What do we Know about the Second Coming of Christ

What exercise we Know about the Second Coming of Christ

"The Second Coming" refers to the return of Jesus Christ as described in Revelation, Hebrews, the Gospels, and many other places.

The first time Jesus came to earth, He was only a infant. Subsequently His ministry on earth, crucifixion, and resurrection He returned to Heaven "to fix a place" for His followers (John 14:iii). He likewise promises His return (ane Corinthians 15:23), in which the outset resurrection occurs, He brings His followers to heaven with Him, and sin and Satan will exist destroyed forever.

The Second Coming is something to hope for. Information technology is a literal event, a personal run into, a visible experience, and a worldwide occasion. It's the culmination of the plan of salvation!

Then let's learn more than about this decidedly wonderful event:

  • What the Second Coming will be similar
  • When will the Second Coming happen?
  • Biblical prophecies about the Second Coming
  • How the Second Coming is the ultimate hope of Adventists
  • How the truth nigh the 2nd Coming helped shape the Adventist denomination
  • How to prepare for the Second Coming

Belief 25: The Second Coming of Christ

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour'south coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous expressionless will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to sky, but the unrighteous will dice. The about complete fulfillment of virtually lines of prophecy, together with the present status of the world, indicates that Christ'southward coming is nigh. The fourth dimension of that event has non been revealed, and nosotros are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Matt. 24; Marking thirteen; Luke 21; John fourteen:one-3; Acts i:9-eleven; i Cor. xv:51-54; 1 Thess. iv:13-18; 5:i-6; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:eight; ii Tim. iii:1-5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:seven; 14:14-20; nineteen:eleven-21.)

A person standing on the top of a boulder looking at the cloudy sky with their arms outstretched, waiting for Jesus' return

What Will the 2d Coming Be Similar?

Literal

The 2d Coming is not a cloak-and-dagger for only the well-nigh educated, or a prize for the rich. It's non metaphorical or symbolic, or only happening on a spiritual aeroplane, as once believed by many Christian communities. Information technology is and will be a literal issue described in Scripture.

  • Jesus will descend on a cloud.
  • The righteous expressionless will rise from their graves and upward to the cloud with Jesus.
  • The righteous living volition ascent up to the clouds with Jesus and "e'er be with the Lord" (one Thessalonians four:13-17 ESV).

Adventists believe this in its straightforward terms. Jesus volition render on a cloud, staying in the sky. He will not set foot on the ground. The expressionless in Christ volition ascent upward with Him, and those living volition soon follow, every bit we're all "defenseless upward together" in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

"When Christ who is your life appears, so you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians iii:four, ESV).

Acts 1:eleven, when an angel was addressing Jesus' disciples after they witnessed His ascension, also confirms the visible way of His return.  He will "come in the same manner equally you saw Him become into heaven" (ESV).

Personal

Jesus' return is about reuniting Himself with us. In John 14 He informed His disciples He was ascending back to sky, just He would be preparing a place for us. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come up again and will take yous to myself, that where I am you may exist also" (John fourteen:iii ESV).

Not only will we be called up to the clouds with Jesus, but we'll be with Him forever. Philippians 3:20 tells u.s.a. that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from information technology we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (ESV).

Even if someone hasn't yet made the decision to follow Jesus, He is always ready for us to come up to Him so He can bring equally many of His children with Him to sky equally possible..

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my vox and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Close-up of a man's eyes as the Scripture says that every eye will see Him coming on clouds of heaven

Visible

Revelation 1:seven says "every middle shall encounter Him" (ESV). We volition non have to guess or wonder if this is really Jesus or not. No thing where nosotros are, nosotros'll exist able to "come across the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great celebrity" (Matthew 24:thirty, ESV).

Before His crucifixion, Jesus told the high priest, "from at present on you will come across the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Ability and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64 ESV).

Jesus will exist visible to all—those who hurt Him, those who cull to believe in Him, and those who don't. The Second Coming will not be something anyone can miss!

Worldwide

Through the Bible we can meet the Second Coming is non only a literal event, but a global effect. Just equally referenced in the section above, "every eye will see Him"—no matter the time zone, continent, etc.

It's hard to imagine something similar this, but with God nothing is impossible. We're told, "For as the lightning flashes and lights up the heaven from ane side to the other, so will the Son of Human be in His twenty-four hours…" (Luke 17:22, ESV).

We will also exist able to hear the trumpet calls and victory shouts of the Angels who will accompany Jesus when He returns.

A young woman sitting on a dock reading as we study the Word of God about the signs of Jesus' soon return

No one knows "the Twenty-four hour period or the Hour" of the Second Coming

Though Jesus was clear that He would render, He also explained that the details for when information technology would happen are non ours to know.

But concerning that solar day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36 ESV).

Not fifty-fifty the angels know the day Jesus will render.

