THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
by Ron Wood
Y2K scare; "Left Behind" books, 61% Americans believe it, 1900 Pentecostal outpouring and global missions thrust, 1948 restoration of Israel, the renewal of gifts and offices (Elijah- Matthew 17:11, Acts 3:21), 1830- Darby, Scofield Bible, Late Great Planet Earth- 32 million copies sold, dogmatic doctrines, date-setting always fails, distractions from primary purpose.
I. Our starting point: Acts 1:11 Jesus is coming again! All orthodox church doctrine agrees.
What did the angel mean "in the same manner?" 1. Literal, 2. Visible, 3. In the clouds
II. Different schools of Eschatology (define) descend from different theological assumptions.
1. The way we interpret Scripture (literal, figurative?)
2. Dispensational versus Kingdom (the church a "parenthesis" until Israel is saved)
3. Major Divisions: A. Pre-millennial (Hal Lindsay, Tim LaHaye, John Walvoord)
B. Post-millennial (Reformed Theology, Loraine Boettner)
C. A-millennial (The Catholic Church, John Calvin, Jay Adams)
III. Three major ways to interpret the Book of Revelation
1. Preterist- This book (if written at an early date) is a prophetic warning of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, ten waves of persecution and subsequent judgment on Rome, therefore we are now in the millennium which corresponds to the Church Age.
2. Historical- This is symbolic history that has been and is now being worked out.
3. Futurist- Everything written has yet to occur. (Problem: see Rev. 1:19)
IV. Divisions occur over the timing of the period called The Great Tribulation.
1. Historical- AD 70; Nero was the anti-Christ. "Days of vengeance" (see Luke 21.22)
2. Future- The Tribulation will yet occur prior to a literal millennium.
Problems this can produce: Escapism, defeatism, short-timers mentality
3. Historical Premillennial Some past and some future (Israel, then global; see Ladd)
V. Arguments occur over the timing of The Rapture. (see 1 Thess 4:13-5:11) (pre, mid, post-trib) Rapture is a word not found in the Bible. It means "caught up."1. Is it secret? (vs. 16) 2. Will we be rescued from trouble? 3. Where do we go afterward?
VI. What Jesus said about His return: John 14:3-"I will come again and receive you unto Myself..." John 5:25-29- There will be two resurrections: The dead; Those in the graves.
VII. What Jesus did NOT say: 1) He did not say the Temple would be rebuilt nor Judaism’s sacrificial system restored. (This was not His emphasis.) 2) Neither He nor the Apostles emphasized the second coming in their preaching, but rather establishing the "present-and-future" Kingdom." Ex- see Mark 1:15. (George Eldon Ladd- "The Presence of the Future")
VIII. There were two major addresses by Jesus about the end times. Both came as He answered direct questions posed by His inner circle of disciples:
1. Matthew 24-25- The Olivet Discourse. He was asked two questions:
1) When will the Temple be destroyed? (Luke 21:20)
2) What will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age? (Matt. 24:14)
2. Matthew 13- The Parable of the Sower. Jesus Himself interpreted the meaning of this parable as He gave definitions to the terms: wheat, tares, harvest, angels (13:37-43) and said there would be a simultaneous gathering in and gathering out.
IX. Questions: In the parable of the dragnet (13:47-50, Who was left behind?(Other"Sortings" - Noah and those outside the Ark; Virgins with oil and without; Sheep and the goats; Rev. 21:8.)
1. Is it heresy to have a differing opinion about the Return of Christ? Does it matter? Why?
2. Is the kingdom a present reality or does it await a future fulfillment? (Daniel 2:44)
3. What are we to do until He returns? 1 Thess. 3:12-13; Luke 21:34-36; Matthew 28:18-20.
© 2001 Ron Wood, Touched by Grace, Inc.
ron@touchedbygrace.org
