The New Testament clearly teaches us that the first coming of Christ will be followed by a second. Jesus referred to His return more than once (Matthew 24:30, 25:19; 26:64; John 14:3); angels called attention to it at the ascension (Acts 1:11); and the Epistles speak of it repeatedly (Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28)
1. GREAT EVENTS PRECEDING THE SECOND COMING. According to Scripture several important events must precede the return of Christ.
- THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. The gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations before the coming of Christ (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10; Romans 11:25). This means that the nations as a whole must be so thoroughly evangelized that the gospel becomes a power in the life of the people, a sign that calls for decision.
- THE CONVERSION OF THE FULL NUMBER OF ISRAEL. 2 Corinthians 3:15 and Romans 11:25-29 refer to a conversion of Israel, and the passage in Romans seems to connect this with the end of time. Some take these passages to teach that Israel as a whole, Israel as a nation, will finally turn to the Lord. It is more likely, however, that the expression “all Israel” in Romans 11:26 simply refers to the full number of the elect out of the ancient covenant people. The whole passage does seem to imply that in the end large numbers of Israel will turn to the Lord.
- THE GREAT APOSTASY AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION. The Bible teaches repeatedly that toward the end of time there will be a great falling away. Iniquity will increase, and the love of many will wax cold. (Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:3-4) Wickedness crying to high heaven will result in a terrible tribulation “such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) If those days were not shortened no flesh would be saved; but they will be shortened for the sake of the elect.
- THE COMING OF ANTICHRIST. The spirit of Antichrist was already in evidence in the apostolic age (1 John 4:3), and many antichrists had made their appearance. (1 John 2:18) But the Bible leads us to expect that at the end of the age a single individual will stand out as the incarnation of all wickedness, “the man of sin,” “the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
- SIGNS AND WONDERS. The Bible also refers to striking signs as marking the beginning of the end. There will be wars, famines, and earthquakes in diverse places, which are called the beginning of travail, to be followed by the rebirth of the universe; and also fearful portents in heaven, when the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew 24:29-30; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-26)
2. THE SECOND COMING ITSELF. After these signs the Son of Man will be seen coming on the clouds of heaven.
- THE TIME OF HIS COMING. Some believe that the coming of Christ is imminent, that is, may now occur at any time. But the Bible teaches us that the events and signs mentioned in the foregoing must precede the return. From God’s point of view the coming is always near (Hebrews 10;25; James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:5); but no one can determine the exact time, not even the angels nor the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:36)
- THE MANNER OF HIS COMING. The person of Christ will return. He has already come in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but He will return in the body, so that He can be seen. (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7) Though several signs will precede His coming, yet it will be unexpected and take people by surprise. (Matthew 24:37-44; 25:1-12; 1 Thessalonians. 5:2-3; Revelation 3:3) Moreover, it will be a glorious and triumphant coming. The clouds of heaven will be His chariot (Matthew 24:30), the angels His bodyguard (2 Thessalonians 1:7), the archangels His heralds (1 Thessalonians. 4:16), and the saints of God His glorious retinue. (1 Thessalonians. 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10)
- THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING. Christ will return to introduce the future age, the eternal state of things, and will do this by two mighty events, the resurrection and the final judgment. (John 5:25-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:3-16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:11-15; 22:12)
- THE QUESTION OF THE MILLENNIUM. Some believe that the second coming of Christ will either be preceded or followed by a millennium.
- POST-MILLENNIALISM. Post-millennialism teaches that the second coming of Christ will follow the millennium. The millennium is expected during the gospel dispensation, in which we are now living, and at the end of which Christ will appear. The expectation is that the gospel will in the end become much more effective than it is at present and will usher in a period of righteousness and peace and of rich spiritual blessings. In our days some even expect that this will be the grand result of a purely natural process of evolution. This whole idea, however, does not seem to fit in with what the Bible tells us respecting the great apostasy toward the end of time.
- PRE-MILLENNIALISM. According to Pre-millennialism Christ at His return will re-establish the kingdom of David on earth, and will reign at Jerusalem for a thousand years. This theory is based on a literalistic interpretation of the prophets and of Revelation 20:1-6. It makes the kingdom of God an earthly and national kingdom, while the New Testament represents it as spiritual and universal, a kingdom that is even now in existence. (Matthew 11:12; 12:28; Luke 17:21: John 18:36-37; Colossians 1:13) The New Testament knows nothing of such an earthly and temporal kingdom of Christ, but does speak of His heavenly (2 Timothy 4:18) and eternal (2 Peter 1:11) kingdom. Moreover, this theory seeks its main support in a passage (Revelation 20:1-6), which represents a scene in heaven, and makes no mention of the Jews, of an earthly and national kingdom, nor of the land of Palestine, as the place where Jesus will rule.
TO MEMORIZE:
Passages pertaining to:
THE CALLING OF THE GENTILE:
- “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
- For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery so that you will not be wise in your own estimation that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” (Romans 11:25-26)
THE CONVERSION OF ISRAEL:
- …and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” (Romans 11:26)
- But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:15-16)
THE GREAT APOSTASY AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION:
- “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13)
- For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22)
THE REVELATION OF ANTICHRIST:
- Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9)
- Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. … Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:18, 22 )
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
- “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (Matthew 24:44)
- For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (Philippians 3:20)
- looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, (Titus 2:13)
For Further Study:
How would you explain the passages that speak of the coming of Christ as near?
- Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)
- Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:34)
- …not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging [one another;] and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)
- Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. (James 5:9)
- …but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5)
- Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
Who are the “false Christs” or “antichrists,” of which the Bible speaks?
- For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
- Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
What would you say in reply to the idea that the second coming of Christ belongs to the past, since He returned in the Spirit?
- I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. (John 14:18, 28)
Questions for Review
- What great events will precede the second coming of Christ?
- In what sense must the nations be evangelized?
- How must we understand the predicted conversion of Israel?
- What is the great apostasy and the great tribulation?
- What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the Antichrist?
- In what sense are there antichrists even now?
- What signs will precede the second coming?
- In what sense can it be regarded as near?
- Can we regard the second coming as a past event? If not, why not?
- Can you prove that it will be physical and visible?
- How can it be sudden, when it will be preceded by signs?
- What will be the purpose of Christ’s return?
- What is the difference between post- and pre-millennialism?
- What objections are there to these theories?