30 Sep 2024, 18:53Christian SalcianuWatford
Jesus' Second Coming
‘I’ll be back!’ — we remember the famous movie catchphrase of the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1984). Maybe just another version of WWII's ‘I Shall Return’ iconic phrase (General MacArthur, 1942). And yet for centuries millions have whispered, recited or even shouted, quoting the Christian Creed’s line: ‘He will come again’.
On the night before His arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus shared this promise: ‘I will come back and take you to be with me’ (John 14:3). Such words are crystal clear, above theological differences, conflicting interpretations and personal struggles to understand a Biblical text. The expectation of all generations — Jesus’ second coming — is based on this assurance.
One may come back with a vengeance, proving all wrong; another as Phoenix, rising from its ashes; yet another to take a second chance, rewriting history. None of these applies here. To see Jesus’ second coming in its glory, we need to understand why He came the first time.
Why Bethlehem? Why Calvary?
Following Adam’s sin, our world was ruled by evil, evidenced by degradation, suffering, and death. No one could escape or bring liberation from Satan’s chains. And yet, one promise provided comfort over millennia — the woman’s seed will eventually crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15, see also Revelation 12). This is the first Good News shared with humans.
The Edenic promise was fulfilled in Bethlehem. Every Christmas we are reminded of the words spoken to Mary: ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’ (Luke 1:31). To Joseph, her husband, the angel explained: ‘You are to give him the name Jesus [the Lord saves] because he will save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). Thirty years later, John the Baptist introduced Him: ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29).
This was Jesus’ first coming: a humble baby born in a manger, a heaven-sent Saviour, a sacrifice for the world. The apostle John wrote: ‘The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work’ (1 John 3:8). This devil’s work was deeply rooted in a man’s heart, in the world’s affairs, in the elements of nature. Coming ‘to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19:10), Jesus announced: ‘now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself’ (John 12:31, 32).
Did He succeed at the cross? Lifted on Golgotha, Jesus shouted ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). Yes He did. Everyone in the universe could see God’s love for man and the perfect plan of salvation (1 Peter 2:24, 25).
Why then, a second coming?
Using the illustration of an emperor’s palace, Jesus said ‘My Father’s house has many rooms . . . if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me’ (John 14:2, 3).
To prepare a place for us? That’s not a housekeeping task or a booking appointment. Now we move on to higher grounds. Let’s consider Jesus’ current work, in preparation for His second coming.
Where is Jesus now?
Raised from the dead, talking to Mary, He informed her: ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’ (John 20:17). He went up to have His sacrifice confirmed by God, as the apostle Peter proclaimed at Pentecost: ‘God has raised this Jesus to life . . . Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2: 32, 33; John 15:26).
While the church on earth was to be led by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), Jesus became our representative, ‘He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’ (Hebrews 9:24); as a high priest, ‘who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary’ (Hebrews 8:1, 2). ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:24, 25).
Concluding, ‘Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him’ (Hebrews 9:28).
This is the full picture: the first time He came to bear the sin of the world; the second time, to bring salvation.
When will He return?
The apostles were the first to ask: ‘What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ (Matthew 24:3). Jesus’ answer (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) is comprehensive, covering signs of the times (wars, earthquakes, famines), specifics on religious elements (false prophets, counterfeit signs and wonders, persecution), and unmistakable cosmic events (sun, moon, stars). And only ‘then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will . . . see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory’ (Matthew 24:30).
A specific date? ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’ (Matthew 24:36, confirmed again in Acts 1:7). However, Jesus instructed: ‘When you see all these things [signs], you know that it is near, right at the door’ (Matthew 24:33).
How will it be?
Personal! The angels said: ‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’ (Acts 1:11).
Glorious! There’s nothing in the Bible about a secret rapture, also dismissing a silent coming, or mysterious appearances in remote places and private gatherings. ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him’ (Revelation 1:7).
Overwhelming: ‘the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
The blessed hope
The end of this world (no golden age ahead) will not be decided by humans: a red button pushed by a tyrant, Earth’s resources depleted, the human race extinct by its own mistakes or a natural catastrophe. It will be God’s sovereign decision.
For the believers it is ‘the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13). We are not to be numb in fear of a judgment, nor escape today’s challenges dreaming of pearly gates. Instead, we need to be aware (Mark 13:37), expectant (Luke 21:28), and share the Good News (Matthew 24:14).
Jesus’ last words in the Bible confirm the promise: ‘Yes, I am coming soon’ (Revelation 22:20).
