David L. Renfro - The Return Lyrics

I The Prophesies

Before the earth was formed
The beginning was the Word
Because God saw the the fall of man
Before it had occurred

His plan of our salvation
Was determined from the start
For God's desire none be lost
Is deep within His heart

He took on flesh to be our
Perfect sacrifice for sin
For those who don't believe it
Where do I begin

So many words were written of
The coming of the Lord
A thousand years of prophecy
Just can't be ignored

God in all His wisdom
Gave history to man
So we would know the bible's truth
The proving of His plan

For those who think the Book
Is nothing more than lies
The Jews were teaching the Tenakh
Before Christ was alive

Take His outstretched hand
Hunger for the Bread of Life
Soon you'll understand
God is always in control
He wants the heart that seeks to know
The One to come has been revealed
The signs fulfilled
Our fates are sealed by faith

A descendant of Abram
From king David's line
Of the tribe of Judah
Born in Bethlehem

Conceived in a virgin
Taken to Egypt
Escaping king Herod's
Decree to kill infants

Would preach the good news of
The Kingdom of God
Minister in Galilee
Performing great miracles

Prepared by John
The voice in the wilderness
Anointed by the Spirit as
The Savior of man

Would enter Jerusalem
As king on a donkey
Rejected by the Jews an
Betrayed by a friend

Thirty silver pieces
Silent before accusers
Beaten, mocked and spat upon
Crucified with thieves

Hands and feet pierced
Praying for His enemies
Given gall and vinegar
No broken bones

Cast lots for His garments
Buried in a rich man's tomb
Would rise from the tomb
And sit at God's right hand

II The Antagonists/The Passion

Is he not a common man
A "prophet" of such ill-respect
Among our own he's healed a few
But nothing like we would expect

He's made as friends mere fishermen
Tax collectors, prostitutes
Yet he claims he's come to save
All Israel - a king of Jews

He steals our thunder with his lies
He breaks the Law with no regard
All these fools fall for his act
When he plays the martyr card

He slanders us in front of all
But keeps us from a clean attack
He has a reputation with his
Followers who watch his back

Jesus

But some believe and secretly
Come to me escaping scorn
But their minds just cannot grasp
What it means to be reborn

When I'm lifted I will draw
The weak, the strong, the rich, the poor
Whoever shall believe in me
Will dwell with God forever more

Antagonists

He calls himself the Son of God
Forgiving us our sins as well
How can you think he's not possessed
His miracles are straight from hell

He's finally gone too far this time
We're waiting for the moment when
"Eat my flesh and drink my blood" will
Be the words that do him in

We can't allow such blasphemy
He's hard to stone. He slips away
We can't look like we've lost control
What would the Roman have to say

We've found one to betray him so
He'll have to answer to his crimes
We'll finally be rid of him
It seems this "savior's" out of time

Jesus

Thy will be done. I'll face my fate
I have obeyed; passed all the tests
I offer up my soul, my blood
The world will know You gave your best

My God forgive them of this sin
They know not what they do
Is all according to Your plan
It's finished. Praise to You

III The Questioning/Visitation

We thought he was the One
To save all Israel
He said he would return
It seems his words have failed

Without him we've no hope
No real authority
Political persuasion
Divine strategy

They say a few among us
Slipped past sleeping guards
Stole him from his grave
To prove it's all a farce

We've heard amazing tales
Of angels at his tomb
Proclaiming he's alive
So what should we assume

The women in our group
Have seen him face to face
And others give report
Of dining in his grace

We're hiding in this room
Our lives are on the line
Just as we feel forgotten
A form begins to shine

He suddenly appears
And shows His feet and hands
And clears our troubled minds
So we can understand

The reason for the cross
Forgiveness of our sins
And how His flesh must die
So true life could begin

For forty days He showed us
Many wondrous signs
Instructing us in wisdom
Leaving doubt behind

He told us all to wait
For power from on high
He blessed us all in love
Then stood right before us
And rose to the sky

IV Pentecost/The New Church

In one accord, we live by faith
Possessions shared; our hope embraced
Our rulers cannot drown our zeal
We have a gift they cannot steal

The more they push, the more we pray
And God sustains us day to day
Persecution, jail or worse
Will not deter us from our course
Heaven is the price we pay to preach the Way

