The Second Coming of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ
INTRODUCTION There are three Greek words used to reveal this fact:
(1) Parousia-personal presence (2) Apokalupsis-revelation and (3) Epiphaneia-appearing.
These three words signify that there will come a time when Christ will return in a public, personal revelation of Himself to the world.
Some teach that the Second Coming is when at death "Jesus comes to receive the soul," but that is not a public revelation visible to all the world.
Acts 1:10-11 describes the ascension which we studied in a previous lesson and described as being
(1) personal
(2) bodily
(3) visible and
(4) with power. The Saviour’s first coming was in humiliation but the second advent will be glorious.
Actually there are three major viewpoints respecting His Second Coming:
Post millennial view: It teaches that the Second Coming will follow rather than precede the millennial age.
The A-Millennial view: He does not believe in a literal period of a thousand years but believes that when Christ comes everything ends quickly.
The pre-millennial view: The Lord comes and then follows the Millennium.
Another problem is that the Second Coming is in two stages:
The rapture which is secret (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) when the Lord comes FOR His saints and we meet Him in the air.
The revelation which is public (Revelation 1:7), when the Lord comes WITH His saints to set up the Millennium, 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
Another unsolved problem of pre-millennialists is whether the Church will go through the tribulation so there are the "pre-tribulation and mid-tribulation" debates.
PROPHECIES OF CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
His first coming was prophesied and those prophecies came to pass literally. This gives us great confidence that the prophecies of the second advent will also be fulfi1ted literally and not in a figurative or spiritual sense.
It was foretold by the prophets. Daniel 7:13, "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven."
It was foretold by Jesus Himself. 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."
It was foretold by Paul. 1 Timothy 6:14, "Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
It was foretold by angels. Acts 1:10-11, when the Saviour ascended from the earth.
None of these prophecies were fulfilled at His first coming.
TIME OF CHRIST’S COMING
This is a secret that only the Lord knows. Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only."
Jesus Christ as man did not know that date but Jesus Christ as God is omniscient and certainly knows the exact moment when it will occur.
believe it is a movable date (2 Peter 3:12, R. V.) that can be advanced or retarded on the speed or slowness of taking the Gospel to every tribe. Matthew 24:14.
PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S COMING
To complete the salvation of saints: He has delivered us from the power and penalty of sin but then He shall deliver us from the presence of sin, Hebrews 9:28.
To be glorified in His saints. 2 Thessalonians 1:10, "When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe."
To bring to light the hidden things of darkness. 1 Corinthians 4:5, ".. . who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts. "
To judge. 2 Timothy 4:1, "... Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing. "
To reign. Revelation 11:15, ". . . Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."
To receive us to be with Himself. John 14:13, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
To destroy death. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, "For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
HOW IS CHRIST COMING?
Secretly at the Rapture. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." , Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Matthew 24:50, "The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of." Be prepared to meet Him TODAY.
Publicly at the Revelation. Revelation 1:7, "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him." Matthew 24:30; Titus 2:13.
WHERE IS CHRIST COMING TO?
At the Rapture we will meet Him in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
At the Revelation we will descend with Him to the earth. Probably He will land the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4.
MANNER OF HIS COMING
In the clouds. Matthew 24:30, "... see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. "
In the glory of His Father. Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels."
In His own glory. Matthew 25:31, "When the Son of man shall come in His glory. . ."
In flaming fire. 2 Thessalonians 1:8, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
With power and great glory. Matthew 24:30, ". . . clouds of heaven with power and great glory. "
As He ascended, in bodily form, Acts 1:9-11.
With a shout and the voice of the archangel. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, "For the Lord Himself shall descend. . . with a shout, with too voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God"
With His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13, ".. . coming of. . . Christ with all His saints."
Accompanied by angels. Matthew 16:27, quoted above.
Suddenly. Mark 13:36, "Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping."
SIGNS OF CHRIST’S COMING
1 Timothy 3:1-7 lists 23 signs of His coming, most of which are very evident today.
Perilous times
Men loving themselves
Covetousness
False accusers
Boasters
Incontinent
Proud
Fierce sins
Blasphemy
Despising good
Disobedient to parents
Traitors
Unthankful
Heady
Unholy
Without natural affection
Trucebreakers
Highminded
Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God
Having a form of Godliness
Silly women laden with sins
Divers lusts
Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
Matthew 24:5-7; Matthew 24:12-38 lists ten signs:
False Christs
Iniquity to abound
Wars and war rumours
Love of many waxes cold
Famines
Eating
Pestilences
Drinking
Earthquakes
Marrying Other signs include:
The destruction of Jerusalem, Luke 21:20; Luke 21:24
The completion of the Church, Romans 11:25
Gospel preached everywhere, Matthew 24:14;
The coming of the antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8
CONCLUSION Be not a scoffer like those in 2 Peter 3:3, for His coming is sure and certain. . Is it right to sell everything and sit on a hilltop waiting for Him? Definitely not.
We ought to plan and work as if He were not coming for another century but live a holy and pure life as if He were to return today. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13. This doctrine must affect our lives. It ought to keep us busy and WATCHING.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Give the 3 Greek words and their meaning that are used in regard to His coming.
From Acts 1:10-11, what 3 words would describe His second coming?
List 4 people who prophesied of His Second Coming with Scripture references.
When will Christ return?
List 7 purposes of Christ’s Second Coming.
From 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and Matthew 24:44, what do you learn about the Second Coming?
Where is Christ coming to? Explain.
Te1l 12 things about the manner of His coming.
Give ten signs of His coming: five from 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and five from Matthew 24:1-51.
What is the practical application of this doctrine?