Jesus [Yahushua] Is Coming Again

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

The second coming of Christ is the great hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel and plan of salvation. Patriarchs, in the Old Testament, looked forward to it (Jude 14; Job 19:25-27); and it has also been the blessed hope of the church in the New Testament (Titus 2: 13; Acts 3:19-21).

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28.

When Jesus [Yahushua] died on Golgotha, that act made possible the redemption of man from sin and from sin's influence and re­sults. He did not at that time actually complete His redemptive work. After His resurrection He ascended up to heaven, leaving His followers behind in a sin-cursed world. Most of the saints of past ages were still sleeping in their graves.

He had announced to His disciples, "I go to my Father," and to Simon Peter, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." John 13:36. Let’s take a few minutes to study the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The Promise

1. Who was the first prophet to speak of the Second Coming of Christ?

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” Jude 14.

Answer: Enoch was the first prophet among mankind. He foretold by prophecy the Second Coming of Christ to our world, and his work at that time. His life was a specimen of Christian consistency. Holy lips alone should speak forth the words of God in denunciation and judgments. His prophecy is not found in the writings of the Old Testament. We may never find any books which relate to the works of Enoch, but Jude, a prophet of God, mentions the work of Enoch.

2. How did Job show his understanding of the closing events of this earth’s history?

Answer: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25–27.

The doctrine of the Second Advent is the very keynote of the Sacred Scriptures. The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of His true followers.

3. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, what definite promise did He make to His disciples?

"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again." John 14:3.

Answer: Jesus promised them that He would come again. "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64. This promise, made under the oath, and can be depended upon - He will come again.

4. What assurance was given to the disciples as they watched their ascending Lord disappear into heaven?

"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. See verses 9 and 10.

Answer: The disciples were assured that Jesus will return to this earth in the same manner that He left at His ascension--in a visible, literal, bodily, personal manner. He will come in the clouds literally, as a personal being with a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:36-43, 50, 51), and His coming will be visible. This rules out a “spiritual seeing” at conversion or at death.

“It was the compassionate Saviour, who, anticipating the loneliness and sorrow of his followers, commissioned angels to comfort them with the assurance that he would come again in person, even as he went into heaven.” The Great Controversy, 1888 Edition, page 339.

5. Will His coming be secret?

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and , and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7.

"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:27.

"Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" Matthew 24:30.

"Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Matthew 24:26.

Answer: No. The Bible plainly teaches that when Jesus comes again, every one of our senses will be bombarded with evidence! From time to time suggestions have been made that Jesus will appear in this or that remote place, and temples have been built for His reception. All such hopes are vain. The reference to the “secret chamber” undoubtedly has reference to the secrecy of the spiritualist seance. But Satan, not Christ, will be found there.

The secret rapture so commonly believed and taught today is not in the Bible. It is a human invention. Nor is the second coming a spiritual coming into the heart at conversion. It does not take place at a man's death, nor is it figurative--to be manifested by better world conditions. These theories are all of human origin. The second coming will be a literal, worldwide, visible, personal appearance of Christ in the clouds to bring this world to an end and to reward or punish all.

6. What glory will attend the person of Jesus when He comes?

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26.

Answer: His glory, His Father’s glory and that of the holy angel.

The effect of this glory upon the inhabitants of earth we can only faintly imagine. If, at the time of Christ's resurrection, the appearance of one angel prostrated the Roman guards as dead men (Matthew 28:2-4), it is no wonder that many will try to hide from the glory of Christ, praying for the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Revelation 6:14-17) when He appears in His glory, the glory of His Father and of all the holy angels.

His Coming Will Not Be In Secret

7. Will everyone be expecting Jesus when He comes?

"The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 1 Thes­salonians 5:2.

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:44.

Answer: No, in the clearest language, Jesus Christ taught that although His coming would be open, announced, personal, literal, visible, and that good and bad alike would see Him come. He was to come as a "thief in the night" only in the sense that the wicked would be taken by surprise.

