you have seen Him go into heaven. " 28:03 Which then means - point #1 on the manner of His coming - 28:06 when Jesus Christ comes back the second time 28:09 His feet will not touch this earth. 28:11 Which means then because His feet will not touch this earth 28:15 because of sin this earth must be cleansed. 28:17 It must be purified before Jesus touches this earth. 28:21 And there's only two ways you can clean something. 28:23 Either you wash it or you burn it, 28:25 The earth was washed at the flood. 28:27 It will be burned at Jesus' coming at the end... 28:30 end of the millennium. 28:31 We recognize that Jesus' feet will not touch this earth. 28:35 So if someone were to tell you the manner of Jesus' coming 28:38 would be that Jesus is going to walk up and down this earth 28:42 you know that's a lie from the pits of hell. Amen. 28:45 Because the Bible says that He's going to come back 28:48 the same way He left. 28:50 He left in the clouds; 28:53 that means He's coming back in the what everybody? 28:56 He's coming back in the clouds. 28:57 But not only that, the Bible also lets us know that when He 29:01 returns the heavenly angels will be coming with Him. 29:07 Go to Matthew. What book did I say everybody? Matthew. 29:09 Matthew chapter 16. 29:11 And we're going to Matthew 16 and we're going to verse #27. 29:15 Again, point number 2 in the manner of His coming. 29:18 He will come, and His feet will not touch the earth. 29:21 But not only when Jesus comes the Bible says that the heavenly 29:25 angels will be coming with Him. 29:27 Matthew chapter 16 and we're going to verse #27. 29:31 The Word of God says to us tonight: 29:33 "For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father, 29:37 with His angels, and then He shall reward 29:42 every man according to his works. " 29:47 When Jesus comes back the second time 29:49 He's going to come. His feet will not touch the earth. 29:53 But not only that, we understand from the Word of God 29:56 that when He comes the entire heavenly angelic host 30:00 is going to come with Him. But let's get some more. 30:02 When He comes back, what will be the manner of His coming? 30:06 Here comes Superman... how will He come? 30:08 Go with me to the book of Revelation, 30:10 and we're going to Revelation chapter 1 30:12 and we're going to verse number 7. 30:14 Revelation chapter 1 and we're going to verse number 7. 30:19 When Jesus comes back the Bible is clear that every 30:23 living eye is going to see Him. 30:26 Revelation chapter 1 verse number 7... I'm reading. 30:29 If you have it, let me hear you say amen. 30:31 Amen. "Behold He cometh... " With what, everybody? 30:34 "clouds, and every... " What? 30:36 Come on, every what? "eye shall see Him 30:39 and they also which pierced Him. 30:41 And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. 30:44 Even so... amen. " 30:47 We discover... The manner of His coming number 3 30:50 every living eye is going to see Him. 30:53 Number one: when He comes His feet will not touch the earth. 30:57 Number two: when He comes, all the angelic host is coming 31:00 is coming with Him. Number three: when He comes 31:03 every living eye will see Him... 31:06 which means His coming will be visible to everyone. 31:10 His coming will not be a secret rapture. 31:14 But His coming... every living eye is going to see Him. 31:19 And not only are we going to see Him 31:22 but we are going to all see Him at the same time. 31:25 Which means those in Huntsville, Alabama - where I live - 31:29 are going to see Him. Those right here in Thompsonville, IL, 31:33 are going to see Him. Those in Africa are going to see Him. 31:37 Those in Asia are going to see Him. 31:40 Those in South America are going to see Him. 31:43 Those in Australia are going to see Him. 31:46 And we all will see Him and see Him at the same time. 31:49 Amen somebody. Amen. 31:52 When He comes back, His feet will not touch the earth. 31:55 The angelic host will accompany Him. 31:58 Every living eye is going to see Him, 32:00 and we all are going to see Him at the same time. 32:03 But not only that, number four: 32:05 go to I Thessalonians chapter 4 32:08 and we're going to verse number 16. 32:12 I Thessalonians chapter 4 and we're going to verse number 16. 32:18 I Thessalonians chapter 4 and we're going to verse number 16. 32:24 The Word of God says: 32:26 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a... " 32:30 What everybody? Shout. "with a shout, 32:33 with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of... " 32:36 Whom everybody? "God. " Now I like this text because 32:39 it lets me know in terms of the manner of His coming 32:41 His coming won't be silent. 