The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Posted by: Stephen E. Smith on 2008-05-23

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Stephen E. Smith: General Overseer of The Church of God

The title of this sermon presents the assumption that Jesus Christ has already come once, and indeed He has. His first coming was foretold by the prophets, and He not only came but also fulfilled every prophecy they spoke concerning His coming. A few of those prophecies include:

1. He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18)

2. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1)

3. During His infancy, there would be a massacre of children in Israel (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:16)

4. He would go into Egypt, then return to Israel (Hosea 11:1; Matt.2:16)

5. His ministry would bring great light to Galilee (Isa. 9:1, 2; Matt. 4:12-16)

6. He would be known as a prophet of God (Duet. 18:15; Jn. 6:14)

7. He would be rejected by the Jews (Isa. 53:3; Jn. 1:11)

8. He would be betrayed by a friend (Psa. 41:9; Mk. 10:14)

9. He would be crucified with sinners (Isa. 53:12; Matt. 27:38)

10. He would be resurrected (Psa. 16:10; Lk. 24:50, 51)

There are many more prophecies concerning Christ's first coming, but suffice to say, He fulfilled every one of them perfectly. When Jesus finished His ministry on earth, Jesus ascended to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father. At the appointed time by the Father, He is coming again.

With His first coming, Jesus provided salvation from sin and victory over death and the grave. His second coming will be to resurrect the dead saints and rapture the living ones. During His first visit, Jesus organized The Church of God and purchased it with His own blood. His return will be to rapture that perfected Church and "...present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing..." (Eph. 5:27).

The Apostles Believed and Taught that Jesus is Coming Again

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9:28).

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil 3:20).

The Angels of God Proclaimed that Jesus is Coming Again

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld him, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye here gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, so shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven"       (Acts 1:9-11).

Jesus Christ Himself Assured Us that He Will Come Again

"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 to prepare a place for you, I will come again..."        (Jn. 14:2, 3).

Since Jesus came the first time according to Scripture and fulfilled every word spoken about Him, why would we doubt that same Word of God which tells of His second coming? Yet, we are clearly living in a time of doubt and unbelief concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ. That unbelief is revealed in the fact that sinners scoff at God's admonitions to repent, and many (most?) Christians are living more and more worldly, setting their affections on things below (temporal, earthly things) instead of on things above (eternal, heavenly things). "...we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 Jn. 3:2, 3).

With the Bible filled with promises of Christ's soon return, one would think that those who call themselves Christians would be seeking to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and doing all they can to admonish unbelievers to repent and serve God. But this is not the case. Instead, there seems to be less excitement about the coming of the Lord among Christians and less concern for the lost, while the spirit of compromise has taken hold and is seducing multitudes to embrace false doctrines which permit and  even encourage ungoldly living. Even so, God's Word is true. Jesus is coming again, whether people prepare their hearts for Him or not. His coming is very near, and woe unto all those who fail to properly prepare for His second coming!

One reason some have lost their excitement about the return of out Lord is that many preachers have ceased to preach it. In fact, many minsters now reject the doctrine of the second coming of Christ. Not long ago, most Christians held to traditional beliefs that included the following:

1. The world will wax worse and worse, with sin and evil abounding in the last days.

2. Christians will be hated and persecuted more and more.

3. In spite of persecution, the gospel will be preached to all the world.

4. Christ will appear in clouds of glory, resurrect the dead saints and rapture the living saints, and take them to the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.

5. Then, God's wrath will fall upon the ungodly who have rejected salvation.

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 24:44).

There are many "think not" preachers in the world today. For a variety of reasons, they do not think Christ will come in the near future, if at all. They have been seduced by deceiving spirits and doctrines and will be caught by suprise when Christ appears in the eastern sky.

In recent years, a new line of thinking has spead in the "Christian" society. It is sometimes referred to as "dominion" theology, or the "kingdom now" movement. It goes under a number of names, but basically teaches that instead of the world getting worse and worse, it will get better and better because Christians will conquer and rule the world. As the message of love and toleration is preached, miracles of healing occur, and financial wealth is received through the now popular "prosperity" message, the world will be converted and embrace Christianity. Thus, Christians will take "dominion" over the world and set up the kingdom of God on earth. This message negates the need for Christ Himself to come again. Christians will rule the nations for a thousand years and if Christ comes at all, it will be at the end of the millenial reign.

Several factors have contributed to the success of this new message. The "Cold War" between the United States and Russia has dissolved. When the world was fearful that a nuclear war might occur at any moment and destroy all humanity, people were more easily convinced to accept Christ and look for His appearing as the means of escaping the possible destruction of the world. Now that the fear of destruction has diminished, people have lost their sense of urgency for a Savior, and for Him to come and deliver them from impending doom.

The world is also becoming incredibly prosperous. It has probably never experienced such wealth. No longer do people need to pray "give us this day our daily bread." They have many loaves of bread to eat, and do not feel they need God to supply their daily needs. One of the plagues of manking has been that when God prospers men, they tend to forget Him, and only when He humbles them will they remember and turn to Him. As it was with Israel, so it is with Christians today: "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation" (Duet. 32:15).

Another factor which has no doubt played a role in today's complacency among God's people is that the year 2000 came and Christ did not return. For many years, preachers focused on this time period as the time in which the Lord would come. Some promised that Jesus would come by 1988, others by 1996 and others dated the year 2000 as the last possible date. When their prophecies failed, many lost their concern about Christ's return and have now turned away from serving the Lord, become lukewarm, or have accepted the "dominion" theology.

The Bible tells us plainly that no man knows the day nor the hour when Christ will come, that is not for us to know the times or the seasons which the Father has reserved only for Himself. We are simply told to be ready, to be found working, to perfect holiness, to look for and hasten to the coming of the Lord. Oh, dear saints, we must not allow the "think not" folks to influence us. Jesus is coming exactly as revealed in Scripture. He is not late, nor has He changed His mind about returning.

When He comes this time, it will not be to offer salvation, but to bring judgement. When He appears, there will be no time to pray and prepare. The lukewarm will forever be spewed from His mouth. The sinners will find no mercy from the wrath of the Lamb. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Christ will have come for the redeemed and left with them. Such a thought ought to stir every member of the Church to greater service for God. Such a thought ought to stir every sinner to immediately bow his knees in repentance.

The second coming of the Lord will not be hindered or rescheduled due to the "think not-ers." Let us soberly consider the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Matt. 13:35-37).

(This article was originall published in the July 2004 issue of The Evening Light.)