Jesus spoke of His second coming. This reality is mentioned in 23 of 27 New Testament books. Like Joseph in his gracious way to his brothers, the Lord shall pour forth His blessings on His people. The sight of the pierced Savior represents fulfillment of His promise. Faithful to Truth, this Day of the Lord shall come. (2 Peter 3:1; Genesis 45:1-3; Zechariah 12:1-10; Isaiah 53; Romans 11:25-27)

Speaker(s): Justin Schaller
Sermon 12974
Date: 2025-08-10
Time: Sun 6:30 pm

 

P. Justin Schaller –

Sunday evening, you want to stand up just for a moment. Just greet your neighbor. Turn around. Say
hello. If you have nothing to say, just keep saying hello. Okay. So, let’s just open up with a word
of prayer this evening. Let’s just pray that God just ministers to us from his Word. (Prayer).
So, this evening I just want to take you to a few passages. We’ll see where this goes. But I’ve
been studying the book of 2 Peter just for the last month or so. Just reading through it. And 2
Peter 3, I was thinking maybe we could just look at a few verses there and then go to Genesis. If
you look in 2 Peter 3, Peter is really dealing with the false teachers that are in the church. And
these are people that are showing themselves to be followers of Christ, but they have a false
message. And Peter is very much afraid that the true believers that are in the church are going
to be deterred in their hope of the Second Coming.

Now, the Second Coming is something that is in the Scripture in the New Testament. There’s 27
New Testament books and in 23 of them, it speaks about the Second Coming of Christ. And we
want to make sure that we don’t mix up the Second Coming of Christ with what we know as the
Rapture of the church. The Rapture of the church and the Second Coming of Christ are two
separate events.

But Jesus spoke very often, especially in his last days with his disciples about his Second
Coming. Paul speaks about it. The other New Testament writers speak about it. All four Gospels
speak about the Second Coming of Christ. And we have to understand that the early church,
they believe that Christ was going to return in their lifetime.

Now, Peter had a different viewpoint because we know in John chapter 21 that Jesus actually
told Peter that he would die. So, Peter knew that he was actually going to face death in his
lifetime. But when you read Paul’s epistles, you see very often, especially in 1 Corinthians
chapter 15, which speaks about the Rapture, that we shall be changed in the twinkling of an
eye. Paul includes himself in that passage that he believed that Christ would return in his
lifetime. And the early church was taught about the Second Coming of Christ.

But there were people that came into the church and in the book of 1 Thessalonians and 2
Thessalonians, those believers were taught by false teachers that they had missed the Second
Coming of Christ and they were afraid of it. But even in our age now, 2,000 years after Christ
has come the first time, if you read liberal theologians, many of them talk about the Second
Coming of Christ and it not happening. They spiritualize it and they say that this is just language
that is talking about the kingdom of God being inside of us.

There will not be a Millennial kingdom. There won’t be a return of Christ to this earth and there won’t be a final judgment. But Peter gives the argument in 2 Peter chapter 3 that these false teachers are doing it for a
certain reason. And I don’t want to really talk about this too long, but just briefly, you can see in chapter 3:1, he says, “Beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you, and in both of them, I
stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance.” Basically just saying, I’m going to
teach you something that you’ve already been taught.

And this is really just as believers, we are taught these things again and again. And it could be
that we can lose our trust of the Second Coming, We can lose our trust of the Rapture. It is
actually going to happen? And Peter is saying that it is a sure thing. Christ has come the first
time. The Old Testament prophets wrote about his first coming, but they also wrote about his
second coming.

So, he wants to remind them of this. And in vs. 2, he says that you should remember the words
which were spoken before by the holy prophets, meaning the Old Testament prophets and the
commandments of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. Meaning that the Old Testament
prophets spoke about the Second Coming. Christ spoke about the Second Coming and also the
apostles. Twenty-three out of the 27 New Testament books speak about the Second Coming.
But he says in vs. 3, I want you to know this because there’s going to be false teachers that
come into the church and they are going to be mockers.

Look at in vs. 3-7. Meaning the Second Coming of Christ. We know that when Christ came the first time, he came with grace and he came with love. But we know from Revelation 1, when he comes the second time, he comes as
a judge.

So, he says in vs. 7, that when Christ returns in vs. 7, that there will be a judgment being
reserved against the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly men. Vs. 7-10. “The
day of the Lord.” Whenever you see that, that is always the Second Coming. vs. 10.
So, this is really the result of the Second Coming. But just very simply, Peter is saying that false
teachers are coming in and saying that day will never come. And he gives a reason why they
don’t want that day to come. And it says in vs. 3. Look at what it says, 2 Peter 3:3.

