Category Archives: Second Coming of Jesus in Glory

Second Coming of Jesus in Glory, Uncategorized

Get ready for Christ’s second visit to earth!

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13 NIV)

We will look at the promise of Christ’s second coming to earth, and its importance to all Christians and to those who have not yet accepted Christ as Lord of their lives. As a teacher of the Bible my goal is like the apostle Paul’s, “to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:22 ESV)

It is noteworthy that Jesus referred to Himself as the embodied character of absolute truth and honesty as noted in these verses: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. He would often say in the gospel of John regarding the truthfulness of His words: “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” (John 8:45 ESV); and “If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” (John 8:46 ESV); and “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth…” (John 16:7 ESV) He would say “if it were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:6; 14:2 ESV). Before He ascended to the Father, He told His disciples that “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13 ESV). All truth is not half-truths. Half-truths are lies. The apostle Paul wrote: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14 ESV)

With our Lord being bound to truth, and that fact that He is the son of God, he has long referred to Himself as the great “I am” who had years ago spoken to Moses in the burning bush (cf. Exodus 3:6; John 8:58) and whom theologians have biblically proven to be one with God: “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men”. (John 1:3-4 ESV)

It stands to reason that He above all others would foretell only the truth. The following text describes the preeminence of Christ over all creation as the Creator God. When we understand that Jesus is God and that He created us, we can fathom why He is our redeemer who designed a plan with His Father in heaven to save us from our predicament of death: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”. (Colossians 1: 15-18 ESV)

Jesus made a definite promise that He is coming to receive His followers when He comes back to earth the second time – a promise my mother loved: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV). The Book of Revelation, chapter 1, begins with a clear note that John received the prophecies in Revelation directly from the resurrected Jesus by an angel sent from heaven. It also states that it is the pure and direct testimony of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Jesus points out that the person who hears and abides by, cherishing this message that he sent for mankind via John, will be blessed!

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1-3 ESV)

Greeting to the Seven Churches

Regarding the time of His second advent to the earth, Jesus  told his disciples that He would be visually seen by everyone: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27 ESV) Jesus also indicated that the world will not comprehend the importance of this event nor be prepared to meet Him: “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30 ESV). His appearing will be no secret event – every eye will see Him.

Here Jesus the author of Revelation, through the messenger,  apostle John “the Revelator” agrees in his final prophecy regarding the end time: Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him (Revelation 1:7 ESV)

The disciples were told by an angel at His ascension, that Jesus would return just as He left, on clouds: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 ESV)

Evidently, we should be aware that many will not be prepared for this event! “But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51 ESV)

Recent changes in Facebook have shown us how people can be distracted by being so engaged with applications on their smartphone in order to stay popular in our culture, sending each other philosophic or whimsical one-liners, or songs or movie clips. Don’t get me wrong Facebook is a cool place to connect with your family (though I contend it could be done more intimately by email). Who has time for studying let alone reading the Bible in our digitized information age? Jesus knew that self-aggrandizement would overtake mankind. So what will the world be doing when Christ comes?

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39 ESV).

Jesus also said in Luke’s account of the Gospel: “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:28-30 ESV)

I don’t think that it is wrong in itself to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant, or build, but that men’s minds will be so taken up with a zillion common distractions that they will give little or no thought to the future life, and make no plans or preparation to meet Jesus when He comes. Satan has most of mankind hoodwinked. Yes, “in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4 ESV)

The teaching of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New Testament just as clearly as any other truth. Yet few sermons are preached on it. The church makes a great deal of baptism; but in all of Paul’s epistles, baptism, as important as it is, is spoken of only thirteen times. The bible speaks about the return of our Lord fifty times. Yet the church has had very little to say about it. The devil does not want the church to see this truth because this truth would wake up the church. Once I understood that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, the world and all its philosophic concepts of Utopia, lost its hold on me.

The doctrine of Christ’s coming is ancient scriptural teaching going back in time: “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.” (Jude 14,15 ESV) Job a man of antiquity, also expressed similar confidence in Christ’s coming to receive him as a follower of God: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh, I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” (Job 19:25-27 ESV)

How did the prophet King David speak of Christ’s judicial focus: “Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.” (Psalms 50:3 ESV). And “For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Psalms 96:13 ESV). Notice that David knew that on the day of His return we will come face to face with “His truth”.

How did the apostle Paul give expression to this hope? “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20 ESV); and in Titus 2:13 he wrote: “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”.

What is Peter’s testimony regarding the interventions of the Lord with the populace of the earth? “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:16 ESV)

Here is the most thorough presentations of the Second Advent of Jesus Christ to this earth.

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Sanctification: Living a Holy Life, Second Coming of Jesus in Glory

Living in view of the Second Advent of Christ

“… live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (see Titus 2:12-13 ESV)

In the epistle written to and named after his pastoral co-worker Titus, the apostle Paul aimed to strengthen Titus’s ministry on the Grecian island of Crete, where there were many pagan influences. Titus was to teach all the new converts to become “strong in the faith” (1:13). Paul commented on the primary social relationships within marriages, homes, individual life and work–to be transformed profoundly in the context of the gospel relationship to Jesus Christ from within, via the Spirit informing us how to live as we follow the Word of God.

