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by A. G. HOBBSEver since I was a child, the second coming of Christ has been a subject of absorbing interest. It should be with every one. The Bible centers around Christ, and can be summed up in three short sentences: He is coming (Genesis to Malachi). He is here (Matthew to Acts 1st chapter). He is coming again (Acts 1: 11 to Revelation 22:20).
Just as soon as Jesus ascended, the apostles were assured that He would come again. Just before inspiration closes, next to the last verse of the Bible, this promise is again repeated.
I. The Assurance Of His Coming
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3, all references NKJV unless otherwise noted)
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1-9-11).
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
II. The Time Of His Coming
No one knows but God:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:35-36).
Yet in the face of this plain passage, men have been so defiant of God’s word that they have even set the date of Christ’s coming --- only to be proved false prophets by time.
“... Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming”
(Matthew 24:37-42).
The regular routine of life will be going on as usual --- eating, drinking, marrying, etc, when Jesus comes. Some will be prepared and some unprepared. We are taught to watch and be ready.
III. The Manner Of His Coming
1. He is coming in person.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
2. He is coming as he went back to heaven.
“... Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11.)
Jesus went with the clouds; He is coming back with the clouds.
3. Jesus is coming in visible form.
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7).
EVERY eye shall see him --- both the righteous and the wicked. They that pierced Him, the wicked, shall wail.
4. He is coming without warning.“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
5. He is coming “with power and great glory.”
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)
IV. FOR WHAT IS CHRIST COMING?
1. NOT to establish his Kingdom. His kingdom has already been established. Daniel prophesied that the kingdom would be set up in the days of one of the world powers represented by the image in the king’s dream. (Daniel 2:44.)
Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). Before the death of Christ, John the baptizer, the twelve, the seventy, and Jesus all preached that the kingdom was at hand.
And Jesus declared that it would be set up during the life time of some of those present. “And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” (Mark 9:1) If the kingdom has not yet been established, as some falsely teach, THEN the conclusion follows that some standing there are still living. But such conclusion is absurd, as well as false.
The kingdom was to come with power, and the power was to come with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit came and filled the apostles with supernatural power to know and speak the truth without error, (Acts 2:4), and also to confirm what they preached with the signs that followed (Mark 16:20). Hence, the kingdom came on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-47.) Thereafter the kingdom is spoken of as an existing institution.
Paul declared that he and the saints at Colosse had been translated into the kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Could they have been in the kingdom that was not in existence? This passage proves conclusively that the kingdom has been established.
John declared that he was in the kingdom (Revelation 1:9).
Therefore, since the kingdom has already been set up and in existence for nearly 2,000 years, Jesus is not coming to establish His kingdom.
2. NOT to sit on David’s throne.
He was resurrected for that purpose. (Acts 2:29-32). And in A.D. 33 Peter declared that Jesus had ascended to the throne of power by the right hand of God, (Acts 2:33); and that God had made Him both Lord and Christ (anointed ruler) (Acts 2:36).
Christ now has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is now reigning as king over his kingdom. The idea that Christ is not now king but will be at some future time is false. Note the following:
(1) Christ was to sit upon His throne. (Zechariah 6:13).
(2) He is now sitting (Acts 2:30; Colossians 3:1).
(3) Therefore, he is now on His throne.
(1) He was to rule upon his throne (Zechariah 6:13.)
(2) He is now ruling. (Romans 15:12-13.)
(3) Therefore, He is now on His throne..
(1) He was to be a priest on His throne (Zechariah 6:13).
(2) He is now priest. (Hebrews 4:14.)
(3) Therefore, he is now on his throne.
(1) He was to reign as king (Jeremiah 23:5).
(2) He is now reigning. (1 Corinthians 15:25).
(3) Therefore, He is now king.
3. NOT to restore Palestine to the Jews.
God has already fulfilled every promise he ever made to the Jews concerning Palestine. God does not owe the Jews one foot of land.
“So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.” (Joshua 21:43).
Could language be plainer? Could it be more emphatic? Jehovah gave to Israel ALL THE LAND which He had sworn to give their fathers. “... and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.”
4. NOT to convert the Jews.
“Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” (KJV) (2 Corinthians 6:2). There is no second chance or future chance to be saved after this life. If the Jews are saved, they must obey the gospel which is God’s only power to save (Romans 1:16).
“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28).
The first time Jesus came He came to offer Himself for sin. He came to die for the lost in sin. The second time He comes it will be “apart from sin.” He will not have any connection with sin or a sin offering. The second time He is coming for them that look for Him those that are ready, watching and waiting.
God is no respecter of persons, “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:35).
God is no more interested in the Jews than He is in the Gentiles. And today the same plan of salvation is to “all nations,” and is exactly the same for all.
5. NOT to reign 1000 years.
Christ is now reigning as king: “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26.)
People still die, hence death has not yet been destroyed, therefore, Christ is reigning. Christ must reign until all enemies are put under His feet, and death, the last enemy, is destroyed. As long as people die, Christ is reigning.
“What about the twentieth chapter of Revelation?” some one is wanting to ask.
The book of Revelation is a highly figurative book. In studying the Bible, we should never attach a meaning to a figurative passage that is not in harmony with all plain passages on the same subject.
