The Second Coming: Any Certainty?

     The student was befuddled when his professor spoke about the pre-millennial view, and the pre-trib rapture, and the mid-trib, and the post-trib; and finally he was in despair.
     He folded his arms, sat down, and said, "I.A.K.".
     And the professor said, "What does that mean?"
     The student said, "That means I am confused."
     The professor said, "Confused doesn't start with a 'K'".
     The student replied, "You don't know how confused I am."

There is so much confusion and difference of opinion about Christ's Second Coming. The BEAST in the book of Revelation (Revelation 13:11-18) is the Roman emperor Nero. No, it's the Roman Catholic pope. No, it's a immense computer in Europe containing the names and identification numbers of everyone in the Western world.

Is there anything that Christians can agree on?

Absolutely! Here are the things we can be certain about . . .

The Certainty of Christ's Return

Christ's own witness:

Before His resurrection Jesus said, "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matthew 16:27).

After His resurrection: Jesus said, "Only hold on to what you have until I come... I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Revelation 2:25; 3:11).

Angels' witness:

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11).

The Apostle's witness:

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till 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. 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:4).

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near (James 5:7-8).

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28).

The apostles believed in a literal, physical second coming.

The witness of the New Testament Church:

Maranatha (found in 1 Corinthians 16:22 and Revelation 22:20) was a common Aramaic phrase in the early church (like our "alleluia" or "amen." Maran/atha or Marana/tha means "Our Lord come!"

The New Testament as a whole:

At least one out of every 13 verses deals with some aspect of the second coming of Christ. There are only three New Testament books which don't mention something about his coming: Philemon, 2 John, and 3 John.

The Significance of Christ's Return

Significance to Christ himself:
- Victory over His enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
- Will receive glory (2 Thessalonians 1:10; Matthew 25:31).
- Will receive His Bride (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:2,9ff).
- Christ will judge:
  - The wicked (Revelation 20:11-15).
  - Christians too (Matthew 16:27; Romans 14:10-12) -- we are not saved by deeds, but judged by deeds.
- Christ will reign (Matthew 19:28).
Significance to Christ's holy ones:
- New bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55; Philippians 3:21).
- No pain (Revelation 21:4).
- No sin (Ephesians 5:27).
- Reunion with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
- We shall be like Him (1 John 3:2).
- Rewarded for faithfulness (1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 4:2-5).
- Judgment (Romans 14:10-12).
- Glory (Romans 8:18).
Significance as it relates to the wicked:
- Rebellion shall be put down (Psalms 2:1-9; Revelation 19:19-21).
- Separated from Christians (Matthew 25:32-46).
- Judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
  
  Hell is a hard concept to believe. In one survey done in the state of Minnesota it was discovered that only one person in 25 believes he or she deserves to go to hell. However, the survey also discovered that the ratio decreased dramatically when Minnesotans were asked if they knew of someone else who deserved hell. One out of five were convinced that they knew someone else who was a sure bet to go!
- Loss of all they value (Psalms 49:17; 1 Timothy 6:7; James 5:1-8).
  
  C.S. Lewis said, "All that is not eternal is eternally useless." All eternally useless things will be lost.
Significance to creation:
- Will be purified (2 Peter 3:10-13).
- Will be restored to an even greater glory than creation (Romans 8:19-21; Revelation 21:1).

Conclusion

These are the great certainties of Scripture about which there is little or no debate among Bible believing Christians. What do these certainties practically mean to us?

They should excite us. We're on the winning team with the winning prizes.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Are you excited about His coming? Are you eager to see Him?
They should stimulate us to witness.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."... But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:3-4,8-9).

Are you sharing Christ with others, so that they can rejoice at His coming?
They should warn us against sleeping and drunkenness.

You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night (1 Thessalonians 5:2-7).

Are you asleep today? Are you intoxicated with the perishable things of this world?

Dr. Warren Wiersbe tells about the time when as a young preacher he preached a sermon on the second coming in which he tried to explain every detail. That sermon outline got put in a file and today he never looks at it unless he needs a dose of humility. Another pastor who sat through that message said to him at the time, "You sound like you're on the planning committee for the return of Christ." Wiersbe understood what he meant, but the older man reinforced his point by going on to say, "Personally, I've transferred from the program committee to the welcoming committee."

Dr. Wiersbe was not suggesting that we never study Bible prophecy but that we not get out of balance in promoting our interpretations. The practical application of the prophetic Scriptures is that our hope in His coming ought to encourage us to be faithful today in whatever responsibilities God has given us.