32:43 Not only will everybody see Him but everybody's going to hear 32:46 Him. Are you hearing what I'm saying? 32:48 Everyone is going to hear Him when Jesus - the real Superman - 32:52 comes back. It won't be a silent coming but He will 32:56 descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the 32:59 archangel, and the trumpet of God. Hallelujah somebody. 33:04 Well number one: His feet will not touch the earth. 33:08 Number two: all of the angelic host will accompany Him. 33:13 Number three: every living eye is going to see Him. 33:17 Number four: the manner of His coming says that it won't be 33:20 a silent coming but everybody will hear Him. 33:24 But then number five: when Jesus returns 33:28 there will be four primary groups of people. 33:31 It says there in your Bible in I Thessalonians chapter 4 33:34 verse number 16 there will be four primary groups of people. 33:38 The Bible says: "For the Lord Himself 33:41 shall descend from heaven with a shout, 33:43 with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God... " 33:46 and then the Bible says that "the dead in Christ 33:48 shall rise... " what everybody? 33:50 Come on... the dead in Christ shall rise what? 33:52 "first. " Which then says to me group number one... 33:54 At Jesus' second coming primary group number one 33:57 will be the dead in Christ or the righteous dead 33:59 and the Bible says they will rise what everybody? First. 34:03 They're gonna rise first. Now look at verse number 17. 34:05 It says: "Then we which are alive and remain 34:09 shall be caught up together with them in the... " What? 34:12 "clouds to meet the Lord... " In the what? "air. " 34:15 "So shall we ever be... " With the what everybody? 34:18 "Lord. " All right, stop there. Group number 2 then. 34:20 At Jesus' second coming primary group number two 34:23 will be the righteous living. 34:24 The Bible says at Jesus' second coming... when the real 34:27 Superman comes back... at the manner of His coming 34:30 the Bible says group number two, the righteous living, 34:33 will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 34:36 So group number one - the righteous dead - rise what? 34:39 First. Group number two - the righteous living - 34:41 are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 34:43 Group number three... Go to II Thessalonians 34:46 chapter 2 and we're going to verse number 8. 34:51 II Thessalonians chapter 2 and we're going to verse number 8. 34:57 The Word of God says to us in II Thessalonians 2:8... 35:02 The Word says: "And then shall that wicked be revealed 35:05 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth 35:10 and shall destroy with the... " What everybody? 35:12 Come on, with the what everybody? 35:14 "brightness of His coming, 35:16 even him whose coming is after the working of Satan 35:19 with all power and signs and lying wonders 35:21 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 35:24 in them that perish because they receive not the love of 35:26 the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause 35:29 God shall send them strong delusion that they should 35:31 believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not 35:36 the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness. " 35:38 The Word of God is clear. 35:40 Group number three: the unrighteous or the wicked living 35:44 will die at the brightness of His coming. 35:47 So then group number 1, the righteous dead, will rise first. 35:50 Group number 2: they will be caught up to meet the Lord 35:53 in the what? Air. 35:54 Group number 3, the wicked living, will die at the 35:57 brightness of His what? Coming. 35:59 That's why when I'm under these television lights 36:01 I take time to look at the lights. 36:04 Because if I can't keep my eye on the light it must mean 36:06 I'm in trouble, because I don't want to be a part 36:08 of the unrighteous or wicked living who die at the brightness 36:11 of His coming... so I practice looking at lights. 36:17 Group number 1: the righteous dead. They rise what? First. 36:21 Group number 2- the righteous living - are caught up to meet 36:23 the Lord in the air. Group number 3- the wicked living - 36:27 die at the brightness of His what? Coming. Group number 4... 36:31 go to Revelation 20 36:34 and let's go to verse number 5. 36:36 Let's get some Word in us tonight. 