Category: Second Coming

Peter’s admonition for his readers was to remember and consider what they already knew of their responsibilities toward God. This is an important part of preaching, reminding brethren of what they already know! Doing so helps to guard against regression (cf. Hebrews 5:12).

In this context, the specific problem potentially surrounded their confidence in Christ’s second coming. This second advent was promised to man at Jesus’ ascension following His resurrection. Two angels told His disciples “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
But time had passed and some were doubting that promise. Their claim was wrong, but it is one that carries weight in every generation. “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (4).

In the next section, Peter successfully argues against that doubt. Paul did as well, in 1 Corinthians 15. He wrote, “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (52).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

The Word references the Son of God. One of three in the beginning, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. John here affirms the place God’s Son had in creation. As He and the Father are One, God’s Son can truly and fully be referred to as the Creator of all things. He is described as “the light of men” (5).

After the first 5 verses, there is an ellipsis dealing the John the Baptist. John was the one who came to “bear witness of the Light” (6). Notice the word “Light” here is capitalized, emphasizing our point that the “light” is another designation for the “Word”, signifying God’s Son. Hence the capitalized word indicating deity. John the Baptist is not God’s Son. He is the forerunner of the “Light.” “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.’ ” (Matthew 3:1-3). Continue reading “The Incarnate Word” →

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Mankind experienced the first advent of the Christ.  As Paul wrote, He came to earth, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). This sacrificial death is how He bore those sins, and served as a propitiation or appeasing sacrifice to the justice of the Father. We read in the New Testament the sacrifice, and the Father’s acceptance of that sacrifice. The Hebrew writer, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

What we haven’t experienced in the second advent of Christ. When He comes again, it will be apart from sin.  The work of redemption has been accomplished in His sacrifice on the cross. In contrast His second coming will be as a conquering King! He will gloriously appear in the sky. He will bring all of His chosen ones to His bosom, and will deliver them to an eternity in His presence (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (4:18).

“Where is the promise of His coming” (2 Peter 3:4).  This was the question that scoffers asked as time passed in the first century, and the world continued.  Many in that time (both Christians and unbelievers) misunderstood the fact that the promise of Jesus’ second coming did not necessarily mean he would come within a few months or years of His leaving the earth after His resurrection from the dead.

The teaching of both Jesus and the apostles — that Jesus would come, that no one knows the exact time of His return, but that it was important to be prepared — is teaching that every generation needs to take to heart.

Consider that accepting that teaching will cause a child of God to live faithfully throughout his life, as he looks for and seeks to hasten “the coming of the day of God” (3:12). Continue reading ““Where is the Promise of His Coming?”” →

A discussion of the second coming of Christ. What it means, and what will happen?

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The apostle Peter warns his readers of dangers associated with the delay of Christ’s second coming in 2 Peter 3:1-18. He tells them to be mindful; do not forget; be diligent; and beware. Each exhortation is discussed

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The lesson examines the ascension of Jesus, His present reign upon His throne, and His promise of a future return. All to benefit you and me!

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Our text gives more details concerning the “son of perdition” (3) whose coming predated the final day of judgment. While the passage is a difficult one, the previous teaching that Paul had given to the Thessalonians when he was with them (5) would have made it clearer to them.

For us, it is important to note that the day of the Lord hadn’t come because the “son of perdition” had not yet been revealed.  This individual, whoever he was, was to be defeated before the day of judgment. Up to that point, something (we do not know exactly what) had been holding back the revelation of the “son of perdition.” It has been suggested that some power (maybe God, maybe Satan) has held him back, but when revealed, God would defeat him.

Regardless, he would deceive many before his fall.  This is the reason Paul wrote his letter.  He wanted warn of the danger, and dispossess some of the view that the day of the Lord had come.  He was successful on both counts.

This passage is one of the most difficult in the New Testament. The difficulty comes in our not knowing the oral teaching of Paul, who had already spoken to the Thessalonians about the subject (2:5). So, let us instead focus on what we can know.

First, the Thessalonians were challenged in their understanding of Christ’s second coming. Some thought it to be imminent (2:2), though the letter was written at an early date (about 51 AD).

