WHAT CAN WE KNOW ABOUT THE
SECOND COMING?
Where do we stand after 2,000 years of false alarms and the
current "future fatigue"? Should we join those who have thrown in
the towel on prophetic study in favor of "more practical, life-
related issues"? Or, if we are convinced that nothing is more
practical than to look for our Lord's return, how should we do
that? Should we be expecting an any-moment return? Or should we be
more concerned about preparing for the coming years of unparalleled
trouble that the prophets predicted?
In an effort to answer some of these questions, Herb Vander Lugt
and Dave Branon have written this booklet. It is our prayer that
their work will lead you to an increased awareness of what the Bible
has to say about our Lord's promised return.
--- Martin R. De Haan II
CONTENTS:
Christians Divided on the Rapture Question....................2
Why Would He Return Again ... and Again?......................4
Some Don't Agree.............................................13
Now You See Them, Now You Don't..............................18
World of Joy; World of Terror................................21
The King Is Back --- To Stay!................................25
Helping You Help Others......................................29
Christ's Return and You......................................30
Managing Editor: David Sper
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version, copyright
1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers
Copyright 1988 RADIO BIBLE CLASS, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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CHRISTIANS DIVIDED ON THE
RAPTURE QUESTION
Millions Reported Missing
News reports arriving from cities around the globe tell of a
mysterious disappearance of thousands and thousands of people. In
some instances entire families have vanished without a trace ....
Could this headline and lead paragraph appear in your newspaper
tomorrow? Is it possible that Christ could return today and
suddenly remove His children from this earth, leaving an unbelieving
world to wonder where all the Christians have gone?
This is an extremely practical issue. If Christ could return
today, we need to be ready. We cannot afford to take the future for
granted. Just as a child finds the inner strength to pull his act
together when he thinks his dad is coming through the front door, so
those who live in the expectation that Christ could return at any
moment have reason to live a different and better life. It gives
husbands reason to love their wives and to spend time with their
children. It gives managers incentive to be considerate of their
workers and to treat them the way they would want to be treated. It
gives everyone who knows the way to heaven urgent reason to
introduce others to Christ --- before it is too late.
But, having said that, could Christ return today? Church people
do not all agree. While all true Christians believe in the return
of Christ, many disagree about the details of when it will occur.
Some think that Christ will come back at the end of the age just
prior to destroying and recreating the heavens and the earth. This
is termed *amillennialism* because it does not recognize a literal
millennium (1,000-year reign of Christ on earth).
Others believe that Christ will return only after a predicted
period of unparalleled trouble. This view is called *posttribula-
tionalism* because it sees Christ coming for His people after the
tribulation.
Still others, however, believe that our Lord will return in two
phases --- once for the salvation of His church and once for the
rescue of the nation of Israel. This view includes those who hold
to either a pretribulational or midtribulational approach to the
Lord's return.
....................................................................
: "The return of Christ represents not only the ultimate sense :
: of accountability but the ultimate sense of hope as well." :
:..................................................................:
But with these options before us, what do we really know about
the second coming of Christ? To begin, we know that everyone who
looks for Christ's return has reason to live the kind of life that
will please the Lord at His coming. The apostle John recognized
this when he wrote, "...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).
Beyond that incentive for right living, we believe it is very
important for us to be ready for a two-part return of Christ, the
first phase of which could occur at any moment --- maybe even today.
But what is the evidence for such a position?
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WHY WOULD CHRIST RETURN AGAIN ... AND AGAIN?
The main evidence for a two-part return of Christ revolves
around (1) God's distinct plans for Israel and the church and (2)
prophecies that describe the time of Christ's return as being both
knowable and unknowable. The reasoning might seem to be a little
involved at points, but the main point to keep in mind is that
Scripture teaches us to be always ready for the Lord's return. The
following pages will explain why that seems to signal a two-part
return of Christ --- one for the church and one for Israel.
The Distinction Between Israel and the Church
Basic to this discussion is our belief that the first of these
two returns is for the rescue and removal of the church (1 Corin.
15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 5:9). The second relates to God's plan
for Israel (Ezek. 36:16-38; Jer. 23:5,6; Rev. 19:11-21). Both have
different places in God's prophetic program.
Even though both share a common spiritual ancestry that can be
traced back to the faith of Abraham (Gal. 3:7), they have different
places in God's world plan. Israel represents a nation with whom
God has made very earth-centered and geographically related promises
(Is. 2:1-6; Ezek. 36-37). The church, on the other hand, is a
multinational organism made up of all true believers in Christ ---
Jew or Gentile. The church is at the center of God's program until
"the fullness of the Gentiles" is fulfilled (Rom. 11:25) and has
been given a hope that is to be realized more in heaven than on
earth (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
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The distinction between Israel and the church is basic to
understanding prophecy. Many have called it the key to unlocking
what the Bible says about the future. When the two are kept
distinct, many prophetic details fall into place. Then it becomes
evident that some predictions refer to the Lord's return for the
church, while others relate to His return as the King and Deliverer
of Israel.