36:39 "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin 36:42 against Thee. " I tell people all the time 36:44 "Know what you believe, know why you believe it, 36:45 and know where it's found. " 36:47 Revelation chapter 20 verse number 5. 36:50 Group number 4... The Word of God says: 36:53 "But the rest of the... " What? "dead 36:56 lived not again until the thousand years were... " What? 36:59 "finished. " Now stop there. That means, then, 37:01 at Jesus' second coming the wicked dead remain what? 37:06 Dead. "The rest of the dead lived not again until the 37:09 thousand years were... " What? "finished. " 37:11 Which means at Jesus' second coming the wicked dead 37:13 remain dead. So then, the manner of His coming: 37:16 His feet will not touch the earth. 37:19 The angelic host will accompany Him. 37:22 Every living eye is going to see Him. 37:25 Everybody is going to hear Him; His coming won't be silent. 37:29 And then the dead in Christ are going to rise. 37:32 The righteous living are going to be caught up to meet the Lord 37:34 in the air. The wicked living are going to die 37:37 at the brightness of His coming. 37:39 The wicked dead the Bible also says 37:41 will remain what? Dead. 37:43 I don't know about you but out of those four groups 37:46 I've gotta be a part of group 1 or 2. Come on say amen! 37:50 Amen. Let me tell you something: when I see Jesus 37:53 I'm going to be so excited I'm not going to look around 37:55 and say: "Who rose and who didn't rise? " 37:57 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 37:58 I'm just going to be happy I'm caught up to meet the Lord 38:00 in the air! Come on say amen. Amen! 38:02 In fact, there are going to be three groups of people 38:04 when you get to heaven. 38:05 Those you thought would be there won't be there. 38:08 Those you thought wouldn't be there will be there. 38:12 And if you're like me you're just thanking the Lord 38:15 that you're there. Come on say amen. Amen! 38:17 The Bible is very clear. The apostle Paul says to us 38:20 in I Corinthians... I Corinthians 15:51. 38:24 The Word of God says in I Corinthians 15 verse 51 38:28 "Behold I show you a mystery that we shall not all sleep 38:31 but we shall all be changed 38:33 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. " 38:35 How fast is that? I don't know! 38:37 I know I wink at my wife and I wink at her real quick. 38:39 That's quick. Come on... say amen. 38:41 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. 38:44 The trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised 38:45 incorruptible. We shall be changed. 38:47 But this corruptible must put on incorruption 38:49 and this mortal must put on immortality. 38:52 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption 38:54 and this mortal shall have put on immortality 38:56 it shall be brought to pass the saying that is written 38:59 'Death... ' Hallelujah! 'is swallowed up in victory. ' " 39:04 The sting of death is sin. 39:07 The strength of sin is the law. 39:10 But thanks be to God! Hallelujah! 39:14 Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory in our Lord 39:18 and Savior Jesus Christ be ye steadfast, 39:22 unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 39:28 for as much as you know that your labors are not in vain. 39:33 Amen! Let me tell you something: when He comes back 39:36 you'd better be a part of group 1 or group 2: 39:39 the righteous dead that arise first; 39:42 the righteous living that are caught up to meet the Lord 39:44 in the what? Air. 39:45 The wicked living who die at the brightness of His coming 39:47 you don't want to be a part of that group. 39:49 The wicked dead that remain dead... you don't want to be 39:51 a part of that group. It's interesting... 39:55 I have a lot of conversations with people about the Bible. 39:58 And a lot of times people feel, people say, you've heard them 40:01 say it... some of you may have said it. 40:03 People always say: "Well, when my daddy, when my mama... 40:08 when they died they went straight to heaven. 40:12 They're looking down on me. " 40:18 Well if we just studied and read from the Word of God 40:21 relative to the manner of His coming 40:23 that the dead in Christ rise first 40:27 and the righteous living are caught up to meet the Lord 40:30 in the air, 40:32 if everyone went to heaven at their earthly death, 40:38 who would Jesus be coming back to get? 40:47 If mama, who died in the Lord, was already in heaven 40:51 if daddy who died in the Lord was already in heaven, 40:53 if grandmamma, granddaddy were in the heaven already 40:55 at their death, who would Jesus be coming back to get? 40:59 There would be nobody for Jesus to come back and get 41:02 because they would already be in heaven. 