This is similar to how Noah knew the rain would come, but non the exact moment it would begin. God warned Noah that He would ship a overflowing to destroy the abuse on earth (Genesis 6). Noah knew the rain would come, but did not know when it would begin. Like the inundation in Genesis, no animal in beingness will know when Christ will return, just we know He volition.

Throughout His ministry building, Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for His divergence (crucifixion, resurrection, and rise) too as His 2nd coming. To prepare them, Jesus used parables for lessons and examples.

Then the kingdom of sky will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1 ESV).

In the story Jesus tells, there are five virgins who are wise and v who are foolish. All ten assemble to expect for the bridegroom to arrive so they can enter the hymeneals feast. The wise bring extra oil for their lamps, and the foolish bring none.

Before the bridegroom arrived, those who brought no oil for their lamps had to become buy more. While they were gone, the benedict came. The wise virgins got to go into the wedding feast. When the five foolish virgins returned they could non become in (v. 1-12 ESV).

Jesus finishes His warning by telling them "scout therefore, for you know neither the mean solar day nor the 60 minutes" (5. 13 ESV).

It is not for us to know, because our chore is not to focus on "when" it's happening. Our chore is to keep our eyes on Jesus, take the Slap-up Committee to heart, and live as a walking testimony—knowing that Jesus will indeed come to save united states, and put an end to sin and evil forever.

And Jesus answered them, "See that no i leads yous astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray (Matthew 24:four, five ESV).

No one knows when the events of the second coming volition occur–no one just God the Father. This means anyone who claims to know is either mistaken or seeking to manipulate.

The Bible open to the book of Revelation on a black table as it mentions of many end time prophecies and of Jesus' return

Bible Prophecies Proclaim Christ's Second Coming

The book of Revelation in the Bible proclaims Jesus' second coming in the first chapter.

The author of Revelation, John, writes of his vision of Christ'south return. He says "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye volition see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him" (v. 7 ESV).

In Revelation 14, he recounts other images from his vision

John included in this vision the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000, a number to stand for those believers who stand with Jesus at the stop of time on earth (five. one).

This vision continues until John sees Jesus on a white cloud. On a cloud, He descends to globe with a sickle in His hand and He "swung his sickle across the world, and the earth was reaped" (five. sixteen ESV).

In vivid give-and-take pictures and poetry, the Bible tells of the triumphant coming of Christ in Revelation chapter 19.

John says,

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The i sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war" (v.xi)

The heavens will open up similar a crowd departing for royalty and Christ will appear on a white horse, equally a acquisition king. He brings heavenly armies with Him and will keep His promise to redeem and to judge.

"His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself" (v. 12).

Jesus' eyes pierce through to our hearts where we can hide nothing from Him. He doesn't wear i crown, but many, as He is the Male monarch of Kings.

"He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God" (v. thirteen).

Jesus' victory is displayed on His garment. While some believe the claret on His robe is the blood of His enemies, it is more probable the claret represents His victory at calvary.

"And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses" (five. fourteen).

When Jesus comes, He will lead an army of heavenly beings, also riding white horses and wearing make clean, pure white robes.

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he volition dominion them with a rod of fe. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty" (v.xv).

Jesus' victory over the nations comes from His rima oris, from the power of His words. With His voice and with a rod of fe, equally prophesied in Psalm 2. He will wield the rod as a shepherd uses a staff, merely it will be made of iron so that even the about rebellious will submit.

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, Rex of kings and Lord of lords" (v. 16).

The name, King of kings and Lord of Lords is written on Jesus' robe as well as His thigh, and so it volition be easily seen from His place on the white horse.

The Bible open to Revelation as we study various prophecies mentioned in it and of Jesus' soon return

Symbolism in Revelation

At that place's a lot going on in Revelation, much of it described in symbolism considering nosotros accept no frame of reference yet for the things that volition happen. Nosotros know the symbolism and prophecies are modes of telling the about of import truth and hope for humanity.

The gospel, that is Jesus' death on the cross and His promised Second Coming, is a beacon of low-cal in a darkened world. Revelation is viewed past many equally mysterious and scary, simply it'due south really a story of hope and dear.

In the showtime poesy of the get-go chapter of Revelation nosotros're told: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must shortly take place."

Revelation is not almost the end of the world, only rather information technology is the climax of the entire story of existence. It is the transformation from death to life, from tribulation to peace. And Jesus and His love for humanity make up the theme for all of it .

A woman reading a book outside as we learn the meanings of the symbols used in prophecies and let Bible interpret itself

The Second Coming is the Hope of Adventists

The second coming is so of import to Seventh-twenty-four hour period Adventists that it's office of the name—The discussion Advent ways "inflow."

Jesus first came to earth as a baby in a manger over 2000 years agone. This is the first Advent, and it's why Christmas calendars are often called "Advent Calendars." The second appearance, the second coming, is not merely the hope of Adventists, simply of all Christians. We accept this hope because Jesus promises His return.

