The Second Coming Of Christ

by Rev. Carl L. Bertram

The Bible teaches us that God sent His only begotten Son into this world to save us. Luke 2 tells of his birth. John 3:17 says "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." We also learn from the Bible that Jesus was crucified and that He died for us. (Luke 23) He rose from the dead 3 days later proving He had power over death. (Luke 24) Jesus said He would come again to take His people home with him.

There have been several occasions when someone has predicted that Christ was going to arrive on a certain day. We've all seen these in the tabloids sold in the checkout lanes at the grocery store or places such as Wal-Mart. There have probably been religious groups that have claimed He was coming on such and such day. Don't be tricked. The Bible states in Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

The following references are to help you in understanding some of what the Bible says about the second coming of Jesus Christ. The author of these notes, Rev. Bertram, was an ordained Baptist minister. The second coming of Christ was one of his favorite topics.

The Apostasy
We are told that there will be an apostasy, or a going away from the true faith, before He comes. (II Timothy 3:1-5, 4:3-4; II Peter 2:1-2)

The Rapture
When the moment comes that God has decided upon, the Lord Jesus will come again. We do not know when it will be, but it could happen at any time. Jesus tells us to watch for His coming in Matthew 25:13. Suddenly, there will be a shout, and the voice of the archangel. The trumpet of the Lord shall also sound. Then, those believers who have died will be raised from the dead and will be given beautiful bodies like the Lord's. Those believers who are still alive will also be changed so that they will be like Jesus. (I John 3:2; Philippians 3:20-21) Then, they will be caught up together with those raised from the dead to meet the Lord in the air. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)

The Judgment of Believers
Believers will not be judged for their sins, but for their works. (Ephesians 2:10; I Corinthians 3:12-15; II Corinthians 5:10)

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
There will be a great feast called the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the believers are the Bride. There will be great joy, and from that time on, we will never be separated from the Lord. (Revelation 19:7-8; I Thessalonians 4:17)

The Great Tribulation
When the believers meet Christ in the air, there will be left here only those who are non-believers. A time will begin that is called the "Great Tribulation". (Matthew 24:21-22) The Holy Spirit will be taken out of the world during this time. This will be a time of trouble and great fear. (Proverbs 1:24-29; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Luke 17:34-36; Revelation 6:4-17, 9:1-10, 16:9-11)

The Anti-Christ
For awhile, all may seem to go well. A great man will come with plans for the governments of the world. Everyone will think he is wonderful. He will become ruler of most, if not all, the world. This will be the Anti-Christ. After a little over 3 years have passed, he will begin to show his true nature. He will set up an image of himself in the temple at Jerusalem, and make people worship it. (II Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:15) He will also cause all to have a mark on their hand or forehead. Anyone not having this mark showing their allegiance to the Anti-Christ will not be able to buy or sell. Also, anyone refusing to worship the image of the Anti-Christ will be put to death.

Some of the lost people left on earth will become Christians during these times. (Revelation 6:9, 7:1-4, 14:13) Undoubtedly, these are the 144,000 Jews who will go out into all the world preaching about Jesus. (II Thessalonians 2:4, 11:2; Ezekiel 8:18; Daniel 9:26, 11:36; Revelation 17:8; I John 2:28; all of Revelation 13)

The Battle of Armageddon
Near the end of the Great Tribulation, thee will be a great war - the Battle of Armageddon. It is described in Revelation 16:14-16 and 19:17-19.

Christ Comes In Glory
A picture of this coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16. The prophecy in II Thessalonians 1:3-9 is about to be fulfilled. This is the second phase of His coming. Approximately 7 years have passed since His coming in the air. (Isaiah 63:3; Revelation 14:20)

Judgment of the Nations
Jesus will come down on the earth, stand on the Mount of Olives, and judge the living nations. (Matthew 25:31-33) All the saints will assist him. (I Corinthians 6:2) Only the nations will be judged at this time, and only for one thing - their relationship to the evangelists who preached Christ during the Great Tribulation. If the nations treated them well, they will be saved.

Sitting up of the Kingdom
Read Zechariah 14:1-4 to get another view of His coming in glory. After the Anti-Christ has been cast into the lake of fire, Jesus will set up His kingdom here on earth. Jesus will no longer be meek and lowly, but glorious and powerful. (Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 2:44; Zechariah 2:11) He will rule with a rod of iron. (Psalm 2:9)

There will be no more deserts. (Isaiah 51:3, 35:1) The wild animals will be tame. (Isaiah 11:6-9) No one will be hurt in those days.

Satan will not be free to tempt men; for at the beginning of the kingdom, he will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-3) At the end of the thousand years, it seems God is going to allow Satan to be freed for a season. (Revelation 20:7) Satan will begin to deceive people again, and Jesus will immediately cast him into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:1-10; Luke 1:30-33; Micah 4:3-4; Philippians 2-9-11; Isaiah 2:4, 35:1-10, 65:25; Habakkuk 2:14; I Corinthians 6:2; II Timothy 2:12; Zechariah 14:9; Matthew 25:31)

The Final Judgment
A great white throne will be set up and all those who have not accepted Christ will be brought before God for judgment. All those whose names are not in the Lamb's Book of Life will be judged according to their works, and they will be cast into hell with Satan. (Revelation 20:5-6, 11-15, 6:15-17; Daniel 12:2, 21:2; John 5:22-24, 28-29; Romans 8:1; Acts 24:15)

The Books
There are three sets of books mentioned in the Bible. First, there is the Lamb's Book of Life. The minute you are saved, you are written in this book. (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 21:27) The second book is the Book of Records. It contains all the thoughts and deeds of the unsaved. It is the contents of this book by which they will be judged at the Great White Throne. (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 2:23, 20:12) The third book is the Book of Life. The moment a person is born into the world, his/her name is written in this book. When Jesus comes, the names of the unsaved will be blotted out, leaving the names of the Christians. (Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:15)

The Final State of the World
The present heaven and earth will pass away, and a new heaven and a new earth will appear. (II Peter 3:10; Isaiah 65:17; I Corinthians 15:24; I John 5:5; Zephaniah 3:9; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21, 20:11, 22:3 & 5)

The Second Coming Of Christ

by Rev. Carl L. Bertram

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