....................................................................
: "A two-phase return would explain why Israel but not the :
: church is mentioned in the endtime events of Revelation." :
:..................................................................:
This provides an explanation for why the church is not
specifically referred to in most of the book of Revelation.
Revelation 6-18 (which describes the "great tribulation" to which
Jesus alluded in Matthew 24:15-28) never mentions the church. While
an argument from silence is not the strongest, it does seem
significant. It gives credence to the idea that Christ will have
returned to remove the church prior to all of those endtime events
related to the restoration and salvation of the nation of Israel,
called the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). The church will
already be with her Lord and will come with Him when He returns to
save Israel and set up His promised earthly kingdom.
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That brings us to a second important reason for being ready for
a two-part return of Christ. The teaching of the Bible includes (a)
prophecies of dramatic events that will occur just prior to the
Lord's second coming to earth and (b) predictions of another coming
to earth at a time that is not expected. It seems reasonable to
resolve this apparent contradiction by seeing them as describing two
different phases of the Lord's return.
...................................................................
: "A two-phase return makes sense if the first phase (for the :
: church) could happen at any time and the second phase (for :
: Israel) happens at a definite, presignaled time." :
:..................................................................:
Just keep in mind that if this discussion seems unrelated to
your real needs and problems, you're missing something. Nothing is
more practical than the return of Christ. When seen properly,
nothing provides more hope. Nothing provides more accountability.
Nothing puts the pains and pleasures of life in better perspective
than the promise of our Lord's return.
If the Lord were to return today, all of your worst problems and
all of your deepest pleasures would suddenly look entirely
different. For that reason, let's take a closer look at what the
Bible has to say about (1) the any-moment return for the church and
(2) the final presignaled event climaxing the worst trouble the
world has ever seen.
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The Distinction Between an
Any-Moment and a Presignaled Return
In the Olivet Discourse, delivered only shortly before His
crucifixion, Jesus answered questions raised by His disciples after
He had predicted the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem. They
asked, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the
sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3).
Notice that the disciples' question has three parts: (1) When?
(2) What will be the signs of Christ's coming? (3) What will be the
signs of the end of the age? As we read our Lord's answer, we find
that He began with the sign part of the question. He dealt with the
signs of His coming that will alert all generations (vv. 3-14), the
signs of the end of the age related to Israel (vv. 15-35), and the
"when" or time question related to His unannounced coming for the
church (vv. 36-51).
THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING -- ALERTING ALL GENERATIONS (VV. 3-14).
The Lord began by describing seven events that would occur before
His return. They will be signs of His coming because their purpose
will be to remind His children throughout the age, saying, "Jesus is
coming again." Our Lord talked about false christs (v.5), wars and
rumors of wars (v.6), famines (v.7), pestilences and earthquakes (v.
7), persecution (v.9), defections from the faith (vv.10-13), and
worldwide preaching of the gospel (v.14).
It is a fact of history that all seven of these occurrences took
place to some degree during the first century. However, like most
prophecies, the near-at-hand and far-off elements were blended
together into one picture. Therefore, Jesus' statements have
different applications to different generations. To believers who
lived and died under terrible persecution, "the end" in verse 13 is
the end of life. But to those who live during the coming
tribulation, it will be the end of the age. Similarly, the
worldwide preaching of the gospel during the first century was to
the Roman world (Col. 1:5,6), while for us today it is to the entire
globe. These events portrayed by our Lord served as signs to first-
century believers and to those of all subsequent generations that He
is coming again.
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THE SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE -- RELATED TO ISRAEL (VV.15-35).
At verse 15, we suddenly find ourselves with a very specific
prediction about "an abomination of desolation." This is followed
by a detailed description of a brief, terrible time of trouble that
will end when the Lord returns. We might be puzzled by the
statement about the "abomination of desolation" in the "holy place."
But the Jewish people to whom Jesus spoke understood it. They knew
that according to Daniel 9:24-27 a hostile Gentile ruler would
someday desecrate their temple and initiate a horrendous
persecution. While Luke 21:20-24 contains some elements that were
partially fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple
in AD 70, Matthew 24:15-31 focuses on the endtime. There will be:
* Enough fear to drive the Jews to the hills (vv.16-18)
* Unparalleled trouble and woe (vv.19,20)
* Great tribulation that would threaten all life if the
days were not shortened (vv.21,22)
* False christs and prophets (vv.23-26)
* Startling celestial signs and the visible descent of the
Son of Man "with power and great glory" (vv.29-31).
