Peace on Earth - Part 6: The Returning King | Pastor Pablo Morales

Good morning. And let me say Happy New Year.

Can you believe it? We are already here, the

end of the year, the last Sunday of the year.

Today we will conclude Advent. And we will do

the very last study from moving on the Advent,

hoping for the first coming of Jesus and going

through that, to now the last part, which is

the second Advent, the second coming of Jesus.

So as we begin this study, please join me as

I pray. Lord, it's been a beautiful season. Thank

you for the fruit of hope, for the fruit of salvation,

of renewal that you have given us. What a joy.

And I can't believe that we are here already

at the end of 2025 and we're standing in your

presence, Lord, encouraged because we know that

we are following you. And as we follow you, Lord,

there is something that is so precious to us.

And that is your return. As we reflect on these

things today, Lord, give us insight, perspective.

That we may serve you well until the very end.

And use me in your grace and in the power of

your spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The

last study on the series on Advent today is the

returning king. I want to show you a couple of

pictures together. And I want to ask you something.

What does celebrating Christmas have to do with

caves in the desert? Now you may look at those

pictures and I know you don't know the answer.

That's why I'm asking. Because I want to tell

you the answer. Those caves in the desert that

you see here are in a place called Masada in

Israel. And in 1947, in those caves, there were

some manuscripts that were discovered. They were

placed in these jars and they were able to remain

for centuries like that. until their discovery

in 1947, and this became known as the Dead Sea

Scrolls. And for us Christians, the Dead Sea

Scrolls were very important because they included

most of the books that we have in the Old Testament,

and some of them were almost in complete condition.

And what that meant for us is that we could go

back to our Bibles and confirm whether the text

we have today matched the old text that they

had even before Jesus. And the answer was, yeah,

a good match. So it was very important for us

as Christians because it corroborated the veracity

of the Bible that you can trust the text. But

it was also important for two reasons. Two of

the prophets of the Old Testament that talked

about the coming of the Messiah had been criticized

by some people saying, oh, those things were

written after the fact. After Jesus came, that's

when those things were written, but they were

written in a way that made it believe they were

written before. Because the prophecies were so

precise. But now those people were silenced by

the evidence because these manuscripts included

the book of Isaiah and also the book of Daniel.

What did Isaiah say about this Messiah that was

going to come? Isaiah said it this way. By the

way, you can see these manuscripts in Israel,

in Jerusalem, at the museum. They are right there

on display for everyone to see. But this is what

Isaiah said. a child is born. To us, a son is

given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty

God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of

the greatness of his government and peace, there

will be no end. He will reign on David's throne,

and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding

it with justice and righteousness from that time

on and forever. And the zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this. Isaiah told us that there

was going to be a child that was going to be

born who was going to be called Almighty God.

And this child that was going to be born was

going to be a king. That was going to have the

kingdom of King David. And his kingdom was never

going to end. Wow. How could a child be born

and have a kingdom and be called God? You must

remember these prophecies were written about

700 years or so before Christ. Then Daniel. The

other prophet also prophesied about this king,

about this Messiah, but he said something very

different. And in Daniel, we are told the vision

that prophet Daniel wrote about in chapter 7.

And this is what the prophecy says. As my vision

continued that night, I saw someone like a son

of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached

the ancient one and was led into his presence.

He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty

over all the nations of the world. So that people

of every race and nation and language would obey

him. And his rule is eternal. It will never end.

His kingdom will never be destroyed. So now you

have Daniel talking about this king who is going

to have that kingdom that will never end. But

wait a second. That king is coming in the clouds

of heaven. So you have Isaiah and you have Daniel

both talking about this king that is going to

come. And Isaiah introduces him as, oh, he's

a baby born, a child. And Daniel says, oh no,

he's like a son of man. He looks like an adult

that is coming in the clouds. So it's like, how

could this be? Do they connect? Are they talking

about the same thing? Now we know. Then they

didn't. Because now we know. As you enter to

the New Testament and you read the announcement

of the birth of Jesus, how these things connect.

Because when we are told in the Gospel of Luke

that when the announcement of Jesus is given,

it's specifically mentioned in connection to

these prophecies. You will conceive and give

birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He

will be very great and will be called the son

of the most high. The Lord God will give him

the throne of his ancestor David, and he will

reign over Israel for how long? Forever, and

his kingdom will never end. This event gave us

the name. Of this person that Isaiah was writing

about. A child that was going to be born. That

was going to be a king. That was going to establish

a kingdom. Of David that will never end. And

now. In the announcement he tells us this is

Jesus. Wait but you also said Isaiah. That this

guy was going to be known as almighty God. Yes.

