The Second Coming

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

We imagine the 2nd coming as our “Blessed Hope”, but that’s not all it is. The 2nd coming is an extinction level event. Everything changes forever. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. From our vantage point, the Second Coming is the great promise and hope of Christians. All pain and suffering will be over. We will meet the Lord in the air. Mortality will put on immortality and corruption will put on incorruption. However, at that same time, the earth melts with fervent heat and all the universe dissolves. Every human spirit is drawn to the judgement seat where their final debt is issued. This is a sobering thought.

Rev.20:11-15 And I saw, a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heavens fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Matt.25:31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations:

All the dead:

John 5:28 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation”.

Acts 24:15 “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust”.

All the living non-Christians:

Rev.1:7 Behold He comes in the clouds; and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.

Rev.6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath has come and who is able to stand?

All the living Christians:

1Thess.4:17 Then we that are alive and remain will 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.

Timing:

2Thess.1:7-10 When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God…who shall be punished with everlasting destruction…When He comes to be glorified in His saints (same time).

Synonymous Terms

The second advent is a single event. These are phrases used to describe it.

1. The day of the Lord: Acts 2:20, 1Thess.5:2, 2Pet.3:10
2. The day of the Lord Jesus: 1Cor.5:5, 2Cor.1:14
3. The day of our Lord Jesus Christ:1Cor.1:8
4. The day of Jesus Christ: Php.1:6
5. The day of Christ: Php.1:10, 2:16, 2Thess.2:2
6. The day of God: 2Pet.3:12, Rev.16:14
7. That day: Matt.7:22, Mark 13:32, Luke 10:12 1Thess.5:4, 2Thess1:10, 2Tim.1:12, 18, 4:8
8. The last day: John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, 11:24, 12:48
9. His day: Luke 17:24
10. Day of redemption: Eph.4:30
11. Day of judgement: Matt.10:15, 11:22, 24, 12:36, Mark 6:11, 2Pet.2:9, 3:7, 1John 4:17
12. The great day of His wrath: Rev.6:17
13. That great day of God Almighty: Rev.16:14
14. Day of wrath and revelation: Rom.2:5
15. The coming of the Lord: 1Thess.4:15
16. His coming: 1Cor.15:23, 1Thess.2:19, 2Thess.2:8 1John 2:28
17. The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints: 1Th.3:13
18. The day He comes to be glorified in His holy people: 2Thess.1:10
19. 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): 2Thess.2:7-8

Greek Terms for Coming:

Erkomai: The usual word for come or coming. Matt.24:36, 37, 42, 43, 1Thess.5:2, 2Thess.1:10, Jude 14, Rev.16:15

Parousia: Physical presence, arrival and consequent presence, coming 1Thess.2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2Thess.2:1, 8, 9

Epiphania: To appear, to become manifest (like the stars at night). 2Thess.2:8, 1Tim.6:14, 2Tim.4:1, 8

Apocalypto: literally to unveil, uncover, reveal, revelation. 2Thess.1:7, 1Pet.1:7

A Brief Timeline and Description of the Second Coming

Prior to 2nd coming:

• The great apostacy (falling away) 2Thess.2:3-12
• The man of sin revealed 2Thess.2:3-12
• God’s enemies made His footstool 1Cor.15:22-28, Heb.10:12-13
• Number of martyrs completed Rev.6:9-11
• Gospel preached to all nations Matt.24:14

The 2nd Coming:

• The day comes suddenly 1Thess.5:2, 2Pet.3:10, Mark 13:32-37
• The Lord will descend with a shout, the voice of an archangel and the trump of God 1Thess.4:16
• Christ’s coming will be bright as lightning Titus 2:13, Luke 17:24
• The Lord comes with all His holy angels 2Thess.1:7, Matt.25:31
• It is glorious Col.3:4, Titus 2:13
• The man of sin will be destroyed 2Thess.2:8, Rev.19:19-21
• The heavens and earth melt away 2Pet.3:10,12

Those in Christ:

• Those who have died, God will bring with Him. 1Thess.3:13, 4:14
• Their bodies will rise first. 1Thess.4:16
• Those who are alive will meet them in the air. 1Thess4:17
• We will all be raised up, at the last day. John 6:39, 40, 44, 54
• God did not appoint us to wrath. 1Thess.1:10, 5:9
• We will receive a crown of righteousness. 2Tim.4:8
• Jesus will be glorified in the saints. 2Thess.1:10

Those without Christ:

• They will be deceived by strong delusion. 2Thess.2:11, Rev.16:11
• They will be saying “peace and safety”. 1Thess.5:3
• The Lord will take vengeance on them. 2Thess.1:8
• They will experience sudden destruction. 1Thess.5:3, Rev.16:16
• They will experience everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. 2Thess.1:9, 2Pet.3:7
• They will be judged by the Word of the Lord. John 12:48

Two other points of interest:

• There is a “preterist view” that claims all 2nd coming verses were fulfilled in 70AD. This is a radical view as many things mentioned in the verses could not have been accomplished back then. They say “don’t look for a natural kingdom, the kingdom is spiritual” but this, the way we’re living now, isn’t eternal life. Also, one of the purposes of the 2nd coming is judgement. Like the days of Noah, only permanent. Several YouTube videos discuss this topic. It’s interesting to hear but not very convincing.
• Could the world end in a nuclear war? Short answer, yes. Peter’s descriptive account could be applied to something like that. Paul talks about sudden destruction”. I don’t think a nuclear war would destroy everyone suddenly. It seems more likely that it will be “like it was in the days of Noah”; while they were eating, drinking, and marrying… God closing the curtain on His terms; not man destroying himself.