The Coming Again of Jesus Christ
Ch 08 The Coming Again of Jesus Christ
I. THE FACT OF HIS COMING AGAIN. John 14:3 — "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." Hebrews 9:28 — "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Php_3:20-21 — "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Acts 3:19-20, RV — "Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again.
Christ's coming again is not at the death of the believer. He does not come again at death "with a shout" and those who are alive and remain are not caught up at the death of individual believers. ( John 14:3 and Thessalonians 4:16-17 manifestly refer to the same event. They are exactly parallel in the three facts stated: (1) the "I will come again" of Jesus, equals "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven" of Paul, (2) the "Receive you unto myself" of Jesus, equals the "Shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord" of Paul, (3) the "That where I am, there ye may be also" of Jesus, equals the "So shall we ever be with the Lord" of Paul. Paul's words are manifestly an inspired commentary on those of Jesus, and the reference of the words of Jesus to His coming at death is thus made impossible.) "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Follow thou me" ( John 21:22) shows how utterly impossible it is to make Christ's coming refer to death. "If I will that he tarry" evidently means, "If I will that he remain alive." Now put Christ's coming at the believer's death and you get this nonsense: "If I will that he remain alive until he die, what is that to thee?" The "coming again" in the verse given above is not the coming of Christ at the coming of the Holy Spirit — that is, in a very real and important sense, a coming of Christ. This appears from John 14:15-18; John 14:21-23 — "If ye love me keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." But this coming of Christ is not that which is referred to in the passages under consideration. All of these promises but one ( John 14:3) were made after the coming of the Holy Spirit and pointed to a coming still future. Jesus does not receive us to be with Him at the coming of the Holy Spirit. At the coming of the Holy Spirit, He comes to be with us ( John 14:18; John 14:21; John 14:23). He does not at His coming in the Spirit "fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of His glory" ( Php_3:20-21). There is no trump of the archangel, no shout, no resurrection, no rapture in the clouds, at this coming of the Christ. In other words, this coming in hardly any detail conforms to the plain and explicit statements of Christ and the apostles concerning His coming again. The "coming again" mentioned in the verses above was not at the destruction of Jerusalem. The destruction of Jerusalem was in a sense the precursor, prophecy, and type of the judgment at the end of the age, and therefore in Matthew 24:1-51 and Mark 13:1-37 the two events are described in connection with each other. But God's judgment on Jerusalem is manifestly not the event referred to in the texts given above. On that occasion those who sleep in Jesus were not raised, living believers were not caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and the bodies of believers were not transformed.
Years after the destruction of Jerusalem we find John still looking forward to the Lord's coming ( Revelation 22:20). John 21:22-23 says, "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die: yet; said unto him, He shall not die; but if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" These words were written years after the destruction of Jerusalem. Not any one of these events, nor all of them together, nor any other event that has yet occurred fulfills the very plain, explicit, and definite predictions of Christ and the apostles regarding Christ's coming again. The coming again of Jesus Christ, so frequently mentioned in the New Testament as the great hope of the Church, is still in the future.
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE COMING AGAIN OF JESUS CHRIST.
First Proposition: The Second Coming of Christ is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament and, averaged out, occupies one in every twenty-five verses from Matthew to Revelation.
Second Proposition: By far the greater number of the predictions concerning Christ in the Old Testament are connected with His Second Coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 — "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (See context.) Third Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ is the doctrine with which God bids us to comfort sorrowing saints. This is true also of the Old Testament. (Compare to Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 40:9-10- ''Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." Titus 2:13 — "Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:11; 2 Peter 3:13 RV — "Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"
Fourth Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ and the events connected with it are the blessed hope and eager desire of the true believer.. The last prayer in the Bible is "Even so, come Lord Jesus" ( Revelation 22:20). 2 Peter 3:3-4 RV — "Knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Fifth Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ is a doctrine which is the particular object of the hatred and ridicule of mockers who walk after their own lusts. A worldly church and worldly Christians also hate this doctrine. Matthew 24:44-46 — -"Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Luke 21:34-36 — "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." 1 John 2:28 — "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, ye may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
Sixth Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ is the great Bible argument for a life of watchfulness, fidelity, wisdom, activity, simplicity, self-restraint, prayer and abiding in Christ. (See also Matthew 25:1-46.) Luke 12:35-36 — -"Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their Lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him."
Seventh Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ is the one event for which the disciples of Christ should be looking. In verse 37, a special blessing is promised to those whom the Lord shall finds watching when He comes. (Compare to Hebrews 9:28 — "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.")
