Great Disappointment, Blessed Hope

"The End is Near!  Jesus is coming on..."

• Harold Camping - May 21st, 2011 (also 1994)
• Edgar Whisenant - September 12, 1988
• William Miller - October 22, 1844 (also 3/21/43-3/21/44) -- aka "The Great Disappointment"

Easter messages - Remember, people of Jesus' day also expected Him to come in His glory.  "Hosanna!" cries of hope, of justice, of deliverance.  "Crucify Him!" cries of disappointment, of disillusionment, of anger.  Today, same expectation, same misguided hope. 

What are the signs of His coming?

Matthew 24:3-51  

Mark 13:32-37  

John 14:3 "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. "

• Be ready.  Think insurance, seat belts, fire detectors, preparedness plans (CDC?)

• The Wedding Procession 

  • The bridegroom’s friends went, usually by night, to fetch the bride and her attendants to the home of the groom

  • The joyousness of it all is witnessed by the proverbial “voice of the bridegroom” and the cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!”

• The Wedding Supper 

  • Held at the home of the groom / parents of the groom

  • It is the bringing home of an already accredited bride to her covenanted husband

  • The bridegroom is absent at the house of a relative or friend, where men congregate in the evening for the purpose of escorting him home. When he indicates that it is time to go, all rise up, and candles and torches are supplied to those who are to form the procession, and they move off. 

  • As at the house where the bridegroom receives his friends before starting some come late, and speeches of congratulation have to be made, and poems have to be recited or sung in praise of the groom, and to the honor of his family, it is often near midnight when the procession begins.

  • The women take up the peculiar cry of wedding joy that tells those farther along that the pageant has started. This cry is taken up all along the route, and gives warning to those who are waiting with the bride that it is time to arise and light up the approach, and welcome the bridegroom with honor. 

  • Meanwhile, as the night wears on, and the duties of robing the bride and adorning the house are all done, a period of relaxing and drowsy waiting sets in.

  • (upon the bridegroom’s arrival) the doors would be closed, leaving within the relatives and invited guests

The Bridegroom Comes

Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”  

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

2 Thessalonians  1:7-10, 2:1-12  

Luke 12:35-40  

Personal Application

Hebrews 9:28 "He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him."  

James 5:7-8 "Dear brothers and sisters,[c] be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near." 

2 Peter 3:3-15  

Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  

Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.  He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. " 

1 Peter 3:15-16 And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.  But do this in a gentle and respectful way.  

Rev 22:17,20 "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. …  He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"