Love the Truth

FOUNDATIONS of the FAITH

The Coming of the Lord

The early Christians rejoiced in and were sustained by the hope of the second coming of Christ. However it would seem that this was lost sight of and did not receive appropriate attention until about 200 years ago.

Renewed awareness of the second coming brought great blessing, but sadly many became obsessed with speculation as to the finer details of His coming. It is very regrettable that among God's people, there have been differences of understanding in this area which have raised barriers to fellowship. This should never be the case, and to handle this situation in a positive way, we do well to consider what is of primary importance about the coming of the Lord , what is our attitude to it, and what effect it has on us?

In order to avoid controversy, and for this study to be of real value, it is very important to look up, and consider all the references given. It is particularly important to consider the context of each passage.

The next great and momentous event in God's dealings with mankind will be the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus promised His disciples that He would come again and take them to be with Him for ever.

"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3.

This is the blessed hope of all God's people, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13 (see also Acts 1:11 1 Tim 6:14 Heb 9:28)

Resurrection

At His coming the dead in Christ will be raised first and He will bring them with Him. Then those believers who are living at the time will be caught up to meet Him in the air. All His saints will then be with Him for ever.

1 Thes 4:13-18 1 Cor 15:12-58

We shall be changed!

The mortal body and the sinful fleshly nature will be done away with and God's people will have new incorruptible, immortal spiritual bodies in which they will be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ.

Phil 3:21 1 John 3:2 1 Cor 15:49-54

The time of His coming

This is known only to the Father Matt 24:36 Matt 25:13 Mark 13:32,33. Speculation as to the date of His coming is therefore contrary to the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and much harm has resulted from it.

Restoration of the kingdom to Israel

Just prior to His ascension Jesus gave His disciples another warning which has not received sufficient attention. He warned His disciples that it is also not given to us to speculate as to the time or manner of restoration of the kingdom to Israel Acts 1:6,7. All we can say is that Israel will be brought in again.

According to Rom 11:15

“if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead.”

The coming of the Lord is at hand

Please read Matt 25:1-13 The coming of the Lord will be sudden and widely unexpected.

Jesus taught us a vital lesson in this parable of the wise and foolish virgins. We should therefore be watching and waiting for Him at all times. 1 Thes 1:9,10

He warned us that His coming will be:

God's people should always consider the time to be "at hand". Rom 13:12 Phil 4:5 1 Peter 4:7
be ready Matt 24:44 Luke 12:40
and take care to so live that we will not to be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 2:28 1 John 4:17 2 Peter 3:14
Details of His coming are given in Matt 24:3-44 Mark 13:5-37 Luke 21:7-36 2 Thes 2:1-12
It was foretold by the prophets. Daniel 7:13 Jude 14 Job 19:23-27

It will be

In the Bible the sounding of the trumpet indicates that God is about to take action. The last trumpet will sound in the last day and it will signal the coming of the Lord. 1 Thes 4:16 Matt 24:31
In fulfilment of His promise 2 Peter 3:4,9 Hab 2:3 Daniel 8:17,19 Daniel 10:14

The Day of the Lord

Throughout the Bible the day of the Lord is a time when God takes the strongest and most awesome action.

At the day of the Lord the present heavens and the earth will be dissolved and God will bring into being a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness prevails. 2 Peter 3:10-13

The judgement takes place in the last day which is therefore the same as the day of the Lord. John 12:48

The resurrection of the dead saints takes place at the last day or the day of the Lord. John 6:39,40,44,54 John 11:24 1 Thes 4:16

The Thessalonian believers were well taught concerning the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians chap 4,5) and were reminded to be alert and watching for it lest it should overtake them as a thief. 1 Thes 4:6

It is also called:

We cannot be certain whether verse 2 speaks of the day of the Lord or the day of Christ, and it would seem best to take them as being identical. Whatever the case, 2 Thes 2:1-12 describes some events which must take place before "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him" (verse 1). This is clearly the coming of the Lord for His saints.

Two events which must take place first are given in 2 Thes 2:3:

Verse 3 "Falling away" is a translation of the original word apostasia from which we get the English word apostasy.

The Blessed Hope

While the coming of the Lord will bring judgment and wrath on those who reject Christ it will bring joy and delight to both the Lord Jesus Christ and His saints.
Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19
Times of restitution of all things. Acts 3:21 (cf. Rom 8:21)

It is described as:

It will be visible like the lightning Matt 24:27
Every eye shall see Him. Rev 1:7 
and it will not be a secret coming.

Sanctification

The hope of His coming motivates the true believer to purify himself from practical sinning since he does not want to be ashamed before Him at His coming. He wants to be like the One who is pure, and he has the assurance that he will be like Him.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.1 John 3:2,3

The final outcome for God's people

They shall:

Our response

 

The one who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Rev 22:20,21