THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
People are interested in the second coming of Christ. Every few years someone will come along setting the date for our Lord's return. In fact, one of the most popular religious subjects in the past twenty-five years has been the teaching that Jesus is going to come back to earth, set up His kingdom, and reign on the earth for one thousand years. This doctrine is called premillennialism. People have made a great deal of money from promoting this doctrine. Tribulation maps, posters, bumper stickers, books and movies have all been produced to promote this doctrine. A host of preachers in the religious world preach this doctrine. At least 90% of the denominational preachers believe this doctrine. There are even some in the church who believe and teach this doctrine. If we were to take a survey in just about any town and asked every person if they believed Christ was going to set up an earthly kingdom, the majority would answer: YES!
What about this teaching? Can it be proved in the Bible, or is it just the doctrine of men? “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8,9). “If anyone wills do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).
What does this doctrine include? The first time Jesus came to the earth, He came to establish His kingdom, but since the Jews rejected Him, instead He set up a temporary institution, that is, the church. The New Testament refutes this claim (Ephesians 3:10,11). This doctrine claims the kingdom and the church are not the same. Jesus promised to establish His church (kingdom) (Matthew 16:18, 19), and He did that in the first century (Acts 2:47; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9). Premillennialism teaches that Christ's coming is imminent! It says there are many signs before Christ's coming. It implies God failed in His first attempt to establish the kingdom talked about in the Old Testament. It teaches that Christ will reign on a literal throne, in a literal temple, in literal Jerusalem.
This doctrine is false! It is not supported by the teachings found in the Bible. In this lesson we will examine the scriptures to see what it teaches in regard to the second coming of Christ.
IS CHRIST COMING AGAIN?
Is Christ coming again? Definitely! “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27,28). “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:1-9).
WHEN WILL CHRIST COME AGAIN?
When will Christ come again? Not one person on this earth knows the answer to this question. No signs will be given for the second coming. “But of that day and that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the keeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch” (Mark 13:32-37). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
WHAT WILL HE DO WHEN HE RETURNS?
First, He will raise the dead. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice And shall come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28,29).
Second, He will judge the world (Matthew 25:31-46). “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30,31). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the Books” (Revelation 20:12).
Third, He will return the kingdom to the Father. “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:23,24).
Fourth, eternity begins. There will be just one resurrection, not two. NOTE: The word resurrection is in the singular, not plural. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice And shall come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28,29). “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15).
Fifth, the earth will be destroyed. “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:7,10,12).
CONCLUSION
Christ came to earth almost 2,000 years ago. He is going to come again. Because He is coming again, we are preaching the gospel to a lost and dying world. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:10,11). May each of us prepare to meet the Lord in judgment.
