According to some, Jesus Christ will come silently to take away His saints and subsequently return seven years later with His saints and rule on earth for one thousand years. Some have also said that the events of today indicate a likelihood of the end times approaching whereby Christ will come. Let us look into what the Bible tells us of Christ’s second coming.
Christ’s Coming is Certain
After the Passover feast, Jesus spoke of Peter not being able to follow Him where He would go and also foretold that Peter would deny Him thrice (John 13-36-38). Jesus continued by promising of His return (John 14:1-3). Not only did Jesus promise of His return, angels also promised that Jesus will return in the same manner that He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Several inspired writers like Paul, John, Peter and the writer of Hebrews also recorded that Christ will come again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 1:7; 2 Peter 3:10; Hebrews 9:28). It is thus certain that Christ will come again.
The Nature of Christ’s Coming
Jesus will personally come again. There will not be any representatives, substitutes or proxies coming in Jesus’s stead. Paul wrote that the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Luke recorded the angels saying that Jesus will come again personally, in the manner they had seen Him ascend to heaven (Acts 1:11).
Although some have said that Jesus will come secretly, the Bible tells us that His coming will be seen widely. The angels said that as the apostles saw Jesus taken up into heaven, He will come in the same manner and people can see it (Acts 1:11). “Every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7).
Jesus’s coming will also be heard. He will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Paul detailed it very clearly that people will be able to hear of such an event taking place. This, I believe, would be even louder and more significant than the nationwide civil defence sirens we hear on the first of every month at 12pm. The Bible also tells us that when Jesus comes again, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (2 Peter 3:10). Hence, not only will Jesus’s coming be seen, it will only be heard.
Many prominent religious leaders have tried (and failed) to predict the date of the Lord’s second coming. The Bible tells us that Christ’s second coming will be sudden and the date is unknown except to God the Father (Matthew 24:36-44). Our job, as Jesus says, is to be ready for Him to come again.
Christ will come when we least expect it. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
The Reason for Christ’s Coming
Jesus will come again to destroy the earth. Peter, by inspiration, wrote that the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat together with the earth. Everything on earth will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10-11).
Another reason for Jesus’s coming is to raise the dead. Jesus said “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29) The dead in Christ shall also rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Jesus is coming again to judge the world (Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10).
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)
Jesus will separate the sheep (righteous) and the goats (unrighteous). The sheep will go into eternal life and the goats into everlasting fire (Matthew 25:32-34; 41). Jesus also said that those who do evil will go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life (Matthew 25:46).
What Shall We Do?
The Bible tells us very clearly that Jesus will definitely come again to raise the dead and to judge. His coming will be sudden, seen and heard by all. When He comes, this earth and universe will be burned up.
Knowing the certainty and purpose of Christ’s coming, we have to prepare ourselves for this eventuality. Abiding in Christ, through daily study of God’s word, prayers and obeying God’s commandments, is what we need to do. This is so that we have the assurance and not be ashamed when the Lord returns (1 John 2:28).
Jesus spoke of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. Am I well prepared like the five virgins in Matthew 25:4 or am I like the five foolish virgins who were ill prepared? Will I have the confidence, boldness and assurance when Christ comes again as what the apostle John wrote? Even if Christ does not come during our lifetime, we will still meet Him after physical death in judgment. Are we ready to receive that reward of eternal life or everlasting punishment?
As we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ or for the time appointed unto us to die, let us not only labour individually as a Christian but help to prepare each other. That includes: loving one another, encouraging one another and admonishing one another. All these we do such that we will not be ashamed when Christ comes again or when we die.
Ask Yourself:
What is the nature of Christ’s coming?
Why is Christ coming again?
What can I do to abide in Christ and help others to abide in Christ and prepare to meet the Lord?
Suggested Answers:
His coming will be personal, visible, audible and sudden.
He is coming again to destroy the earth and universe, raise the dead and judge the world.
You may discuss this with the writer or your Bible class teacher.