PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD
(Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.
THE
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (PART 2)
…HIS
RETURN TO THE EARTH
Devotional Text:
Acts 1:9-11
Introduction:
The part one of the second coming of Christ
features the theological designation, which is referred to as the “rapture”. In
the cited phase of His coming, the lesson points to the fact that the advent
would bring the Lord to meet with His saints in the air, (I Thess. 4:16). This
is equally an attempt to show that the rapture is Christ’s invisible return,
since only the rapturable saints, and not the sinners would see Him at that
time. But, in His visible return to this earth, which is the phase two of His second
coming, every eye will definitely see Him, (Rev. 1:7).
GENERAL REMARKS
(1)
Christ will
return visibly as He went to heaven, (Acts 1:11).
(2)
Christ will
return visibly, as every eye shall see Him, (Rev. 1:7).
(3)
Christ
Himself said He would come suddenly, (Matt. 24:27).
(4)
Christ also
said He would come again, (John 14:3).
REASON TO BELIEVE THAT CHRIST
WILL COME AGAIN
The basic reason for believing that Christ
will come again is that the Scripture cannot be broken, (John 10:35) and that
every prophecy concerning His virgin birth, suffering, death and resurrection
turned out fulfilled. In this connection, Oswald J. Smith (1934), remarks that,
“every prophecy about His first advent was literally fulfilled. He cited that,
such positive statements as ‘they pierced m hands and my feet’, ‘they gave me gall, mixed with vinegar, to
drink’ (Ps. 22, 34:20; 41:19; 55:12-14; Isa. 1:6; 53; Micah 5:2; Zech. 13:7;
and more, were all literally fulfilled. He finally contended that if such
précised fulfillment was achieved in the first advent, it becomes reassuring
that the predictions regarding His Second Coming will also be literally
fulfilled. (See Matt. 24 and 25; Jude 14; I Thess 3:13; Ps. 72; Dan 7:13, 22;
Isa. 53; John 14:5; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:13-18; Zech 14:4; Isa. 35; Rev.
5:10). In line with the foregoing, let it be cited that;
(i)
heaven and
earth shall pass away be His word will never pass away, (Mark 13:31);
(ii)
His word
cannot return to Him void without accomplishing His purpose, (Isa. 55:10-11);
(iii)
the Scripture cannot be broken, (John 10:35c)
EVENTS IN-BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND
CHRIST’S RETURN TO THE EARTH
The period in-between the rapture and the
return of Christ to this earth is best described as the tribulation period.
However, some biblical scholars seem not to view the period as the Great Tribulation
which Daniel sees as a time that has never occurred since the beginning of
nations, (Dan. 12:1). However, no matter how one views the period;
(i)
Daniel sees
it as a time of distress, (Dan. 12:1);
(ii)
Matthew sees
it as Great Tribulation, (24:21);
(iii)
Luke sees it
as a special day, (24:21);
(iv)
Prophet
Jeremiah sees it as a time of Jacob’s trouble, (Jer. 30:7).
CHRIST’S VISIBLE RETURN TO THE
EARTH
According
to Louis Berkhof (1957), Christ will return in the body, so that He can be
seen. Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Tit 2:13; Rev 1:7. Berkhof, also, remarks
that, though, several signs will precede His coming, yet it will be unexpected
and take people by surprise, Matt.
24:37-39; I Thess. 5:2, 3; Rev. 3:3. Based on the cited Scriptures, this
lesson asserts that:
(i)
Christ will
return in the manner He left for Heaven, (Acts 1:11);
(ii)
every eye
shall see Him when He returns to the earth, (Rev. 1:7);
(iii)
Christ’s
second coming will take so many people unaware, (Matt. 24:37-39)
In conclusion, therefore, it becomes important to remark
that the return of Christ, be it phase one, (I Thess. 4:16) or phase two, (Acts
1:11), like His first coming, which is His birth, (Matt. 1:21) stands out as
the Blessed Hope of the Christian faith, (Titus 2:13) which calls for purity in
readiness for His return, (I John 3:1-3). In this connection, this lesson urges
the believers to be wise and not foolish, (see Matt. 25:1-13). PLEASE, BE READY!
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