Now, if you look in 2 Peter, he is really talking about these false teachers. And he describes them as people
that are led by their lust. And the word in the Greek is a sexual lust. That they have some sort of
sexual desire. They have adultery. They have fornication. And they don’t want to think about
the Second Coming because they know when that day comes, they will be exposed of their sin.
It’s an amazing thing that even in Romans chapter 1, it says that at the beginning of time the
earth has been created and every single human being that is on this earth knows there is a
Creator but because of the lust that they have and the passions that they have for sin, they no
longer want to see him as sovereign God but rather they make up their own gods.

It’s an interesting thing even with these false teachers. They are trying to say the Second
Coming will never come because they don’t want to deal with the judgment that the Scripture is talking about. So, what I want to just bring out tonight just briefly just in two passages is how
the Second Coming is going to occur and then also how in the Second Coming God is going to
still be full of grace and he will be the Savior.

So turn to Genesis chapter 45 in a story that we’re all familiar with, the story of Joseph. And I
spoke about this this morning in Federal Hill. And I said that in the Old Testament, we have
what is called types. Now, many of you maybe know what that phrase is but a type is
something that is reflecting a truth that will come fulfilled in the future.

So, for example, you have the story of the judgment that came in Genesis chapter 6 with Noah
and the wickedness that was on the earth. That was a precursor or a picture of what it will be
like when Christ returns in the Second Coming. That God was giving humanity the ability to
come to repentance. And he had Noah, who was a preacher for 120 years, who preached to
everyone in that day that there will be a future judgment that will come, but God is giving them
a way out.

And what was the way out? It was the ark. What does the ark represent? It represents salvation
from judgment. Noah was a type of Christ. That Christ is the door into the ark so that you will
be projected from judgment. That’s a type in the Old Testament. We know with Abraham and
Isaac, Isaac is a type. He was Abraham’s only son. And God asked Abraham to give up his only
son as a sacrifice. That was a type of Christ. We have types all throughout the Old Testament
that point to who Christ is. And Christ himself used many of those Old Testament stories to
show that those stories actually happen. But they were really pointing to him.

Now, in Genesis chapter 45, you have one of these types and you have this man whose name is
Joseph. And we know this story that Joseph was given a dream by God and his brothers did not
like it because Joseph was seen as this savior or some sort of messianic figure and his brothers
just thought that he was full of himself and they had pride and jealousy towards him.

So, what did they do? They concocted a plan to get rid of him and kill him. And they fulfilled
that mission. They didn’t kill him, but they sold him out of their household into slavery. And we
know how the story progresses that Joseph, the hand of God was on his life, and he was
exchanged from one place to the next. And he ended up in this Pharaoh’s prison cell. And it
looked as though he was not going to be used the way that the dream showcased, the way he
way he was going to be used. And it looked like his life was just misery and despair.

But then God gives him this ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. And through that
interpretation, Pharaoh sees that he has some sort of special divine power. And he appoints
him as the head over Egypt. And as the story goes, we know that there was a famine that came
and Joseph also received this divine wisdom that God gave him so that he prepared for that
famine.

And as the story goes, we know that Jacob sent his sons down into Egypt because they heard
that there was food there. And so the brothers that sold Joseph into slavery now have to enter
into this delegate, this prime minister’s presence, not knowing that it’s their brother, the one
that they tried to murder and get rid of and the one that they sold into slavery. And they come
before him as mere beggars with no alternative to be able to find food other than just begging
for this prime minister to be able to give them grain.

I know many of you know that story and it’s an amazing story, but it’s a type and we know that
type Joseph is a type of Christ. But the question is when does that occur? When does it occur
that these brothers, the 12 tribes of Israel, these 11 brothers come in and they beg to Christ for
salvation and for food.

But let’s read it in vs. 1 and then we’ll get to the passage that we want to look at. Genesis 45:1, and
you can read this story if you haven’t read it. It’s an amazing just adventure of how Joseph is
not revealing himself to his brothers yet, but rather withholding his true identity. His brothers
don’t recognize him and he’s withholding his true identity. But he can’t wait to show his
brothers that I’m alive and you didn’t kill me, which just seems insane because if your brothers
or someone tried to kill you and you had the ability to finally be in a place of power, you might
seek revenge.

