The Promise of Christ’s Second Coming Teaching the Faith Once Delivered to the Saints: Bible Study #32 by Nolan McFadden Α
Christ Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3) Before our Lord Jesus Christ completed the purpose of His first coming ministry on earth, He made a very important promise to His followers. Jesus promised He would “come again” to the earth in the future. How certain is the promised second coming of Christ Jesus? It is a well documented historical fact that Jesus of Nazareth lived in the First Century A.D. No honest scholar or historian would deny the literal historicity of Jesus of Nazareth. Yet, for every one time Christ’s first coming is mentioned in the Scriptures, the second coming of Jesus is mentioned eight times more often. Moreover, if our Lord Jesus does not return, He would be regarded as a liar and our faith would be in vain. However, our Savior is without sin (1 Peter 2:21-22). Jesus would not lie. Our Lord keeps His promises. Therefore, it is certain that Jesus Christ will return to the earth. Let’s look together at what the Holy Bible reveals about Christ’s second coming. I. The second coming of Christ Jesus is necessary in order to fulfill His personal promise and many prophecies in the Scriptures. A. In the Old Testament, Christ’s second coming is clearly related to many “day of the Lord” prophesies. Often identified with end times prophecies, the “day of the Lord” refers to the time surrounding Christ’s return and extends through the time of His one thousand-year millennial kingdom. See Isaiah 2:1-22; 12:1-12; 13:9-13; 34:1-5, Jeremiah 3:17-19; 30-31, Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 7-12, Joel 2-3, Zechariah 14 and Malachi 4. B. In the New Testament, “day of the Lord” prophesies are often quoted from the Old Testament Scriptures by Jesus and His apostles. “Day of the Lord” prophesies are interpreted by Jesus and His apostles as referring to the time surrounding the second coming of Christ Jesus. Read Matthew 24:29-30, Mark 13:24-26, Luke 21:25-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, 2 Peter 3:10-12 and Revelation 6:9-17. C. Since Jesus assured His followers that He would return, Christ’s second coming should be regarded as a literal future event. Note John 14:3, Matthew 10:23; 16:27; 24:27-42; 25:31, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27 and Revelation 2:25; 3:11; 22:7-20. D. In Joel 2:30-31 what occurs before “the great and the terrible day of the LORD?” ______ _________________________________________________________________________ E. According to Jesus, what will happen before His return as revealed in Matthew 24:29? _________________________________________________________________________ F. How is the coming of “the day of the Lord” described in 2 Peter 3:10? _______________ _________________________________________________________________________ G. According to II Peter 3:10, what will happen at “the day of the Lord?” __________________________________________________________ II. The second coming of Jesus Christ will be a visible, personal and bodily return to the earth. A. Christ’s coming will be visible for all to see. Note Matthew 24:27-30, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, Acts 1:1-11, Titus 2:13 and Revelation1:7.
2 B. Jesus will be personally present at His return in the same manner as He was personally present with His disciples at His ascension to Heaven (Acts 1:1-11). Our Lord Jesus is personally present as our mediator/representative at the right hand of our Father in Heaven (Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, 1 Peter 3:22). Likewise, Jesus will personally return from Heaven. C. Christ’s coming will be bodily. Just as the resurrection of Jesus was a bodily resurrection, his return will be bodily (John 2:19-21; 20:25-29, Luke 24:39, Acts 1:11). D. Jesus will return to the city of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives will literally be split in half at His glorious return (Zechariah 14:3-4). Our Lord Jesus will be “king over all the earth in that day” (Zechariah 14:1-9). E. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same _____________, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so ____________ in ___________ manner as ye have ___________ him go into ______________.” Acts 1:11 III. Before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, there will be a time of great tribulation on the earth. A. During the last three and a half years of the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27), the Lord’s judgments will be poured out on an unbelieving world in fulfillment of many Scriptures (Jeremiah 30-31, Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation 4-19). The world will experience the judgments of the seven “seals” (Revelation 6-8), the “seven trumpets” (Revelation 8-9) and the “seven golden vials” (bowls) (Revelation 15-16). Catastrophic conditions will impact the entire planet during this time. Why will these judgments be sent from the Lord? There are at least five reasons revealed in the Scriptures.