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These will be the signs that the end of the age is near. Just
as the appearing of buds on trees signals the soon onset of the
summer season, so do these signs show "that it is near, at the very
doors" (v.33). In fact, the generation that sees the beginning of
these signs (the desecration of the Jewish temple depicted in verse
15) will not pass off the scene before the Lord has returned (v.34).
THE "WHEN" QUESTION -- RELATED TO HIS UNANNOUNCED RETURN FOR THE
CHURCH (VV.36-51). After reminding His disciples that people who
see the signs He had spoken of can be sure that the return will be
near, Jesus began to answer the "when" question. He didn't set a
date. He said His second coming would catch people by surprise.
...................................................................
: "How can the Lord's second coming catch people by surprise :
: if it is going to be presignaled by all the spectacular :
: events described in Matthew 24:15-31?" :
:..................................................................:
First, Jesus explained that the coming of the Son of Man would
be "as the days of Noah were." In those days, despite Noah's
warnings of danger, the people went about their lives as usual.
There was no concern for an imminent flood, because the people
didn't believe it was coming. There were no heavenly signs or
unusual events --- only the incessant hammering and sawing by Noah
and his sons. When the rains came, the people were caught by
surprise.
After giving a couple of examples of what will happen when His
unexpected coming takes place, our Lord makes this sobering, yet
exciting warning:
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THEREFORE, YOU ALSO BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS
COMING AT AN HOUR WHEN YOU DO NOT EXPECT HIM (MATT.
24:44).
How can the Lord's second coming catch people by surprise if it
is going to be presignaled by all the striking and spectacular
events described in Matthew 24:15-31? That's a key question. The
best answer seems to be found in seeing the Lord's second coming as
occuring in two stages. First He will come to catch up (or
"rapture") His own people. This event will be unannounced. Then He
will return to establish His kingdom over the earth. This event
will be clearly presignaled.
...................................................................
: "Why didn't the Lord spell out the details of His second :
: coming so clearly that we could put them together and know :
: exactly how and when it will occur?" :
:.................................................................:
Matthew 24 describes both stages of Jesus' return: the surprise,
any-moment rapture of believers (vv.36-44) and the glorious return
of Jesus at the close of the tribulation to end the destruction and
establish His kingdom (vv.15-35). He began with the glorious return
because that was the concern of the disciples when they asked the
question. He introduced the unexpected element to prepare them for
the truths about the church age and rapture -- truths that would be
made clear after His ascension.
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Purposeful Ambiguity
If you have read our Lord's prophetic words recorded in Matthew
24, Mark 13, and Luke 17 and 21, you probably wish you could find
somebody who would give you a crystal-clear explanation of all He
said. If so, join the club! Many people have had the same
experience and asked, "Why didn't He spell out the details of His
second coming so clearly that we could put them together and know
exactly how and when it will occur?" The answer is quite simple: He
didn't set out to give us this kind of information. His aim was to
teach us that we should live in continual readiness for our meeting
with Him.
In blending together into one picture references to the
destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the endtime sacrilege of the
temple, the apostolic persecution, the endtime great tribulation,
the signs in the heavenly bodies, and an unexpected coming, the Lord
followed the pattern of the Old Testament prophets. In their
prophecies they also merged, without explanation about sequence,
predictions that would occur at four different time periods: (1) in
their own lifetime, (2) in the near future, (3) at Messiah's first
coming, and (4) at the end of time. For example, the prophecies of
Jesus' birth, exaltation, rule, suffering, and death (Is. 7:14;
52:13-54:17; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 5:4) were written in such a way that
they could not be placed in chronological order until they were
fulfilled.
We can be thankful that God doesn't tell each of us individually
the exact time or manner of our death. Similarly, He didn't give us
a precise answer to the what, when, and how questions regarding our
Lord's return. It's better for us to live in the tension produced
by the realization, "Perhaps today, but maybe not in my lifetime."
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Imminency Parables
At the conclusion of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus told two
parables that shout out the message, "Be ready!"
In the first one (Matt. 24:45-51), the servant is left in charge
while his master is away on a trip. He begins thinking that the
owner will be gone a long time, so he abuses the people under him
and lives it up. But the master returns unexpectedly and punishes
him severely.
In the second parable (Matt. 25:1-13), 10 virgins are invited to
attend a wedding reception, but they have to wait for the arrival of
the wedding procession. They know it is coming, but they don't know
just when. The procession in which each person carries a lighted
torch arrives, but five of the girls can't join the group because
they have no oil in their torches. However, the five who are
prepared become part of the rejoicing company. The message is
clear. "We don't know when Jesus is coming back. Therefore, be
ready!"
