Resources/Articles
“The Second Coming”
"And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:4) Jesus said in His own words that He is coming again. It is the event we as Christians earnestly await. We long for His return. There is a lot of ambiguity surrounding this event. There are a lot of details we may not be familiar with. Many writers have expounded upon what they believe this day will look like, or what events will take place when this day comes about. What does the Bible say about these things?
1. The Day Will Not Be Known - Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that the day of the Lord will "come just like a thief in the night." Peter wrote the same thought in 2 Peter 3:10 - "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief..." We don't know when thieves are coming. If we did, we'd be ready for them. We'd lock up the doors or set traps to catch them. Thieves come when we least expect it. That is the imagery used to describe the coming of Jesus. No one will know when He is coming. There won't be signs or sirens, physical calamities or wonders. The day will come at a moment's notice. We need to be ready.
2. The Order of Events - In several writings, Paul described the sequence of events which will occur when Jesus comes:
- The Lord shall descend in His glory. There will be a shout, the trumpet will sound. Jesus will come with all the angels, with flaming fire, and with the saints who have died (Matthew 25:31; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14,16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7).
- The dead will be raised (1 Corinthians 15:52; John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- All the living will be caught up with the Lord, in the air. Our perishable, mortal, physical bodies will be changed into imperishable, immortal, spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
- The Kingdom (Church) will be delivered to God (1 Corinthians 15:24)
- The earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-12)
- We will all be gathered for the judgment to take place (Matthew 25:32; 2 Timothy 4:1)
When Jesus comes, the truth of God's existence and of His Word will be known to all. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Even those who profess their unbelief will bow before the Lord in His glory. All of this will happen in the "twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:51). From then on, all that we know will be completely different. When Jesus comes, it is not the end, but rather the beginning of all eternity.
We see from these passages that Jesus is not coming to live with us or to dwell on earth like His first coming in the flesh. The purpose of the second coming is to gather souls to judgment. Thus, we need to heed the exhortation surrounding these truths:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, alway abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:58
"Therefore comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:18
"Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." - James 5:8
"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless..." - 2 Peter 3:14
Jesus is coming soon. Will you be ready? "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:13