1. The judgments will be sent by the LORD (Jehovah) because the majority of the people in the world will refuse to repent of their worship of devils, idolatry (including earth worship), murders, sorceries, fornication (sex outside of biblical marriage) and thefts (Isaiah 1-2, Revelation 9:20-21). 2. The judgments will be sent by the LORD (Jehovah) to avenge, “the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:2). This refers to “the great whore.” In the context of Revelation 17-18, “the great whore” refers to the false, united, apostate, harlot, one world church which will accompany the occult, global government system of the beast (the antichrist). 3. The judgments will be sent by the LORD (Jehovah) because of the unbelief and wickedness of the unsaved (2 Thessalonians 2:10-13, Hebrews 10:29). 4. The judgments will be sent by the LORD (Jehovah) because of the hatred of the majority of the world’s people directed toward Jesus Christ and His true followers. In Matthew 24:9 Jesus explained, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” 5. The judgments will be sent by the LORD (Jehovah) for His glory (Revelation 15:4; 19:1-2). The LORD is glorified in His mercy and in His judgments (Psalm 103, Ezekiel 38:23). Those who reject His mercy through personal faith in Christ Jesus will receive His judgments (Psalm 2, 86:5-17, Ezekiel 39:21, Revelation 16:9; 19:1-2).
3 B. In Jeremiah 30:7 the time of the latter days is described as “the time of Jacob’s t______________.” C. The tribulation period of the end times is mentioned in Daniel 12:1. It is identified as “a time of t______________, such as never w__________ since there was a n____________ even to that same time:..” D. Jesus further explained Daniel’s prophecy in Matthew 24:21. He declared, “For then shall be great t_________________, such as was not since the beginning of the w___________ to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” E. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus interpreted the Bible prophecies of Jeremiah 30:7 and Daniel 12:1 as referring to a literal future time of “great t__________________” before His second coming. IV. Some years before the time of great tribulation, the global leader identified in Bible prophecies as the antichrist (“the beast”) will rise as the head of a system of global government (Daniel 7:23; 8:23-25, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Revelation 12:9; 13:3-18). A. A persuasive false prophet will come with powerful false signs, wonders and miracles to help prepare the world citizens for worship and allegiance to the antichrist (Revelation13:3-15; 16:13-14). The spiritual power source behind both the false prophet and the antichrist will be the Devil (2 Thessalonians 2:9, Revelation 13:2-4). The antichrist will be heralded as a great global leader offering solutions to the world’s problems. The Scriptures reveal that the antichrist will establish a seven year peace covenant with Israel at the beginning of this seventieth week (Daniel 9:27). B. At some point during this seven, all people will be required by law to receive an economic mark “in their right hand, or in their foreheads in order to buy or sell.” (Revelation 13:16) The global economic mark is identified as, “the mark” of the beast (the antichrist) in Revelation 13:16-18. Moreover, the false prophet will compel the people of the world to make an image of the antichrist and worship him (Revelation 13:13-15). Those who receive the global economic mark and worship the image of the beast, will be sealing their own eternal perdition as revealed in Revelation 14:9-11. The unsaved will worship the antichrist and take the global economic mark (Revelation 13:8). Revelation 13:15 indicates that those who refuse to worship the image of the beast (the antichrist), will be killed. Conditions will be very difficult for genuine followers of Jesus Christ during the great tribulation. Persecution, imprisonment and martyrdom will be widespread. Believers living during this time will need to be prepared for hard times. Those “that understand among the people shall instruct many;…” (Daniel 11:33). C. The Jewish temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem before or during the 70th week of Daniel (2 Thessalonians 2:4). After the antichrist exalts himself to receive worship in the temple (“the abomination of desolation”), many Jews will recognize the satanic nature of the antichrist (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15). As a result of this abomination, many Jews will convert to Jesus, the true Christ of Israel for salvation. Subsequently, there will be a great spiritual revival in Israel during the last half of the 70th week of Daniel (Isaiah 59:20, Romans 11:25-27). D. According to Revelation 13:7, the antichrist will be given authority over “all…nations.” Bible prophecies reveal that the antichrist will hate, persecute and make war against Bible believers (Daniel 7:25; 8:24,