III. THE MANNER OF CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Matthew 25:31-32 — "When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, s a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 — "For the mystery in iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Zechariah 14:4-5 — "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of ()lives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LoP, t) my God shall come, and all the saints with thee."
It is evident from a comparison of the above passages that the coming again of Jesus Christ has various steps or stages:
FIRST STAGE: In the air where believers in Him are caught up to meet Him.
SECOND STAGE: To the earth. In this latter stage His saints come with Him. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 — "To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." Colossians 3:4 RV — "When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory." 1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." In the air Christ comes for His own; to the earth He comes with them. A considerable interval may take place between these two stages of the Lord's coming. (See Luke 21:36 — "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" and 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 — "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." These verses seem to hint that the whole period of the great tribulation intervenes between the coming of Jesus in the air for His earthly saints and His coming to the earth with His saints.
There are not, however, two comings, but two stages in the one coming.
Bearing in mind the distinction between these two will help to solve many of the seeming discrepancies between different texts of the Bible on this subject.
THIRD STAGE: A succession of events follows His coming to the earth. Acts 1:11 — "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Hebrews 9:28 — "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." ("Shall appear," literally "shall be seen.") Revelation 1:7 — "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ will come again bodily and visibly. Matthew 24:26-27 — "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers: believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ will come again with great publicity. (Compare to Revelation 1:7 — "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.") These "inner chamber" Christs and "obscure corner" Christs have long since been predicted and exploded. Even at His coming for His saints there seems to be a large measure of publicity about it. ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "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.") A "secret rapture of believers" does not seem to be supported in Scripture. Matthew 24:30 — "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Third Proposition: The Son of man ( Jesus Christ) will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. "In the clouds." Compare to Exodus 19:9 — "And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD." Exodus 34:5 — "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD." Psalms 97:1-2 — "The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." Matthew 17:5 — "While he yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." <19A403> Psalms 104:3 — "Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds His chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind." Isaiah 19:1 — "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." From these passages it appears that it was Jehovah who came in the clouds; therefore, to say that Jesus is coming in the clouds is to say that He is coming as a divine one or in divine glory. Matthew 16:27 — "For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Mark 8:38 — "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." 2 Thessalonians 1:7 RV — "And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ will come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Revelation 16:15 — "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 — "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ will come as a thief — unannounced, without warning, unexpectedly, suddenly. The world will be taken up with its usual occupations. Matthew 24:37-39 — "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." The attempt to lay out a complete and fully defined chart of events leading up to the Lord's coming loses sight of this clearly revealed fact about His coming. Our part is to see to it that that day does not come upon us as a snare. Luke 21:34-35 — "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
IV. THE PURPOSES OF CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN. John 14:3 — "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." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ will come again to receive His own unto Himself' that where He is, there they may be also.
It is primarily love for His own that draws Jesus Christ to this earth again.
He so loves us that He cannot get on without us. (Compare to John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.") Php_3:20-21 RV — "For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of His glory. Matthew 25:19 — "After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to reckon with His servants. Matthew 16:27 RV — "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to render unto every man according to his deeds.
It is not at death, but at the coming of the Lord that we receive our full reward. 2 Timothy 4:8 — "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 1 Peter 5:4 RV — "And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away." 2 Thessalonians 1:10 RV — "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all who believe. Matthew 25:10 — "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Revelation 19:7-9 — "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to be united in marriage with His betrothed bride, the Church, and to celebrate the marriage supper. (Compare to Ephesians 5:23-32.) Luke 19:12; Luke 19:15 — "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading." Matthew 25:31 — "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Jeremiah 23:5-6 — -"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." Psalms 2:6 — "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." Zechariah 14:9 — "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one." Revelation 19:12; Revelation 19:15-16 — "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 11:15 — "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to reign as a king. Zechariah 14:14 "Behold the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south."
Eighth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to deliver Israel in the day when his trials and sufferings shall culminate. Zechariah 8:3; Zechariah 8:7-8 — "Then saith the LORD, I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.'' Ninth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to gather together the outcasts of Israel from the East country and the West country into Jerusalem. Romans 11:26 — "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
Tenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to deliver Israel and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Malachi 3:1-3 — "Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and a purfier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."
Eleventh Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again as a refiner and purifier of silver. 2 Timothy 4:1 — "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."
Twelfth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Matthew 25:31-32 — "But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations."
