THE DOCTRINE OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

"And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'"  

Acts 1:9-11

The faith of Jesus Christ is not a blind faith. Jesus demonstrated both the authority and the logic of His teachings and called on His disciples to be wary of religious charlatans. His apostles challenge us to prove all things and not to be gullible blind followers. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. Let us examine the doctrine of the second coming of Jesus as it is proven by abundant Scriptural authority.

There are many human doctrines and speculations that have caused a lot of confusion about what will happen at Jesus' second coming.  Many don't believe that Jesus will return and punish those who disobeyed Him. Our Premillennialist friends teach that Jesus will reign on earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years (the millennium).  They also speak of the "rapture" as part of their premillennial theory.  The speculations about these doctrines contradict the Bible.  We can prove with the Word of God the sequence of events that will occur at the end of times.

1. The second coming of Jesus.
2. The resurrection of the dead.
3. The destruction of the heavens and earth.
4. Judgment.
5. Heaven and
6. Hell. 

So will we face resurrection, judgment, and eternal rewards or punishment (heaven or hell)?  Will the earth continue to exist eternally, or will it be destroyed at the end of time?  The truth is that  "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night"  (2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2).

The doctrine of the "rapture" is a distorted and false premillennial speculation.  According to this doctrine, the rapture is to be expected at a secret coming of the Lord in which He will take the righteous to a seven-year rapture while there is great tribulation on earth.  Jesus will fight the battle of Armageddon, and He will then reign for a literal thousand years from a physical throne in Jerusalem over a civil, political government.  The doctrine of the rapture is part of an eschatological system that makes Jesus a failure and dethrones Him (John 18:37; Matt. 28:18; 1 Tim. 6:15).  It breaks God's promises about His kingdom, it accuses the apostles of being false interpreters of Bible prophecy (Acts 13:33; Ps. 2; 132:11; Acts 2:30-33).  It removes Christ's priesthood, for they claim that His throne and priesthood are not yet established (Heb. 4:14; 7:17; Zech. 6:12-13).  It belittles Christ's authority, His death, the church, and the Gospel.  It exalts materialistic goals and Mosaic practices.  It denies that on Pentecost, the last days began (Acts 2:16-21).  It changes the Lord's kingdom to a physical kingdom (John 18:37).  Indeed, this false doctrine contradicts the Gospel teaching about Jesus' second coming!

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus will personally come again to judge all men (2 Peter 3:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:27-28).  He will come again for His saints who live in expectation of that coming.  Jesus promised He would come again!  Consider several Scriptures of Jesus' promises about His second coming that contradict premillennialism:


I.   PROMISES OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS:

• Romans 14:11-12:  "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'  12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.'"  

As God lives, He will judge everyone, and that includes you and me!

• Acts 17:30-31:  "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."  

God has appointed a day of judgment and has assured us by raising Jesus from the dead.  And just as surely as Jesus arose from the dead, we will surely be judged!  

• Hebrews 9:27-28:  "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."  

Surely, it is appointed to man to die once and after that judgment.  Judgment is as sure as death! 

• 2 Corinthians 5:10:  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."  

The Bible plainly teaches that all men will be present before Christ to be judged.

• Romans 2:6-8:  "He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."  

God will render to each of us according to our works.

• Matthew 25:32:  "Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."  

All people will be present!

• Romans 14:10-12:  "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'  12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.'"  

We must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, for every knee shall bow down, and every tongue must confess.  Each one of us must give an account of himself to God.  No one will escape this appointment.  No one will be able to give excuses, for no excuses will be accepted! 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6:  "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."  

Although we don't know when Jesus will come, we must be prepared at all times, for He may come back at any time.  So we must live all the time righteously, for He can come at any moment!

• 2 Peter 3:3-13:  "Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.' 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.  8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."  

The day of the Lord will come like a thief, for no one can know the day or year.  Premillennialists teach that Jesus will come for the righteous, but will reign on earth 1000 years before judgment and the punishment of the wicked.  Others believe the earth will be eternal.  Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus will take 144,000 righteous people to heaven, but there will be a great multitude of righteous people who will live forever on a glorified earth.  The truth is that when Jesus comes again, the earth will be destroyed completely.