Like if you’ve ever read the novel, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” it’s just the sickest revenge that
you could ever imagine. It’s the opposite of this story. Rather, Joseph does not have any
animosity or hatred or jealousy or rather trying to be vindictive to get back to his brothers.
But what does he want to do? He wants to show them grace and love. And he’s so excited that
they’re now brought back together. Look at it in vs. 1. Joseph could not refrain himself any
longer. It’s almost as though that you have something that you want to tell your friend or your
wife or your husband and you’re so excited about it, but you can’t tell them. You plan the
surprise party for your friend and you want to tell him how amazing it’s going to be, but you
have to refrain yourself.

But Joseph gets to a place now that he can’t even control his emotion. He’s so excited. And it
says in vs. 1, “Joseph could not refrain himself before them that stood before him and he
cried.” Now, this is something that we can read over very quickly in the sense that he can’t
refrain himself and he cries, but this is not just a normal little weep or the eyes watering. This is
a loud explosion.

You know, like when you’re so excited, what happens? The eyes water. You start making weird
noises. You start like stuff starts dripping out of your nose. Like you can’t control it. It is an
emotion that is beyond what we normally experience because look at what it says. His cry caused every man to go out from me and there stood no man with him while Joseph made
himself known unto his brethren and he wept aloud so much that the Egyptians heard and the
house of Pharaoh heard.

So, this means he’s in a separate room. He sends all the Egyptians out. So, it’s just him and his
brothers, and he wants to show them what? We’re back together, guys. And not only are we
back together, but I’m in a position that we’re going to send the best grains back home to dad.
We are saved. And his brothers are thinking, Wait a second. Can we trust him? Wait a second. Is
he going to put a little bit of poison in the grains when we go back home? Wait a second. Why
would he be treating us this way?

Vs. 3. And what’s the first thing he says? Does my father live? Imagine being away from your
father for years and years and years. There’s no email, no text message, no social media. You
have no idea. And he loved his father. And he says, Is my father alive? And they just looked
shocked. Look at it in vs. 3. They’re troubled at his presence.

That’s a key word. They’re troubled at his presence. Wouldn’t you? You and the boys, all the
brothers keeping that secret for so long. Your dad doesn’t even know that you were the reason
that the son that he loved so much, the son that he loved so much, Joseph, these are the boys
that took him out. They’re thinking he’s dead.

But here’s the story. This is an amazing story. What you meant for evil, God meant for good.
Now, where do we see this in the Gospels? Where do we see this type of Christ where the
tribes of Israel come to Joseph and Joseph, the one that they killed, Joseph is the one who
delivers them.

Let’s look, if you want to turn to Zechariah 12. And this is an amazing thing because you can see
the attributes of God through history. Now, Zechariah 12 has not yet taken place. Zechariah 12
is speaking about the Second Coming of Christ. And this is a period of time where the Jewish
nation has been apostate. Two thousand years ago, the Messiah, Yahweh himself, has come
and they killed him. They murdered him. They gave him to the Romans to be beaten like no
man has every been beaten before.

And for 2,000 years, yes, they’re very religious on the outside. But the Messiah, the only one
who can truly save them, they got rid of him. Now, look at what Zechariah has to say in vs. 1 of
chapter 12. Vs. 1. Meaning the prophet Zechariah receives this burden of what the future looks
like for the nation of Israel. Zechariah is an amazing book because it’s talking about all of the
under shepherds that should be leaders in Israel, but they are not.

Just flip back if you’re in your Bible. Look at in chapter 11:17, just one verse prior to 12:1. Look
at what he says. Look at what he says in vs. 16. That’s why Jesus was so upset with the ones

who should be the shepherds in Israel. They were fleecing the people. They were taking that
poor widow’s last two mites. They were shaking people down for all they had. They were not
saving them. They were not leading them to still waters whatsoever. They were using them,
killing the sheep to take the wool for themselves.

And in the last days, we know that Israel is going to turn to some sort of Messiah figure as their
savior. But it says that that shepherd will leave the flock. So, what does that mean? That means
they’re not going to have any allies. They’re not going to have anyone who is going to come to
their aid. And all of the leaders are not going to be true leaders when times get tough. And the
leaders are doing it for money and their own willful gain. They’re out of here when times get
tough.

This is the picture that Zachariah is showing us. And look at what he says. Zech. 12:1, so, this is
the word of the Lord. This is the word of Yahweh coming to Zechariah. And look at what he says
in vs. 2. He’s going to make Israel the problem for all the nations of the earth. Vs. 3. We know
that in the last days, everyone on the planet, all the nations, all the leaders, presidents, prime
ministers are going to say, What is causing all of this turmoil in the world? It’s Israel. And it says
that in vs. 3.

