Second Coming

 

Matthew  24

36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38  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, 39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

 

          I am speaking on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ. I have read only one set of verses that deal with this subject. (I will be reading others along the way.) I am told there are over 300 different texts of Scripture that directly make this assertion or imply it. So, there is no problem in proving that Scripture teach and the early disciples believed this was to come to pass. One fourth of all Scripture is taken up with prophecy of some sort.

          According to one writer, all Scripture may be divided up into four parts: those relating to the Jewish nation; those relating to the neighboring nations; those announcing the Messiah; those delivered by Christ and His apostles.

          Although there are several different views on this subject, it seems almost silly and a waste of time to consider any but one and that is Jesus will personally and literally come back to this earth again.  I am persuaded this was the view held by the early Christians and the one presented by the Scriptures. And considering these things, we must hold the same view.

 

I. Can We Believe This promise?

          I think this is a valid question.  After all, it has been almost 2,000 years since He made this promise and we have no more reason to believe it now than at the beginning. Maybe less?

          We never personally saw or heard Him make this promise. So we are  taking the word of others that He did make it and any well meaning person can make a promise. I, for one, do not like to believe in something that is not going to happen nor do I like to believe a lie. Even a well intentioned promise may not be fulfilled.

          How might we have reasonable proof? Usually, we can believe a promise made for the future, based on past performance or on a person's character and reliability. (The courts usually do this.)

          Did Christ make such promises that we can say with certainty were fulfilled? Yes, many of them. Let's look at some of them:

 

Mark  13

1. "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings [are here]! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

 

          From the context, His disciples are calling His attention to the grandeur, beauty, and permanence of the great structures of the temple, etc. His amazing reply was that these great structures were not nearly so permanent as they had imagined! In fact, they would be utterly destroyed (not damaged or partially destroyed as would ordinarily occur). This was, to say the least, a startling statement. But did it come to pass? According to Josephus, a contemporary historian of Christ, it was destroyed in August of 70 A.D., and furthermore, according to him, the area where it had been planted, was so thoroughly destroyed, it was impossible to believe it has ever been inhabited (from Payne's Enc. of Bib. Prophecy, pg. 491, paragraph no. 55).

 

          Now it is impossible for Him to have uttered such an astounding prophecy and just by chance hit upon being right. But did He make other such predictions? Yes.

 

Matt. 12:21

"And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."

 

          This has to be another startling statement. Surely the One Who came to the Jews, would not possibly offer Himself to the Gentiles, much less be accepted by them. Yet, we know that is exactly what happened. Today, it is not the Jews who believe in Christ. How could this be predicted unless known before hand?

          But perhaps the most startling promise of all is that of His resurrection.

 

John   2

 19 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?  21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."  

 

          (The two witnesses required by the Law.)  Of course, we have the testimony of the early disciples as to the fulfillment of this promise. All the gospel writers say it happened; Paul says it happened and the writer of the book of Hebrews believed it happened:

 

Hebrews 13:

20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

 

          Now that is a bunch of witnesses to the veracity and ability of Christ to keep His word. In a court of law and the ever day world, this kind of evidence would be overwhelming. Can anyone prove to the contrary? Even if we were to discount faith, It is absolutely certain we can accept His promise as being trustworthy.

          If we can accept the record in regards to the things just mentioned, then it follows we can accept His promises to return as absolutely true.

 

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."

 

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."

 

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 “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:"

 

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."

 

          In regards to this passage, it seems to contradict another passage:

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: 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."

 

          The obvious explanation is He will come for His saints and then, come with them at a later time:

 

Revelation 19

11  "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 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. 13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

 

II. Do We Know The Time of His Return?

 

          Through the ages, different men have made a career of foretelling the time of His return. However, it is very clear we don't know the exact time because God has decreed it a secret:

 

Matthew  24

 36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

 

          Why? Because this keeps or should keep us, on our toes in the way we live our lives and conduct our daily affairs. But there is always some idiot who will say he knows something the angels nor Jesus claimed to know. The last one that received any attention was a fellow named Whisenant, who lived in Little Rock, Ark. He published a little booklet that sold for 2 dollars. He missed the date of His coming but he grabbed off 2 mil dollars I heard.

          However, that is not to say we cannot have a general idea about the time of His coming. Paul says plainly that we Christians should not be caught unawares:

         

1 Thessalonians 5:4

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

 

          He had referred to His coming as a thief in verse 2. Also, in Rev. 16:15, it is described in the same manner.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3

"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;"

 

          There are various signs that are mentioned in connection with the promised return of Christ. A close study will reveal we have had some of these signs for a long time. So what is the real truth concerning these signs? We must consider two things: they will intensify, and will occur (converge) at the same time.