In the first century AD, the early churches were being infiltrated by false teachers teaching false doctrine–an emphasis in Paul’s letter. However, it is refreshing to notice that Paul focuses not on our outward rules-based motivation but rather on a lifestyle motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. Whereas the false teachers were deceivers (1:10), Titus was to promote the kind of living that reflects correct teaching outside of any misalignment to the Word of God. Through biblical knowledge and acceptance of “correct teaching,” we can navigate a righteous life with the help of the Holy Spirit. However, we can fail if we take our eyes off the Lord when we are upset, tired, hungry, or fearful. When the rubber hits the road, the behaviour should match belief.

Paul gave Titus examples of the proper Christian behaviour expected within the churches. The primary concern of the letter is that correct doctrine leads to appropriate behaviour. Titus 2:1–15 will be our focus as this text describes proper behaviour and that such behaviour must be rooted in the gospel and its teachings–and that our leaders in the church must teach these guidelines with authority.

Middle-age and senior men are an example to younger men
“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 ESV)

Older men are the senior community members of the village, town or city, and should be examples of biblical maturity. Thus, they are to exercise self-control, meaning that their lives should show moderation with an absence of extravagance–worthy of respect as “serious-minded” men focused on the promulgation of the gospel.

They are to be sound in their faith, having a personal faith in God by maintaining the Christian truth of the gospel. They should be loving, never displaying anger or bitterness. (see John 13:34).

Middle-age and senior women are examples to younger women
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2: 3-5 ESV)

Just as the apostle Paul noted that Titus was to teach men how they ought to live, he also had the responsibility to guide the churches’ women—their lifestyles should be appropriate—dignified, worthy of honour, Christlike.

Older women are important role models for younger women, desperately needed in society. Today we see loose living as ungodly men prey on young women. Premarital abstinence from sex outside of marriage is not common. What lifestyle are women to adopt? Paul advises a respectful attitude toward all aspects of life and people of all ages, not to go around gossiping negatively about others, nor should they be heavy drinkers.

Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts teach others what is good by observing their lives and sharing their wisdom, knowledge, and faith within family circles and friends. No woman should regard her life as of a lesser value to Jesus Christ. When children have left the nest or after retirement from a career, they should never despair or fear loneliness but actively offer their wisdom, prayers, and examples in the church. Rock-solid women of faith are always needed!

Older women can train the younger women in the church by word and example. Lifestyle is the best teacher of “what is good” (verse 2:3). They can encourage the young women in the church to love their husbands and their children. Women have the closest relationship with their daughters, which carries on into later years.

Many Christian women have won the hearts of their husbands and children simply by showing gentle respect for the father’s leadership in the home and motivating him to love and guide his household safely and biblically in Christ. This often becomes controversial if the husband discerns non-Christian boys flirting with his daughters, or non-Christian boys influencing his sons, if he determines the need to and desires to maintain a hedge of protection in the faith for his household, this can be viewed as overbearing and controlling. However, Christian fathers need God-directed control of their own and their family’s lives.

The lineage of authority in the home
Like older men advising the younger men, older women need to live wisely and “train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure”.

Young women are to be submissive to their husbands. Submission between marriage partners is an often misunderstood concept. This text, for example, cannot be used to promote the general subjugation of all women under all men. For marriage and family relationships to run smoothly, there must be one appointed leader—God has appointed the husband and father to be this leader. The wife should willingly follow her husband’s leadership in Christ, acknowledging his responsibility under God.

Maturity provides the key to understanding submission. The husband must not be a tyrant, faithless, unloving, or impatient, as previously mentioned in verse 2. He should be worthy of respect.

Likewise, the woman should not undermine or contradict the man which can aggravate disrespect among the children for his headship in the family. However, he may need to learn better methods of such leadership (there is no manual except the example of older men who live by the Word of God). Submission means for both the husband and the wife to accept the relationship that God has designed, voluntarily subjecting oneself to God’s order of authority within the family and fulfilling the responsibilities that come with it (for more of Paul’s advice about marriage, (see 1 Corinthians 7:1–40); men are to love their wives and wives are to reciprocate respect for the husband–and the inverse is also true–women are to respect their husbands and husbands are to reciprocate love for the husband. (see Ephesians 5:22–33).

Many women are happily submissive to their husbands, supporting their husbands’ leadership role in the family (see Ephesians 5:22; 5:23–24). When the children see this they also respect their father’s biblical guidance.

