Is Jesus Coming back? Yes, because He said He would:
“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” (John 14:3).
The revered scholar, Clarence Larkin counted 109 distinctive prophecies of Christ’s first coming in the Old Testament. However, Christ’s promise to return a second time is mentioned more than 300 times in the New Testament. The Pauline epistles refer to Christ’s return at least 50 times. Jesus departed into the clouds in full view of His disciples (Acts 1:9-11). The angels that accompanied His ascension said He would return in ‘like manner,’ (i.e., in the clouds). We too will one day be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air:
“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: 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
Jesus might return at any moment
We believe in the imminent, personal and premillennial coming of Jesus Christ:
1. The word imminent means the return of Christ is near; it’s impending, likely to occur at any moment (Matt 25:29-44; Mk 13:32-37; Titus 2:13). Jesus (the bridegroom) will return for His church (the bride) firstly and return once more (with the resurrected saints) at the end of the seven-year tribulation period.
2. The word personal means “the Lord himself” shall return (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18); the “same Jesus” who was “taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner” as He was seen to “go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Jesus also warned that many counterfeit Christ’s would appear prior to His coming and we are to discern those false pretenders (Matt 24:5, Mk 13:6, Luke 21:8).
3. The word premillennial means He will come before the millennium during which the “blessed and holy” of the “first resurrection” will live and reign with Christ “a thousand years” (Rev 20:4-6).
The Millennium is a span of one thousand years where Christ shall rule and reign on Earth (Rev 20:3-4). Upon the completion of this timeframe, God will create a new heaven and new earth (Isa 65:17, Rev 21:1).
Christ’s Coming will occur in Two stages:
Number 1: For the purpose of catching away His saints who are prepared for the Rapture before the Great Tribulation period (Matt 24:40-44; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 3:10, 11; 4:1, 2).
Number 2: At the end of the Great Tribulation, when Christ shall return with His saints to destroy the armies of the Antichrist, to judge the nations of the world, and to inaugurate the millennial reign (Matt 25:31-33; 2 Thess 2:8; Rev 19:11-21; 20:1-6). This is known as the ‘Second Coming’ or ‘Second Advent.’
Are we going through the tribulation?
Some contend the church will endure the tribulation, but this view is incorrect. The tribulation period is described as an outpouring of ‘God’s wrath,’ five times in the Book of Revelation (Rev 14:10, Rev 14:19, Rev 15:1, Rev 15:7 & Rev 16:1). Scripture is clear, that Jesus took ‘God’s wrath’ upon the cross and we are no longer ‘appointed to wrath’ (1st Thess 5:9). This includes wrath of any kind, whether during the tribulation or outside of it. Therefore, the church is not subject to any ‘wrath’ whatsoever. Jacob’s trouble is a seven-year period prepared for Israel, not the church (Jer 30:7).
Nahum 1:2, reveals the ‘wrath of God’ is appointed only for His enemies. The church of Jesus Christ is not the enemy of God. Romans 1:18, states the wrath of God is revealed against the ‘ungodly.’ The wrath of God is come upon ‘the children of disobedience,’ not the church (Eph 5:6). Jesus has delivered us (the church), from ’the wrath which is to come’ (i.e., the tribulation or Hell); (Thess 1:10, Jn 3:36). Jesus instructs the Apostle John that he will be kept from the ‘hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world’ (Rev 3:10). John is a member of the church, and he doesn’t get special treatment. If he’s excluded, then we’re also excluded from the impending tribulation. You’re just as much a member of God’s church as the Apostle John is!
The proper attitude of Christians toward the coming of Christ should be:
- To love His appearing (2 Tim 4:8).
- Watch and pray always to be accounted worthy to escape the things that will come upon the earth during the Great Tribulation (Luk 21:36).
- Pray for His coming (Matt 6:10; Rev 22:20).
- Faithfully “occupy” until He comes (Luk 19:13).
Is Jesus coming back soon?
Many signs point to the soon return of Jesus Christ. It’s only a matter of time before the ‘Son of Perdition,’ (Jn 17:12, 2 Thess 2:3) appears on the world stage. But the church will never see that day, having been long gone in the rapture. The reformation of Israel in the last century is the most prominent sign that Christ’s return is imminent (Mk 13:30, Luk 21:32, Matt 24:34). Bear this in mind, there is no prophecy remaining to be fulfilled prior to Christ’s return for His Church. His return can happen at any moment. We need to be ready.
Christ will of course return a second time near the close of the Great Tribulation, landing upon the Mt. of Olives (Zech 14:4), to fight the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 16,17,19), in order to judge the wicked, who remain on the earth.
Don’t confuse the Rapture of the Church with the Second Coming of Christ. These are two separate and distinct events.
Click Here to find out the 12 most prominent signs of Christ’s return.
Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, click here to find out more…
Author: Carl G.M. Joseph
Bibliography:
Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible (Myer Pearlman – Pentecostal Classics, Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, Missouri-2010 25th Edition).
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