Jesus Christ is coming again to judge all the nations. The nations here spoken of are the nations living on the earth at the coming of the Lord. Revelation 20:11-12 — "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Jesus Christ is coming again to judge the dead. One thousand years separate these two judgments ( Revelation 20:7-11).
Jude 1:14-15 RV — "And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Thirteenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to execute judgment upon all; to convict all the ungodly of their works of ungodliness which they have wrought, and to convict those who have spoken against Him. Isaiah 26:21 — "For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
Fourteenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 RV — "And to you who are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus."
Fifteenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to render vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord JESUS. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 RV — "And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to naught by the manifestation of his coming."
Sixteenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to slay the lawless one with the breath of his mouth and to bring him to naught by the manifestation of His coming. Isaiah 11:1-2; Isaiah 11:4-5; Isaiah 11:9 — "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Seventeenth Proposition: Jesus Christ is coming again to establish a universal reign of righteousness and godliness upon earth. The coming of Christ is the true solution of all social problems.
V. THE RESULTS OF CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN.
Naturally, the results of Christ's coming again run parallel to the purpose of His coming again. But some passages are better classified under the purpose and others under the results.
REGARDING GOD
Isaiah 40:5 — "And the glory of God shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Logo hath spoken it." (Note the context, verses 3, 9-11.)
First Proposition: In the coming again of Jesus Christ the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
REGARDING THE CHURCH
1 Thessalonians 4:16 — "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."
Second Proposition: At the coming of Jesus Christ, the dead in Christ shall rise. Php_3:20-21 — "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
Third Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, the bodies of believers shall be transformed into the likeness of the body of HIS glory. (Compare to Romans 8:23 — -"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
Then the work of regeneration is completed.) 1 Thessalonians 4:17 — "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Fourth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ all believers — those still living and those who had died but are now raised — shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air to be forever with Him. (Compare to John 14:3.) 1 John 3:2 — "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Fifth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, believers shall be made like Him because they shall see Him as He is.
Beholding Christ transforms us into the image of Christ ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 RV). Now we see through a glass darkly and the reflection is imperfect, but then we will see Him face to face in His undimmed glory and shall perfectly reflect it. Colossians 3:4 RV — "When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory."
Sixth Proposition: When Christ comes again and is manifested, then shall believers be manifested with Him in glory. 2 Timothy 4:8 — "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Seventh Proposition: At the coming again of the Lord, those who love His appearing shall receive a crown of righteousness. 1 Peter 5:4 RV — "And when the chief shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away."
Eighth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, faithful shepherds of the flock shall receive a crown of glory that never fades away (see context as to what constitutes faithfulness). Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Ninth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, his people shall live and reign with Him. This verse seems to refer primarily to the tribulation saints, but by implication to all believers. Certainly the bride must reign with her husband.
REGARDING ISRAEL
Isaiah 25:9 — "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Logo; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
Tenth Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ, there shall be great joy among His people. This can hardly be limited to Israel, but the context seems to imply that the primary reference is to them. Isaiah 11:11-12 — "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Ezekiel 36:24 RV — "For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land." Ezekiel 37:21 — "And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God:
Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land." Zephaniah 3:19-20 — "Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time I will bring you again, even at the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD."
Eleventh Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ, the children of Israel shall be gathered together from among the nations, from the four corners of the earth, and brought into their own land. Ezekiel 37:19; Ezekiel 37:22; Ezekiel 37:24 "Say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them."
Twelfth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, divided Israel — Ephraim and Judah — shall be reunited into one nation under the one king David — Jesus. Jeremiah 23:5-6 — "Behold the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.
Thirteenth Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely. (Compare Romans 11:26 — -"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.") Ezekiel 37:23 — "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 36:29 — "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you." (Note context) Fourteenth Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ, Israel shall be cleansed from all their filthiness and from all their idols, A new heart will be given them and a new spirit put within them, the stony heart shall be taken away from them and they will be given a heart of flesh.
God will put His spirit within them and cause them to walk in his statutes and they shall keep His judgments and do them. (Compare Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days come, saith the Logo, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Logo: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Logo, I will put my law in their inwards parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.") Ezekiel 36:37-38 — "Thus saith the Logo God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Logo." Jeremiah 31:27 — "Behold the days come, saith the Logo, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast." Ezekiel 36:33-37 — "Thus saith the Logo God; in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, this land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Logo build the ruined places and plant that that was desolate: I the Logo have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the LORD God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Logo." Zechariah 8:3-5 — "Thus saith the Logo; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Logo of hosts, The holy mountain.
