“the second time He appears...” Hebrews 9:28 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.” John 14:3
Answer: Yes! In Matthew 26:64, Jesus testifies under oath that he will return to this earth. Since the Holy Scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35), this is a sure proof of this. Believe this word as it is written. This is the personal guarantee of Jesus Christ.
“And when he had said this, he was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they looked after him as he ascended into heaven, behold, two men stood by them in white robes. They said, ”Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11
Answer: The Holy Scriptures promise that Jesus will return in the same way as he ascended into heaven - visibly, truly, bodily and personally. Matthew 24:30 says: “... and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Jesus really will return in the clouds as a personal being of flesh and bone (Luke 24:36-43. 50.51); his coming will be visible. The Holy Scriptures are very clear about these facts.
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him.” Revelation 1:7 “For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:27
Answer: Every man, woman and child - all who are alive on earth at Jesus' return will see him. The overwhelming, threefold (Luke 9:26) splendour of his coming will stretch from one end of the horizon to the other - the sky will be filled with overwhelming glory as if by the twinkling of lightning. No one will be able to hide. Everyone must see Christ. According to Jesus' words, there is not the slightest doubt or misunderstanding about this.
Remark: The doctrine of the secret rapture, which is generally believed, is not to be found in the Bible. It is a purely human invention. The second coming of Christ is not to be understood as a spiritual coming or in a figurative sense, which takes place at conversion. Nor does the second coming take place at the death of a person, which manifests itself in an improved world situation. All these theories are of human origin. The second coming of Christ will be a literal, worldwide, visible event where Jesus will personally appear in the clouds to end this world history and either reward or punish all people.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on the throne of his glory...” Matthew 25:31
Answer: All the heavenly angels will accompany Jesus at his second coming. As the cloud approaches the earth, Jesus will send his angels to gather all the believers and prepare them for the journey back to heaven (Matthew 24:31).
“Behold, I am coming soon, and my reward with me, to give to each one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 “And when I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3 “...and he will send the one he has chosen to be Christ for you: Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the times when all things are restored...” Acts 3:20.21
Answer: Jesus is coming back to reward his people and bring them home as he promised. He will restore all the joys and glory of Eden that Adam and Eve lost through sin. His second coming will put an end to this world age of evil.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven when the call is given, when the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God sound, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.17 “... but we shall all be changed, ... and the dead shall rise incorruptible. ... For this corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “...from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20.21
Answer: The believers will be raised from their graves and receive a perfect, immortal body - like that of Christ - and will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord. Then the believers who are still alive will also receive a body like Christ's and be lifted up to meet their Lord in the air. After that, Jesus will take the believers with him to heaven. Note that Jesus will not touch the earth at his second coming. The believers will meet him “in the air”. God's people will therefore pay no attention to all the reports of Christ's appearance in New York, Paris, Moscow, etc. False Christs will appear and perform miracles on earth (Matthew 24:23-27). Jesus, on the other hand, will remain in the clouds above the earth at his second coming.
“...and (he will) kill the wicked with the breath of his lips.” Isaiah 11:4 “At that time those slain by the LORD will lie from one end of the earth to the other...” Jeremiah 25:33
The apostles taught:
“But when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words be proclaimed to them [also] on the next Sabbath.” “And on the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God.” Acts 13:42.44 “And every Sabbath he held sermons in the synagogue and persuaded Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4
Answer: The wicked will perish through the appearance of Jesus.
“And there were lightnings and voices and thunderings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so great an earthquake.” “And all the islands disappeared, and the mountains were not found.“ Revelation 16:18.20 “I looked, and behold, the fruit of the earth was desolate, and all its cities were destroyed before the LORD and before his fierce anger.” Jeremiah 4:26 “Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and desolate ...” “The earth will be empty and desolate.” Isaiah 24:1.3
Answer: At the coming of the Lord, the earth will be shaken to its foundations by a mighty earthquake. This event of unprecedented magnitude will destroy the entire surface of the earth and leave the world in a totally devastated state.
Answer: Yes, Jesus himself said: “When you see all these things, know that it is near at the door.” Matthew 24:33 The Lord performed signs from the time of his ascension until his second coming. Please study the following list carefully.
Fulfilment: Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman soldiers under Titus in 70 AD.
Fulfilment: This prophecy primarily refers to the long period of the Dark Ages caused by the apostate church. This period lasted longer than 1000 years. Over 50 million Christians lost their lives for their faith during this time of tribulation. It is reported that the apostate church “shed more innocent blood than any other human organisation on earth.” W.E.H. Lecky, History of the emergence and influence of the spirit of rationalism in Europe, (reprint New York: Braziller, 1955) Vol. 2, pp. 40-45.
Fulfilment: This prediction was fulfilled on the dark day of 19 May 1780 by a supernatural eclipse. It was not a solar eclipse. Timothy Dwight says, “The 19th of May 1780 was an unusually dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses, the birds fell silent and went to rest. ... The general opinion prevailed that the day of judgement had arrived.” Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd edition New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.