Down through the centuries Bible expositors have applied these
parables to the church. The servant who behaved wickedly and the
five girls who had no oil represent professing Christians who are
not truly saved. When Jesus comes unexpectedly for His own, He will
punish them and exclude them from His banquet hall. What a call to
readiness! What a powerful intimation of imminency!
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SOME DON'T AGREE
When the Lord appears in the air unexpectedly to take His people
to heaven, many Christians will be just as surprised as
non-Christians. That is because many believers are not convinced
that the rapture of the church could occur at any moment. They know
that Jesus is coming back, but they do not see His return in two
stages. They don't keep an eye on the sky. Let's look at their
objections to an imminent rapture.
OBJECTION: The Any-Moment Rapture Is a Recent Idea in Church
History.
A common objection to the any-moment, pretribulational
doctrine of Christ's return relates to its supposed recent origin.
Some posttribulationists attempt to show that it began in the 1820s
with an unstable Scottish clergyman named Edward Irving. They say
that he was the first person to develop the idea that Christ's
return would occur in two stages, and that an eccentric named
Margaret Macdonald picked up on his teaching during the 1830s.
Then, a few years later, J.N. Darby and several other Plymouth
Brethren teachers further developed the idea of the two-stage
return. Posttribulationists tell us to reject the any-moment
rapture idea because it, like the teachings of the Mormons and
Jehovah's Witnesses, is of recent and dubious origin.
Before we obey these critics and bid farewell to our belief
in the rapture, let's think through their charge. Was the
any-moment teaching really new? Did the two-stage teaching
originate with evil, irresponsible people as posttribulationists
claim? Did the teaching of the second coming develop differently
from other important doctrines? We'll find that each of the above
questions can be given a solid answer of no.
1. THE ANY-MOMENT IDEA WAS NOT NEW. The writings of
the church fathers are filled with warnings to live in continual
readiness for our Lord's return. These men applied the parable of
Jesus about the wise and foolish virgins to the people of their age,
urging them to keep their lamps burning so they would be ready for
Jesus at His return for them. They probably didn't see the need to
develop a concept of two stages in the Lord's return because they
tended to identify the Antichrist with the Roman Empire and
sometimes thought of themselves as already in the great tribulation.
Christians down through the centuries, mindful of
the warning of Jesus that His coming would catch the world by
surprise, never felt comfortable saying that Jesus Christ could not
come at any moment. Many Christians expected Christ's return during
great natural disasters like earthquakes or tornadoes. When the
dust storms during the early 1930s caused an eerie daytime darkness
in some of our midwestern states, many Christians panicked, thinking
that the second coming was at hand.
The idea that the Lord could come at any moment
certainly did not originate with Edward Irving. In fact, it didn't
even originate with Darby. He simply tried to develop a biblical
viewpoint that would explain how the imminent-return idea could be
harmonized with the teaching of the Bible about a tribulation
*prior* to the return.
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2. THE PLYMOUTH BRETHREN WHO DEVELOPED THE TWO-STAGE
TEACHING WERE BIBLICAL SCHOLARS. The claim that Irving and
Macdonald clearly taught the two-stage second coming doctrine rests
on flimsy evidence. In fact, their writings on this subject are
confusing. While Darby and his Plymouth Brethren associates may
have picked up some ideas from Irving and Macdonald, they developed
their teaching through a careful and systematic study of the
Scriptures in the original languages. They were systematic in the
application of the Scriptures. They rejected some elements of
Irving's teachings and produced a sane and coherent doctrine of last
things. These men, like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Wesley, had
flaws and blind spots. But like them, they were also sincere men of
God who made tremendous contributions to the church in both
leadership and doctrine.
3. THE METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS TWO-STAGE RETURN
IDEA IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF OTHER DOCTRINES. The doctrines of
justification, sanctification, and God's sovereignty, though taught
by Christian leaders down through the centuries, were never as fully
developed as they were by Luther, Calvin, and Wesley. Throughout
the years of church history, the Holy Spirit has led the Lord's
people into clearer understanding of God's Word in every area of
Christian doctrine, including that of the second coming.
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In summary, the claim that we should abandon the pretribulation,
any-moment doctrine of Christ's return because of a recent and
dubious origin carries no weight. The logic that rejects a teaching
on this basis demands that we also reject Luther's teaching on
justification, Calvin's insights into God's sovereignty, and
Wesley's contributions toward an understanding of sanctification.
OBJECTION: The Rapture Is Not in Scripture.
If we are to consider ourselves people who "go by the Book,"
we have to be careful that we never support an argument by adding to
the Bible something that isn't there. One of those "somethings"
that isn't found in God's Word is the word *rapture*.