Jesus. God. Was born. As us. Human like us. So

that he could be the savior of the world. But

one day. He was going to establish his kingdom.

And at the beginning of this time. Of his ministry.

As this Messiah. As this king is identified as

Jesus. He establishes his ministry. He starts

proclaiming the gospel. He dies. Then he resurrects,

he appears to the apostles, and then he's going

to ascend to heaven. And at the end of the Gospels,

once you get to that section where Jesus now

has died, resurrected, and you begin the book

of Acts, it tells us that the apostles were thinking

about something. Then they gathered around him

and asked him, Lord. Are you at this time going

to restore the kingdom to Israel? Because Jesus,

you are the Messiah that Isaiah talked about,

that Daniel talked about, so we're waiting for

the kingdom that will never end. Are you going

to establish it now? And Jesus says to them,

it is not for you to know the times or dates

the Father has set. by his own authority. So

I'm not going to tell you when this will happen.

And it's like, oh man, I wish you would have

given us the date and the time exactly because

isn't that what people want to know? When is

Jesus going to come back? In fact, this year

because of the war, the war in Israel, many Christians

were already predicting Jesus is coming back

this year and here we are. But Jesus says, look,

I know you want to know, but it's not for you

to know yet. This is something the Father, by

his own authority, will determine. And then he

continued, and he told them, but you will receive

power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and

you will be my witnesses, where? In Jerusalem,

and in all Judea, and where else? In Samaria,

and where else? and to the ends of the earth.

I know that you want to know about the return

and the establishment of the kingdom, but I'm

going to tell you what you need to know is that

you need to now become my witnesses and take

the gospel to the nations. That is what is going

to be your focus. As he was talking to them about

these things, he was taken up before their very

eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. and

they were looking intently up. Just like that,

into the sky, as he was going. And when suddenly,

two men dressed in white stood beside them. And

they speak to them, and they say, Men of Galilee,

why do you stand here looking into the sky? The

same Jesus who was being taken from you into

heaven, what will he do? Will come back in the

same way you have seen him go into heaven. Bingo.

That's Daniel. Daniel saying that the Messiah

was going to come down in the clouds from heaven

to establish his kingdom. And Jesus now ascends

to heaven. And the angel said, hey, he's going

to come back. And now we connect. Yes, the prophet

Isaiah and the prophet Daniel were talking about

the same Jesus. The king that was going to establish

his kingdom. But Isaiah talked about the beginning.

The Messiah coming and he was born a child. And

he established his kingdom. He ascends to heaven.

But then Daniel is talking about the Messiah

coming back in the clouds. And the Bible says

that one day when Jesus comes back, he's going

to come back and his feet are going to touch

the Mount of Olives and that mount is going to

be divided into like a big earthquake. The Bible

gives us lots of details about these things that

will happen in the future. But what we realize,

Is that the New Testament and the ministry of

Jesus ends with the hope of his return. And therefore

to follow Jesus. means that we who are followers

of Jesus are awaiting for the returning king

that ascended to heaven on that day after he

had taken care of the sins of humanity so that

he could break the power of Satan, break the

power of sin, break the power of death, and now

bring salvation and restoration to all things.

And that Jesus will one day return when we do

not know. But in the meantime, we are concerned

about the very same thing that Jesus gave the

first Christians. And that is, be my witnesses

and take the gospel to the world. And that is

what we will continue to do until Jesus returns.

But that makes me realize that following Jesus

is really about a journey. Many Christians think

of their salvation simply in these terms. I believe

in Jesus. I'll die one day and I'll go to heaven.

And then that's it. All nice and happy forever

in heaven. And I hope that is fun because, you

know, just playing harps with little wings for

eternity doesn't sound very fun. But hey, that's

better than hell, I guess. You know, and some

people think of salvation just in those terms.

I die, I go to heaven. But actually, it's so

much more than that. And there are certain things

that are going to happen. The moment I became

a follower of Jesus, I stepped into this road

of following Jesus. But there's a whole history

behind me as we just read Isaiah and Daniel and

the Gospels and the life of Jesus and the promise

of his return. But also there's a whole road

ahead of me in the future that I have not yet

been at. And I am in this road driving my car

until I get to that future. We already looked

at what was behind us. Isaiah, Daniel, the Gospels.