41:04 But then that would make the Bible out to be a lie. 41:07 And God is a God that He should not lie. Amen! 41:12 The devil, however, is a liar. Are you hearing what I'm saying? 41:15 Sadly, though, when Jesus comes the second time 41:18 despite the warnings that have been given, 41:22 despite the signs that have been foretold, 41:27 when Jesus comes, just like the folk weren't prepared 41:32 for the first coming many people are not going to be 41:35 prepared for the second coming. 41:37 But sadly, even if they are not prepared 41:40 everyone's going to receive their just reward. 41:42 Revelation 22:12 is very clear and Jesus said 41:45 "Behold, I come quickly and My reward is with Me 41:48 to give every man, woman according as his work 41:51 shall be. " So you know, I live in Alabama 41:54 and we are deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement 41:57 and we sing a lot of Negro spirituals down at Oakwood. 42:02 And I am reminded of a Negro spiritual when I read this 42:05 verse, Revelation 22:12 42:07 and I say "You'd better mind. 42:10 You'd better mind... Judgment Day is coming. " 42:14 You'd better mind. You'd better mind who you're talking to 42:16 and you'd better mind who you're talking about. 42:19 Judgment Day is coming. 42:21 You'd better mind. 42:25 But because I love Jesus, 42:27 because Jesus loves me, 42:31 my Superman is coming back to get me. Amen. 42:36 Jesus is coming back for me. 42:41 Jesus died for me 42:45 and all He asks is that I live for Him. 42:47 He's done too much for me for me to miss out on 42:51 God's great heaven. 42:53 I've got a mansion prepared just for me 42:56 with my name written all over it. 43:00 Understand, I refuse to live in an earthly hell 43:04 and then eventually after 1,000 years 43:07 die and go to hell. That's too much hell. 43:09 Come on say amen. Amen! 43:12 But I've got to see my Jesus. 43:15 My Bible tells me there'll be no crying there. 43:20 There'll be no dying there. 43:22 There'll be no high blood pressure there. 43:26 There'll be no walking canes or wheelchairs there. 43:30 There'll be no cancer there. 43:33 There'll be no heart disease there. 43:35 There'll be no arthritis there. 43:36 There will be no house note there because my mansion's 43:39 gonna be paid for. 43:40 There'll be no car note there and I won't even have to pay gas 43:43 'cause I'm going to take up wings and fly from my mansion 43:46 to your mansion. No bills there; no night there. 43:49 The former things are going to be passed away. Amen! 43:52 And all things are going to become new. 43:54 Can I tell you about heaven? 43:56 Before I take my seat can I just tell you about heaven 43:58 the fact that the lion is going to play with the lamb. 44:01 I grew up singing a little song that one day I am going to 44:04 sit at the welcome table. 44:06 That I'm going to feast on milk and honey. 44:09 That I'm going to sing and never get tired. 44:13 That I'm going to walk and talk with Jesus 44:16 and I'm even going to eat grits with Jesus! 44:19 Then I'm going to put on my long white robe 44:23 then I'm going to shout hallelujah. 44:26 In fact, when we get to heaven 44:28 understand that when we get into the very presence of God 44:32 we're going to sing and we're going to shout 44:33 "Holy, holy, holy. " We won't rest day nor night 44:37 because we'll continually say "Holy, holy, holy, 44:40 Lord God Almighty which was and is to come. " 44:44 'Cause when we all get to heaven 44:47 what a day of rejoicing that's going to be. 44:51 When we all see Jesus 44:54 we're going to sing and shout the victory! 44:59 So that's why on earth it's a preparation place for paradise. 45:02 I shout every now and then 'cause I don't wait till the 45:04 battle's over. I shout now recognizing what God has done, 45:08 is doing, and will do for me. 45:09 And I'm so glad tonight that troubles don't last always. 45:14 I'm so glad tonight that behind every dark cloud 45:17 there's a silver lining. 45:19 I'm so glad tonight that weeping may endure for a night 45:23 but joy comes in the morning time. 45:27 The grass withers, the flower fades, 45:31 but the word of our God is going to stand forever. 45:37 "For the Lord Himself 45:41 shall descend from heaven with a shout, 45:45 with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, 45:48 are going to rise first. 