The Second Coming of Christ

[angels4u]

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the second coming of Christ. His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray.1

Before He establishes His kingdom on earth, Jesus will come for His Church, an event commonly referred to as the "Rapture." At that time the dead in Christ will be raised and living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.2 In this resurrection, those who have died in Christ will have their redeemed souls and spirits united with a body similar to Christ's glorified body. Christians living at the time of this event will not die, but will be changed to be like Christ.3 This expectation is a motivation for holy living, as well as a source of comfort.4 No man knows the day or the hour when this will take place.5

After the Rapture of the Church, Christians will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. He will reward them on the basis of the works they have accomplished.6 This is not a judgment to determine their salvation but a reward for labour on Christ's behalf.7 The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the "great day of His wrath," "the great tribulation" and the "time of Jacob's trouble."8 This time of unprecedented difficulty will affect Israel and all nations. Its purpose will be to prepare Israel for her Messiah.9

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth.10 His Kingdom will last for a thousand years.11 At this Second Coming, the Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. 12 The nations and their representatives will be judged.13 Israel will be restored to her land, never more to be removed.14 Christ will reign with firmness and equity.15 His kingdom will be marked by material and spiritual blessing, since the curse upon the earth will be removed.16

The Messianic kingdom will close with apostasy and rebellion.17 God will crush this uprising in the last battle of the ages and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.18 All those who rejected the Word of God will be resurrected.19 They will be judged by Christ and cast into the lake of fire, the place where they will suffer final and everlasting punishment.20

After this judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is the norm.21 There will be a new Jerusalem and the everlasting presence of God among all the redeemed.22

1 Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7

2 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14

3 1 John 3:2

4 1 John 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:18

5 Matt. 24:36; John 6:39

6 Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10

7 1 Corinthians 3:9–15

8 Revelation 6:17; 7:14; Jeremiah 30:7

9 Zechariah 12:2, 3; 14:1–3

10 Revelation 19:7–9, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 19:15, 16

11 Revelation 20:2, 4–6

12 Revelation 19:20; 20:1–3

13 Joel 3; Matthew 25

14 Amos 9:15; Ezekiel 34:28

15 Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 11:4

16 Romans 8:19-21

17 Revelation 20:7–9

18 Revelation 20:10

19 Revelation 20:11–13

20 Revelation 20:14, 15; Mark 9:48

21 2 Peter 3:13

https://www.moodybible.org/beliefs/positional-statements/second-coming/

[AdHoc]

2 hours ago, angels4u said:

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the second coming of Christ. His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray.1

Before He establishes His kingdom on earth, Jesus will come for His Church, an event commonly referred to as the "Rapture." At that time the dead in Christ will be raised and living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.2 In this resurrection, those who have died in Christ will have their redeemed souls and spirits united with a body similar to Christ's glorified body. Christians living at the time of this event will not die, but will be changed to be like Christ.3 This expectation is a motivation for holy living, as well as a source of comfort.4 No man knows the day or the hour when this will take place.5

After the Rapture of the Church, Christians will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. He will reward them on the basis of the works they have accomplished.6 This is not a judgment to determine their salvation but a reward for labour on Christ's behalf.7 The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the "great day of His wrath," "the great tribulation" and the "time of Jacob's trouble."8 This time of unprecedented difficulty will affect Israel and all nations. Its purpose will be to prepare Israel for her Messiah.9

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth.10 His Kingdom will last for a thousand years.11 At this Second Coming, the Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. 12 The nations and their representatives will be judged.13 Israel will be restored to her land, never more to be removed.14 Christ will reign with firmness and equity.15 His kingdom will be marked by material and spiritual blessing, since the curse upon the earth will be removed.16

The Messianic kingdom will close with apostasy and rebellion.17 God will crush this uprising in the last battle of the ages and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.18 All those who rejected the Word of God will be resurrected.19 They will be judged by Christ and cast into the lake of fire, the place where they will suffer final and everlasting punishment.20

After this judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is the norm.21 There will be a new Jerusalem and the everlasting presence of God among all the redeemed.22

