God set this same Jesus at His Own right hand in heaven. He set Him there with the intent that Christ should rule over all principality, all power, all might, all dominion and indeed over everything that exists in the world, and specifically over two distinct things—over “every name that is named” and“over His church.” Christ, then, is now…NOW…ruling over the affairs of men, and He is most especially ruling over His church, that church which was begun on the Day of Pentecost some two thousand years ago.

Paul, in one of his letters to the Corinthian church of Christ, revealed the fact which is denied by so many in the world today. Speaking of the time of the end, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 24, “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” Notice very carefully that Paul said that when the end comes, Jesus will deliver up “the kingdom to God, even the Father.” When we read that Jesus is reigning at the right hand of God, and when we further read that He will deliver up the kingdom at the end, it has to be seen—it must be seen—that Jesus is, even now, reigning over a kingdom.

This is so clear as to be irrefutable. If Jesus, if Christ is to deliver the kingdom over which He reigns to God, the Father, some day, then it must be seen that He must have a kingdom to deliver up! Christ is reigning, even now, and according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 25, “He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet”…and yes…Jesus Christ does have enemies. And if we read further in Paul’s words to the Corinthian church, we find out that there is one last enemy that has to be destroyed—which must be destroyed—by Jesus before He will cease in His reign, and that enemy is death, verse 26 [of 1 Corinthians 15—“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”].

Now, Paul does not leave us in ignorance about the circumstances surrounding the time when death will be defeated and when Jesus will deliver up the kingdom to the Father. If you would read with me his words in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, beginning in verse 50 [through verse 55], Paul wrote, “50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

When will death be “swallowed up,”or, destroyed, “in victory”? When Christians, before [being] clothed in immortality [when still mortal], will then be changed, having been raised incorruptible, having put on immortality—when the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, THEN will death be destroyed in victory. Now, Paul tells us in no…uncertain terms…when…that…will…be—“at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound…” When will we hear that last trump, Paul? [Paul answers,] “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord,” 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, verses 15 through 17.

The trump of God will sound. Death will be swallowed in victory. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself will descend from His heavenly throne. Yes, Jesus is coming back!

The New Testament writers were very specific in their descriptions of what will happen on that day when Christ returns. We’ve already seen several things that will happen on that day. And, let’s read a few other descriptions of the Lord’s return:

Jesus Himself said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14, verses 2 and 3.

2 Thessalonians, chapter 1, verses 7 through 10 gives us a description of the Lord coming and taking vengeance in flaming fire “on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” [“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; 10 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our Testimony among you was believed) in that day.”].

Luke wrote in Luke, chapter 21, verses 27 and 28, the Words of Jesus: “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Mark 13, beginning in verse 26 [through verse 27], “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”