• 1 Corinthians 15:12-13:  "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised."  

Some deny there will be a resurrection, for they believe that death is just the end of man's existence.  Among these are the Sadducees of Jesus' day, and many like them in modern times.  Others claim there will be two resurrections with a separation of 1000 years.  Again, premillennialists teach there will be a resurrection for the righteous before Jesus establishes His earthly kingdom, then another resurrection for the unrighteous 1000 years later.  The truth is that all men will be raised from the dead.  And since Jesus arose from the dead, that proves that resurrection will occur.  In Matthew 22:23-33, the Sadducees confronted Jesus, denying the resurrection because they did not believe that men have spirits that can exist after death (Acts 23:8).  Jesus answered them by saying that God is not the God of the dead but of the living.  Those who deny the resurrection "are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God" (verse 29).  

We all will be raised at the same time (John 5:28-29).  So there will be a "last day," which (please listen premillennialists) must be taken literally!  It is the same day all men will be judged. The righteous will be raised on that day, not 1000 years before.  Paul looked for a (one) resurrection of both the just and the unjust, not two resurrections separated by 1,000 years! (Acts 23:6; 24:15).  

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:  "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this, we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."  

When Jesus comes again, all men will be judged and eternally rewarded. There is no room for 1,000 years between Jesus' coming (parousia) and the judgment!  At His coming (parousia) (verse 15), the righteous, dead or alive, will be with the Lord forever (always, verse 17). This is the eternal reward and not a 7-year rapture.  Moreover, Jesus' second coming (parousia) will not be silent or invisible. It will occur with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God (verse 16).   All these events surely contradict premillennialism.  Why?  Because the unjust, the wicked will be aware for sure when this occurs, for they will suffer destruction, not just tribulation (1 Thess. 5:3).  And though they claim that the phrase, "And the dead in Christ will rise first" (verse 16), implies at the first resurrection, 1,000 years before the wicked are raised, our context contrasts the dead in Christ (verse 13) to the alive in Christ (verse 15), not to the wicked or the unrighteous dead.  I must stress that verse 16 says the dead in Christ will rise "first," then those alive in Christ will be caught up together to meet the Lord (verse 17).  So, the resurrection of the wicked is not under consideration and is never mentioned in this context!!

• 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10:  "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.  5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."  

Notice that "in that day" when Jesus comes (verse 10), the Lord will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (verse 7).  The afflicted Christians will receive rest (verses 4,7), and those who know not God and did not obey the Gospel of our Lord will receive vengeance in flaming fire and will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction (verses 7-9).  The righteous will enter their rest from their troubles on the same "day" that the wicked will be punished.  But premillennialism has the righteous resting and rejoicing through the rapture and millennium before the wicked or unrighteous are punished!

• Matthew 25:31-33,46:  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."  

When Jesus comes in glory with all His angels, all the nations will be gathered and separated.  Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats, that is, the good, the righteous and the wicked, unrighteous.  The righteous will enter eternal life, and the wicked will depart into eternal fire, punishment (verses 41, 46).  So, there will not be two comings, nor will the righteous be enjoying any rest and bliss for 1000 years and supposed rapture before the wicked are punished.  Both the righteous and unrighteous will enter their reward at the same time!

• 2 Peter 3:15:  "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him."  

The coming (parousia) of Jesus will not be postponed to give men a chance to repent.  When Jesus comes, there will not be a second chance to repent, for their opportunity to repent will have ended, and sadly judgment will come.

• 1 Cor. 15:22-26:  "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death."  

When Jesus comes the second time (parousia), the end will come, and Jesus will deliver the kingdom back to the Father, having raised all who died through Adam (verse 22).

• Romans 2:5-11:  "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.  6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality."  

All men will receive a just and fair reward for what they have done after this life is over.  The righteous will live forever, and the wicked will be punished eternally, that is, those who disobey the Truth and did evil will receive fury, wrath, tribulation, and distress (anguish).  But those who did obey the Gospel and continued doing good will receive glory, honor, immortality, peace, and eternal life.