Signs and wonders never cease
The numbers to our cause increase
The road's been rough, but God's supplied
A chosen few to gird our side

Even Saul has seen the light
Turning pagans to our Christ
A revelation from the Son
Eternal life for everyone

We remember that very night
Our movement took flight

It was the Day of Pentecost
And gathered in one place
About 120 souls
Were singing psalms of praise

When suddenly the air went still
As when a whirlwind comes
Our hearts began to pulse
Like the beating upon drums

From heaven came the rumblings of
A loud and violent wind
We saw what seemed to be a stream
Of fire from the skies

It separated resting upon
Our anointed minds
And we began to speak with words
We did not recognize

Many in the city heard
Their language from our mouths
Telling of God's mighty works
Salvation's plan achieved

But some of them did not believe
So Peter testified
The promises of Jesus
Had finally been received

The Spirit of our Lord
Dwells within us now

V Watch

They say it's been two thousand years
We've all believed in vain
If history repeats itself
Then why has nothing changed

I know within my heart of hearts
The bible is correct
That Jesus is returning
To gather His elect

So watch with heaven's eyes
Watch, and you'll be wise

The plan of God is unfolding
To those who see the clues
But even they cannot foretell
The moment Christ is due

The weak in faith will fall for lies
Because they cannot wait
When "so called" prophets rear their heads
Proclaiming times and dates

So watch patiently
Watch and you'll begin to see

Wars and rumors ever grow
And humans reap what humans sow
Mother earth will show her wrath
Destroying what is in her path

The time of sorrows has begun
A witness of the things to come
The countdown of a ticking bomb
Our fate's no more than simple math

Let no one beguile you
Or blur the edge of false and true
And never let them feed your fears
Then twist the Word to please your ears

God is good and He'll prepare
The heart that waits and stays aware
And tries to live the better way
As if He were to come today

The earth will not escape it's curse
The course we're on can't be reversed
We just can't seem to stay ahead
A fire's doused. Another is spread

But none of us are caught off guard
If we rely upon the Lord
So turn to God with all your trust
'Cause only He can quicken us

We are the sons and daughters
Of the light of day
We are not found sleeping
When black and white turn gray

I pray we'll know the difference
Between the truth and lies
When all the world will sell their souls
To fools who sound so wise

So watch, and read the Word
Watch, and rest assured

Let no one beguile you
Or blur the edge of false and true
And never let them feed your fears
Then twist the Word to please your ears

God is good and He'll prepare
The heart that waits and stays aware
And tries to live the better way
As if He were to come today

VI Tribulation/God's Mercy/ The Return of Christ

Coming is troubling times
When the clueless world shall see
Famines and disasters
Greater than shall ever be

Humankind will reach it's
Pinnacle of wickedness
As the day of Noah
None repented. None confessed

Then will come a leader
From the dead, he will be raised
Who can wage war with him
All the world will be amazed

Then the beast has power
Speaking words of blasphemy
Order of deception
The unholy trinity

Marvel at his prophet
He is our Messiah come
See his signs and wonders
Now we know he is the one

They bring peace and safety
That the world has never known
We bow to his image
As he sits on holy throne

Take his mark within you
So you can fight for his cause
Turning all the Christians
Over to his courts of law

Who needs to be raptured
His new age will never fail
We have all we need here
We can even buy and sell

Yet amid calamity
A remnant of Israel braced
And others saved by warnings of
The wrath of God found in His grace

God will send an angel
He will raise up witnesses
To proclaim the gospel
Giving yet another chance

Then will come destruction
For the vile, angry ones
Christ will fight the nations
With the sword of His own tongue

None will have excuse
Nor the reason to complain
On that day of judgment
When the King of Kings shall reign

Some will be rewarded
Some will face their worst of fears
Some to life eternal
Some will drown in hopeless tears

So you say it sounds unfair
That God could send a soul to hell
But even in His wrath, He grieves
For we're the ones who send ourselves

God has done all that He can
To show the world He's in control
Christ the Word has been revealed
So every searching heart will know
His prophesies can save their soul

It doesn't matter if you think
The rapture is pre, mid or post
Just keep the faith no matter what
'Til He returns with all His host

We've read the Book. We know the end
Who knows how long we have to share
How many souls will come with us
And rise to meet Him in the air