‘I’ll be back!’ — we remember the famous movie catchphrase of the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1984). Maybe just another version of WWII's ‘I Shall Return’ iconic phrase (General MacArthur, 1942). And yet for centuries millions have whispered, recited or even shouted, quoting the Christian Creed’s line: ‘He will come again’.
On the night before His arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus shared this promise: ‘I will come back and take you to be with me’ (John 14:3). Such words are crystal clear, above theological differences, conflicting interpretations and personal struggles to understand a Biblical text. The expectation of all generations — Jesus’ second coming — is based on this assurance.
One may come back with a vengeance, proving all wrong; another as Phoenix, rising from its ashes; yet another to take a second chance, rewriting history. None of these applies here. To see Jesus’ second coming in its glory, we need to understand why He came the first time.
Why Bethlehem? Why Calvary?
Following Adam’s sin, our world was ruled by evil, evidenced by degradation, suffering, and death. No one could escape or bring liberation from Satan’s chains. And yet, one promise provided comfort over millennia — the woman’s seed will eventually crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15, see also Revelation 12). This is the first Good News shared with humans.
The Edenic promise was fulfilled in Bethlehem. Every Christmas we are reminded of the words spoken to Mary: ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’ (Luke 1:31). To Joseph, her husband, the angel explained: ‘You are to give him the name Jesus [the Lord saves] because he will save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). Thirty years later, John the Baptist introduced Him: ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29).
This was Jesus’ first coming: a humble baby born in a manger, a heaven-sent Saviour, a sacrifice for the world. The apostle John wrote: ‘The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work’ (1 John 3:8). This devil’s work was deeply rooted in a man’s heart, in the world’s affairs, in the elements of nature. Coming ‘to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19:10), Jesus announced: ‘now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself’ (John 12:31, 32).
Did He succeed at the cross? Lifted on Golgotha, Jesus shouted ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). Yes He did. Everyone in the universe could see God’s love for man and the perfect plan of salvation (1 Peter 2:24, 25).
Why then, a second coming?
Using the illustration of an emperor’s palace, Jesus said ‘My Father’s house has many rooms . . . if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me’ (John 14:2, 3).
To prepare a place for us? That’s not a housekeeping task or a booking appointment. Now we move on to higher grounds. Let’s consider Jesus’ current work, in preparation for His second coming.
Where is Jesus now?
Raised from the dead, talking to Mary, He informed her: ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’ (John 20:17). He went up to have His sacrifice confirmed by God, as the apostle Peter proclaimed at Pentecost: ‘God has raised this Jesus to life . . . Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2: 32, 33; John 15:26).
While the church on earth was to be led by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), Jesus became our representative, ‘He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’ (Hebrews 9:24); as a high priest, ‘who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary’ (Hebrews 8:1, 2). ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:24, 25).
Concluding, ‘Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him’ (Hebrews 9:28).
This is the full picture: the first time He came to bear the sin of the world; the second time, to bring salvation.
When will He return?
The apostles were the first to ask: ‘What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ (Matthew 24:3). Jesus’ answer (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) is comprehensive, covering signs of the times (wars, earthquakes, famines), specifics on religious elements (false prophets, counterfeit signs and wonders, persecution), and unmistakable cosmic events (sun, moon, stars). And only ‘then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will . . . see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory’ (Matthew 24:30).
A specific date? ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’ (Matthew 24:36, confirmed again in Acts 1:7). However, Jesus instructed: ‘When you see all these things [signs], you know that it is near, right at the door’ (Matthew 24:33).
How will it be?
Personal! The angels said: ‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’ (Acts 1:11).
Glorious! There’s nothing in the Bible about a secret rapture, also dismissing a silent coming, or mysterious appearances in remote places and private gatherings. ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him’ (Revelation 1:7).
Overwhelming: ‘the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
The blessed hope
The end of this world (no golden age ahead) will not be decided by humans: a red button pushed by a tyrant, Earth’s resources depleted, the human race extinct by its own mistakes or a natural catastrophe. It will be God’s sovereign decision.
For the believers it is ‘the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13). We are not to be numb in fear of a judgment, nor escape today’s challenges dreaming of pearly gates. Instead, we need to be aware (Mark 13:37), expectant (Luke 21:28), and share the Good News (Matthew 24:14).
Jesus’ last words in the Bible confirm the promise: ‘Yes, I am coming soon’ (Revelation 22:20).