Second, Paul assured them that the day of Christ was not yet present, because two events would have to happen before its occurrence. One, a falling away. (There have been numerous apostasies since the writing of this passage). Second, the revelation of the “man of sin”, the “son of perdition.” (While it is difficult to say who this is, it can again be said that many individuals through the last two centuries can be described in this way). (2:3-4)

So, while it is difficult for us to understand exactly what these two events are, there is no reason to think that the events are still in the future. The Lord has not come, but He could at any time (2 Peter 3:8-13).

In lesson 35 of the series, the discussion centers on the first 6 verses of Jesus’ address to His disciples on the night of His betrayal. (John 14:1-6).

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A simple definition of the word advent — the arrival of a notable person, thing or event. Typically, in religious discussions, the arrival of Jesus on the earth is described as His advent. This is appropriate in that He is truly a notable person, and His coming was a notable event!

When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he considered putting her away, until an angel of the Lord appeared to him. “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:20-23).

Continue reading “Contrasting the 1st and 2nd Advents” →

The word rapture is used to describe a transformation of believers who will be taken from the earth prior to the millennial reign of Christ. It is a central tenet of Premillennial doctrine. It also is lacking in any scriptural basis.

The problem is not in the idea that at Christ’s second coming the righteous will meet HIm in the air. In fact, this truth is taught clearly in scripture. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The problem is that many seek to differentiate this event from the resurrection of the wicked to eternal condemnation. The Premillennial view is that the righteous will be snatched away, and the wicked will remain on the earth, to be judged at a later time. This is demonstrably untrue.

First, note the context of Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. His essay was an answer to a question they were asking. They wanted to know what would happen to those who die before Christ’s coming. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (vs. 13).

There is no mention of the wicked in 1 Thessalonians 4 because the question directed to Paul regarded only the righteous. In that day, both the living and dead who are righteous will be caught up together in the air.

Jesus taught about His second coming in judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. There He clearly tells us that the granting of an eternal reward for the righteous will occur on the same occasion that God sentences the wicked to the “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (vs. 41). His conclusion regarding the wicked, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The idea of the wicked being left behind, with tribulation, a physical reign, great battles and another coming of Jesus yet future, is found only in the imaginations of men.

This is clearly established by Peter, who also wrote about Jesus’ coming. Read 2 Peter 3:10-13:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

The second coming of Christ is certainly a rapturous event for the righteous. However, the idea of a rapture as a separate event that takes place long before the ending of the physical universe is not true! When Christ comes, that will be the end! Rapture for the Christian. Grief for the wicked. Destruction for the physical universe. That is the event to which Paul refers in 1 Thessalonians 4.

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Continue reading “The Patternists: What is the Rapture?” →

It is common for religious people to try and predict the time when Christ will come again. They seek to correlate current events with Biblical prophecies to determine the day, and even the hour when Christ will return to the earth.

Scripture clearly shows this to be impossible. Paul and Peter both state that the “day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). The thief depends upon surprise, coming when he is not expected. This phrase clearly indicates that we can’t know when Christ will come.

Continue reading “The Patternists: Proper Preparation for Christ’s Coming” →

In Acts 1, as Jesus’ disciples were looking up to the heavens having followed the ascension of their Lord into the clouds, two angels of God addressed them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (vs. 11).

There are lessons to be learned from Jesus’ ascension:

1. This was God’s exaltation of His Son. After He did the work of the Father, Jesus returned to God’s right hand. It is there where He presently reigns in His kingdom!
2. Gazing upward is not truly preparing for Jesus’ second coming. The angels asked, “why do you stand gazing up.” This is a good question to ask today of those who seek to predict Jesus’ second coming. We know He will come “as a thief in the night.” There is no predicting the day. Preparation comes through faith and obedience!
3. The promise of His second coming is sure and similar to His departure. This is God’s promise. Jesus will come again. When Jesus comes, those who are His, “shall be caught up together with them [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

We rejoice in the truth revealed in our text. When Jesus left, He promised to return! “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

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An exegetical study of the text of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-19, examining the second coming of Jesus.

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