1. Friday we celebrated Christmas. Do you know that for every time the first coming of Christ is mentioned, the Second Coming is mentioned eight times?
2. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself referred to His second coming 21 times, and over 50 times we are exhorted to be ready for that blessed hope.
3. Some of the most well-known Scriptures regarding the birth of Christ also refer to His second coming (Isa. 9:6, 7; Micah 5:2).
4. One of our most popular Christmas carols, Isaac Watts’ “Joy to the World,” is actually about the second coming of Christ. It was originally entitled, “The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom,” and it is based upon Psalm 98 (cf. Psalm 98:9).
5. Isaac Watts wrote that beautiful hymn over 250 years ago, and today we are still waiting for the Lord’s return.
6. We are getting closer and closer to the catastrophic judgments described in our Lord's Olivet Discourse, and in the book of Revelation, and lost sinners have no idea what is in store for them.
7. Even many Christians are ignorant of God’s prophetic program. We are heading slowly but surely toward the Battle of Armageddon.
8. In a recent presidential debate, one foolish politician proclaimed that if he were president he would shoot Russian planes out of the sky.
9. Another candidate on the platform then looked at the audience and said, "If you want World War Three, there's your candidate."
10. But will it be WWIII or will it be the Battle of Armageddon? Revelation 16:16 says, "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
11. According to Bible prophecy, Israel, and the Arab nations, and Russia, and Red China, and Persia (Iran) will all play a big part in the events leading up to the Battle of Armageddon.
12. North Korea has warned us that they are ready to blow up the world if they are provoked. Iran is a powder keg ready to explode any minute. I am glad Jesus is coming back!
13. This morning, I would like for us to look at both the first coming of Christ and His second coming

I. THE FIRST TIME CHRIST CAME TO BETHLEHEM, BUT THE SECOND TIME, HE WILL COME TO JERUSALEM

1. Our Lord had to be born in Bethlehem in order for the Old Testament Scripture to be fulfilled (Micah 5:2).
2. But Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, approximately 80 miles north of Bethlehem (Luke 1:26).
3. God worked all that out by having Caesar Augustus pass a decree ordering all his subjects to go to their ancestral city to be taxed (Luke 2:1-7).
4. But the second time Christ comes to earth, it will be to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem.
5. Our Lord referred to Jerusalem as “the city of the great King” (Matt. 5:35; cf. Ps. 48:2).
6. Since Christ Himself is “the great King” and He is coming back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it is appropriate that He returns to Jerusalem, the city of the great King.
7. Referring to the birth of Christ, the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David" (Luke 1:32).
8. The throne of David was in Jerusalem, and that is where it will be when Christ returns.
9. To the Jews, Jerusalem is the center of the earth – the religious, political, and cultural capital of the world (cf. Ps. 122:6; 132:13; 137:5, 6).
10. “Jerusalem was the world’s star; whatever light lingered on earth was borrowed from the oracles preserved by Israel” – C. H. Spurgeon.
11. According to the Bible, all directions are in relation to Jerusalem – north, south, east, or west. For example, in the Bible, Egypt is often referred to as “the south.” Why? Because it is located south of Israel.
12. When our Lord ascended into heaven, it was from the Mount of Olives, right outside the city of Jerusalem. The angels explained to the disciples that our Lord would return to that very same place (Acts 1:8-12; Zech. 14:1-4).
13. The Bible says, “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem…” (Zech. 8:3; cf. 1:16).
14. When Christ returns to Jerusalem there will finally be peace in that dangerous city (Zech. 8:4, 5; cf. Ps. 122:6).
15. By the way, Jerusalem is the real capital of Israel, not Tel Aviv. Jerusalem has been their capital since the days of King David.
16. In more recent times, Israel designated Jerusalem as its capital back in 1950. Yet most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv due to ongoing pressure from the Muslims.
17. Logically, the capital of Israel is Jerusalem. That is where the seat of government resides; that is where the country's parliament stands and legislates and that is where the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet have their offices and meet.
18. This is a very strange situation! Israel is a sovereign nation, yet they are denied the diplomatic right to choose the location of their own capital city.
19. Can you imagine if foreigners told the USA that they did not recognize Washington DC as our nation's capital?
20. The U.S. Congress sought to correct this problem by passing the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995 and again in 2002. It was passed by overwhelming bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate, but it has never been enforced, and so we still have our embassy in Tel Aviv.
21. In any event, today Jerusalem is a city in spiritual darkness. But when Christ returns will Jerusalem will be called a “city of truth” (Zech. 8:3).
22. But it is not a "city of truth" today. Revelation 11:8 refers to Jerusalem as “Sodom and Egypt.” It is interesting that God calls Jerusalem “Sodom and Egypt.” There have been “gay pride parades” in Jerusalem for several years now.
23. Thousands of perverts, including men dressed like women, participate in these wicked parades.
24. In addition to all of the debauchery and drinking going on in Jerusalem, there are constant bombings from Muslim terrorists. According to the Bible, we should not expect any peace in Jerusalem until Christ returns (cf. Zech. 12:1-3; 14:1-3).
25. There can be no peace for those who have rejected the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6; 48:22; 57:20, 21).