4 Revelation 12:17; 13:7). This global leader will have “a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” (Daniel 7:20) He will have a “fierce countenance” and understand “dark sentences” (occult teachings - Daniel 8:23). The antichrist will be an “agent of change” of laws and times (Daniel 7:25). His perdition is certain (Revelation 20:10). The antichrist and all those who receive the global “mark of the beast” will be defeated and cast into the lake of fire at the second coming of King Jesus (Revelation 14:9-11; 19:20). Likewise, the global army and global police/security forces will be destroyed by our Lord Jesus Christ at His return during the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16-18; 19:11-21). E. Daniel 11:30-32 reveals that counterfeit Christians and apostates will serve the antichrist and betray true believers during the end times. The false brethren are identified as “them that forsake the holy covenant” and “such as do wickedly against the covenant.” The “holy covenant” of the last days refers to the “new covenant” (or New Testament) teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6-13; 10:10-29; 12:24). Thus, true believers should beware of those who forsake the Word and do wickedly while professing faith in Christ. Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20) F. Revelation 13:7 clearly reveals that the antichrist (“the beast”) will rule by means of a global government system, since he will be given power [authority], “over all kindreds, and tongues and n________________.” G. Daniel 7:23 indicates the global extent of the antichrist’s rule which will, “devour the w___________ earth.” H. According to Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:17; 13:7-15, will the reign of the antichrist be a time of severe persecution of true believers? Yes / No V. The second coming of Jesus will be a time of deliverance and a time of judgment. A. For Israel and believers living during the great tribulation, Christ’s second coming will be a time of deliverance from the antichrist’s global government and global army (Jeremiah 30, Zechariah 14, Daniel 7:19-28; 11:32-38; Romans 11:25-26; Revelation 13:4-18; 19). B. For Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet, the unsaved and the armies of the global government, it will be a time of God’s fierce judgment (Jeremiah 30:11, Ezekiel 38-39, Zechariah 14:1-3, Matthew 25, Revelation 19). C. “For t_________ and r__________________ are his judgments: for he hath j_______________ the great whore, which did corrupt the e___________ with her fornication, and hath a_________________ the blood of his s________________ at her hand.” (Revelation 19:2) D. How are the LORD’s judgments described in Revelation 19:2? __________________ VI. The specific date of Christ’s second coming is known only by our Heavenly Father (Matthew 24:36-42; 25:13, Mark 13:32-33). A. We cannot know the specific day or hour of our LORD’s return. To set a date for the return of Christ Jesus would be contrary to the Scriptures. Date setting is the mark of a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). According to the Scriptures, however, we can know the
5 season of Christ’s return. We can know when Jesus Christ’s return is near as proclaimed by our Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:33, Mark 13:29 and Luke 21:28. B. Current signs of the times indicate the nearness of our Lord’s return (Matthew 24:4-12, Mark 13:6-13, Luke 21:8-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 2 Timothy 3-4). C. Describe the conditions before the second coming of Jesus Christ as set forth in Matthew 24:4-12. __________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ D. Jesus declared, “So likewise ye, when ye shall s________ all these things, k_____________ that it is n__________, even at the doors.” (Matthew 24:33) VII. The second coming of Jesus is premillennial. Christ Jesus will return to establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Isaiah 11, Zechariah 14, Joel 2-3, Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4-6). A. Jerusalem will be the world’s capitol city (Isaiah 2:1-4, Jeremiah 3:17, Zechariah 14:4-21, Revelation 20:9). B. During Christ’s millennial reign, the earth will be a totally different place to live. The earth will be restored to its original created state as it was in the garden of Eden. It will be a place of true justice, righteousness and peace (Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:1-16, Jeremiah 31:31-40, Zechariah 14:4-21). C. The LORD’s people will rule and reign with Him one thousand years (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4-6; 22:5). At the end of this millennial reign of Jesus on earth, there will be a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22). Are you ready for our Lord’s return? To be ready for the Lord’s return, you need to be a genuine, born again follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have personal assurance of your salvation today? If you were to die today, are you 100% certain that you would go to Heaven? If you are a Christian, are you looking forward to the Lord’s return? True Christians should be, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13) Our Savior promised, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be (Revelation 22:12).” Our prayer is, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).” Ω
2001 Nolan McFadden copies permitted