THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST – LEADER

Introduction

1. I took Beth Moore’s challenge to “study it for myself.”  23 of the 25 NT books speak of the 2nd Coming of Christ.  Rom., Eph., and 2 Jn. speak of events that happen at the 2nd coming, without naming it directly.  Only Philemon and 3 Jn. have no reference to it.  As you read the letters, there is an expectation that Christ was coming soon.  It wasn’t so much, “Do this until you die”, but “do this until Christ returns.”

2. We are in a similar position regarding the Second Coming as the O.T. saints were as they looked forward to the first coming of Christ.  Read 1 Pt.1:10-13.  Faith is what characterizes God’s people.  Heb.11:1 - “Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.”(NLT)

3. The important things are the promises, not the exact sequence and timing.  The fact of his coming and the gracious gifts that will be ours are what give us strength and hope.

4. To get a clearer picture, however, there are two rules I will be following:

(a) The New Testament reveals the intent and sometimes veiled meaning of the Old Testament.  So the clear teaching of the epistles should be the foundation of our understanding.

(b) Clear teaching should take precedence of apocalyptic writings.  Apocalypse means revelation or disclosure concerning the ultimate goal of history.  Apocalyptic literature contains visions, like symbolic movies, interwoven with promises and warnings.

5. Facts about the 2nd Coming are accompanied by words of admonition and comfort.  They were written in a context.  Doctrine always has implications for how we think and live.

6. Our format will be to look at and list the data, make observations about the data, and then reflect on what our response should be to this information.

7. As we go through the material, we will try to place the events on the charts.  (Look at the “millennial” charts and explain the Kingdom of God,

Our Blessed Hope, His Appearing (Manifestation), That Day

Heb.9:28 - so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him

Titus 2:13 - waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

2 Tim.4:8 - there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing

1 Pt.5:4 - when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory

1 Jn.3:2 - we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is

Additional references: 2 Thess.2:3 - the Lord Jesus will kill [the man of lawlessness] with the breath of his mouth by the appearance of his coming.  Col.3:4 - When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

1. What event are we to be anticipating and preparing for?  Christ’s appearing

2. What are some things that happen when he appears?
stand before Christ the judge; rewarded (crowned) with righteousness and glory; made like Christ; saved (from sin and God’s wrath…etc); the man of sin destroyed; we will appear with him in glory

[Chart]

Response: Titus 2:11-14 - while we are waiting, renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, live self-controlled, upright and godly lives …be zealous for good works [that’s why Christ died for us]; Heb.9:28 - wait eagerly; 2 Tim.4:8 - love his appearing; 1 Jn.3:2-3 - everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure; Col.3:2 – set your mind on things that are above.  The attitudes of loving and eagerly waiting correspond to setting our minds on (meditating).

Observations:  Before discussing the next section, talk a little about the Judgment of Believers.

B.  The Revelation (Disclosure)

1 Pt.1:3-5, 7, 13 - he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading…a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…so that the tested genuineness of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

3. In the passage above, when will the Revelation of Christ occur?  at the last time
When will the resurrection occur (Jn.6:40)?  on the last day
What else happens on the last day (Jn.12:48)?  those who reject Christ are judged

Additional ref. Mt.13:49 - at the close of the age angels will separate the evil from the righteous and throw them in the fiery furnace.  What age?

4. What are some additional “hopes” to look forward to?  to receive an imperishable, undefiled, unfading inheritance - my salvation; my faith will be proved genuine; receive praise, honor, glory(!); receive God’s grace to the full extent

[Chart]

5. Read 2 Thess.1:6-10; 2:1-3.  In 1:7 “the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.”  What other phrases are used to describe his revelation?
the coming of Christ (2:1); the Day of the Lord (2:2); that Day (1:10; 2:3)

Observations:  All these terms are interchangeable.  See A, C, D.  The Day of the Lord also connects to the OT, the most common term used to describe their expectation of Salvation/Judgment

6. List more related events in 2 Thess.1:6-10 and 2:1.
1:6 - repay those who afflict, grant relief to the afflicted; 1:8,9 - inflict vengeance on those who do not know God, i.e. eternal punishment; 1:10 - Christ glorified in his saints and marveled at; 2:1 - saints gathered together to him

[Chart]

Response: 1 Pt.1:6 - rejoice in the midst of trials because of the salvation/inheritance waiting for us; 1 Pt.1:13-15 - prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded, set your hope fully on “future grace,” be holy in all your conduct; 2 Thess.1:11-12 - pray this prayer; 2:2 - don’t be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed; 2:15 – “stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught,” 2:17 - another prayer “may Jesus and God our Father comfort your hearts and establish them.”