Thus saith the Logo of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."
Fifteenth Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ and the events that grow out of that coming, Israel shall be wondrously multiplied — the waste, desolate, and ruined cities shall be rebuilt, and the desolate land made like the garden of Eden.
Jerusalem shall be called "the City of Truth," and shall be filled with peace, prosperity, and gladness. Zechariah 8:23 — "Thus saith the Logo of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Isaiah 49:22-23 — "Thus saith the LORD God, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Logo: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Sixteenth Proposition: Because of the coming again of Jesus Christ, Israel shall be greatly exalted above the nations. Isaiah 66:19 — "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles." (Note context.)
Seventeenth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, Israel shall go forth as preachers of the glory of Jehovah to the nations.
REGARDING THE NATIONS AND UNREGENERATE INDIVIDUALS
Matthew 24:30 — "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Revelation 1:7 RV — "Behold he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they which pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen."
Eighteenth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over Him.
It will be the gladdest day of all for His people, the saddest day of all for those who are not His people. Matthew 25:31-32 — "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations."
Nineteenth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, all the nations shall be gathered before Him for judgment, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from his goats. Acts 15:16-17 — "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things." Zechariah 8:20-23 RV — "Thus saith the Logo of hosts: it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, let us go speedily to intreat the favor of the LoP, I), and to seek the LORD of hosts:
I will go also. Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Logo of hosts in Jerusalem, and to intreat the favor of the LORD, Thus saith the Logo of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Isaiah 2:2-3 — "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD form Jerusalem."
Twentieth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, the residue of men and all the gentiles (nations) upon whom His name is called will seek after the Lord.
Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to request the favor of the Lord.
QUESTION: How can this be if immediately upon His coming the nations are gathered before Him, judged, separated, and assigned to their eternal destiny?
ANSWER: It is not said that immediately upon His coming the nations will be gathered. Our difficulties arise from the fact that we assume what the Bible never asserts nor implies; that these things are all crowded into a day or a few days or a year. These events are connected with and result from His coming, but they may take time for their development. I doubt if the prophecies are intended to give us a definite and detailed history in their order of all the events connected with the Lord's coming. The important facts necessary to keep us watching and to cheer our hearts and fire us for our work are given in outline. But always remember that, while prophecy is exactly and literally true in every word, prophecy is not history. Psalms 2:9 — "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron: thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (See context verses 6, 8.)
Twenty-first Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ and His glorious reign, rebels against Him will be shattered. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 RV — "And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
Twenty-second Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of His might. (As to what "destruction" means, compare Revelation 17:11, w1 Thessalonians 20:10, and 19:20. See also my chapter on the future destiny of those who reject the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.) Zechariah 14:16 — "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which come against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the king, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." Isaiah 49:7 — "Thus saith the Lore), the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee." Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." Psalms 2:8 — "Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Psalms 72:8-11 — "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him."
Twenty-third Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, everyone that is left of the nations, and kings and princes shall worship and serve Jesus Christ. Zechariah 9:10 — "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even unto the ends of the earth." Revelation 11:15 RV — "And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever."
Twenty-fourth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and He shall reign forever and ever. Isaiah 2:4 "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (See context, v. 2.) Micah 4:3-4 "And he shall judge among people and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it." Psalms 72:7; Psalms 72:16 — -"In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth."
Twenty-fifth Proposition: At the coming again of Jesus Christ, war shall cease, peace and plenty shall reign, and the righteous shall flourish.
REGARDING HUMAN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE
Isaiah 11:9 — "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Twenty-sixth Proposition: The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The day of Christ's coming again and reign will indeed be the golden age and well may we cry, "Amen; come Lord Jesus."
REGARDING THE ANTICHRIST AND SATAN
2 Thessalonians 2:8 RV — "And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming."
Twenty-seventh Proposition: The Antichrist shall be slain (or put out of the way) by the breath of His mouth and brought to naught by the manifestation of His coming.
Compare to Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15. Revelation 20:1-3 RV — "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time." Revelation 20:10 RV — "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Twenty-eighth Proposition: Satan shall be chained and cast into the abyss for a thousand years, and then after a little space of liberty, he will be cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
REGARDING THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE
Romans 8:19-21 RV — "For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God." Isaiah 55:13 — "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (See context). Isaiah 65:25 — "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD." Isaiah 32:15 — "Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest." Isaiah 35:1 RV — "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." (See context of verses 2 and 4.)
