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The Second Coming Of Jesus
Jesus is returning to this earth in His physical body. This is a foundational Biblical teaching. The ‘how’ of the Second Coming of Jesus has been much debated for the last 2,000 years, but no genuine Christian doubts that the King will return. If you have been reading my comments on The Book Of Signs in order, you will know that I disagree with Dr. David Jeremiah on many aspects of the return of Jesus. Nobody in the first 1800 years of the Christian Church would have agreed with him, for this currently popular theory was unheard of then.
Although Christians are most familiar with the first coming of Christ, it is the second coming that gets the most ink in the Bible. Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (p. 352). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
The central theme of Scripture is Jesus Christ. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gets the ‘most ink’ in the Bible. Without the work of Christ on the Cross to fulfill the Plan of Redemption, the Second Coming of Jesus would just be a time of judgment for all. The sacrifices of the Old Testament and many of the Laws and Prophecies point to the first Coming of Christ and what would be accomplished there. Many of the Scriptures that the Book of Signs assumes are referring to the Second Coming are, when taken in context, referring to other events. Nevertheless, the Bible does teach that Jesus will return bodily, and this has been the hope of Christians ever since the Ascension.
The Day Of The Lord
When is the Day Of The Lord? There is a lot of prophetic imagery that surrounds the use of the term The Day Of The Lord. Many people, taking this imagery literally, assume that it is referring to the Second Coming. The Book Of Signs with its dispensational point-of-view, automatically assumes this terms refers to the Return Of The King. Our question should be, How does the light of the New Testament interpret this term? How Jesus and the apostles understood the term should be our controlling explanation.
Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust,
From the terror of the Lord
And the glory of His majesty. Is. 2:10, NKJV
Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
Shall be destroyed.
The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars;
They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
And to the hills, “Fall on us!” Ho. 10:8, NKJV
Jesus referenced these two Scriptures as He was on the way to the cross. He was speaking of something people then alive would witness. Isaiah specifically links this to the Day Of The Lord
Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:28-31, NIV
Peter, in his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, quotes Joel and declares that what Joel prophesied was then happening. He states that the infilling of the Holy Spirit upon His people had to happen before the Day Of The Lord. If the Day Of The Lord was not in his near future, there was no need for the first part of the prophecy to be fulfilled then.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:16-21
The Day Of The Lord comes unexpectedly to those who are not prepared - which is why Jesus and the apostles went to great lengths to warn their followers to be prepared. Notice Paul is not making a general teaching here. He specifically addresses his first-century brethren on the premise that they personally will witness this.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 These. 5:21-4, NKJV
[2 Peter 3:10 would seem on the surface to be dealing with the Second Coming; however, we examine it in detail in How Will The World End? I suggest you take a few minutes and read it now.]
The Day Of The Lord shows us in rich prophetic language the judgment of God on sinful and rebellious people. The Scriptures above show that Jesus and the apostles expected it to be in the near future from their perspective. Forty years [time of probation] after the death and resurrection of Christ, the judgment fell in AD 70, destroying the Temple and the Jewish nation in a horrible and gruesome war.
Mount Of Olives?
Immediately following Christ’s ascension into heaven, two angels appeared to the stunned disciples and spoke words of comfort to them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The next verse tells us, “They returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet” (v. 12). Did you catch that? Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives. According to the angels, Christ will return to that very same spot—the Mount of Olives. Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (p. 353). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
This represents a big assumption not supported by this Scripture. What do we know from Acts 1:11-12? We know the disciples were on the Mount of Olives. We know that is the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven. We know that Jesus is going to return in the same way that He left, i.e. visibly and physically. “In like manner” means in the same way, not in the same place. Jesus may return on the Mount of Olives, but that is not what the angels promised, and nothing in this Scripture indicates it.
Can The Holy Spirit Do His Job?
When Jesus returns to this earth to put down the world’s ultimate rebellion, the armies of heaven will accompany him. Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (p. 356). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1 Cor. 15:24-26, NKJV
Jesus is currently reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. He currently has all power and authority. When does the end [Second Coming] come? When everyone and everything has been made subject to their rightful King. How does that happen? By the Holy Spirit working through the citizens of the kingdom. Jesus is not returning to earth for a war - He has already won His war. He is returning in celebration of our having implemented His victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. The idea that Jesus is returning on a rescue mission is an insult to the Holy Spirit.
This grand title, King of kings and Lord of lords, identifies our Lord at His second coming…When Christ returns the second time, He will finally fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah that we often quote and hear choirs sing to Handel’s lofty music at Christmastime: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). At His first coming, Jesus fulfilled the first part of Isaiah’s prophecy, the heartwarming Christmas part. At His second coming, He will fulfill the second part—the part that reveals His iron-hard power and authority over all the nations. The government of the world will at last be upon His shoulder! Jeremiah, David . The Book of Signs (p. 357). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:13-16, NKJV
Notice that Jesus will return but that He is CURRENTLY the Blessed, the Only Potentate, the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, etc. When Jesus said, “It is finished” on the cross, His work was done. It is now our job, through the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, to implement His victory on earth.
These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Rev. 17:14, NKJV
Notice that although people may fight against the Lamb, He is ALREADY Lord of lords and King of kings. I don’t know how to break this to Dr. Jeremiah, but the government is right now on His shoulders. If it doesn’t look like that in the world today, it is because we are not doing our job. That doesn’t mean Jesus is not reigning.
The Second Coming Of Jesus
In spite of the best efforts of men to complicate things, the second coming of Jesus is quite simple. At the time appointed by the Father, Jesus will return, bringing with Him the saints who have died. Christians who are alive will meet Jesus in the air. Our bodies and the universe will go through a transformation from mortal to immortal, from temporal to eternal. We will welcome Jesus back to an earth which recognizes His sovereignty. The judgement will take place where the ungodly will be sentenced to the lake of fire, and the Godly will receive rewards. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Return To The Book Of Signs.
Additional Reading
Secret Signs Of Christ's Coming Part One
Secret Signs Of Christ's Coming Part Two
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