C.  The Coming of Christ (Presence, Arrival)

Mt.24:30-31 - Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Thess.4:15-17 - we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

7. List, circle or highlight the parallel words and phrases in these two passages.
trumpet, clouds, coming, caught up/gathered together, appear in heaven/descend from heaven, Son of Man/the Lord, his elect/in Christ

8. What suggests that this is a public event?
cry of command, sound of the trumpet, voice of an archangel (1 Thess.4:16); all the tribes of the earth will mourn (Mt.24:30)

Observations: Do these two accounts seem like the same event to you?  According to the Dispensational teaching these passages are referring to two different events. (see Ryrie study Bible)

9. Read 1 Cor.15:21-28; 50-55.  Again, make a list of all the events associated with Christ’s Coming?
Made alive i.e. resurrected (v.22), end comes, Christ destroys every other rule, authority, power Christ delivers the kingdom to God (v.24), Christ puts all his enemies under his feet (v.25), Christ subjects himself and everything under him to God (v.28), we are changed, made imperishable, the trumpet sounds, death is swallowed up (51-54)

 

 

Observations:  Our new bodies will be imperishable, glorified, having “power” (as opposed to weakness), be spiritual (not natural), bearing the image of Christ, immortal.  It will happen at the last trumpet.  Why?  Because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”  Does this imply that our new bodies are made for the New Creation?

10. What is Christ doing until all his enemies are defeated (v.25)?  reigning

Observation: In Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2) he spoke of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and quotes Ps.110 - “sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” - which says to me that Christ is going to remain in heaven until all enemies are defeated.)

11. What is the last enemy to be destroyed (vs.26)?  death

12. What announces the resurrection (v.52)?  sound of the trumpet

[Chart]  These passages become very difficult to reconcile to Dis. Chart.

Response: 1 Thess.4:13 - teaching on the 2nd Coming is for our information so that we won’t grieve and to give up hope; 4:18 - use this to encourage each other; 1 Cor.15:34 - wake up…do not go on sinning; 15:58 - be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain

D.  Day of the Lord

1 Thess.5:2-4, 9 - For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them…and they will not escape.  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief…For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

13. What two contrasting events happen on this Day?
salvation; wrath and sudden destruction

Response: 1 Thess.5:6 - don’t sleep, keep awake and be sober; 5:8 - put on faith, love and hope, 5:11 - encourage and build one another up

14. Read 2 Pt. 3:1-13.  What happens on the Day of the Lord?  (v.4 calls it his coming) judgment and destruction of the ungodly; heavens and earth are burned up; works of human beings brought into judgment

15. For what are we to be waiting (v.12-13)?  See also question #1 above.
Christ’s appearing; the coming of the day of God; new heavens and a new earth (which is characterizes by righteousness!); 1 Cor.1:7 - the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13 - appearing of the GLORY of Christ; Phil.3:20-21 - for a Savior and the transformation of our bodies, i.e. the resurrection; Rom.8:23 - adoption as sons and redemption of our bodies; Add Jude 21 - eternal life  (Notice that all of our terms show up in these verses: the coming, appearing, revealing, the day of God, i.e. they are all the same event.)

Observations: For what event have you been waiting?  According to the left behind novels and movies, what are Christians waiting for?  (Look at chart.)  Are there any N.T. Scriptures that tell us to be waiting for a utopia, commonly called the Millennium? – (Read Beth Moore’s description from Daniel workbook p.226)

Response: 2 Pt.3:11 - live lives of holiness and godliness; v.14 - be diligent to be found without spot or blemish, and at peace; v.17 - take care not to be carried away by the culture of lawlessness, thus losing your stability; v.18 - grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord

1 Cor.1:7 – be encouraged, Christ will sustain you to the end, guiltless; Titus 2:13 - renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age (while we are waiting for the next age), zealous for good works (because he died to redeem us from lawlessness and to make us his very own people; Phil.3:14 - press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God

16. Read about our inheritance and future glory in Rom.8:11-25.  What happens to the earth when we are resurrected (v.11, 23), glorified (v.17), revealed to the world (v.19), our adoption finalized (v.23), and our hope is fully realized (v.24)?  See vv.19-21.  The earth is released from the curse of sin.

17. What do your answers to questions 11and 16 tell you about the age which follows the resurrection?  No death; earth no longer under the curse

Conclusion: Just like “The Last Days” began with the Christ’s first coming and ends with his second coming, the Day of the Lord will be a series of events that we can’t put a time frame on.  Having a chart creates more problems than it solves.

Observations: Discuss problems with Dis. Premil model.

Response: Rom.8:18 - “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  Our suffering is made purposeful and bearable.

Read benedictions

1 Thess.5:23 - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will do it.

Jude 24-25 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forevermore.  Amen.

Rev.22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”  Amen.  Come Lord Jesus!