          This term "falling away" means defect, forsake or to leave off. So, it seems to me, the writer is saying just before His coming, there will be a general forsaking of the things originally taught by the apostles. And, it does seem we are in that time.

          Jesus seemed to say the same thing in a different way:

 

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?"

          This implies there will be few who remain faithful to the whole body of revealed truth. This might also imply the falling away period will drag on for awhile.

 

          Paul also gives us other indicators of the general time of His coming:

2 Timothy 3

1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

 

          This passage can be divided up into two parts: The general atmosphere that will prevail (perilous times), and a description of the people of that day. There are 20 different descriptive words or phrases used to tell us what people will be like during the time just before His return. Again, all these things seem to be present and on the increase in our day.

          In a pamphlet (Imprimis) I received from the Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, it has a speech delivered by Rebecca Hagelin. The title of the speech was “Taking Back Our Homes.” In the speech, she calls attention to the moral conditions that exist in our country today. She describes some of the things that she observed on a trip to Florida with six teenagers. She says that intestate I-95 is filled with “tacky billboards that scream, ‘Topless! We Dare, We Bare!’” She goes on to say there “is no escaping them from state to state.” They finally pulled into a gas station that had an ice-cream counter. Near the register was a product called “Horniest Goat Weed: sex stimulate pills for men and women.” In the same business establishment she saw a magazine rack filled with porn. Later down the road, they stopped at a Burger King, feeling safe from such terrible advertising only to find a TV in one corner of the fast food establishment featuring a naked man and woman bumping away under the covers.

          She goes on to talk about the various evil influences so easily accessed by members of our (toxic) society, primarily targeting teens. She cites the Internet, MTV, video games, books, even library books, and the terrible music. And what are some of the results of this toxic, permissive, behavior, of our society?  Among other things, unwanted pregnancies, STDs, teen suicides, self-mutilations of many teens in our schools, as she describes it, “just to feel alive.”

          And what is the solution of these terrible conditions, especially among our teens? The solution is simple and no secret: Parents. Parents must become parents and determine what their teens will or will not do. They can’t participate in such foolishness without some help from the parents. (Copied from April, 2006, Imprimis, from Hillsdale College.)

          In a few words, that generation may be described as: lacking discipline (doing things in excess), lacking loyalty, self centered, not much natural affection toward children or others in general, pleasure seekers, going to church but not listening to the messages that are heard. At least one unique group of people is described as "...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power..." One author has described these people as "Christian atheists."  (Sounds like an oxymoron.)

          In I Tim. 4:1-3, we see some more indicators of what will prevail in the religious world:

 

1 Timothy 4

1  "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  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3  Forbidding to marry, (could this refer to shacking up? ed.) [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."

 

          Another important sign is that of the use of drugs on a world wide basis. The book of Revelation indicates this will be quite common:

 

Revelation 9:21

"Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

 

          The word "sorceries" (also witchcraft) comes from a Greek word from which we get our English word pharmacy or drug store.

          Drugs have been around a long time but the difference today is the amount of the supply and general acceptance both by government and the population. I heard on a radio program that one out of every five people in the U.S. is taking a drug of some sort. That has never happened before.

 

III. Connected to Exhortations

          This is of great importance. The second coming might be thought of as the great motivator. We are exhorted to be  watchful:

 

Matthew  24

 42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

 

          To be sober:

1 Thessalonians   5

 2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief.  5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober."

 

          (It is interesting to note the emphasis that will be put on peace and safety [ver. 3] and this seems to be what the world is saying today. Clinton seemed to think we have entered the millennium as he closed over 100 military installations.)

          This can mean not to be under the influence or to be serious minded. Both meanings seem to be in order.

          In view of His coming, we are exhorted to repent:

 

Acts   3

 19  "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

 

          To faithfulness:

 

Matthew  25

 19 “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

 

          To live a Godly life:

Titus   2

 11. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

 

V. Exhortations Related to the Sec. Coming

BELIEVE HIS COMING

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.

 

PRAY FOR IT

 Thy kingdom come.

Matthew 6:10

Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.

 

Revelation 22:20

 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 

LOVE IT

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.

 

PREACH IT

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; 2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

WATCH FOR IT

 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.

 

LOOK FOR IT

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

WAIT FOR IT

1 Thessalonians 1:10

 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 

DO NOT DESPISE HIS COMING

2 Peter 3

3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

 

HASTEN IT

2 Peter 3:12

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?

 

UNASHAMED AT HIS COMING

1 John 2:28

 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

 

          "It may be at morn, when the day is awaking, When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking, That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory, To receive from the world `His own.'

          "It may be at midday, it may be at twilight, It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight, Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory, when Jesus receives `His own.'

          "Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying, No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying, Caught up thro' the clouds with our Lord into glory, When Jesus receives `His own.'"  (Copied from the hymn CHRIST RETURNETH)