When we use this word to designate the time of Jesus' return
in the air to take His followers to heaven, though, we are not
violating Scripture. For example, the word *Trinity* doesn't appear
in the Bible, but posttribulationists don't deny its truth.
Where, then, does the term *rapture* come from? In 1
Thessalonians 4:17, Paul said that living believers will be "caught
up" with the dead in Christ to meet the Lord in the air. The Greek
word Paul used here is *harpazo*, which means "to snatch away."
When the Bible was translated into Latin, the scholars rendered
*harpazo* as *rapturo*. It is just a short step then from *rapturo*
to the English word *rapture*. Therefore, although it is true that
the word itself does not appear in our English translation of
Scripture, the sense of the word is surely there. Christians will
be snatched away when the Lord descends with a shout.
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OBJECTION: Jesus' Prophecy About Peter.
Another objection to the doctrine of imminency stems from
what Jesus told Peter, as recorded in John 21. He said, "When you
were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but
when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will
gird you and carry you where you do not wish" (v.18). This
prophecy, which we know now indicated that Peter would be arrested
and martyred, is used by some to refute the possibility of
imminency. The return of Christ could not have been imminent
because Jesus would have had to wait at least until Peter had passed
from the scene at an old age.
Age is such a relative term. Does this mean Peter would have
to be 75 before Jesus' words would be fulfilled? In the New
Testament era, lifespans were much shorter than they are now. Paul,
for example, called himself "aged" when he wrote to Philemon, and he
was probably in his fifties. Taking into account that Peter was
already in his mid-thirties when Jesus spoke those words, it would
not be very many years until he too could consider himself old.
Granted, there would have been a few years in the first
century during which anyone who knew of this prediction would have
known that Jesus' coming was not imminent, but that time was brief.
Besides, Peter was "old" by the time Paul wrote his epistles.
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NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON'T
A few years ago, David Copperfield astounded a national
television audience by making the Statue of Liberty "disappear."
Those who watched the spectacle on TV confessed bewilderment and
amazement at such a grand display of illusion. All the while, the
audience knew, and Copperfield himself agreed, it was all just a
trick. The Lady never left her pedestal.
How that illusion by this master magician pales in comparison
with what will occur when Jesus Christ appears to end this age and
usher in the day of the Lord! No mirrors, no stage hands, and no
trickery will be needed when the Savior reaches out His arms and
makes millions of people -- both living and dead -- disappear from
the earth.
Here's how Paul described the disappearance of millions into the
heavens.
BEHOLD, I TELL YOU A MYSTERY: WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP,
BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED -- IN A MOMENT, IN THE
TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. FOR THE
TRUMPET WILL SOUND, AND THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED
INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED (1 Cor. 15:51,52).
And in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 he said:
FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A
SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE
TRUMPET OF GOD. AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.
THEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP
TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE
AIR. AND THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD.
From these two passages we can learn several things about the
rapture.
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WHO WILL BE RAPTURED? Imagine the thrill of hearing the shout
of the Lord, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.
Imagine looking up and seeing Jesus with His open arms, ready to
hold you for an eternity. Imagine these things, though, only if you
are a Christian. In both of these passages, Paul is addressing
*brethren*, a term that denotes fellow believers in Jesus Christ.
Also, in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, he mentioned the "dead
in Christ" would rise first. This indicates that all people who
trusted in Jesus from the Day of Pentecost (the first time anyone
was "in Christ") until the moment of rapture -- both the living and
the dead -- would join Jesus. This is an event solely for
Christians.
WILL THIS BE A SECRET EVENT? Some Bible students refer to this
"catching up" of the church as a secret rapture. They claim that
only Christians will hear the shouts and trumpet blasts. Whether or
not this is true, this event will hardly be secret. When whole
congregations of people disappear, when employees suddenly vanish,
when vital public services are disrupted by mass absenteeism, people
will notice. So no matter how blinded the unbelieving world may be
to the events in the sky, they'll soon know that something
extraordinary has occurred.
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WHAT HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS? A quick trip to heaven is just the
beginning of the marvelous things that will happen at the rapture.
Apparently, the moment living believers are ushered into Christ's
presence, they will receive their new bodies. Paul wrote, "...but
we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at
the last trumpet .... For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
...................................................................
: "The rapture will hardly be secret. When whole congregations :
: of people disappear, when employees suddenly vanish, when :
: vital public services are disrupted by mass absenteeism, :
: people will notice." :
:..................................................................:
WHERE WILL CHRISTIANS GO? Posttribulationists teach that when
Jesus appears in the sky, believers will rise to meet Him, make a
U-turn, and descend to earth. Then Jesus will set up His earthly
kingdom. Besides the obvious strangeness of the up-and-down
scenario, this theory has another problem. It seems to contradict
John 14. After Jesus had made the Upper Room announcement that He
was departing, He reassured His disciples by telling them that His
departure was related to what He was doing for believers --
preparing an eternal dwelling place for them. Then He told them He
would be coming back to take them to that place. If Jesus does not
take us to be with Him at the rapture, then what happened to His
promise of a place in His Father's house?