The twentieth chapter of Revelation is the only place in all the Bible that mentions-a thousand years’ reign. After reading the Bible from Genesis through the nineteenth chapter of Revelation, one still has read nothing about it. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” and refused to be crowned an earthly king. (John 18:36; 6:15). This symbolic chapter must conform to the rest of the Bible. Any meaning attached to it that does not harmonize with plain passages of the Bible is false.
And since it is plainly taught that Jesus is now reigning, (1 Corinthians 15:25-26), it logically follows that He is not coming to reign 1000 years. Furthermore, He is ruling now and was when Paul wrote Romans 15:12-13. If he is not now reigning and ruling, the Gentiles have no chance and no hope of salvation (Acts 15:13-17).
To bring Christ down from heaven and a heavenly throne to the earth and an earthly throne would certainly be a demotion: for God “... when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:20-21).
FOR WHAT THEN IS CHRIST COMING?1. He is coming to raise the dead, both good and bad.
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth --- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:28-29).
“all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth.” This includes both the good and the bad. The last part of the verse proves that both classes are to be raised at the same time.
Furthermore, it is declared “that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:15).
A RESURRECTION is one resurrection. This one resurrection is to include both the just and the unjust. There is only one bodily resurrection yet in the future. There is no room according to Bible teaching for two bodily resurrections with one thousand years between them as some falsely teach.
Some are wanting to ask, “What about the dead in Christ rising first?” Let us note the verse before and after and not misapply the word of the Lord.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
This passage does not even hint that there will be two resurrections. The dead in Christ shall rise first; THEN we that are alive shall be caught up to meet the Lord. He is showing that the living Christians will have no advantage over the “dead in Christ.” The dead in Christ are to be resurrected before the living saints are changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
2. He is coming for the judgment--- to reward the righteous and pass formal sentence against the wicked.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).
The judgment day is an appointed day, and Christ is to be the judge. (Acts 17:30-31).
We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10-11) There is no escape. There can be no shifting of blame then. “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). And no one can give an answer for another.
It will not be a question of what our parents believed or did. No one can then hide behind his parents, children, or preacher. It is going to be a personal matter then. It should be understood and so considered now. Personal accountability implies personal responsibility. Jesus describes the judgment scene and says that before Him shall be gathered all nations; and after the judgment the wicked and unprepared will go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:31-46). The punishment is to last as long as eternal life in heaven.
3. Finally, He is going to deliver the kingdom up to the Father when He comes.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28).
When Paul penned this letter to the church in Corinth, he declared that Christ is reigning, and will continue to do so until death is destroyed. When Jesus comes again and all the dead are delivered from the jaws of death, thus destroying the last enemy, He is to deliver the kingdom or church up to God. His reign will not cease until this takes place. Then after having led the obedient citizens of His kingdom to victory and triumph and delivering them from their last enemy, He is to surrender His authority and kingdom back to God, that God may be all in all.
This passage proves that Christ is now reigning, and that the kingdom is now in existence. Jesus could not “deliver up the kingdom to God” when he comes again unless the kingdom already be established and an existing institution.
“Then Cometh the End”A number of times Jesus speaks of “the end of the world.” (Matthew 13:40, 49). This indeed is a most challenging thought and will certainly be a momentous occasion. Are we ready? Are we preparing for it?
Jesus said, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44.)
Ready, watching, and PrayingFor the second coming of Christ everyone should be ready, watching, and praying. This was emphasized and taught by Christ and the Apostles over and over.
Let us note The Parable of the Virgins:
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ” (Matthew 25:1-12).
Now note the Lord’s conclusion and great lesson of the parable:
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13).
Observe also these points:(1) The kingdom of heaven is likened to the “ten virgins.” These, therefore, represent members of the Lord’s church. Hence, they represent those redeemed by the blood, having been born of “water and of the Spirit.”
(2) Saved persons, therefore, can, and many will be lost because of failure to be ready when the Savior comes again.
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming --- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning --- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:33-37).
Again Jesus taught:
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure..” (I John 3:2-3.)
Peter says that we purify our souls by obeying the truth. (1 Peter 1:22). To be saved from past sins, one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent, confess and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, Matthew 10:32; Romans 6:3-5).
If you have not thus obeyed the Lord, then do so that you may be ready when He comes.
Those who have thus obeyed, must be found in duty faithfully serving the Lord. (Romans 2:7)We should be faithful in attending the public worship, in fellowship, the breaking of bread and in prayer. (Acts 2:42). With the early Christians, breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper) was part of their weekly worship. (Acts 20:7). They also were taught to give of their money as God prospered them on that same day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2))
Furthermore, the early Christians used vocal music in their worship, singing and making melody in their hearts. (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:15).
We should respect and obey both the moral and religious laws of God, and be faithful unto the end in order to be prepared when Christ comes and ready for the home eternal.
ConclusionAnd lastly, but not least, we should remember Christ’s instructions to each of the seven churches, “I know your works ...” James 2:20 says that “... faith without works is dead.” When He comes on that final day, the books will be opened, “And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12). We will not be judged by our “faith” --- but by our righteous works! Our “works” are the actions, or fruits, of our faith! Do you believe what God’s word the Bible says? Then begin living your life and doing what it says like you do --- because that’s the books your works will be judged by! (pdc)
WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).
WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.
If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.
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