CHRIST'S
SECOND COMING
Definition: There are two (2) separate, but related, events in the
promised return of Christ: the Rapture; the Revelation.
I. The Rapture is Christ's return "in the air for His saints,
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
A. The New Testament explains the reasons for the Rapture:
1. To resurrect the "dead in Christ", 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1
Corinthians 15:22,23;51-57; Philippians 3:11; 20,21; Revelation 20:4-6.
2. To receive the saved to Himself, John 14:1-3; 2
Thessalonians 2:1.
3. To make the bodies of the saved to be immortal and incorruptible
1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians
3:20,21; 1 John 3:2.
4. To reward the saved at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 1
Corinthians 3:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:3,4.
5. To remove the hindrance to the coming of the Anti-Christ, 2
Thessalonians 2:1-8,
6. To cause the saved to escape the Great Tribulation, Luke
21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
B. The New Testament describes those who shall be raptured. The
relationship to Christ as Savior and Lord is essential:
1. Be "Christ's", 1 Corinthians 15:23; Galatians 5:24.
2. Experiencing reality of John 14: 1-6,
3. Be "in Christ" 2 Corinthians 5:17,
4. Be in the exalted "Body of Christ", 1 Corinthians 12:13;
Ephesians 1: 22,23
C. The New Testament details the divisions of Rapture in the First
Resurrection:
1. The Initial Rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:11
2. The Rapture of the 2 Witnesses, Revelation 11:12,
3. The Rapture of the Tribulation saints, Revelation 7:8-17
D. The New Testament details many spiritual benefits in the Rapture:
1. Present effort for purity of life, 1 John 3:2,3,
2. Patience increased, James 5:7,8,
3. Flesh mortified, Colossians 3: 4,5,
4. Holy life sought, 2 Peter 3:11,
5. Hope is strengthened, 1 Peter 1:7.
E. The New Testament gives no time schedule for the Rapture, Acts
1:7.
F. The New Testament details some facts about the manner of the Rapture,
Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
****** In summary, the Rapture BLESSES God's people!
II. The Bible details information about the Revelation of Christ,
the Second
Coming of Christ to the Earth with His saints .
A. Four important details of the Second Coming are revealed:
1. Christ will stand on Mt. Olivet, Acts 1:11; Zechariah
14:4;Job 19:25
2. Christ will come with power, glory, Matthew 24:30; 1 Peter
1:7; 4:13,
3: Christ will return with His saints, Deuteronomy 33:2;1
Thessalonians 3:13; Jude 14,
4. Every eye will see Him, Revelation 1:7.
B. Many important effects of the Second Coming are revealed:
1. Christ will destroy Anti-Christ, 2 Thessalonians 2:8,
2. Christ will sit on David's throne, Matthew 25:31; Revelation
5:13; Isaiah 9:6-7; Ezekiel 21:25-27; Daniel 7:13-14,
3. Christ will judge the nations, Matthew 25:32,
4. Christ will rule with the saints, Daniel 7:18,22;
Revelation 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:12; Romans 8:17; Revelation 3:21; 1 Corinthians
6:2,
5. Christ will reign over kings and nations, Psalm 72:11;
Isaiah 49:6-7; Revelation 15:4; Zechariah 9:10; Revelation 11:15,
6. Christ's throne will be in Jerusalem, Jeremiah 3:17; Isaiah
33:20,21,
7. The 12 Apostles will rule the 12 tribes, Matthew 19:28; Luke
22:28-30,
8. Christ will bless the fruit of the land, Isaiah 35:1,2;
32:15,
C. Many present and important benefits of the doctrine of the Second
Coming are revealed:
1. Promotes watchfulness, Matthew 24:42-44; Mark 13:32-37; Luke
12:35-38; Luke 17:24-30; Revelation 16:15,
2. Promotes sobriety, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6; 1Peter 1:3;
3. Promotes repentance, Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 3:3,
4. Promotes fidelity Matthew 25:19-21; Luke 12:42-44,
5. Promotes patience, Hebrews 10:36-37; James 5:7-8
6. Promotes purity, 1 John 3:2,3,
7. Preserves in persecution, 1 Peter 4:13; 1:7.
D. Several signs that are seldom dispute of the nearness of the Second
Coming:
1. Great increase in world travel and information, Daniel 12:4,
2. Social conditions increase in peril, 2 Timothy 3:4,
3. Anti-biblical spiritualism become general, 1 Timothy 4:1,
4. Increasing apostasy among believers, 2 Thessalonians 2:3,
5. Development of One World philosophy and religion, Revelation
14:12,
6. Global evangelistic efforts, Matthew 24:14
7. Increase in anti-Semitism, Matthew 13:28,
8. Increase in natural disasters, Luke 21:11.
E. Increased emphasis upon faithful waiting with a sense of the
immanency of the Second Coming:
1. Gives comfort, John 14:2,3,
2. Promotes stewardship of gifts, 1 Corinthians 1:7,
3. Promises glorious body, Philippines 3:20,21,
4. Turns from idols, 1 Thessalonians 1;9,10,
5. Empowers our present life, Titus 2:13,
6. Builds patience, James 5:8,9.
7. Cherishes promise, Revelation 22:20,21.
Textbook Reading
Assignment:
Revelation Simplified, by R.G. Witty, Ph.D., is a practical and easy to
understand guide to the events associated with the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ as taught in the final Book of the Bible. Click
HERE to
download and read this book.
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