• Matthew 25:41,46:  "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."  

The wicked will go to everlasting destruction, the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  The righteous will receive eternal life. The saved will live forever with Jesus (1 Thess. 4:17; 5:9-10; Matt. 13:39-42; Rom. 6:23).

• Revelation 20:11-15:  "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."  

So anyone who is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.  (Cf. 2 Thess. 1:5-9; Matt. 13:39-42; Rom. 6:23).

•  2 Thessalonians 1:5-9:  "This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."  

God's love and mercy compel Him to offer men eternal life. But His righteousness and justice demand that He punish those who disobey Him, practice evil, and refuse to repent.  His nature demands that He punish the wicked, for they are storing up wrath for themselves and God's righteous judgment.  God's righteous judgments demand that the wicked (those who practice evil) be worthy of death, for they reject God's mercy and goodness, refusing to repent (Romans 1:32; 2:4-5).


CONCLUSION:

When the New Testament writers, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote the inspired words, they often presented concerns and instructions for the church to follow so that we may be whole in spirit and soul, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  The entire letter to the Thessalonians stresses the need to have our eyes open for the coming of our Lord.  It compels us to live our lives in the light of eternity and be ready for His coming.  Since Jesus is coming like a thief in the night, we must live our lives in all righteousness and holiness.  As spokesmen for Christ, we must present Christ well by the preaching of the Word, being ready in season and out of season, convincing, rebuking, exhorting with all longsuffering, and sound teaching (2 Tim. 4:2).  We must also be alert to every door of opportunity the Lord opens for us and enter, even when it is intimidating or inconvenient.  As representatives of Christ, we must be patient and not quarrel, for we must listen and understand.  We must likewise be gentle and respectful when we engage with those who disagree with us (2 Timothy 2:24).   We must also be reasonable when proving and giving a defense of the Gospel.  As spokesmen for Christ, we must have informed convictions and not just feelings. Give reasons and ask questions to seek sound answers.

The apostle Paul commands all Christians in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to "test all things; hold fast what is good." God has given us reasoning skills and expects us to use them properly (cf. Isa. 1:18).  Thus, we must be tactical, maneuvering with wisdom to challenge bad thinking and wrong teaching.  We must present the Truth in a way that is understandable and compelling (Colossians 4:5; 1 Cor. 9:19-23).

You see, God gave the life of His only begotten Son to save us from the devastating consequences of sin.  When we reject salvation and what He has done for all of us, refusing to repent, surely we deserve to be punished eternally.  God's righteousness and justice demand it!  Surely, none of us deserves salvation, eternal life, but God in His loving-kindness and mercy offered Jesus to suffer and die for us so that we could have the hope of salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:6-9).   So premillennialism is an unproved and false theory, incapable of any proof, for it contradicts, denies, and undermines the Lordship of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel.   Therefore, every faithful disciple of Christ must oppose it!!

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done"  (Matthew 16:27).  

There is NO man that can prove with the Word of God that Jesus will set up an earthly throne in Jerusalem and reign for a thousand years like so many claim today (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).  Jesus is coming for His church. Thus the doctrine of the "1,000-year reign" is false!

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord"  (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).  

God's Grace will end when Jesus comes again.  The church will be presented in its plenitude to God, for Jesus will present to the Father His glorious church.  Therefore, He is not coming to "set up" His kingdom but instead "deliver up" His kingdom to His Father!  The glorious church will be presented in all its purity, having been cleansed by the precious blood of the Lamb, and the "washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:25-27; Col. 1:22; 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:10; Jude 24).  The church will be complete when Jesus presents it to the Father (Romans 11:12, 25) and will be spotless, unblamable in holiness and irreprovable, faultless.  Oh, what a glorious day that will be!!!

"27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him"  (Hebrews 9:27-28).

May we patiently and faithfully walk our path here on earth until death and be rewarded with our crown of life.

Luci