What is the purpose of this instruction?
Every believer’s purpose in following the Word of God is to glorify God. Believers are being watched. If they live righteous and blameless lives, they would not bring shame on the word of God. Paul also urged Titus to encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do:

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8 ESV)

The advice that the apostle Paul gives in Titus is important training in right living and all Christians should take heed because it prepares us for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. This training was to prepare men to become elders and expand the churches reach.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 ESV)

God, by his grace, sent Christ to earth. Because of Christ’s death on the cross, salvation is available to all people, “so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. (Titus 3:7 ESV)

The grace of God was revealed in Christ, referring to the incarnation. That message of grace arrived in Crete with Paul and Titus and it is still applicable to us today. When the gospel light is turned on in a place of darkness, changes are inevitable. Those who respond are transformed; those who resist and reject the message can do so, but they must face the dire consequences.

Second Coming of Jesus in Glory

What event brings about the resurrection of the dead?

glen001-sm  By Glen R. Jackman

Study:1 Thessalonians 4 on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The Apostle Paul like Jesus before him always taught people about the future—that salvation carried a promise of eternal life. Jesus can offer us the power to overcome death, because “all things were created by Him and for Him and through Him” (see Colossians 1)

Resurrection

Jesus Christ who died, arose, and ascended would one day return. This will be what is referred to as his “Second Coming” or “Second Advent” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). The early believers knew that this could occur at any time unannounced, though Jesus cautioned us not to place a date on this event. Let’s address several questions regarding the resurrection of believers and the Second Coming.

Early Christians in Thessalonica, Greece – believers in Jesus Christ – questioned Apostle Paul regarding the Christians who had died. The believers had been taught that Christ would one day return and take his people to himself—every believer should be ready for that return at any moment.

In the interim as the believers awaited Christ’s return, some of them had died. The Thessalonians were wondering why this had happened before Christ’s return, and what would happen to those who had died before he came back. Some may have feared that believers who had died would miss the Kingdom.

The thought that their loved ones would not be with Christ caused them great sorrow. Paul comforted them: “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonian 4:13 NIV)

Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand that death is not the end. When Christ returns, all believers—dead and alive—will be reunited, never to suffer or die again. Believers need not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. Paul recognized that the death of loved ones naturally results in grieving; but when Christians grieve for Christians who have died, there is a difference. Their grief is not hopeless. While the pain is real, the fact is that these loved ones will be seen again as the following verse describes. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (2 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV)

Believers can have hope in the resurrection because of what happened to Jesus. Because Jesus died and was raised to life again, believers can also trust that those who have died will also be resurrected and made alive agin with Him. And exactly at the same time, when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.

Believers who have died are with God and will come with Jesus at the event of his second return to earth. They haven’t missed out—in fact, they are enjoying God’s protection and immortality because as believers in Christ they have entered eternal life with Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:21–22 for this assurance).

Here is a key verse about all Christians being united together to meet the Lord upon His return, as they claim absolute victory over death:

“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 NIV)

All Christian believers can be assured that neither the dead nor the living would be at any disadvantage with regard to Christ’s return. All believers will share the blessings of the resurrection. Those who have died are already with Christ and will be with him when he returns: “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (4:14); those who are still living when Christ returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves.

Instead, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves first. Knowing exactly when the dead will be raised, in relation to the other events at the Second Coming, is not as important as knowing why Paul wrote these words. He wrote them to challenge and motivate believers to comfort and encourage one another when loved ones die – a great comfort when any believer dies.

The same love that unites believers in this life (4:9) will unite them when Christ returns and reigns for eternity” “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.(2 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NIV)

The Second Coming will occur in God’s timing. He alone brings it about. Christ, who is the Lord himself, will descend from heaven, for that is where he has been since after his resurrection (Acts 1:9–11). Christ’s return will be unmistakable. No one will miss it, for he will descend with a shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. Whether these are three different ways of referring to one sound, whether they happen simultaneously, or happen in sequence is unknown. But these sounds will herald his return.

Paul used distinctive imagery associated with the end times. An archangel is a high or holy angel appointed to a special task. Clearly, the angelic hosts will be taking part in this celebration of Christ’s return to take his people home (Mark 8:38). A trumpet blast will usher in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 11:15). The Jews would understand the significance of this because trumpets were always blown to signal the start of great festivals and other extraordinary events (Numbers 10:10).

After the dead have risen from their graves, the believers “who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air”. A reference to “clouds” in the Bible often symbolizes the presence of God (Exodus 13:21; 14:19; 19:16; 24:15; 40:34–38; Mark 9:7; Acts 1:9).

Jesus also indicated that His Second Coming would have a majestic visible sign – atomic-like light will encompass the earth as He returns in glory: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27 ESV)

Christ’s purpose is to execute judgement and command His angels to separate His believers – those that are saved – and take only His faithful. Are you ready for this apocalyptic event to occur? “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”. (Matthew 24:30-31 ESV)

You can be ready. Simply confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (see Colossians 1 to see Him as your Creator and Life-giver). Jesus admonishes all mankind to “…stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming”; and “…you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect”. (Matthew 24:42,44)

Clearly, all believers—whether they are alive or have died at the time of Christ’s return—will be together with one another and with the Lord forever. This supernatural event will cause a great reunion among believers who are alive and those who have already died. Both groups will experience Christ’s return together. This joyous reunion will go on forever.