Twenty-ninth Proposition: In connection with Christ's coming again, the creation itself shall be delivered from the corruption it is now subject to into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
Thorns, briers and carnage will be no more. The wilderness and the solitary place will be glad, and the desert will rejoice and blossom as the rose. 2 Peter 3:12-13 — "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, looking for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Revelation 21:1 — "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
Thirtieth Proposition: There shall be a new heaven and a new earth.
Compare to Revelation 21:2-27. As the result of Christ's coming there will be a new and glorious man, in a new and glorious body, in a new and glorious society, in a new and glorious universe. "Amen, come Lord Jesus."
VI. THE TIME OF CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN. Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:42 — "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Mark 13:32 — "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the son, but the Father."
First Proposition: The exact time of the coming again of Jesus Christ is not revealed to us.
Calculations from the data given in Daniel by which some try to fix the exact date of Christ's return are utterly unreliable. They attempt the impossible. The statements were not intended to give us a clue to the exact date of Christ's return. It is a part of God's purpose and method in dealing with humans to keep us in uncertainty on this point. The prophecies of Daniel were extant in the day when Christ uttered Mark 13:32: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." And Christ doubtless understood the lessons those prophecies were intended to teach, but He distinctly declares that even He did not know the day or the hour of His coming again. Any teacher who attempts to fix the date of Christ's return is at once discredited; it is unnecessary to wade through his calculations. God does not desire us to know just when His Son shall return. Acts 1:7 — "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." He does desire that we shall be always ready for that return. Matthew 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Second Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ will be at a time even His disciples don't realize. Even the faithful and wise servant will be taken unaware, but he will be found doing HIS Master's will. See also verses 45 and 46. Luke 17:26-30 — "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
Third Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ will be at a time when the world is absorbed in its usual occupations. 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4 "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
Fourth Proposition: The coming again of Jesus Christ will not occur until after the man of sin is revealed. Of course the day of the Lord is the time of the Lord's coming to the earth. This is preceded by His coming in the air to receive His bride, the church, unto Himself ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). There is nothing to show that quite an interim may not occur between this coming of Christ for His saints in the air and His coming with His saints to the earth. But there are indications that there must be such an interval. Christ has much to do with His people before He comes to deal with the world. It is distinctly taught that there is now a restraining power that hinders the manifestation of the man of sin ( 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 RV). It is natural to presume that this restraining power has something to do with the church. 1 Timothy 4:1-16; 1 Timothy 1:1-20 — "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 RV — "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away." Luke 18:8 — "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
Fifth Proposition: The last days, and the time of the coming again of Jesus Christ, will be a time of apostasy and grief, and faith will be hard to find.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives an accurate picture of our own time. But we should bear in mind that earnest followers of God and students of the Bible have often thought in times past that the coming of the Lord was very near. So it was and they were not mistaken, as were those who thought it was so far away that they let it have no effect over their lives. The multiplying iniquities of our day; the apostasy of many professed Christians, preachers, and professors of theology into damning error and unbelief; the increase of lawlessness on the part of great corporations on the one hand and the oppressed poor on the other; these are all signs of His coming, which may be very near at hand. Men's hearts are "fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world" ( Luke 21:26 RV). But when we see these things begin to come to pass, we should then look up and lift up our heads because our redemption draws near ( Luke 21:28). Mark 13:34-36 — -"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for we know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." Luke 12:35-36 — -"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding: that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." Matthew 25:13 — "Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:42; Matthew 24:44 "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Sixth Proposition: We are repeatedly exhorted to be watching, looking and ready for our Lord's return; it must, therefore, be an event that, as far as we know, may occur at any moment.
There is no event or series of events predicted in Scripture that must occur before Jesus comes to receive His own unto Himself. There are events that must occur before He comes to the earth with His saints (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17). He may come for us as far as we know at any moment, and we should be always ready.
QUESTION: IS not the world to be converted before Jesus Christ comes?
ANSWER: Scripture shows us a world anything but converted when He comes. Revelation 1:7 — "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Matthew 25:31-32 — "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 — "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." And then shall that Wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Luke 18:8 — "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 21:35 — "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 — "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 — "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and they that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 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."
These passages show us two classes — converted and unconverted — at the revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven.
QUESTION: How shall we explain Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come?"
ANSWER: This verse tells us that the gospel is to be preached "for a testimony'' (RV) unto all the nations, not that all the nations will be converted. In a sense, this has already been done. ( Romans 10:18 — "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their works unto the ends of the world." Colossians 1:23 RV — "If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which