But what is ahead of us? What is this map or

this road? As a summary of this, because this

is not a study on eschatology per se, on the

events of the end of times, I want to give you

just a top picture of what the Bible did prophesy

and the things that the Bible says about the

Messiah himself. He would be born in Bethlehem,

that he would die and resurrect. Then we are

told that after that he ascended to heaven with

the promise that he was going to come back. The

Bible says that one day he will return. And Thessalonians

tells us that when Jesus returns at that moment,

those of us who are still alive will be glorified

and will become sinless and immortal and will

be with the Lord forever. So when Jesus returns,

something very important will happen to us. And

those that were already dead in Christ will resurrect

at that moment. That's what the Bible says very

clearly in Thessalonians. So that we will grieve

with hope. When will Jesus return? We do not

know. So every time that you see someone on YouTube

telling you that, hey, Jesus is going to come

back this time, this time. I know every season,

every era. human history, ever since the ascension

of Jesus, political things happen that make you

feel like maybe this is it. Maybe this is it.

And it's okay to feel like that. Maybe it is.

Maybe it's not. We do not know. But we know that

it's coming down the road. And sometimes we're

like the kids. Guys, have you taken a road trip

with your parents? A long one? What is one question

that you like to ask your parents? Oh, every

adult knows the answer. They've been traveling

with you? Ah, did you like to ask the question,

are we there yet? How much longer? Are we there

yet? Right. And we, as we follow Jesus, are like

that too. We're saying, God, are we there yet?

Are you coming back yet? Is this it? And then,

not only Jesus is going to come back. But there's

a kingdom that the Bible talked about that was

going to be established. Jesus reigning in Jerusalem

in the throne of King David. And the Bible says

that he's going to reign until he puts all his

enemies under his feet. And the ultimate enemy

that will be destroyed is death. And then he

will submit everything to the Father. And at

that point, There's going to be a final judgment

where that final judgment is the final resurrection

for judgment that Daniel talked about. And all

of this is described in the book of Revelation

as well. And after these things happen, then

the new heaven and the new earth will be established.

So this is kind of like a summary of what the

prophets mentioned and what the Bible says about

these things. In the midst of so many denominations

here at ACB represented in our community, yeah,

the way people interpret all of these things

change. Some people say, well, that's symbolic.

Oh, well, that's literal. That's this, that's

that. That's fine. You can deal with that part.

But this is basically the map. And where am I

in that map? Well, you are here. We are in between

the ascension of Jesus and his return, and we

have one mission, to go and make disciples. Waiting

for his return, and when he returns, the prophecies

of Daniel, seeing the Son of Man coming down

the clouds of heaven, he was given authority

and dominion, and all peoples of the earth worshipped

him. That is going to happen. And therefore,

as a follower of Jesus, I am concluding this

year thinking, oh, well, we have a few days left.

Maybe it will be. Maybe it won't. But as I am

fulfilling this year, thinking, okay, not yet.

So we'll continue hoping, and we'll continue

driving the car, and we'll continue on this road.

But that reminded me of something. Many years

ago, when I was a teenager, we decided to take

a trip, a road trip, a long road trip. At that

time, I was living in Santiago, Chile, and we

did a road trip through Argentina, you know,

the Andes Mountains, and go through that into

the flat area of Argentina. Flat, I mean, flatter

than Texas. It's like flat. You could see the

highway straight ending in the horizon. And we

were going through Argentina. We were going to,

our destination was going to be Paraguay. We

were going to go to Uruguay, to the beach there

too. And there was going to be a main event with

missionaries and pastors in Paraguay that we

were going to attend. So it was a fun trip. But

as we were in the car, there were moments in

which just helping Dad, because we were all young

at that time, we couldn't help drive. But I could

help Dad stay awake while driving by reading

the signs of the road as they would come. Oh,

curve to the right. So I would see the sign and

say, Dad, curve to the right. Then curve to the

left. Dad. Curve to the left until we got to

Argentina. And then it was just flat. Not many

signs after that. But then we kept doing that

to help because it was like, I forgot, maybe

three days that we drove. A long road trip. It

was so helpful to have the signs ahead of us

to be aware of what's coming and be conscious

so that we would not fall asleep while driving.

But the moment I stopped paying attention to

the signs and I fell asleep, there was no one

to tell dad, hey, this is the sign that is coming.

And because it was a long road and because it

was late at night, dad fell asleep while driving.

And before you knew it, it was just a matter

of seconds. It was like... And I woke up. Like

this. And we exited the car, not through the

door, but through the front opening where the

glass was before. The windshield completely gone.

