The Second Coming of Christ
The Doctrine of
Christ - Lesson # 13
I. Terminology
A. Second coming - Jn. 14:3; Heb. 9:28
B. The first coming was Christ's
incarnate life in the first century, thus, the second coming refers to his
expected return at the consummation of all things.
C. parousia - "presence"
or "coming" - 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1, 8; and
elsewhere
D. "our blessed hope" - Tit.
2:13
II. The purpose of Christ's second coming
A. The consummation of the kingdom of God
inaugurated at the first advent and ministry of Jesus - 1 Cor. 15:23-25
1. The
second coming of Jesus is described as an "unveiling,"
"revelation," or "manifestation" which means that Christ is
not an absentee landlord during the present (1 Pet. 1:7, 13). He is alive and
reigning as king right now, but in an unseen way for the human, physical eye.
2. The
second coming means the "close of the age," that is, the consummation
of Christ's reign in this present age - Mt. 13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20.
3. How
is this different from the teaching of deism?
B. To initiate the general resurrection
of the dead - 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:23, 51-53
C. To inaugurate the final judgment of
all mankind - Jn. 5:28-29; Mt. 25:31-46
D. To lead the redeemed home to heaven -
1 Thess. 4:17; Jn. 14:1-3
III. The manner of his coming
A. The certainty of it - 2 Pet. 3:1-14
B. The date - Mt. 24:36, 44
1. Discuss
the problem of date setters through history, e.g. Charles Taze Russell and the
Jehovah's Witnesses, 1874, 1914.
2. Because
the date is unknown, Christ's return will be sudden and unexpected (for most
people) - Mt. 24:37-51.
C. Victorious, in power, glory, and
judgment - 2 Thess. 1:7-8; 2:8; Tit. 2:13
D. Visible - Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7
E. A singular event, not two distinct
events as in premillennialism, that is, a secret rapture and a later public
appearing.
IV. Significance of the second coming
A. What effect ought this expected event
have on our spirits? - Tit. 2:13
B. What are our duties during the interim
as we wait for our Lord to return?
1. Watch
- Mt. 24:42-44
2. Preparation
- Mt. 25:1-13
3. Prayer
- 1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20
4. Holy
and godly living - 2 Pet. 3:11-13
5. Proclamation
of the gospel which people still have a chance to believe
C. Memory verse - Tit. 2:13