Christ's Second Coming - in two parts

Two Parts of Jesus’ Second Coming

I Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come…

Introduction:

God has spoken in His word about two times that Jesus Christ would come to earth. The first coming on earth was for His earthly birth, His life for about 33 years, and His death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection and ascension back to heaven. The Bible has about 300 references to this coming. His second coming has even more references, but appears to be divided into two parts: first, He is coming for His saints, and second, He is coming with His saints. The apostle Paul gives us information about both parts of His second coming. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul describes some details about His first part of coming for his saints. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul describes Christ’s return to the earth seven years later with the saints at the battle of Armageddon.

The second coming Part 1 – Jesus coming for his saints.

1.     Jesus promised His disciples the night of his betrayal: John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye shall be also.

2.     An angel promised that Jesus would return again at His ascension: Acts 1:11 which (two “men” in white, almost certainly angels) said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

3.     The resurrection of the saints: Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

4.     How will we come?

a.     I Thess. 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead in Christ), that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and appear unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall arise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b.     I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Of course, our current body is not able to handle travel to heaven. Our bodies require oxygen and warmth, and even gravity to function properly. Even astronauts cannot survive outside a spaceship without a special space suit. We will need a new body to be able to travel to heaven and move freely here on earth. Also notice that here on earth at the rapture, some will be working outside and others sleeping at night at the same time as you would expect since our earth is a globe. 

The second coming of Christ – Part 2 Christ coming with his saints

As we have seen in a previous lesson, when Jesus comes with his saints, we will be caught up into the air to be with Him forever. Our works will be judged, purged from sin and self-willed service, and we will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. And we will be changed to resemble Him.

1.     1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we know that we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

2.     We shall return with him as glorified saints: Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war….14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean…

3.     II Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day…

a.     The Lord will be revealed from heaven with his angels

b.     He will take vengeance on a Christ-rejecting world

c.     He will be glorified in his saints

d.     He will destroy satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet: 

                i.     Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

                ii.     Revelation 20:10 And the devil which deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

What should we do?

We should look for the coming of the Lord Jesus. We should prepare ourselves by serving the Lord. Jesus gives us parables of those who were rewarded when the master found them actively serving him and watching for his return. We should purify ourselves – that is, we should leave any sinful lifestyle, confessing and abandoning sins and coming with confession to the Lord for cleansing.