So we got out. Thankfully, we were all okay,

except for my sister that she got a wound on

her arm. And the car was like on its side, like

this. But thankfully, the windshield did not

break. It just came off. And there was a bus

behind us that was coming, full of tourists.

And the moment they stopped, all these guys came

down and then came, surrounded us, made sure

that we were okay. And everybody together, let's

grab this car. Boom, back on its four wheels.

Put the windshield back. And we kept driving

to our destination. And when we got to Paraguay,

we took the car to a mechanic so that everything

could be fixed because we put the windshield

back but we had to hold it. And it's not because

we were cheap. It's because there was nothing.

I told you, flat, horizon, nothing. I'm in this

long road trip called following Jesus that it

keeps going and going every year and going and

going and going. And I'm desperate for the signs

so that I will not fall asleep on the wheel.

So that I will be able to follow Jesus and stand

firm till the very end so that when he comes

back, We will be awake and fulfilled. So it took

time to ask the apostles, what are the road signs

that you want me to be aware of? Because Jesus

hasn't come yet. I was hoping, but he hasn't.

So I keep hoping. Keep driving. And the apostles

talked about these things. And there are three

signs of the road. that they are giving us. The

first one is from the Apostle Paul. Paul is reflecting

about the return of Christ and the things that

are going to happen in the future. And he says,

Pablo, you're surrounded by people that live

for themselves. They do not know the Lord. Their

hearts are closed. Their eyes are closed to the

Lord. They just live for themselves. Their destiny

is destruction. Their God is their stomach. And

their glory is in their shame. Their mind is

set on earthly things. That is the family where

you're in. That is the job that you're in. That

is your office people. That is your company.

It's like you are the only follower of Jesus

and you're surrounded by people that are just...

Living for themselves and their minds is set

on earthly things. But Pablo, you. Our citizenship

is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from

there. The Lord Jesus Christ. You may be surrounded

by people that are not following the Lord. Who

are just living for the here and now, but not

you. You are a citizen of heaven. That is who

you belong to. Jesus, the king of heaven. And

one day, by the power that enables him to bring

everything under his control, he will transform

our lowly bodies so that they will be like his

glorious body. When Jesus returns, the resurrection

and glorification will take place. Pablo, this

is who you are. You are a citizen of heaven.

Don't forget who you are. Remember your identity.

You're going to be worried about the job promotion.

You're going to be worried about the bills. You're

going to be sad. That as a third culture person.

You have family here. You live in this other

country. And you never seem to have like a permanent

home. And people don't get you. Because it's

like some people have a place. And you don't.

But don't forget. You are a citizen of heaven.

And therefore continue living this year. As a

citizen of heaven, you are not working to make

a living. That's everybody else. Citizens of

heaven are working to make an impact. And that

is what you will continue to do. So, sign number

one, don't forget who you are. Keep driving,

but don't forget who you are. Citizen of heaven,

keep driving. And don't get back down. By everything

else that everybody else is concerned about.

Because they are not citizens of heaven. But

you have a savior that is going to come back.

Wow, that's nice. I think I need to hear that.

I'm a citizen of heaven. Is there another sign?

Yes, there's another one. And this one is from

the Apostle Peter. Peter wrote a lot about these

things too. He's the one that told us that the

current earth as we know it is destined to be

destroyed by fire before God establishes the

new heaven, the new earth, where we will be with

him forever. And Peter, when he talks about these

things, he says it this way. In keeping with

his promise, Because remember, he was standing

there looking up, seeing Jesus go up and the

angels talk to him and say, hey, why are you

looking up? This Jesus is going to come back.

So in keeping with his promise, I do not know

you, but we are looking forward to the new heaven

and the new earth where righteousness dwells.

Oh, it's going to be awesome. When we're finally

with the Lord in that new creation, free from

all this corruption and death and suffering,

that will be exciting. But until then, Pablo,

since you're looking forward to this, make every

effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at

peace with Him. Oh, we're getting a little bit

more personal here. Exactly. Because Jesus is

going to come back. This Jesus that you are following

today, are you ready for his return? Are you

ready? If you have stuff in your life that is

not aligned with him, don't wait until he returns

to then regret that you did not take care of

your business when you should have. Now is the

time, as you await for his return, make sure,

Pablo, that you make every effort to be found

spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. So

take care of your business. Get your life in

order. Don't wait anymore. And I know what he

means. Because sometimes we are following Jesus,

but we're not being faithful in how we're following.

