Continuing the discussion on the Second Coming of Christ, the first two points in this matter were posted last week. As we look at Part 2, we look at the last three points about when Christ returns and the significance of such an event.
- What About Revelation, What About Daniel, What About . . .?
I freely admit that I am not now nor have I ever been an expert on the apocalyptic literature of the Bible. I’ve always believed my role as a pastor was more to share Scripture and messages more in tune with where my church members were, offering guidance in how to live out the Christian faith on a daily basis. I’ve never made a concerted effort to read deeply the Revelation or the book of Daniel or any of the other passages of the Bible that those who delve into this subject go to on a regular basis. I admit when I came to the conclusion that Christ was returning soon, I committed to reading through Revelation each day for a period. After the third day, the message I took from the book is this: 1) things are going to get really bad on earth; 2) God is in control of the entire situation; 3) God’s people will come through it by His grace, mercy and power.
I am sure there are many great messages that come from the apocalyptic literature of the Bible, but as I was growing up and as I’ve read books from those who really get into this stuff, it seemed to me that a lot of reading into Scripture was going on, more than I feel comfortable with. Too many times, I believe these passages have been misapplied or misinterpreted, and I have tended to shy away from them as a result.
For instance, I have heard many times about the Rapture and its meaning. The idea of the Rapture is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be with the Lord forever.”
Those who are well-versed in the apocalypse have said that this Rapture is the time when Christ returns and we are sent to live with Him in heaven forever. I’ve heard (and most of this is from those who are Dispensationalists in their interpretation) that the Church will spend eternity in heaven and that the converted Jews will remain in the New Jerusalem.
In Revelation 21:3, the Bible says, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” There then comes a description of the New Jerusalem, concluding with these words: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (vs. 22-23). This passage tells me that Christ will reside on the new earth in the New Jerusalem, not in heaven with the Church. If Christ is going to live on earth, and we are to be with Him forever, then that tells me the Rapture has a different purpose.
The way I’ve always understood it is like this. When my parents knew they were having visitors, they would be getting the house ready, but also keeping an eye on the clock. Around the time the visitors were to arrive, Mom and Dad would start paying more attention to the driveway. Once they saw their guests arrive, Mom and Dad would go out to the visitors’ car to greet them and usher them into the house. This was particularly true of out-of-town guests. That’s what I see the Rapture being.
I believe the best interpretation of the last days is to be found in Jesus’ answer shown in Matthew 24 (as well as Mark 13 and Luke 25), as well as Paul’s additional comments. That’s why I shy away from Revelation and the other apocalyptic literature when dealing with Christ’s Second Coming.
- When Is Jesus Coming?
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).
That verse pretty well sums up the answer to that question.
Back in the mid-80’s, I received in the mail, unsolicited, three separate books about the imminent return of Christ, first in 1988, then, when that didn’t happen, how it will definitely occur no later than 1993. All three books spent the first two-thirds of their message explaining how Matthew 24:36 really didn’t mean what it literally says. I forget all their reasons, but as I read their interpretations, I kept thinking to myself, “It’s seems pretty clear to me that ‘no one knows’ means ‘no one knows’.”
So, I don’t have a specific date for Christ’s return. I do know that Jesus says we are to keep watch because we don’t know when He’s coming. Life will continue on as it always does right up until the time He returns. If we had an idea or a specific date, knowing people as I do, we’d all be goofing off until the day or night before His coming. Then we’d try to straighten up and fly right, getting ourselves all presentable.
The signs are there. I believe the signs are pointing to His imminent return. I’m just not sure the exact date or time, so I’ll accept that it will be within my or my children’s generation—within the next 50 years.
- So Jesus Comes Back; So What?
Here’s where the Revelation comes in to play, beginning in Chapter 19. This chapter begins immediately after the fall of Babylon, the true meaning of which is shrouded in mystery in the Revelation. In Chapter 19, there is great rejoicing in heaven (vs. 1-10), followed by the announcement of Jesus’ second coming (vs. 11-21).
With the return of Christ, the millennium is ushered in (Revelation 20:1-6). Whether it is a literal 1000 years or figurative, I don’t know and I don’t care. The point is it will be a time of Christ’s reign that will bring peace and freedom from Satan’s power. At the end of the millennium, Satan is cast down into a “lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for everand ever” (Revelation 20:10). But that’s not the bad part.
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he told of a time after Jesus is resurrected. Paul writes, “Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). This event will take place when Jesus returns, when Satan is cast down and when it is all coming to the end.
I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan; have been for almost as long as they’ve been a franchise. I’ve witnessed the Vikings losing four Super Bowls and several NFC championship games. After each season, I have had to admit that my team isn’t the best in the league. It’s a galling thing, a humbling thing, a sad thing. When every knee bows, there will be many who make that confession with joy and praise in their hearts, because these people will be the ones who have known Jesus prior to this time.
For many others, the kneeling and confession of Christ will be a time of deep sorrow and harsh realization, because these people never did confess Jesus as Christ at an earlier time. By the time this event takes place, it will be too late. Judgment will be at hand.
And so we go back to the Revelation. In Revelation 20:11-15, the Final Judgment is described:
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky had fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
How is one’s name written in the Book of Life? It is only by believing with your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (cf. Romans 10:9-10).
So, the answer to the question about why the Second Coming is so important, is because that’s the time of judgment, and when He returns, it will be too late to find salvation through Him.
- If Christ Really is Coming Soon, What Am I to Do?
In the book of Ezekiel, Chapter 33, God tells Ezekiel of the duty of the watchman and the consequences of his duty. The role of the watchman is to keep an alert eye open to the possibility of danger to the city. If the watchman is faithful, then he has done his duty, and the people are then responsible to how they respond to the warning.
If, on the other hand, the watchman neglects to sound the alarm and the people are unable to prepare themselves for the danger, then the watchman will have to answer for his dereliction of duty. God says, “I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood” (v. 6b). As people who have been made aware of the certain coming of Christ within the next 50 years, we have a duty to share that truth with those around us.
This does not mean that we are to don robes, carry a large placard and shout at the busy city corner that the end is near. It doesn’t mean we must stop living our lives—worshiping, working, enjoying family and friends—and take to the hills to await His coming. It does mean that we are to be aware of the opportunity to share the news with those we encounter, not in a dire or threatening way, but as we do sharing the Gospel, seasoned with salt, being ready in season and out. We must not be afraid to say it, but we don’t have to force it down people’s throats.
And be watch, be prepared, making sure we are where God wants us, doing what God wants us to do, being what God wants us to be. The Lord is coming soon.
Conclusion
The knowledge that Chris will return before the end of this century is a reason for mixed feelings. For those who know Christ, it will be a time of rejoicing and celebration. But it will also be a time of great sorrow, because we all know friends and family who are not followers of Christ.
We know that when Christ returns, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). For some, this declaration will be a reaffirmation of a life of faith; for others, it will be an acknowledgement that comes too late.
Christ is coming again. Now is the time to share that truth. Now is the time to live that truth.
© 2017 Glynn Beaty