Second Coming Hope: the Restoration of a Peaceful Creation
An all-creatures Bible Message

Second Coming Hope: the Restoration of a Peaceful Creation
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
21 December 2014
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

2 Samuel 7:1–17
Isaiah 11:6-10
Matthew 5:9
Matthew 6:10
Luke 1:26–38
Romans 16:25–27

Second coming hope and the restoration of a peaceful creation should be more than just hope; it should be a driving force within us as peacemaking children of God to do everything in our power to prepare the way for Jesus Christ by helping to free creation from its present corruption.
 
As part of this effort we also need to take a stand against all forms of corruption, indifference, and injustice in our governments and societies that cause so much violence, pain, suffering and death to millions of our fellow human beings, and billions of animals every year.
 
This is the last Advent Sunday before Christmas, which celebrates both Jesus being born into the world, and of our second coming hope for true peace in the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
In 2 Samuel 7:1-17, we are told about how David felt uncomfortable about living in a house while the ark of God was still dwelling in a tent.

1. Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
 
2. that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."

We have similar feeling about living in a world that is filled with so much cruelty toward animals, when we know that this is not what God created the animals for, nor is it His heavenly.

3. And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you."

This verse is very important for us to remember, for we are prone to make the same mistake that Nathan was making by giving this go ahead before he had taken the matter to the Lord. Note what happens.

4. But it came about in the same night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
 
5. "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD," Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
 
6. "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
 
7. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' " '

God is saying that he is not really interested in a building in which to house the ark of God, but God does honor what David desires to do; but as we know from history, it only led to more problems.

8. "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over My people Israel.
 
9. And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.

This is the beginning of the second coming hope that led to Jesus’ birth and His future coming to finally free the whole of creation from its present corruption.

10. I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
 
11. even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.

As we know from the historical record, during the times of the judges, God freed the people from their oppression brought about by their disobedience to the Lord, only to have the people fall back into their ungodliness; and this happened over and over again.
 
With this in mind, let’s go back and listen to what David is being told.

12. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
 
13. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
 
14. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,

This comment by God is very important for us to remember, for God is telling us that His punishment will come upon the people, who turn away from His heavenly will, through other ungodly people.
 
In other words, God will not punish the ungodly people directly; instead, He will let other ungodly people do the punishing for Him.
 
However, even with His punishment, God will never lose His love for us all.
 
This is very similar to what Jesus tells us to do, when He tells us to love our enemies.

15. but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
 
16. And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever." ' " 
 
17. In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
NASB

God is telling David about the coming of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose throne will be everlasting, even if most people don’t accept Him or His peaceful teachings.
 
In this Biblical record, we believe that God is telling us that He is not interested in fancy church buildings that cost large sums of money to build, for what He really wants is to dwell in our hearts and souls.
 
The proof of this can be plainly seen in the hardness of heart, particularly when it comes to animal issues, that is so prevalent in the churches today.
 
When people are truly born again, the Holy Spirit dwells in their heart and soul, and they become loving, compassionate, peacemaking children of God who live in the heavenly will of God, and they do everything in their power to free creation from its present corruption.
 
This is the promise that Isaiah spoke about in 11:6-10.

6. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the kid,
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
 
7. Also the cow and the bear will graze;
Their young will lie down together;
And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
 
8. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,
And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.
 
9. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
As the waters cover the sea.

It’s been almost 3,000 years since Isaiah told us this, and it still hasn’t happened.
 
Why?
 
Because most of the people are as full of the knowledge of the Lord as they think they are, for if they were, they would do everything in their power to reestablish the peaceable kingdom.
 
Why does this happen?
 
Because the people didn’t fully turn their hearts and souls back to following the heavenly will of God, as Isaiah tells us next…

10. Then it will come about in that day
That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse,
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples;
And His resting place will be glorious.
NASB

The root of Jesse is God.
 
Isaiah is telling us, for God, that unless we wholeheartedly return to Him, we will not be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
 
So now, this is part of our second coming hope for the restoration of this peaceable kingdom.
 
With this in mind, let’s now take a look at the sequence of events that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ as we are told in Luke 1:26-38…

26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth,
 
27. to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
 
28. And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."

What kind of reaction would we have, if an angel appeared to us in this manner?
 
Would it be the same as Mary’s?

29. But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.
 
30. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
 
31. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
 
32. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
 
33. and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." 
 
34. And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
 
35. And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.

Today, most often, we seem to have the Holy Spirit communicating directly with us, and guiding us in the heavenly will of God, but unfortunately most people don’t want to listen, for they prefer to live in this corrupted and ungodly world where they can continue to contribute to the corruption of creation.
 
God wants us to turn wholeheartedly back to Him and live as the peacemaking children of God who do no harm to any other living being.
 
He wants us to be like Jesus.
 
Let’s go back to our Bible lesson and hear the remainder of the angel’s conversation with Mary.

36. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
 
37. "For nothing will be impossible with God."
 
38. And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
NASB

This is the way God wants all of us to respond to Him.
 
And just because most other people don’t respond in this manner, it’s no excuse for us not to respond in the same way that Mary did.
 
God is never going to ask us to do more than we are able to do, for He will be with us.
 
This also should be part of our second coming hope.
 
In this hope, Jesus told us in Matthew 5:9…

9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
NASB

Why don’t most people live like they want to be blessed?
 
Why don’t most people live like they want to be children of God?
 
We’re not completely sure, but we were among them for many years until we finally listened to the Holy Spirit; and if we could change, then everyone else can change, too.
 
And think about how Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10…

10. 'Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
NASB

Why do so many people say this prayer, and not even seem to try to live in a way that says they actually want this to come to pass?
 
We’re not completely sure about this either, but it tells us why the world is so full of corruption, indifference, injustice, violence, bloodshed, suffering, and death.
 
But we who are the true children of God do everything in our power to live in the heavenly will of God.
 
This is our hope for the whole world.
 
This is our second coming hope.
 
This is what Paul wrote about in Romans 16:25-27…

25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
 
26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
 
27. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
NASB

This is also our second coming hope and our Amen.

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