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WORLD OF JOY; WORLD OF TERROR
The rapture will change everything. In addition to calling out
the world's population of Christians, it will create a new society
of people with glorified bodies far removed from the limits of
earth. No longer will this blue marble have a monopoly on the
populace. And just as earth and heaven will be composed of entirely
opposite groups of people, so they will represent totally variant
events. The two worlds will be as different as any two societies
have ever been. Let's see what will be going on in these two
divergent worlds in the years that separate the two stages of Jesus'
return.
A TIME OF JOY: AN AWARDS CEREMONY. Few scenes are as touching
and heartwarming as the awards presentations at the Olympic games.
We can all recall specific athletes and their reactions as they
received their medal and then proudly turned to gaze upon their
country's flag as the national anthem was played.
In small measure, this can help us see what will transpire
for the raptured believers at the event called the judgment seat of
Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Soon after Jesus has called His people
together with a shout and a trumpet blast, this presentation of
rewards will begin in heaven. Christians will stand before Christ
the Judge, either to be rewarded with crowns (lit. a winner's
wreath) for the good things they have done for God, or to "suffer
loss" for their failure or neglect.
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To understand what it means to "suffer loss," think again of
the Olympic athlete. The medalists earn the prize, while those who
lose must step aside with the realization that they have not gained
the reward. They are still members of their Olympic teams, of
course, but they have suffered loss.
What, then, will be God's means of judging what was worthy
of honor and what wasn't? First Corinthians 3:13-15 speaks of a
trial by fire. Any works that were done with a selfish motivation
will perish in the fire just as wood, hay, and stubble are
consumed. But those things that were done on earth with God's glory
in mind will live on. Like gold and silver, they cannot be burned.
The key elements in testing these works will be their quality and
the motivation behind them. What kind of rewards can the Christian
work toward? At least five distinct crowns are mentioned in
Scripture.
* An incorruptible crown for overcoming the old nature
(1 Cor. 9:25-27).
* A crown of rejoicing for being a soulwinner
(1 Thess. 2:19,20).
* A crown of life for enduring persecution and trials
(James 1:12; Rev. 2:10).
* A crown of righteousness for eagerly looking forward
to Christ's return (2 Tim. 4:8).
* A crown of glory for shepherding the flock of God
(1 Pet. 5:4).
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The glory of the event is only beginning when all the crowns
are handed out, for these rewards are not earned for personal gain.
When Christians receive their crowns at the judgment seat of Christ,
they will give honor to Jesus by casting them at His feet (Rev.
4:10). Imagine the scene as millions of glorified believers offer
their heavenly rewards to God for His glory!
A TIME OF TERROR: ANTICHRIST AND JUDGMENT. What a contrast
there will be between the best of times in heaven and the worst of
times on earth! Although things may at first seem to be tolerable,
after Jesus removes the Christians and the restraining power of the
Holy Spirit, the situation will deteriorate quickly. Two events
during this time will spell trouble, terror, and tragedy for those
left behind. The first -- the revealing of Antichrist -- will
precipitate the second -- the tribulation.
Referred to as the "man of sin" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3,
Antichrist will gain power as the final king of the restored Roman
Empire. Of course, a man who achieves the measure of worldwide
power that will go to Antichrist cannot do so without first conning
his fellowman into following him. How he will do this is not
exactly known, but he will probably show that he can create an
orderly society out of one that has been reeling in chaos. In
addition, he will work miraculous wonders by the power of Satan.
Yet his benevolence will soon turn to malevolence. He will fiercely
persecute and attempt to slaughter all who accept Christ and would
dare refuse his demand that he be worshiped (Rev. 6:9-11).
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Antichrist will not be the only source of suffering during
this time of tribulation. In addition, these days will be marked by
great calamity that will come as a result of God's judgment and
wrath (Joel 1:15, Rev. 11:18; 16:9). Amid this devastation will be
the death of one quarter of the world's population (Rev. 6:8),
massive earthquakes (Is. 2:19), catastrophic fires (Is. 24:1,3,6),
and sudden destruction (1 Thess. 5:3).
Near the last part of the great tribulation, Antichrist will
unwittingly begin setting the stage for an event on God's prophetic
calendar that will be the grandest event of all time -- the
revelation of Jesus Christ at His glorious return.
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THE KING IS BACK -- TO STAY!
