THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST TO EARTH
Aim: 1. To summarise Bible teaching on the Second coming.
2. To motivate Christians to fervently serve Christ in view of Christ’s return at any time and our accountability to Him.
A. FACT OF CHRIST’S RETURN
Jesus promised it (John 14:1-3). Angels promised it (Acts 1:8-11).
B. WHEN WILL CHRIST RETURN
No human or angel knows when (Matthew 24:36).
We can, however, observe some signs in the world today indicating that Christ’s return may be near:
C. SIGNS OF CHRIST’S RETURN
1. Return of the Jews to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:1-14,21-28; Matthew 24:32,33; Joel 1:6,7)
2. Rise of Russia as an anti-Israel power (Ezekiel 38-39).
3. Rise of 10-nation revived Roman Empire in Europe (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:7-28, Revelations 13).
4. Ability of man to destroy the earth (Revelations 11:18).
5. Increase in travel and knowledge in the time of the end. (Daniel 12:4).
6. Ecumenical movement including the World Council of Churches and Rome leading to a One-World religious system called “Mystery Babylon” in Revelations 17-18.
7. One world money system (Revelations 13:16-18).
D. WHY STUDY CHRIST’S SECOND COMING?
1. About one quarter of the Bible refers to it.
2. Christ taught it. (Matthew 24-25)
3. It increases our desire to serve God in winning souls and making disciples, because Jesus may come today, requiring us to give account of our life to Him. (1 John 2:28; Matthew 24:42-44).
4. God blesses those who read the prophecy of Revelation. (Revelation 1:3).
5. It tells of ultimate victory for Christ and the believer, and his forces. This is why Satan doesn’t want us to study and teach it.
6. It encourages us in our trials that the spiritual war will soon be over, guaranteeing us peace forevermore.
E. WHAT ARE THE ORDER OF EVENTS IN GOD’S PROGRAM?
1. THE CHURCH AGE from the Apostles (Ephesians 4:7-12) to the Rapture. The 7 Churches of Revelation 2 and 3 describe:
1) Church periods that this age is divided into.
2) Churches existing in John’s time.
3) The spiritual condition of any church at any time.
4) The spiritual condition of any believer at any time. When Jesus begins a parable with: “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto….” He is describing what the Church age or the outward form of Christendom will be like from Pentecost to the Rapture.
2. RAPTURE is the catching away of all dead and living believers from earth to heaven. This occurs when Christ comes to the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54;
11 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 3:10; 4:1-2). This event ends the Church age. Then commences the 7 year Tribulation with the appearance of the Antichrist.
The Rapture is the “blessed hope” of Titus 2:13 that believers are waiting for. Believers will be raptured before the Tribulation period, and will not pass through any of it because:
1. We are looking for Christ to come (Titus 2:13). We are not looking for the Antichrist to confirm the covenant with Israel. (Daniel 9:27).
2. Christ’s coming is called a “blessed hope” and the Tribulation is not a blessed hope to look forward to going through.
3. “God hath not appointed us to wrath . . .” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
4. The Church and John are raptured at Revelation 4:1,2 which is before the start of the Tribulation. (Revelation 6:1).
5. The Tribulation is likened to Noah’s Flood and the Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah where God spared the righteous. (Matthew 24:37).
6. God promises to keep the Philadelphian Church from (out of) the Tribulation period (Revelation 3:10).
7. If we are to be raptured midway or at the end of the Tribulation, we would know the day of Christ’s return, which no man knows. (Matthew 24:35).
3. THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION is the greatest time of trouble that Jews or the world have ever seen. It is:
a) Divided into 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 vials (bowl) judgments.
b) Described in Revelation 6-18.
c) Stated in Matthew 24:21-22 and Daniel 12:1.
d) Ruled by the Antichrist (II Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13; Daniel 7:19-27) from the 10 nation Revived Roman Empire in Europe.
e) Lasts for 7 years. Daniel 9:27 (1 week means 1 group of seven years). In Matthew 24:21 the second half of the Tribulation is called the Great Tribulation. Revelation 11:1-3 states that it lasts 3 1/2 years, 42 months or 1260 days. It commences with the Antichrist placing the abomination of desolation in the rebuilt Temple at Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 9:27) and the Antichrist persecuting the Jews.
4. JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST occurs after believers are raptured. It takes place in heaven during the first half of the 7 year Tribulation period. The quality of a believer’s works after salvation are examined. He either receives rewards or suffers loss of rewards.
Are you living for Christ and eternity or for self and this life only? What does Christ think of you? What rewards or treasures have you laid up in heaven? (Matthew 6:19-21).
MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB (Revelation 19:7-10).
The Church is known as the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:23-33).
The marriage and marriage supper between Christ and all raptured saints occurs in heaven before Christ and His saints return to the earth for the Battle of Armageddon.
6. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST TO EARTH
a) He comes with the saved. (Zechariah 14:5).
b) He comes with lightning speed. (Matthew 24:27-31).
c) He comes exactly 2520 days (2 x 1260 days) after the rapture.
7. BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON (Revelation 19:17-21; Zechariah 14:1-15).
a) At the end of the 7 year Tribulation, the Antichrist and armies of all nations gather around Israel to destroy all Jews and to take Jerusalem. (Revelation 16:12-16).
b) Christ and all the saved then return from heaven (Revelation 19:11-16).
Christ defeats the armies of Antichrist instantly at the plain of Megiddo (Revelation 14:14-20). The geography is like a winepress, and blood flows three feet deep for 200 miles.
c) After victory at Megiddo and Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1-6) Christ comes and stands on the Mount of Olives, which splits east-west (Zechariah 14:4). He then enters Jerusalem through the now closed East-Gate (Ezekiel 43:1,2).
d) Christ will then be King over all the earth and the people that attacked Jerusalem will be plagued by what seems to be nuclear explosions, which will dissolve their flesh (Zechariah 14:12-15; Isaiah 24:5-6).
8. JEWS ARE CONVERTED
a) After being rescued by Christ following Armageddon, Jews notice the wounds in Christ’s hands and realise that their ancestors crucified their long-awaited Messiah. (Zechariah 13:6).
b) This causes repentance and mourning, resulting in the Jewish people being saved by calling on Christ as their Saviour. (Zechariah 12:10 and 13:9).
c) The Jews all over the earth are then regathered into Israel. (Isaiah 43:5-7 and Matthew 24:31).
9. SATAN IS BOUND in the pit for 1000 years along with his angels. (Revelation 20:1-3).
10. THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE JUDGED according to how they treated God’s people during the Tribulation. The righteous (sheep) enter the Millennium, and the others (goats) enter everlasting fire. (Matthew 25:31-46).
11. THE MILLENNIUM or 1000 year reign of Christ starts when Christ returns to the earth. What will this period be like?
a) Christ will regather all Jews to Israel (Isaiah 43:5-7).
b) Jerusalem becomes the world capital, from where Christ rules the earth in person
(Isaiah 2:1-4).
c) The Jews will become missionaries to the Gentiles (Isaiah 27:6; 61:6; Psalm 67:2).
d) Christ builds the Millennial Temple (Zechariah 6:12-15).
e) Animal creation will be changed (Isaiah 11:6-9 and 65:25).
f) Humans will live much longer (Isaiah 65:20-22; Zechariah 8:4), as long as trees, possibly 1000 years as before the Flood.
g) Peace and prosperity will characterise Christ’s rule (Isaiah 2:4) as will universal knowledge of the Lord and private ownership (Micah 4:1-4).
SATAN IS LOOSED from his prison after the 1000 years and deceives the unsaved of the nations to invade Jerusalem. Fire from God devours them and Satan is then cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:7-10).
13. THE HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE THEN BURNT UP WITH FERVENT (NUCLEAR LIKE) HEAT (11 Peter 3:7-12).
14. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT of the unsaved occurs where all the unsaved people are taken from hell and given immortal, resurrected bodies. This is the second resurrection or tare judgment. (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43).
They are then judged according to their works. Since the works that they have trusted in to gain God’s acceptance fall short of Christ’s perfect works, they are all cast alive into the.....
15. LAKE OF FIRE where they are tormented forever (Revelation 20:11-15).
16. ETERNITY then commences with a new heaven and new earth, as well as the New Jerusalem (1500 miles long, broad and high) coming down from God as the residence of the church (us) forever. (Revelation 21:22).