45:52 Then we which are alive and remain are going to be caught up 45:54 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 45:56 And so shall we ever be with the Lord. " 45:59 Jesus is coming back. 46:04 I said Jesus is coming back. 46:09 Superman is coming back... 46:13 here comes Superman. 46:17 One day we're going to hear some loud sounds coming out of 46:21 the Orion constellation. 46:25 Look up in the sky... 46:30 it's a bird... it's a plane... 46:35 no, it's Jesus - Amen! - 46:40 the real Superman. Amen! 46:45 Christ returning. 46:50 Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 46:55 Amen. 46:58 When I talk about Jesus' coming I get excited. 47:03 Because my motivation in getting to God's great heaven, 47:06 my motivation in seeing Jesus, 47:08 if I could just have time to tell you how strong it is. 47:13 You see, 15 years ago my life was changed 47:17 and I would never be the same again. Yes, I grew up a PK. 47:20 Yes, I grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist home. 47:23 Yes, I grew up in the church. One would dare to say 47:25 I was even born in the church. 47:31 Fifteen years ago my wife and I 47:37 and our first-born daughter, 4-1/2 months old, 47:39 set out from Nashville, TN, to go to Tuscaloosa, AL, 47:43 to preach for a church we had formerly pastored. 47:45 Their anniversary. 47:48 Fifteen years ago, 20 miles from our destination, 47:53 we got into a terrible car accident. 47:59 I never will forget that day: 48:01 September 25, 1999. 48:06 We were in a SUV, and that SUV began to flip 48:09 and it began to flip and flip and flip. 48:11 We were in a horrific car accident. 48:13 Woke up only to see my wife unconscious in the median of the 48:16 interstate, our 4-1/2 month old baby girl motionless 48:21 in the median of the interstate. 48:26 Paramedics from Birmingham, AL, came to get my wife 48:28 and I. They came to get our daughter. 48:30 Took us to hospitals. My wife, after she regained her 48:34 consciousness, she said: "Honey, go to the other hospital - 48:36 the children's hospital where our daughter is. 48:38 Be with her. I'll be OK right here. " 48:40 I went over there September the 25th. It was a Sabbath. 48:45 And there I looked at my little girl, 48:47 4-1/2 months old, hooked up to life support. 48:53 My parents came. 48:56 My wife's parents came. 48:58 They were both pastors. 49:00 My conference president came, pastors came, everyone came. 49:03 Began to pray for the power of God. 49:06 Friends, I prayed like I've never prayed before. 49:10 Said: "Lord, spare our baby girl. " 49:16 "God, raise her up. " 49:21 Next day, the 26th, my wife left the other hospital and 49:23 came over to where we were, and we were all together. 49:26 We called for the pastors and we said: "Please anoint 49:28 our daughter. " And we had to tell people... 49:31 Some people were coming to visit and some people were 49:32 looking, they were nosy, trying to figure what's going on. 49:34 I had to tell them: "Look, if you don't believe in the power 49:36 of God, that we serve a God that can raise her up, 49:38 I don't need you coming in this room because we don't need 49:40 conflicting spirits in this room. " Amen! 49:46 We anointed my daughter. No change. 49:49 The 27th came. 49:53 Doctors came and they said: "Listen, if there's no change 49:56 in your daughter's condition 49:58 on the 28th at noon we're going to take her off life support. " 50:05 What could I say? I told them: "OK, no problem. " 50:11 Because I had faith to believe that God on the 28th at 12 noon 50:16 He was going to show up and He was going to show out. 50:21 I believed that if God could raise Jairus' daughter 50:25 surely God could raise our daughter. 50:29 The 28th came. 11:55 AM the doctors came to get us. 50:37 My wife and I went into the Intensive Care Unit. 50:44 I asked the doctors, I said: "Can I please hold 50:47 my little girl? " 50:50 The doctor said: "Sure, sir. " 50:52 There we were in the Intensive Care Unit. 50:55 My wife and I... our siblings, our parents. 50:59 Conference president still there, other pastors... 51:02 all of us praying for the move of God. 51:06 11:59 AM came. 51:09 I held my little girl. 51:11 I knew, friends, that she was going to cough, 51:15 that she was going to coo, that she was going to cry. 51:19 At 12 noon God was going to wake her up. 51:25 Twelve o'clock came. 51:29 Too bad I have no miraculous story. 51:34 Our first-born daughter... 