In the last days, every single nation will be surrounding Jerusalem. We know with our
technology, there’s going to be nuclear missiles. There’s going to be drones. There’s going to be
everything that could annihilate them in seconds. And they are not going to have any ally. No
U.S, no EU, no anyone.

And at that moment, at that moment, they are going to look up and they’re going to call out to
Yahweh. And look at what it says in vs. 4. So, God is going to come in and he is going to defend
the ones that killed him. Then he says, vs. 5-9. Wow. This is unbelievable. China, Russia, U.S.
whoever it is, they’re all going to surround that little tiny nation with all of their military force.
And at that moment, they’re going to look up.

And look at what happens in vs. 10. Whenever you see that, he’s speaking of salvation. He’s
going to pour out his Spirit on the nation of Israel. And it says in vs. 10, it says, “and I will pour
out.” Who is I will pour out? Well, it’s Jehovah in vs. 1. It’s Yahweh all throughout the chapter.
And then it says, vs. 10. They will look up and see Yahweh as the deliverer but guess what? They
will look upon me whom they have what? Pierced. At that moment, they will have a realization
that the one that they called out to in their dire situation and saved them is the one that they
put on the cross. Just like Joseph revealing himself to his brothers.

Imagine the nation of Israel looking upon the one whom they what? Pierced. So what’s the
result? Look at it in vs. 10. Doesn’t that sound just like Joseph’s brothers when they saw Joseph and he revealed his true identity to them? What was their reaction? They were afraid. Isn’t that
an amazing thing?

When Jesus comes back and he defends this nation of Israel because of his covenant that he
made with them, they will look. Their first response is they’re going to look at him and be like.
Uh oh, we killed him. Just like Joseph’s brothers thought that Joseph was dead and he’s gone,
we never have to think about him.

In their dire situation, when they have no food to put in their belly and their whole families
were dying off, they only had one place to go. And where did they land? At their only deliverer,
and his name was Joseph. This is God’s longsuffering and his patience towards his people.
It’s not based upon their apostasy. It’s not based upon that they killed him and rejected their
Messiah when he came. It’s not that the Jewish leaders did it illegally and murdered him. It has
nothing to do with man. It has everything to do with he character and nature of God that’s on
full display to ones who should be wiped out.

But he says, No, I am the God of all grace. I’m the God of mercy. And as you read through the
chapter, look at what Paul says. Let’s just look at this. And then I just want to show you one
other thing. You guys following this with me? Isn’t God amazing in his grace and mercy? I just
love it. The fact that if we understood how excited God is to showcase his love and his joy about
us, even when we’re in our sin, it would floor us.

Sometimes even as believers, we think, How can I come into the presence of an Almighty God
when I am such a wicked sinner? He’s like Joseph. He can’t wait. What can he not wait for? He
can’t wait to just showcase, yes, you are my child. It’s like Luke chapter 15. What does Jesus
say? When one sinners, when one person who is a sinners receives my grace, they are going to
rejoice and we’re going to have a huge party.

Jesus comes back to save the nation of Israel and he’s not coming back with a finger like this.
He’s coming back leaving the 99 and saying, You are the one. Let’s have a party. We’re back
together again. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yes, you rejected me. Yes, you tried
to murder me. But that doesn’t change the fact that my love towards you is unconditional, and
no man can change it.

Look at what Paul says in Romans chapter 11 if I can find it. Look at what he says in vs. 25.
Romans 11:25. This is an amazing thing. Vs. 25. Meaning the nation of Israel was hardened so
they couldn’t see their Messiah. You meant it for evil by crucifying Christ, but God actually
meant it for what? For your good.

Doesn’t meant you’re not accountable and responsible for it, but you were hardened. Why
were you hardened? You were hardened so that the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. vs. 26-
27. No sins are taken away unless there is a sacrifice. Amazing plan of God.

Joseph says, You meant it for evil. Yeah, you’re accountable for that. But God used your evil for
your ultimate good.

Now, last point is this. In Zechariah 12, this is an amazing thing and I’ve read a good bit about
this. Zechariah 12, let me just show you. Turn to Isaiah chapter 53. I’m kind of jumping all over,
but just to bring the point home. Isaiah 53 is an amazing prophecy. We, many of us, know it.
Isaiah 53 is talking about the suffering servant, the Messiah that’s going to come.