1 Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7

2 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14

3 1 John 3:2

4 1 John 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:18

5 Matt. 24:36; John 6:39

6 Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10

7 1 Corinthians 3:9–15

8 Revelation 6:17; 7:14; Jeremiah 30:7

9 Zechariah 12:2, 3; 14:1–3

10 Revelation 19:7–9, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 19:15, 16

11 Revelation 20:2, 4–6

12 Revelation 19:20; 20:1–3

13 Joel 3; Matthew 25

14 Amos 9:15; Ezekiel 34:28

15 Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 11:4

16 Romans 8:19-21

17 Revelation 20:7–9

18 Revelation 20:10

19 Revelation 20:11–13

20 Revelation 20:14, 15; Mark 9:48

21 2 Peter 3:13

https://www.moodybible.org/beliefs/positional-statements/second-coming/

An excellent summary. I could nit-pick, but others will do it any way. The only thing I would re-word is that the reign of Christ is EVERLASTING. The first 1,000 years, on the earth as we know it, is to SUBDUE God's enemies. Thereafter, God purges the earth and the "ages to come" start with a New Earth. The word "New" in the Greek does not indicate a new creation. Rather, it means, "made pristine".

[enoob57]

41 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

An excellent summary. I could nit-pick, but others will do it any way. The only thing I would re-word is that the reign of Christ is EVERLASTING. The first 1,000 years, on the earth as we know it, is to SUBDUE God's enemies. Thereafter, God purges the earth and the "ages to come" start with a New Earth. The word "New" in the Greek does not indicate a new creation. Rather, it means, "made pristine".

God is going to burn up the 1st creation and remove all memory of it...
 

Knowledge will cease:
1Cor 13:8; Rev 21:1-5; Isa 65:17

 

Some contend that the earth will be renovated but according to God's Word 'all things will be made new' ... God is going to make all things new (cf. Isa 42:9; 48:6; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13)

Isa 62:2

1. new things, Isa 42:9; 48:6

2. new song, Isa 42:10 (cf. Rev 5:9; 14:3)

3. something new, Isa 43:19 (cf. Rev 3:12)

4. new name, Isa 62:2 (cf. Isa 56:5)

5. new heavens and a new earth, Isa 65:17; 66:22 (cf. 2 Peter 3:13)

 The "new" day (cf. Rev 21:5) was, in reality, the day that God always wanted for humans, but the Fall in Gen 3 caused a terrible disruption! It is surely possible that the Bible's imagery of heaven is a restored Garden of Eden (cf. Rev 21:2).

[existential mabel]

4 hours ago, angels4u said:

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth.

i am so busy in my studies at the moment in other area's that i dont have the time to study this out, but what i am unsure about is the timing and 'people'

 currently i have 'learnt,' that at Armageddon that the church (saints) will be coming back with Jesus and no mention of the hosts of heaven. and you have the saints coming back at the end of Tribs with the hosts of heaven. i am not sure at all about the Armageddon timing like i have said. and it would make more 'sense' that the church (saints) come back at the end of the Tribulation.

thanks for you post nice and clear and not long winded \O/

Edited April 2, 2022 by existential mabel

[existential mabel]

2 hours ago, AdHoc said:

The first 1,000 years, on the earth as we know it, is to SUBDUE God's enemies. Thereafter, God purges the earth and the "ages to come" start with a New Earth. The word "New" in the Greek does not indicate a new creation. Rather, it means, "made pristine".

just earlier today and the last few days i have this in my mind about 1,000 years and was perplexed as a l,000 years does not make Eternity! so that is helpful

[AdHoc]

4 hours ago, enoob57 said:

God is going to burn up the 1st creation and remove all memory of it...
 

Knowledge will cease:
1Cor 13:8; Rev 21:1-5; Isa 65:17

 

Some contend that the earth will be renovated but according to God's Word 'all things will be made new' ... God is going to make all things new (cf. Isa 42:9; 48:6; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13)

Isa 62:2

1. new things, Isa 42:9; 48:6

2. new song, Isa 42:10 (cf. Rev 5:9; 14:3)

3. something new, Isa 43:19 (cf. Rev 3:12)

4. new name, Isa 62:2 (cf. Isa 56:5)

5. new heavens and a new earth, Isa 65:17; 66:22 (cf. 2 Peter 3:13)

 The "new" day (cf. Rev 21:5) was, in reality, the day that God always wanted for humans, but the Fall in Gen 3 caused a terrible disruption! It is surely possible that the Bible's imagery of heaven is a restored Garden of Eden (cf. Rev 21:2).