The tensions that headline the nightly news from the Middle East
in our day do not compare with the events that will mark the final
months of action during the tribulation. As the clock winds down on
the reign of Antichrist, more and more countries will align together
against him and do battle with him in Palestine.
At the climax of those hostilities, armies of the "king of the
north" and the "king of the south" will attempt to overrun
Antichrist and his troops. Unfortunately for them and for the
people of neighboring countries in the Middle East, Antichrist will
lead his army to victory. As Daniel describes it, "...he shall
enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall
also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be
overthrown" (Dan. 11:40-41).
Yet all will not be calm in Antichrist's camp. Despite his
victories, he will hear rumors that new armies from the Orient are
ready to attack. Angrily, he will dispatch his troops to
Jerusalem. Indeed, the Eastern armies will arrive, spelling trouble
for the Jewish people. These new armies will stand against the Jews
in Jerusalem -- just as Antichrist's troops will. Here's how
Zechariah describes it:
FOR I WILL GATHER ALL THE NATIONS TO BATTLE AGAINST
JERUSALEM; THE CITY SHALL BE TAKEN, THE HOUSES RIFLED,
AND THE WOMEN RAVISHED. HALF OF THE CITY SHALL GO INTO
CAPTIVITY, BUT THE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT BE CUT
OFF FROM THE CITY (Zech. 14:2).
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The scene seems hopeless. The Jews have nowhere to turn as two
opposing armies sweep over them. There appears to be no way out for
this war-wracked people.
THE WARRIOR-KING INTERVENES. Suddenly, the scene will change.
The heavens will open and Jesus will return. He is portrayed as
clothed in a robe dipped in blood and riding on a white horse as He
appears in the air to send his white-clothed army against the armies
of Antichrist (Rev. 19:11-21). Victory will be swift and complete
as the beast is captured and banished to the lake of fire, and his
army is soundly defeated.
This, then, is the second coming of Jesus Christ. The King
of the universe, who had appeared in the air just a few years
before, will have come back to end the tribulation and to establish
His millennial kingdom on earth.
THE JUDGE-KING HOLDS COURT. Among Jesus' first duties as He
prepares to set up His 1,000-year reign is to sit in judgment on
several groups of people. Remember that He will have already judged
many when He distributed rewards to the raptured saints after they
were taken up to heaven. But now there are new people to examine.
In the first days after our Lord's return to earth, He will judge
three groups:
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1. Resurrected believers from before Pentecost, along
with martyred tribulation saints (Dan. 12:1-3).
2. Jews who had gone through the tribulation (Ezek.
20:33-44). Some will be allowed to become citizens
of the kingdom and some will be cast into Hades. Their
destination will depend on whether they chose to accept
Christ or to follow Antichrist and his revolt.
3. Gentiles (Matt. 25). What Jesus will do with Gentiles
who endured the tribulation will depend on how they
treated Christ's "brethren" during those devastating
years. Those who showed kindness to them showed their
love for Jesus, so they will enter the kingdom. The
rest will be "cast away" either because they worshipped
Antichrist or because they mistreated Jews or both.
THE CREATOR-KING RE-CREATES. Shortly after Jesus' glorious
return, He will transform this age-old earth, reversing some of the
fallout from the curse of the Garden of Eden. These changes will
allow the inhabitants of earth to enjoy a time of prosperity and
happiness unparalleled in human history. His re-creation will be
marked by:
Increased Productivity. Isaiah said that "the desert shall
rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom
abundantly" (Is. 35:1,2). Evidently, new areas of land
will be made fruitful, and this new source of usable
land will lead to a time of great prosperity. Even the
fishing will improve (Ezek. 47:9).
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Better Weather. Notice again the words of Isaiah, who wrote,
"Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you
sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth;
it will be fat and plenteous" (Is. 30:23). Jesus' trans-
forming work will include changes in the climate of the
earth. The sun will be more radiant, and even the moon
will shine brighter (v.26).
Peaceful Coexistence of Animals. "The wolf also shall dwell
with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young
goat, the calf and the young lion and fatling together"
(Is. 11:6,7). Although we don't know how this will
affect such things as the food chain among animals, we
can be assured that His plans for this time will surely
cause our lives to be more enjoyable.
THE RULER-KING REIGNS. The millennial kingdom of our Lord Jesus
Christ will not be a democracy. Rather it will be a benevolent
dictatorship. Another way of describing it would be to call it a
theocracy --- a government led by God. As ruler of the earth during
this time, Jesus will be a king who will "reign and prosper, and
execute judgment and righteousness in the earth" (Jer. 23:5).
As King, Jesus will do what no other leader in history has
been able to do. He will govern with absolute authority,
righteousness, and justice. Finally, after so many failures on the
part of mankind, a utopian world will have arrived. Jesus will rule
as we have always desired leaders to rule.
