OceanSide church of Christ




Click here to see all of the YouTube videos belonging to OceanSide
(opens in a new browser)

 Previous Return to SecondComing Next  Click to download Audio

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AND JUDGMENT

Separating Fact from Fiction

 

The Second Coming of Jesus

Lesson 7

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There is only one passage of Scripture in the New Testament that uses the word “second” in reference to the Lord’s coming again (Heb. 9:28).

 

So Christ was one offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

B.    Only two verses tell us that Jesus will come using the word “again,” a word meaning “once more” and implying a second coming.

1.     John 14:3

 

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.

 

2.     John 14:28a

 

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.

 

C.    Even though the above is true, the Second Coming is taught in a multitude of places.  In an article entitled, “Does the Bible Teach that Jesus Will Return?”, Chuck Swindoll sets forth these points about the Second Coming’s prominence in the Bible.

1.     One of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of Christ’s return or the end of time.

2.     Of the 216 chapters in the New Testament, there are well over 300 references to the return of Christ.

3.     23 of the 27 New Testament books mention Christ’s return.

 

D.    This lesson is focused solely on what the Bible says about the Lord’s Second Coming.

 

I.                THE FACT OF THE SECOND COMING

 

A.    When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory (Matt. 25:31).

 

B.    Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing 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).

 

C.    …shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Heb. 9:28).

 

II.              NEW TESTAMENT TERMS REFERRING TO THE SECOND COMING

 

A.    Parousia (3952)

1.     Definitions:

a.      Strong:  a being near, i.e., advent (often return)       :- coming, presence

b.     Thayer:  presence…hence the presence of the one’s coming, arrival, advent

2.     In reference to our Lord’s return, it is always translated “coming” in the KJV (Matt. 24:37, 39; I Cor. 15:23; I Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; II Thess. 2:1; 2:8, 9; James 5:7, 8; II Pet. 3:12; I John 2:28).

 

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together with him.

 

B.    Phaneroo (5319)

1.     Definitions

a.      Strong:  to render apparent                :- appear, manifestly declare, make manifest, shew

b.     Thayer:  to make manifest or visible, to be manifest, to show one’s self, appear

c.      Vine:  to manifest, to be revealed in one’s true character

2.     In the KJV, every time Jesus’ coming is referenced with this word, it is translated “appear” (Col. 3:4; I Pet. 5:4; I John 2:28; 3:2).

 

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 

C.    Epiphaneia (2015)

1.     Definitions

a.      Strong:  a manifestation, i.e., (spec.) the advent of Christ    :- appearing, brightness

b.     Thayer:  an appearing, appearance

c.      Vine:  comes from a word meaning “to give light”

2.     Uses in the New Testament in regard to the Second Coming of Jesus.

a.      Appearing (I Tim. 6:14; II Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13)

 

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

b.     Brightness (II Thess. 2:8)

 

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (the word “coming” here is parousia).

 

D.    Apokalupsis (602)

1.     Definitions

a.      Strong:  disclosure                 :- appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation

b.     Thayer:  an uncovering, laying bare, making naked…manifestation, appearance

c.      Vine:  an uncovering, an unveiling

2.     Uses in the New Testament referring to Christ’s Second Coming

a.      Coming (I Cor. 1:7)

 

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

b.     Shall be revealed (II Thess. 1:7)

 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

 

 

c.      Appearing (I Pet. 1:7)

 

That the trail of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

 

d.     Revelation (I Pet. 1:13)

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

III.            THE SECOND COMING WAS NOT IMMINENT IN THE FIRST CENTURY

 

A.    The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:19)

 

But after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 

B.    There had to be a falling away first and the revealing of “the man of sin” (II Thess. 2:1-3).

 

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means:  for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

 

C.    The Christians were not to be concerned with the passage of time.  The amount of time that passed did not diminish the promise of God (II Pet. 3:8-10a).

 

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repen-tance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…

 

1.     Whether one day passes or a thousand years pass, God’s promise is just as steadfast.

2.     The Lord is not slack concerning his promise.

a.      Slack

1)     Strong (1019):  to delay

2)     Thayer:  to delay, be slow

3)     Vine:  to be slow, to tarry

b.     Translations

1)     ESV:  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness.

2)     NIV:  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

3)     NLT:  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think.

4)     NEB:  It is not that the Lord is being slow in fulfilling his promise, as some suppose.

5)     Message:  God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness.

3.     The coming of Christ is certain:  “The day of the Lord WILL COME…”

 

 

 

 

IV.            THE SOUNDS OF JESUS’ COMING

 

A.    I Thessalonians 4:16 reveals three sounds that will be heard when Jesus comes.

 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God.

 

1.     The Lord will shout.

a.      We are not told what He will say.

b.     John 5:28-29 reveals that He will call the dead to come forth from the graves.

 

Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.

 

2.     The voice of the archangel

a.      Again, we are not told what he will say.

b.     In The Parable of the Ten Virgins, there is an announcement, which says:  Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matt. 25:6).

3.     The trump of God

 

B.    Peter affirms that the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (II Pet. 3:10).

 

C.    Revelation 1:7 states that we will also hear men crying and wailing while beating their breasts in grief.

 

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:  and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.  Even so, Amen.

 

V.              THE SIGHTS OF JESUS’ COMING

 

A.    We will see the Christ in the clouds (Rev. 1:7).

 

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him…

 

B.    We will see the holy angels (Matt. 25:31 II Thess. 1:7).

 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

 

C.    We will see the resurrection of all the dead (John 5:28-29).

 

Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth…

 

D.    We will see our bodies change from an earthly body to a spiritual body in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (I Cor. 15:51-52).

 

Behold, I shew you a mystery:  we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

 

E.     We will see the righteous dead rise first to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:16b).

 

And the dead in Christ shall rise first…

 

F.     We will see the righteous rise from the earth to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:17).

 

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.

 

G.    We will see God’s holy angels bring destruction on the rest of the living who know not God and who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ (II Thess. 1:7-8).

 

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 our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

H.    We will see the destruction of the heavens and the earth (II Pet. 3:10).

 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

I.       We will see all nations gathered before the Son of God awaiting judgment (Matt. 25:32).

 

And before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    There will be just one coming of Jesus Christ.  It will happen on “the last day” (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 12:48).

 

B.    “That Jesus first came in lowliness, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, was important for those early believers.  But that he would in due course come back in triumphant majesty was just as important” (www.biblestudytools.com, “Second Coming of Christ).

 

C.    He will come “in his glory” (Matt. 24:31).

1.     It will be a coming that will strike fear into the hearts of all those who are lost.

2.     It will be a day of victory for all of God’s faithful.