A look at the Second Coming

1.Christ will return

Terms:Parousia = presence, coming, arrivalApocalypse = revelationEpiphany – manifestation

There are numerous references to Christ returning: Matthew 24 & 25, John 14 (prepare a place), 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:14, 3:13, 4:15-172 Thessalonians 1:71 Corinthians 15:23, Philippians 3:20, Colossians 3:42 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28

Plus Old Testament prophecies, inc Daniel and Ezekiel

2. No one knows when but there will be signs

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Matthew 24:36

“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Matthew 24:6-8

3.Christ’s return will be personal and bodily

“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Acts 1:11

“They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:30

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

4. Purpose of second coming

To fully establish the Kingdom of God.

Christ’s first coming – to established Christ’s reign in peoples’ hearts (not many)

Second coming – to reveal himself to everyone

‘For every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.’

Philippians 2:10-11

5. Preparation for the second coming

Jesus not only affirms the future events but emphasises the appropriate behaviour.

i) We’re to be watchful because no one knows the hour (Matthew 24:42)

ii) Don’t make the assumption that it is a long way off or imminent - Parable of the wise and foolish virgins – Matt 25:1-13

iii) Keep working - parable of the talents – Matt 25:14-30

6. When the Lord returns he will judge the living and the dead.

Parable of the sheep and the goats.

7. Although we don’t know the time, there will be signs.

But how will we recognise them – there has always been signs?

Eschatological Terms

I. The present church age – what we are living through now

II. The tribulation (Matt 24 and Rev) – time of great trial and testing

III. The millennium (only found in Rev 20) – a period of peace for 1000 years

IV. The rapture (Matt 24 and 1 Thess 4) – when Believers are taken up to be with Christ

V. Christ’s return (many & various) – when he comes in glory

VI. The eternal reign (the new Jerusalem) – Rev 21 – when Christ begins his eternal reign

Views on Revelation

i) Idealists – symbolic of timeless truths – good over evil

ii) Preterists – almost exclusively first century – hence most things have happened.

iii) Historicists – relates to events from first century AD until the end of time

iv) Futurists – mainly about the end times

Four main views

Amillennialism

Post-millennialism

Historic or classic pre-millennialism

Dispensational pre-millennialism

Plus various tribulation models

Church Age

Tribulation

Millennium Eternal reign

Christ’s return and final judgement

Rapture

Amillennialism

Church Age

Tribulation lessening over time

Millennium Eternal reign

Rapture

Post-millennialism

Christ’s return and final judgement

Society gradually improves

Church Age Tribulation Millennium Eternal reign

Christ’s return

Rapture of believers

Historic Pre-millennialism

Final judgement

Unbelievers raised

Society grows increasingly evil

Church Age Tribulation Millennium Eternal reign

Christ’s return

Rapture of believers

Dispensational Pre-millennialism

Final judgement

Unbelievers raised

secretly

‘I think it is important for evangelicals to recognise that this area of study is complex and to extend a large measure of grace to others who hold a different view regarding the millennium and the tribulation.’

Wayne Gruden