Episode 37: Second coming of Christ: Why, How and When

Let's delve into the biblical promises of Christ's return, the signs that signal its nearness, and the importance of being prepared for the second coming. Explore the transformative power of this hope and how it motivates us to live lives of faith and service. Jesus is coming soon!

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 Why, How and When: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The Second Coming of Christ will be an awesome, super-glorious, worldwide event. It’s the culmination of what Jesus did as a carpenter, working, healing and serving, as a Lamb, dying on the cross, as a Priest, ministering in the Heavenly Sanctuary, our Lawyer, defending us before the tribunal of God and His return as a King of Kings and Lord of Lords, ultimately restoring relationship between God and man and establishing the seat of His universal kingdom on planet earth.

The Second Coming isn’t the end but the beginning of a new world. A new world order based on God is love, free of sin, heartache and death. Satan dies. Christ lives. Christ’s children will have eternal joy and peace. The Second Coming of Jesus marks the transition from what humanity was after the fall in the Garden of Eden, sinful, broken and, now, what we can all become by confessing our sins and choosing Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We live in a special time of earth’s history, a time for preparation,  where each human being’s case will be investigated before the great tribunal in heaven. Do we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior?

The Second Coming of Jesus will be a cataclysmic event. Nothing like it has ever been seen on planet earth.

It will be really, really, really big. Some will welcome and praise His return, others will cry out to have the rocks fall on them.

What leads up to Second Coming of Jesus Christ? How can we know when it will happen? Will we be able to see Jesus returning to planet earth? Who can be saved from the final conflagration? What happens to those who have already passed on? What about Satan and His angels?

Let’s break it down:

IS THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST GUARANTEED?

There will be a Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible identifies His “first coming”—when He came to planet earth as a baby, both human and divine, lived a sinless life, ministered to those around Him, and died for the penalty of all of our sins, restoring our ability to choose, so we could have the glorious opportunity to be redeemed and restored in the image of God, as sons and daughters of God.

When His earthly ministry was completed, He had to depart from earth and was ascended up into heaven to begin His work as our Mediator and Priest (Luke 24:51). His disciples watched as He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Acts 1:9).

“…While they [the disciples of Jesus] looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1: 10, 11, ESV).

Friend: Jesus Christ is coming again. He said it Himself. And I believe it!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

Just as the disciples, “through the Holy Spirit, would receive power to be witnesses for Him to the ends of the earth “(Acts 1:8), so are we called, to not only look forward to His return, but to hasten the coming of the day of God by spreading this wonderful message (2 Peter 3:12).

The promise is clearly stated in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. He will return!

How the Second Coming be MANIFESTED?

Christ’s return is a global event. Like nothing planet earth has ever seen.

While the world has experienced events that affect every part of the globe, this will be an event the entire world population will experience at one time. Not partially, but in total. The whole world.

His Second Coming will be literal, global, and glorious. A grace filled joyous occasion as Jesus comes back for those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. A better day is promised and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ of Parousia, is coming. Soon.

This assurance signals the end of this sin filled world. As described in the book of Titus, this is “the blessed hope…”

“It will be said on that day,

‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for Him;

let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation’” (Isaiah 25:9, ESV).

IT’s a REAL, literal, physical event

The Second Coming will be an actual event everyone will behold and experience. No one will be able to miss Him “coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7, ESV).

Matthew 24:27 describes it as like “lighting comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (CSB).

His return aligns with His promise that He will return for His children, His people. This is Jesus physically doing what He promised He would do.

What we will hear…

1 Corinthians 15:52 tells us that “the trumpet will sound.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes Jesus descending from heaven “with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God.”

We will hear shouts of praise, wonder and adoration, as the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah when talking about the Day of the Lord, “every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God” (Romans 14:11, CSB).

We Will See

In Revelation 1:7, “every eye will see Him” as He will appear “in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26, CSB, see also Matthew 24:30).

The “dead in Christ” will be resurrected as “God brings with Him those who have fallen asleep [those who died as believers]” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16, CSB).

And Jesus will stay visibly “in the air” (1 Thessalonians 17) as He calls us to join with Him to go to heaven- glorious day- His feet will not touch the earth at this time.

OUR Experience

Really very sudden. Unexpected. Glorious. His appearing will be welcomed by those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We are told in the Bible that Jesus will simply “appear” (1 John 2:28; 3:2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 1 Peter 5:4). He will come “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4), and right up until that time, people will be going about their daily lives without a clue that the clock is about to strike midnight (Matthew 24:37-39).

Keep your eyes on the prize and your high calling—relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is your Brother. [1 Thessalonians 5:6-8]).

1 Corinthians 15 also tells us that we will be “changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (verse 51, 52) when we are given new bodies that are “incorruptible” and “clothed with immortality” that can only come from God (verses 52-54, CSB).

Transformation takes place when we are translated, as we are drawn up into the air to meet Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17)!

When will the Second Coming oF JESUS CHRIST OCCUR?