8. Will everyone be taken by surprise?

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should over­take you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thessa­lonians 5: 4-6.

Answer: No, only those who closed their eyes to the signs of the times would be taking by surprise.

“The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. . . So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men's thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.” The Desire of Ages, page 235.

“The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins.” The Great Controversy, 1884 Edition, page 200.

9. Will Christ's followers be expecting Him when He comes?

"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28.

"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9.

Answer: Yes, they will be waiting and watching. Those who love His appearing will be ready and expecting.

We are pilgrims and strangers who are waiting, hoping, and praying for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If we believe this and bring it into our practical life, what vigorous action would this faith and hope inspire; what fervent love one for another; what careful holy living for the glory of God; and in our respect for the recompense of the reward, what distinct lines of demarcation would be evidenced between us and the world.

10. What blessing is promised to those who are ready and watching for Him?

"Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." Luke 12:37.

11. What will happen to the righteous people when Jesus comes the second time?

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4: 16.

"We shall all be changed, ... and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. For ... this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

"We look for ... the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Philippians 3:20, 21.

Answer: The righteous dead will be raised from their graves, given perfect, immortal bodies like that of Christ, and caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord. Then the righteous living will also be given bodies like Christ and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And Jesus will take the righteous to heaven with Him. Note that Jesus does not touch the earth at His second coming. The saints meet Him "in the air." So God's people will ignore any report that Christ is in here or there etc. False christs will appear and do miracles on the earth (Matthew 24:23-27), but Jesus will remain in the clouds above the earth at His second coming.

12. What will happen to the wicked at Christ's coming?

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

“With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." Isaiah 11:4.

"And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." Jeremiah 25:33.

Answer: The wicked will be slain by Jesus.

"When the divine Presence was manifested upon Sinai, the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire in the sight of all Israel. But when Christ shall come in glory with His holy angels the whole earth shall be ablaze with the terrible light of His presence. 'Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.' Psalm 50:3, 4. A fiery stream shall issue and come forth from before Him, which shall cause the elements to melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 'The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel." 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8.'"Patriarchs and Prophets, page 339.

13. In view of all this, what are we all exhorted to do?

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21: 34-36.

The Time Of Jesus’ Coming

14. Has the exact time of Christ’s coming been revealed?

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matt. 24:36.

Answer: No, the Bible does not tell us exactly when Jesus will come again, but it does tell us many of the events that will transpire just before Christ returns. Here are a few:

• Wars and rumours of wars. (Matthew 24:6)

• Famines, diseases and earthquakes in many different places. (Matthew 24:7)

• God’s people will be persecuted, killed, and hated by every nation in the world. (Matthew 24:9)

• The mark of the beast crisis will be fully engaged to persecute God’s people. (Revelation 3:15-18)

• A system will be set up where only those who receive the mark of the beast will be allowed to buy and sell. (Revelation 13:17)

• Many false prophets and preachers will be in the world doing great signs and wonders and will deceive many people. (Matthew 24:11, 24)

• Sin will be very abundant throughout the world, and love will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)

• The good news about God’s love will be preached in all the world. (Matthew 24:14)

• False Christs will appear throughout the world with great signs and wonders. The second coming of Christ will be so successfully impersonated that many people will be deceived into thinking that Christ has returned, even though it is Satan himself or one of His agents. (Matthew 24:23-26)

• Christ will come in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. (Matthew 24:30)

• All the people who have openly rejected Christ, or who have been deceived by Satan, will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the presence of Christ. (Revelation 6:15, 16)

• When Christ comes, God’s faithful people will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” (Isaiah 25:9)

MOST IMPORTANT SIGN:

The Bible does reveal that we are living at the time of the last human pope, Benedict XVI, the next pope will be a demon impersonating John Paul II, this demonic impersonation will catapult the final events just before the second coming of Christ. This understanding is taken from the prophecy in Revelation chapter 17.

Jesus will soon come in glory for all to see. Will you give Him the crown, throne, and scepter of your life today?