And there are things in our lives, sometimes

secrets, sometimes things that Only a few people

know things that are not part of what God called

us to be. And therefore, you have no peace. You

feel shame and guilt and fear, but no peace.

And if Jesus is going to come back, Peter says,

why wait? Make it a priority this year to get

your marriage in order. to get your life in order,

to take care of those addictions that are enslaving

you. Take care of your life now. And I'm here

to tell you that you are in a community where

we have a ministry called Core Journey that is

designed to walk with you in this place of misalignment

so that you can... Address these things in confidentiality,

but also with the help that you need. Because

what we desire is for you not just to follow

Jesus, but to follow Jesus well. So the second

road sign tells me, hey, put your life in order.

Make sure everything is aligned with the Lord.

And I needed to hear that. But there's a third

one. And this one comes from the apostle John.

John is the one that wrote the gospel of John.

He's the one that wrote the book of Revelation

that told us all these things that were going

to happen. And when he is reflecting about these

events that are going to happen with the return

of Christ, he simply says, Pablo, if I have a

word of advice for you as you are awaiting the

Lord to return and as you are following him,

This is what I would say. Now, dear children,

continue in him. Simply that. Continue in him.

So that when he appears, we may be confident

and unashamed before him and his coming. He has

saved you. He has gifted you. He has called you.

He has positioned you. And if you are where God

called you to be, if you are doing what he called

you to do, then remain faithful. Continue in

that place. Don't let anything move you to the

right or to the left. Stay where God has called

you to be. Continue in him. Because the time

will come where you will get discouraged. The

time will come where you will get confused. The

time will come where the cost, Of serving God.

Will feel too high. And in those moments. You

may be tempted to say. I'm done. This is too

much. But don't. Don't be done. Unless the Lord

is done. And he's calling you to something else.

Unless the Lord is done. And he's positioned

you to something else. Don't be done. Because

you are tired of driving your car. The road ahead

continues. But live in such a way that when he

returns, he can see you and say simply one thing

and one thing only, well done, faithful servant.

You did what I called you to do. You did it with

your best. You were faithful. Well done. And

that requires that we followers of Jesus remain

faithful to his calling. And this is it. Remain

faithful. Keep your focus. You are a follower

of Jesus and that is what we did this year and

that's what we will do next year and for as many

more years the Lord decides to take before returning.

I needed to hear that. Because it is true. We

get discouraged at moments or we get tired. We

may think plan B or plan C. Always to remember

that there's only one plan that I need to be

faithful in and it's plan A. The one that the

Lord gave us. So this is the word of advice from

the apostles. For us who are following Jesus

and are waiting for his return. May 2025 end

strong as a follower of Jesus. And may 2026 be

a year in which we are living like citizens of

heaven. Where we are waiting for the Lord to

come back. We are living to make an impact. Following

the Lord. Faithful to his calling. And we're

going to make it a priority to put our life in

order because when he comes back, I just want

to be simply a follower of Jesus that was faithful

to the Lord, the Son of God that came, that ascended

to heaven, and will one day return to establish

his kingdom that will never end. So with this

in mind, What the Bible is simply calling us

to do is to live with eternal perspective. So

I'm asking you today, are you living with eternal

perspective? Are you thinking beyond just the

next semester and your graduation from high school

and the college plans? Are you thinking beyond

that? Are you thinking beyond the dating relationship

where you're at now and the potential marriage

and then having a family? Are you thinking beyond

that? When is the last time that you were looking

forward to the return of Christ? Are we living

our lives with eternal perspective? Because if

we are not, as we worship the Lord together at

the end of this study, let's simply tell the

Lord, Lord. I look forward to your return. And

let me live the rest of my life serving you.

As if you could return anytime. Because I want

to be a follower of you. That is living to make

an impact for your glory. And that is what we

desire. Join me as we stand in God's presence

together. Let's read. These words from the Apostle

Paul out loud together. Therefore, my dear brothers

and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the

Lord because you know that your labor in the

Lord is not in vain. Never in vain when it's

done for the Lord. Lord, we stand in your presence.

with hope, with perspective, with anticipation.

Because the day will come when the Son of God

will come in the clouds. And on that day, our

faith will be sight. And on that day, these bodies

that are mortal and sinful will be transformed

in the blinking of an eye. glorify to be like

you and with you forever. What a hope. And it's

in that hope that we end this year. And it's

in the same hope that begin the new year. For

the glory of your name. Amen. Thank you for tuning

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