51:40 she died in my arms. 51:43 I was mad at God. 51:48 "God, how could You allow this to happen to me? " 51:50 "God, I've done everything you told me to do. 51:52 I've gone to church school; 51:54 I've never drunk in my life; I've never smoked in my life. 51:57 I eat more Grillers than anybody. 51:59 God, how could You allow this? " 52:06 "God, I got married then had children. " 52:13 I was mad. 52:16 Talk about being a real... I was mad with the Lord. 52:22 People would come up to me and say all kind of stuff. 52:26 "Oh, you're young. You and your wife will have 52:29 children again. " I was not interested in hearing that. 52:32 I didn't want another child... I wanted THAT child. 52:38 Drove home from Birmingham to Nashville. 52:42 The next week, two weeks, three weeks I couldn't preach. 52:47 I didn't want to have anything to do with God... the church. 52:55 One day I was sitting in my home... 53:00 I was sitting in my office in my study in my home 53:02 and I just happened that day to pick up my Bible. 53:07 And I picked it up and I just opened my Bible. 53:11 Have you ever been in a place in your life where you just 53:13 open up your Bible and you open it up to the very text 53:16 that you need? That God will give you just what you need 53:19 just when you need it. Anybody ever been like that? 53:25 I opened it up, and it went straight to I Corinthians 10:13. 53:30 "There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man. 53:34 But God is faithful 53:37 who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able 53:39 but will with the temptation make a way of escape 53:42 that ye may be able to bear it. " 53:45 God let me know "I spared your life. " 53:49 Either one... 'cause I wasn't ready to go 53:52 or two... He still yet had a work for me to do 53:55 or three... all of the above. 54:00 I surmise that it was all of the above. 54:06 Fifteen years later God has blessed me, God has blessed 54:10 my wife, God has blessed our family, 54:12 God has blessed our ministry. 54:14 I give Him all the glory, I give Him all the honor, 54:17 I give Him all the praise. 54:18 He has blessed us with three additional children. 54:20 Not that they take the place of the one we lost 54:22 but I'm encouraged when I go to Selected Messages book 2 54:25 and Ellen White says that just before the coming of the Lord 54:31 that God's going to have to lay little ones to rest. 54:35 But at the second coming, the little ones He had to lay 54:39 to rest when the dead in Christ rise 54:44 the angel Gabriel will take those little ones and place them 54:47 in the arms of their mothers. 54:52 And so you have to understand 54:54 I get excited about the second coming 54:57 because there will be a reunion with my little girl. 55:02 For somebody here tonight there's going to be a reunion 55:04 with your husband, a reunion with your wife, 55:06 a reunion with your mother, your father, your son, 55:08 your daughter. There's going to be a reunion. 55:10 There will be a great Camp Meeting in the Promised Land! 55:13 Amen! 55:15 But more than that there will be a union 55:21 with Jesus Christ... 55:25 the real Superman... 55:28 who makes it all very possible. 55:34 Tonight I don't know what your story is, because the reality is 55:36 everyone in here has a story. 55:42 But He's coming back. 55:46 His feet will not touch the ground. 55:49 The angels will accompany Him. 55:53 Every eye will see Him; every ear will hear Him. 55:57 The dead in Christ are going to rise first. 55:59 We which are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Him 56:03 and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 56:09 Amen! 56:10 God, tonight we surrender our all. 56:17 We surrender our all to You tonight 56:19 because, Lord, we are looking forward to Your second coming. 56:24 We are looking forward to the real Superman -Jesus Christ - 56:28 coming back to get His redeemed from this earth. 56:32 So Lord, You told us in Your Word to occupy 56:34 till You come, so we've got to pray a little more, 56:39 read a little more, study a little more, 56:41 worship a little more. 56:44 But soon and very soon we're going to see the King. 56:49 So I pray, God, that everyone that's here tonight 56:52 at 3ABN Camp Meeting, that everyone that is watching 56:55 tonight, that we be a part of either group 1 or 2 56:58 where we rise first or we're caught up to meet You 57:02 in the air. And so shall we ever be with You. 57:08 In the name of the Father, 57:11 the name of the Son, 57:13 and the name of the Holy Spirit, 57:17 Amen. 57:19 Get ready... here comes Superman. Amen! |
Revised 2022-03-14