Near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, during the last night with His disciples, He told them

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's firm are many rooms. If it were not and so, would I accept told you that I become to set a place for you? And if I go and set a place for you, I will come once more and volition take you to myself, that where I am y'all may be besides" (John fourteen:two ESV).

Christ's 2nd coming is a promise from the Bible. It will be the triumphant return of a rex. It is the blest promise of Adventists that Christ's hereafter return will exist the climax to our story on earth. It is not the end, but the beginning of how life was meant to exist all along. With Christ'south coming, our existence will exist perfect and complete.

Bible Group Reading Together Sitting Down Listening To Each Other and studying about the prophecies of Jesus' return

Christ's Return equally a Key Topic in Adventist History

Earlier the Advent motility became a global church, about churches believed the 2d coming would exist a spiritual or figurative event. Information technology likely wasn't even discussed very often.

Nevertheless, soon later the Second Neat Awakening in the United States, a Baptist named William Miller decided to report scripture more deeply after returning abode from war. Through his report of Daniel and Revelation, Miller discovered that Christ's second coming must exist a literal event.

This was a big deal. It changed the fashion Christians could wait at the nowadays and the future. Then Miller kept studying and sharing what he establish.

However, at that place was one issue with Miller's bulletin. He also predicted the exact date of Christ'due south return—somehow missing the counsel of Matthew 24:36 that "no one knows the day or the hour" of this consequence, "not even the angels in sky," but merely the Male parent.

Even though it became clear Miller's prediction was incorrect, many people decided to exercise farther study to find out where he went incorrect. Every bit more and more people realized new truths from Scripture about the 2nd Coming, this began the "Advent Motility" that eventually paved the way toward the organisation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In a way, Miller's fault led to a revival of personal and small group devotion amidst believers. Many of the Seventh-day Adventist behavior were discovered later on in-depth studies following this time. And as Christians learned more than about scripture and God's truth, they were more motivated to follow the Word and continue studying information technology.

A woman praying with her Bible at a table as we pray that God will help us to understand the prophecies in the Bible

How to Ready for the 2d Coming

Like the ten virgins in Jesus' parable, we must exist prepared for the bridegroom's coming. Nosotros are all sinners and demand Him. It's through Jesus Christ alone that we may enter the "wedding banquet" (heaven).

It's through Jesus that we prepare for His coming, and as long as we accept a human relationship with Him, we volition be ready. We won't lose our spot in heaven if we make a trivial error. We won't demand to fright the end of time. We can rest assured knowing our dwelling is in heaven, despite our sinful nature.

Scripture tells us "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans iii:23). That ways every one of us has sinned and doesn't deserve heaven.

Considering of the fall of mankind in Eden, we are left with a legacy of sin. Through Jesus Christ we are saved from the consequences of sin. That's why Romans 3 continues, telling us we are "justified freely past His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (vs. 24, CSB).

Additionally, Romans 6:23 says,

" For the wages of sin is death, merely the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (ESV).

Jesus took that death upon Himself, dying in our identify and being raised again to return to sky to minister on our behalf.

Nosotros have the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. To prepare for that life is to prepare for His coming. To ready we must believe in Him (John 3:16). Nosotros must know Him.

A person holding a Bible outside as we live daily by the Word of God and prepare ourselves to meet Jesus when He returns

To know Jesus and abound our faith in Him, we must cultivate a relationship with Him. Some things to aid the states exercise that could be:

  • Pray daily–throughout the twenty-four hour period. Pray for others. Pray as a family unit. Pray in the proper name of Jesus who intervenes for you in heaven.
  • Study your Bible. Read the Bible daily so that you tin meditate on God'south Holy Word. Utilise scriptures and Bible promises in your personal prayer life. Memorize scripture and describe connections with your modern life and experiences.
  • Listen to sermons and teachers. Use free online platforms to listen to uplifting messages and Bible lectures. Find trusted mentors to teach yous deep Bible truths.
  • Attend church building. Discover a local congregation that is filled with Bible-believers. Develop relationships with like-minded Christians who volition help you in your walk with God.
  • Limit exposure to worldly things. No 1 knows better than y'all how secular activities and experiences affect yous. Maintain caution and limit exposure to things that tempt you or hinder your relationship with God.

To grow our faith in Jesus and our human relationship with Him, prayer and personal Bible study are extremely important. Bible study and prayer through the Holy Spirit is our direct connection to the Savior nosotros're waiting for. It is the all-time way to set for His soon coming. Walking this journey with other believers is a crucial role of the experience.

Yeah, this globe is in chaos. Political and social unrest is imminent. Sin runs rampant. Physical and mental health is suffering effectually the earth. But with all this working confronting united states of america, we even so accept hope.

This world is not what God intended, but Jesus' render will be the end of this world as we know it. His return will be the outset step in restoring this earth into the perfect earth it was e'er meant to be.

The Advent movement began because of hope in Christ's return. Now the 7th-mean solar day Adventist Church building rests its promise in Christ lonely, in His promises, and in His render.