It is one of those subjects about which there are many different views, even within the main teachings held. Whatever I write is certain to be contested. Perhaps this is why the subject is so little studied. What a great pity this is, because His coming is closer than when we first believed, and it would be sad to find even Christians asking: "Where is the promise of His coming?"
One of the problems is that we find equally godly men, well-versed in the Scriptures, who have studied this subject for many years and written books on it who hold widely different views. Some will admit this and confess room for doubts; others will engage in the most hostile debate to prove that they are right and all the others are wrong.
I have heard it said that when the spiritual tide is out every shrimp has his own pool. The spiritual tide is surely out today: don't be a shrimp!
There are many promises in the Bible concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ. They were all fulfilled. He did come.
There are many promises in the Bible concerning His second coming. We may rest assured that just as the promises concerning His first coming to earth as a babe to grow into manhood, preach, suffer and die were fulfilled, so will every promise concerning His coming again.
| Genesis 49:10 | Isaiah 4:2 | Isaiah 11:1-9 | Isaiah 32:1 |
| Jeremiah 23:5 | Ezekiel. 37:22 | Daniel 2:34, 44, 45 | Daniel 7:13, 14 |
| Zechariah 3:8 | Zechariah 6:12, 13 | Zechariah 14:9 |
| Matthew 16:27 | Matthew 25:31-34 | John 14:1-3 |
| Matthew 24:27-31 | Matthew 26:64 |
| Matthew 25:1-13 | Luke 12:36-40 | Luke 21:29-33 |
You should by now be learning to read and ponder over every verse to which we refer in these outlines. It is in the truth contained therein, as applied by the Holy Spirit to your mind, which will provide spiritual food convenient just now to YOU personally.
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Acts 3:19-21 | 1 Peter 5:4 | 2 Peter 1:16, 21
2 Peter 3:1-15 |
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1 Corinthians 1:7
1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 |
Ephesians 5:25-32
Philippians 3:20, 21 |
Colossians 3:4
1 Thessalonians - last verses in each chapter |
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Revelation 1:7 | Revelation 22:7, 10 | See also Revelation 22: 20 |
No wonder the early Christians would say to each other...
MARANATHA! - THE LORD COMETH
Such is the mind of natural man, and that of theological scholars sometimes, that even with so many promises of scripture they can still twist plain truth to find false comfort:-
"The second coming of the Lord is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament." [R.A. Torrey]"There are over 800 passages in the Bible which deal with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ" [Jack Moorman]
"I WILL COME AGAIN"
All the gospels, the Acts, every epistle of Paul (except Galatians and Philemon), James, Peter, John and Jude all refer to the Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Isn't it strange that we hardly ever hear it mentioned or preached on today?
On a more personal note Ron Smith adds the following comment, originally included as a supplement along with Studies 43-50:
The fellowship with the Brethren was precious and helpful. I often heard ministry on the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ which I found both scriptural and challenging. Much of this was illustrated by wall charts and open for discussion among those who had been studying the subject for many years. I naturally assumed the general position held by Brethren assemblies, although I recognised that there was the freedom of 'private judgement', and some in the assemblies held different views.
It was only later, when I attended a Bible College and was encouraged to read parts of Systematic Theology (Louis Berkof) that I began to realise there were four main views, and with a variety of differences held by proponents of each!
They all believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to this world, and that His coming will be physical, personal and visible. These things are clearly taught in the Bible - see John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. The major controversy is over what is meant by the 'thousand years' (or millennium) in Revelation 20.
Is the Coming before the millennium, after the millennium, or is 'the thousand years' of Revelation to be understood not literally or figuratively? Is not Christ reigning now?
Some of the Church's greatest Bible teachers have held different views on the Second Coming. Charles Hodge and Jonathan Edwards were post- (after) millennialists; J.C. Ryle and Francis Schaeffer were pre- (before) millennialists and William Hendriksen and Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones held to a-(no) millennialism. The fact that such great scholars could differ on this doctrine should cause the rest of us to be cautious and beware of opposing too vigorously fellow-believers who do not share our viewpoint.
Some Christians spend more time studying aspects of the Lord's second coming than helping to tell the lost of His first coming. The details of His first coming are, after all, more clear than those of His second coming.
The comment by Augustine is helpful:
"He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms that it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near, but rather he who, whether it be far off or near, awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope and fervent love."The above comments are not intended in any way to devalue the importance of the study of the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is very important and Christians do well to study it. However, in compiling a series of basic Bible Study outlines to increase knowledge and encourage growth, I felt the comments should be made.