I am familiar with your view. And most students of the Bible will agree with you. But you might want to reconsider when you've read these scriptures;

Psalm 78:69; And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Psalm 104:5; Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Psalm 119:90; Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

1st Chronicles 16:30; Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

Psalm 93:1; The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psalm 96:10; Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

As you can see, the earth is designed and ordained to remain forever. You also quoted 2nd Peter 3:13, so let's look at it in its context.

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
and exhorts them to holiness of life
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

In verses 5 to 7 the same theme is addressed. Notice the grammar in verse 5. There are TWO coverings in water. The world stood "out of water" in Genesis 1 and it stood "IN" water again at Noah's time. Then verse 6 says; "the world that THEN WAS ... perished." Now we know that the earth that Adam was put on was the same world that was covered with water in verse 2, and the earth that Noah stood on after the flood was the same earth. That means the two floods "destroyed the earth" but it was still the same earth afterwards - just "new". It was regarded by the Lord as "new" because the prior WORKS had been drowned and washed away. So in Psalm 102:26, with the passing of the heavens and the earth as the context, it says;

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

So also Hebrews 1:11-12; They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

A "Garment" in parable is one's WORKS (Rev.19:7-8). So what will be purged by fire is, just like the floods, is what happened on the surface of the earth. And the word is not "annihilate" but "changed". That is, the core substance of this earth will remain forever, but after the White Throne all traces of what happened in human history will be removed, eradicated, forgotten. Thus, the word used for "New" in New Earth, is "made pristine". This is what Vine says about the Greek word "kainos".

1. kainos (καινός, 2537) denotes “new,” of that which is unaccustomed or unused, not “new” in time, recent, but “new” as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old. “ ‘The new tongues,’ kainos, of Mark 16:17 are the ‘other tongues,’ heteros, of Acts 2:4. These languages, however, were ‘new’ and ‘different,’ not in the sense that they had never been heard before, or that they were new to the hearers, for it is plain from v. 8 that this is not the case; they were new languages to the speakers, different from those in which they were accustomed to speak.

(Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words)

[AdHoc]

3 hours ago, existential mabel said:

just earlier today and the last few days i have this in my mind about 1,000 years and was perplexed as a l,000 years does not make Eternity! so that is helpful

Yes. Daniel 2:35 and 44 clearly show that the Kingdom will (i) "fill the earth" and (ii) be forever. To Adam was give to "subdue and rule". He failed. The "Second Adam" does not fail. When Jesus comes He subdues the Beast and his armies, He subdues Edom, He "dashed the Nation's political and religious system to dust", He subdues Satan, He is tested by Magog and subdues them, and finally He raises all men from the dead and thus subdues "the last enemy - death". During this time He also subdues the curse on the earth and she brings forth her harvests in strength again (Amos 9:11-13). Then start "the ages (plural) to come" (Eph.2:7) - all under the Kingship of Jesus.

[angels4u]

6 hours ago, AdHoc said:

An excellent summary. I could nit-pick, but others will do it any way. The only thing I would re-word is that the reign of Christ is EVERLASTING. The first 1,000 years, on the earth as we know it, is to SUBDUE God's enemies. Thereafter, God purges the earth and the "ages to come" start with a New Earth. The word "New" in the Greek does not indicate a new creation. Rather, it means, "made pristine".

Quote

The first 1,000 years, on the earth as we know it, is to SUBDUE God's enemies.

 

Amen,and then time shall be no more...

 

[WilliamL]

On 4/2/2022 at 6:32 AM, angels4u said:

The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the "great day of His wrath," "the great tribulation" and the "time of Jacob's trouble."

Well, you got two out of three.

The Great Tribulation, which occurs during the first 5 Seals (= Matt. 24:5-10), ends just before the Wrath begins in the 6th Seal (= Matt. 24:29-31).

[angels4u]

3 minutes ago, WilliamL said:

Well, you got two out of three.

The Great Tribulation, which occurs during the first 5 Seals (= Matt. 24:5-10), ends just before the Wrath begins in the 6th Seal (= Matt. 24:29-31).

Hey William,

Did I forget something?