When will the Second Coming of Christ happen? We want to be ready and have made peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ. We have time now. Let us redeem the time and acknowledge and confess our sins, and He is faithful to forgive our sins.

The Bible is very clear—“no one knows” the exact “day and hour” of Christ’s Second Coming. Not even the angels in heaven! Only God the Father knows (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). We do know it will happen after every human being has been given the opportunity to choose for Christ or for Satan.

But we do know there will be signs.

What the Bible does tell us is to always be ready. And being “ready” means preparing our hearts by accepting Jesus as our Savior, and pursuing a growing relationship with Him through daily prayer, communion with God, through the study of His Word.

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:33, NKJV).

Why would God want to keep this timing a secret, even from the angels?

The simplest answer is that when this happens is not as important as what happens and why it will happen. In the meantime, the Bible emphasizes our calling as servanthood to our fellow man and leading others to acknowledge Jesus as Savior, Lord and King.

If God chooses not to reveal something in the Bible, that means it is not needed in the accomplishment of God’s plan in our lives. Knowing that detail would not strengthen our spiritual growth.

The Bible also tells us that Jesus is coming “soon” (Revelation 22:12, CSB). This “soon” is not to mean immediacy, but imminence. Urgency. It could be any time—whenever God sees fit.

God is gracious- He wants to make sure everyone truly gets a chance to truly choose if they will accept Jesus as Christ or not (2 Peter 3:9). We cannot know, for we don’t see things as God does.

What we do know is that this event is eternally important, and that’s why we must always be ready, and always be willing to share this wonderful truth with others.

“This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44, CSB). 

Signs the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is near

Though no one knows the exact date and time of the Second Coming, God doesn’t keep us in the dark about the way the world is progressing. The Bible tells us of certain signs that signal the nearness of Christ’s return.

In Matthew 24, the disciples ask Jesus, “when will these things happen, and what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (verse 3).

False prophets and imposter messiahs

“Many will come in my name, saying ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many” (verse 5). 

“Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (verse 11).

“If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (verse 24).

An increase in worldwide conflict

“You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars” (verse 6). “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom and kingdom” (verse 7).

An increase in natural disasters and situations of suffering

“There will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (verse 7).

Moral decline

“Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold” (verse 12).

We’re also told that the “sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light (May 19, 1780); the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (November 13, 1833) (verse 29). And then there was the great earthquake of Lisbon in 1755.

But the signs aren’t all troubling.

“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14).

While telling His disciples all about these signs, He assured them that this isn’t something to fear. He tells them not to be alarmed (verse 6). These things must come to pass, they herald that His return is soon.  We will see Jesus.

The heart of Jesus overflows with love for all His creation. He is longing for you to not only come to the knowledge of these truths, but to the knowledge of Him as the Source of Truth, your Lord and Savior.

What MAKES THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST a SIGNIFICANT EVENT?

 “Live each day like it was your last.” 

It’s undeniable that there are no guarantees in this life. Anything can happen at any time. The direction of anyone’s life can change in an instant. And we don’t know when our last living moments will be. “Live each day like it was your last” is to motivate you to think about where you are in your life. What kind of person are you? What kind of human relationships do you have? Are your ready to meet Jesus Christ?

What is your relationship with the very One who is coming back for you. Do you know Him? He knows everything about you. And He still loves you. It’s not about when He’s coming back, but that He is at all! Because whether we’re alive or dead at the time He does return, our eternal destiny is assured if we claim Him as our Lord and Savior. Might we all say: Lord I believe in you, help my unbelief!

He is coming because He promised He would (John 14:1-3).

He is coming again to complete the great plan of salvation which includes our resurrection, our presence in the sight of God, and life with Him eternally in the earth made new (John 5:25-29).

He is coming again to bring everyone their reward- His reward will be just and merciful. (Revelation 22:12).

The reward for those who have obeyed will be eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), while those who have chosen against Him will cease to exist. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; Luke 17:26-30; Revelation 6:15-17).
You are the reason He is coming again!

PAROUSIA IS NOW, Day of the Lord is VERY near

The intensity and frequency of things like war, disease, disasters and moral decline will increase as we get closer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And we would all agree that the world is  turmoil and the human situation is getting out of hand.

The Bible compares this progression to pregnancy and labor. When a woman is in the early stages of pregnancy, you can barely tell. But soon the baby grows inside her and it’s no secret she’s about to give birth.

Then the “labor pains” begin, (Matthew 24:8). And the frequency and intensity increases, the closer it comes to the actual birth event.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is real and will happen. Soon. The clock is ticking. Soon it will be midnight and Jesus returns. Until then, let’s prayer and become right with God and grow in Christ and have Christ grow in us.

We know how the great controversy between truth and error ends, Christ wins, the devil loses. Earth will be restored and will become the new center of the universe. Accept the promises, let your faith grow, knowing that Christ has paid the price for our redemption,

Even though the world will be going through a “time of trouble” (Daniel 12:1) right before the Second Coming, God has promised us through His Son Jesus: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NKJV).

Have faith in God! Keep your eyes on the prize and your high calling as a ransomed child of God!