Prophecy in the Old Testament is always written in future tense. Isaiah 53 is different because it
is speaking in past tense. He’s speaking about a future that is going to happen, but it’s people
speaking about something that happened in the past in their perspective. Let me just show you.
Look in vs. 2. It doesn’t say, Isaiah 53, he will grow up. It says he grew up. Past tense. Vs. 3. It
was, it’s past tense. Look at in vs. 4. Look at in vs. 5. Everything from Isaiah’s perspective is
future, but the ones who are saying that are speaking about something that happened in past
tense.

Now, you can read – I’ve read a lot of commentaries on this and most commentaries believe
that in Zechariah 12 when they are mourning the fact that they crucified their Messiah, they are
speaking Isaiah 53 and giving their reason for why they didn’t accept him. Because if you look
in vs. 5, looking at in vs. 4, he’s borne our griefs. He carried our sorrows. Yet we did not esteem
him. Yet we did not esteem him stricken. Meaning when they saw Christ on the cross, no
prophet would be hanging on the cross. So, that gave them validation that the wasn’t a prophet
and he wasn’t the Son of God.

They’re giving their explanation. Look at vs. 2. It’s like a sucker branch in the ground. It’s like a
useless plant. They’re saying when you look at him, there was no beauty in him whatsoever.
Vs. 3. But look at what they say in vs. 4. Surely, he has borne our griefs. When they look upon
Christ and they see the nail scarred hands and they see the Messiah that is coming back in the
clouds in the Second Coming as their Savior, it says in vs. 10 of Zechariah 12, grace will be
poured out on them and they will open their eyes and realize he is their only Savior of their
sins.

What God meant, what man meant for evil, God meant for good. It’s an amazing passage and
you could just obviously go through the whole thing, but it’s an amazing thing and this is just
the last point that I want to say. The Second Coming, yes, it’s judgment. We read about it again
and again and again and Jesus talks about it, but it’s also a fulfillment of his covenant that he
could never lie and he can never go against it.

And he’s going to show himself faithful. And this is the thing that gives me so much confidence
in the Word of God and what the Old Testament says and what the New Testament writers say.
And it is this. They spoke about his first coming and they speak a lot about his Second Coming.
And when you see him in his first coming, he is grace and he is truth and he’s salvation. And
even when he comes in the Second Coming, yes, he comes in judgment and people need to
hear and be ready and be prepared, but he also comes in grace and love to the people he’s
made a covenant with.

That gives me so much peace in my own life because I could be like Joseph’s brothers and I
could think that I’ve outrun or outdid God’s grace. But if you think of thousands of years of
Yahweh being faithful to a nation and he will be faithful to them to the end and he will pour out
his salvation and grace and it is even at the expense of his own death and the people that did it.
How much grace does he have for us? And how faithful is he going to be? If he said it, he is
going to do it. Amen. Amen. We can give the Lord a hand. (Prayer)

P. Schaller –

Well, okay. So, let’s give an example. P. Steve and I have oneness. He and I have
oneness in Christ. So, he’s going to walk over here. Come on over here. So, how do I feel when
he comes? I’m a companion of all those that fear you. So, we have like a oneness. I’m happy to
see him. There’s a crown for everyone that loves Christ’s appearing.

So, he’s coming. Do you anticipate? Why do you anticipate? It’s the same as me meeting him. It
is. It’s the same spirit. it’s the same fellowship. Of course, it’s on steroids that Jesus is coming
and we are anticipating his coming. We are, are we? But why? ‘Cause, because we are walking
with him now and we know him and I know him and I know you.

By the way, I was at the outreach meeting yesterday almost weeping seeing people. I haven’t
been her for two weeks on the weekend and I just saw people. I just think it’s amazing. We
have this love that we have for each other. Do you anticipate his coming? What will happen
when he comes? And also, we’re going to meet him in the air and then when we come on the
earth, it’s amazing, isn’t it?

Paul said I was refreshed by the coming of Titus. When a brother comes, when a sister comes,
you know, it’s amazing. So, that was a very good message. I never heard Isaiah 53 like that. That
was amazing. Zechariah 12, the context. It’s so good and uh people think they don’t understand
us when we say I really anticipate. I’m excited about it.

Also, about dying. That we’re going to die. I mean none of us like it in one way but on the other
hand, do you want to see Jesus? Do you want to see people that have gone on? Do you want to
sit at a table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I mean, it grows on you. Read Revelation chapters
20, 21, 22, and it grows in your heart and reading about going to heaven and anticipate what

we’re part of because what we have followed is not empty. It’s filled with life. It’s filled with
meaning. That was so good. Okay. Amen.

 

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