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HELPING YOU HELP OTHERS
As you study the second coming with others, try using these
questions as discussion starters. You'll find that digging into the
Word will create a hunger for clear teaching and analysis of the
topic.
Evidence for an Any-Moment Return
1. What biblical evidence suggests that Christ's return will
be in two phases?
2. Why is the distinction between Israel and the church basic
to understanding prophecy?
3. How can the following conflict be resolved? The Bible
teaches that many dramatic events will precede the Lord's
second coming, but it also predicts that Christ will come
unexpectedly.
4. Why is it so important for us to live with the expectation
that Christ could return at any moment?
(2 Pet. 3:10-14; 1 John 2:28-3:3).
Characteristics of the Rapture
1. List as many characteristics as you can about the rapture of
the church.
2. According to 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, what is in store for
Christians who will be raptured?
3. How does Jesus' promise in John 14:1-3 that He would go to
prepare a place for His followers fit into the rapture
picture?
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CHRIST'S RETURN AND YOU
Richard De Haan likes to tell a story on himself that pictures
the readiness Christians should have when they think of the rapture
of the church. When Richard and Marvin were still living at home,
their parents, Dr. and Mrs. M.R. De Haan would often have to go out
of town for speaking engagements. The boys enjoyed the independence
of being left alone -- except for one thing. They hated doing the
dishes.
On one such occasion, they put off sticking their hands in soapy
dishwater as long as possible. They stacked the grimy plates,
glasses, and silverware in the oven after each meal. Soon all the
dishes were dirty and all the spare space was filled. Then, on the
night before their parents were to return, Richard and Marvin rolled
up their sleeves and had a marathon dishwashing session. Although
the young DeHaans never got caught with their dishes dirty, Richard
has commented, "How ashamed we would have been if our parents had
come back earlier than we expected!"
The imminent return of our Lord Jesus should lead us to a
similar sentiment. How ashamed we would be if He came back and we
weren't expecting Him. Unike our illustration, we do not know
exactly when Jesus will return in the air to take His people to be
with Him. As a result, we should live in a continual state of
expectancy. We shouldn't be stacking our "dirty dishes" all over;
we should constantly keep our lives clean and in line with what God
expects from us.
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That's not the only part of our lives that should be affected by
the hope of an any-moment return of our Lord. In addition, we
should have a sense of urgency toward those who don't know Jesus.
All too often we live as if we have all the time in the world to
convey the message of salvation, when in reality we don't even know
if we will have the rest of the day to do so. The prospect of lost
opportunities to share the gospel should propel us into a deeper
concern for the lost.
...................................................................
: "Temporal goals lose some of their importance when we :
: realize that we might not have as much time as we thought :
: to accomplish things of eternal value." :
:..................................................................:
Let's look at it another way. Suppose you knew exactly when
Jesus would come back. You would probably have a "To Do" list that
would fill pages:
* Write letters
* Make phone calls
* Pay back money owed
* Apologize for wrongs done
* Tell neighbors about Jesus
* Pray for unsaved family members
* Spend more time reaching out to the lost
And on and on the list would go. More than anything else, we
would want to get everything squared away before the big day that
was coming closer every second. Although we would be secure in our
salvation, we would want to do all we could to further the Lord's
work in the time we had remaining.
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The fact that we don't know the day and time of Jesus' return,
though, shouldn't deter us from doing exactly that. We may not have
the assurance that we can accomplish everything on that "To Do"
list, but we should have those kinds of goals -- perhaps with more
urgency. Temporal goals lose some of their importance when we
realize that we might not have as much time as we thought to
accomplish things of eternal value.
There is another, even more important, consideration. Everyone
who knows that Jesus Christ could come back at any moment must do
some serious thinking. Beyond making lists of good things that need
to be done, each person must make sure that he knows Jesus Christ as
personal Savior. That is the single most important commitment any
man, woman, or child could ever make.
After Jesus returns for His own, those who have never accepted
Him will be left behind to face a time of trouble and difficulty
this world has never before seen. God's wrath will be poured out
over the face of the earth. Death, destruction, deceit and danger
will reign. It's a prospect that should cause every thinking person
to consider seriously the claims of Jesus Christ.
Yes, Jesus is coming back. Perhaps He will come today. Are you
ready? If not, you can be. Without another second's delay, pray
something like this: "Lord Jesus, I admit that I'm a sinner. I
believe the Bible and what it says about You. Realizing that You
gave Your life for me, that You died for my sins and arose from the
dead, I am trusting You and You alone for my salvation."
That is the first and most important step in getting ready for
His return, a return that may be today!
- The End -
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version, (c) 1979,
1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
"What Can We Know About The Second Coming" by Martin De Hann II
Copyright 1988 Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Used by Permission.
---
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