THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST

"While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13 NIV)

Is Jesus really coming back? If so, why has he taken so long in coming?

The Spirit of God addressed this problem some 2000 years ago by the eminent Apostle Peter who wrote, 

"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation'...But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." (2 Pet 3:3-‬10 NIV)

The second coming of Christ

Several terms are used interchangeably to refer to the coming of the Lord:

Advent

The word 'advent' derives from the Latin 'adventus' which literally means coming or arrival, and denotes the coming of the Lord, whether the first time or the second time.

Revealing or revelation 

Scripture uses 'apokalupsis' meaning revealing or revelation to refer to the coming of the Lord. (1Cor 1:7; 1Pe 1:7) Here, the point is that when Christ comes, all eyes will see him and all puzzles concerning his being will be laid bare.  

Appearing 

Scripture also uses 'epiphaneia' meaning appearing to refer to the coming of the Lord. (1Tim 6:4; Tit 2:13) Here, the emphasis is on his appearing is his full glory. He is appearing in his full glory and majesty as the true God and Saviour. 

Presence

Elsewhere in scripture 'parousia' meaning presence or arrival has been used to refer to the coming of the Lord. (1Th 2:19; 3:13) Here, the emphasis is that Jesus will be present in his glorified body. 

Evidence of his second advent in scripture

Jesus himself said that he would come in the glory of his Father, and all eyes would see him. (Mat 16:27) 

His disciples asked for signs of his coming and of the end of the age. He confirmed to them that he would come again and gave them signs of his coming and of the end of the age. (Mat 24:3-33). 

When he was ascending into Heaven, three angels stood, spoke and confirmed his second coming to the disciples who had gathered there. (Acts 1:10-11).

Even after ascending into Heaven, the Lord manifested himself to the eminent Apostle John on the Island of Patmos and assured him of his second coming. (Rev 1:8)

Eschatological caution

While we unhesitatingly proclaim the second advent of Christ, we should be careful to not predict date and time of his coming. Some ministers have fallen into the trap of predicting date and time of the Lord's coming, all of which have proven to be false. The Lord will not go against his own word for any minister's sake.

The Millerites

The Millerites were an adventist movement in America in the 19th century. Their leader, William Miller, based on his interpretation of the time prophecies of Daniel chapters 8 and 9, in 1822 predicted that the Lord would come between March 1843 and March 1844. As the day drew near and the Lord was not coming, he was forced to change the date to October 1844. Still the Lord did not come. This became known as the Great Disappointment. 

Jehovah's Witnesses

After the Great Disappointment, several groups broke away from the Millerites. One of such groups was the International Bible Students Association led by Charles Taze Russel. He re-evaluated Miller's failed predictions and established the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to publish his own insight concerning the Lord's second coming. He also predicted that the Lord would come in 1914 but his prediction, like his predecessor's, failed. This group eventually became the Jehovah's Witnesses who now insist that the Lord has already come in a spiritual form. 

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

SDA Church is an offshoot of the Millerites movement. After the Great Disappointment, James and Ellen G. White (prophetess) led an organised group of the disappointed Millerites to reinstate adventism. This group re-evaluated the predictions of Miller and gave explanations for the failure. Then they refined the doctrines of Miller and expounded reasons why the Sabbath should be observed and Saturday be kept as the day for Christian congregational worship. This group eventually became the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

How to treat prediction of date and time of the second advent of Christ

The Lord has said that he—the revealer of mysteries—does not know the date and time of his second advent but the Father. So then, the Lord will never reveal the date and time of his parousia to any minister. 

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mat 24:36 NIV)

Even if an angel appears from heaven to tell you the date and time of the Lord's second advent, refute him and refuse his word, for Jesus will never go against his own word. 

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!" (Gal 1:8 NIV)

Maranatha

The early Christians suffered severe torture and excruciating pain under the Roman emperors for their faith in and witnessing to Jesus Christ. However, these Christians would not give up. 

They hid themselves in caves to worship and to fellowship together. Hoping that the Lord would come quickly to whisk them away to Heaven, they adopted a greeting among themselves. The greeting was, Maranatha.

'Maranatha' is an Aramaic word which means the 'Lord is coming' or 'Come, oh Lord!' This was a replacement for the Jewish greeting 'Shalom' meaning peace be unto you!

Maranatha wakes us to the reality that the Lord will come again. It also fills us with the hope of glory amidst difficult and turbulent times. 

While we wait for the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us continue to greet one another, "Maranatha!" And like the eminent Apostle John, may we be able to confidently declare, "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20).

Maranatha...Come, Lord Jesus!

#Truth Haven