II. THE FIRST TIME CHRIST CAME, FEW RECOGNIZED WHO HE WAS; THE SECOND TIME, “EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM”

1. There has always been a faithful remnant of believers. God revealed this important truth to Elijah the prophet when He told him, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal" (I Kings 19:18).
2. This doctrine of the remnant is taught throughout the Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
3. And so, when Christ came the first time, there was a small remnant of believers who recognized Him as the long-awaited Messiah:

• John the Baptist and his parents (Luke 1:39-44)
• The shepherds (Luke 2:15-18)
• Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
• Anna (Luke 2:36-38)
• The wise men from the east (Matt. 2:1, 2)

4. However, most people were not expecting the Messiah and therefore had little or no interest in the Lord Jesus Christ when He came:

• There was no room at the inn (Luke 2:7)
• Herod wanted the baby Jesus killed (Matt. 2:16-18)
• The religious leaders rejected Him and eventually had Him crucified.

5. But things will be much different when our Lord comes back. The Bible says, “every eye shall see Him” (Rev. 1:7).
6. When He came the first time, the Jewish people did not want Him. John 1:11 says, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
7. But when our Lord comes back, the Jews will repent of their sins and receive Him (Zech. 12:10; 13:1, 2).
8. Most of the heathen had no idea who Christ was the first time He came. For example, Pontius Pilate asked our Lord, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” (Matt. 27:11).
9. But when Christ comes back, “then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn” (Matt. 24:30).

III. THE FIRST TIME CHRIST CAME TO DIE FOR OUR SINS, THE SECOND TIME HE IS COMING IN JUDGMENT

1. The first time Christ was “despised and rejected of men” (Isa. 53:3). He came to die on the cross for our sins (Isa. 53:4-6).
2. But when He returns to earth, it will be in judgment (Isa. 63:1-6). The “winepress” (Isa. 63:2, 3) is a symbol of the wrath of God (Rev. 14:17-20).
3. The first time He was “the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). But when He comes back, the emphasis will be on the “wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16, 17).
4. It was quiet and peaceful when Christ was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, but it will be “the day of vengeance” when He returns (Isa. 63:4; cf. Luke 21:20-28; II Thess. 1:7-10).
5. Since this world wants nothing to do with Jesus, they will soon embrace the antichrist. Our Lord said in John 5:43, "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

CONCLUSION:

1. Before we finish up, let us look at Daniel 12:4.
2. Sir Isaac Newton is considered by many to be the greatest scientist that ever lived. On the basis of Daniel 12:4, Sir Isaac Newton wrote these words over 300 years ago: "Personally I believe these words concern the end of time. Men will travel from country to country. There may be some means of travel invented which will enable people to go much more quickly than now.”
3. Sir Isaac Newton went on to suggest that this speed might exceed 50 miles per hour, an incredible prediction back in the 17th century!
4. Voltaire, the famous French atheist, scoffed at Newton and ridiculed his faith in the Bible, but time has vindicated Sir Isaac Newton.
5. Today Space Shuttle astronauts can travel at speeds over 17,000 miles per hour. Daniel said, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (12:4).
6. Sir Isaac Newton was correct in his interpretation of Daniel 12:4. From Daniel’s time up until about 150 years ago, the fastest a man could travel was on horseback.
7. But during the past 150 years, "knowledge has increased," and now man can travel rapidly by car or train or airplane, etc.
8. I read recently that 90 percent of all the scientists who have ever lived are alive today.
9. The Internet is currently doubling in size every seven months.
10. Today man is rushing to and fro, going here and there, at breakneck speed. But soon God will grab hold of this sin-loving world and slow it down.
11. But according to some Bible teachers, Daniel 12:4 is not referring to an increase in general knowledge, but an increase in knowledge of Bible prophecy.
12. Running “to and fro” takes effort!  Studying God's Word takes effort!   Understanding Bible prophecy takes effort!
13. You can be a more successful soulwinner if you understand Bible prophecy.  People today are worried.  Law enforcement experts predict there will be more terrorist attacks like we just had in San Bernardino.
14. Meanwhile our politicians are bringing in hundreds of thousands of Muslims every year!  Some of them are terrorists. 
15. People are concerned, worried, depressed, confused, distraught.  We need to show them our only hope is in the Lord.
16. Revelation 22:20 says, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."