Fulfilment: On the night of the “dark day”, 19 May 1780, the moon turned as red as blood. Milo Bostick in Stone's history of Massachusetts says, “The full moon shone like blood.”
Fulfilment: The great fall of the stars occurred on the night of 13 November 1833, when it was so bright that the newspaper could be read on the street. One reporter wrote: “For almost four hours, the sky was literally on fire”.* People believed that the end of the world had come. It is a sign of the imminent coming of Christ.
*Peter A. Millman, “The Fall of Stars,” The Telescope, 7 (May-June 1940) 57.
Fulfilment: This will be the next big event. Are you prepared for it?
Answer: Yes, indeed! Note the following specific signs of the last few days. You will be amazed. However, these are just a few of many, many more signs that show that we are living in the last days of world history.
Clashes between capital power and the working class have been predicted for the last few days. You can find confirmation of this in the reports of the daily newspapers.
Wars and devastation plunge countless people around the world into misery. Only the imminent coming of Jesus will put an end to the pain and destruction of war.
It really does sound like the editorial of a daily newspaper - an accurate picture of our world today. And there is a reason for this: we are the people of the very last days of world history. The current tense atmosphere in the world today should not surprise us, but rather convince us that Jesus' coming is near. Christ has predicted all of this.
The information age makes this fact all too clear. Even the biggest sceptic has to admit that this sign has come true. Knowledge is exploding in all directions. It is said that 80? per cent of all the world's knowledge has been gained in the last ten years and that 90? per cent of all scientists who have ever lived are with us today.
Today, it is not difficult to find scoffers who fulfil this prediction. Even religious leaders reject the clear teaching of creation, the Flood, the divinity of Christ, the second coming of Jesus and many other biblical truths. Psychiatry and the tradition of pseudo-intellectuals have replaced the Bible in many religious circles. Worldly educators teach youth to mock the biblical account of these great truths and substitute evolutionary and other false human teachings for God's holy Word. A recent survey showed that only two per cent of American students preparing for the pastorate believe in the literal second coming of Christ.
The whole world is in the midst of a major crisis. People of all classes confirm this. For many, suicide is the solution to human problems. The divorce rate is rising rapidly, with almost every second marriage ending in divorce court. The present amoral generation with its obsession with sex and simultaneously growing church membership but increasing spiritual decline show another fulfilment of God's Word. Discover for yourself how many of the sins of the last days listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 can be found in any Sunday newspaper. It is shocking! Nothing short of the coming of the Lord will put a stop to the evil that is devouring the world.
The world is crazy about entertainment. Only a small percentage of the inhabitants of our big cities go to church regularly, whereas thousands of them go to places of entertainment. America spends billions annually on pleasure, but only “crumbs” for God in comparison. Pleasure-seeking people waste billions of hours in front of the television, confirming the fulfilment of 2 Timothy 3:4.
This sign is all too clear. Crime and lawlessness are increasing at a shocking rate. Most people in the big cities no longer go out after dark. The wisest statesmen of our time have to concern themselves with the survival of civilisation because crime seems to be spiralling out of control.
Earthquakes, tornadoes, flood disasters, etc. are increasing at an unprecedented rate. A third of the world's population is starving and thousands are dying of hunger every day. All this is further evidence that we are living in the last hours of world history.
The great, solemn, final warning message of Jesus' second coming is proclaimed today in more than 900 languages and dialects. Almost 95 per cent of the world's population has access to this message. Before Jesus' second coming, every person in this world will have heard of his imminent coming. Only those who reject the message of warning will be lost.
Today, people, including a large number of world leaders, seek advice from psychics, fortune tellers and spiritualists. Spiritism has infiltrated the churches, as has the false doctrine of the immortality of the soul. The Bible teaches that the dead are dead.
“But learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch begins to sprout and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near at the door. Truly I say to you: This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Matthew 24:32-34
Answer: The Bible speaks very clearly on this point. Almost all the signs have been fulfilled. However, we do not know the day and hour of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36), but we can be sure that we are among those who will experience Jesus' return. God has promised to bring everything to a speedy end and to shorten the time (Romans 9:28). Jesus' return is imminent. Are you prepared for it?
“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and will perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 “To the law and to the testimony!« - if they do not speak this way, there will be no dawn for them.” Isaiah 8:20
Answer: Satan has spread many false teachings about the second coming of Christ and has deceived millions into believing that Jesus has already come or that he will appear in an unbiblical way. Christ warned us of Satan's deception by saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4 Then he exposed Satan's schemes and deceitfulness so that we would be warned, reminding us, “Behold, I have told you beforehand.” Matthew 24:25 Jesus explicitly said, for example, that he would not appear in the wilderness or in the chamber (verse 26). We cannot be deceived if we study and know the teachings of the Bible about the second coming of Christ. The test question is: What does the Bible teach about this? People who know what the Bible teaches about the Second Coming cannot be deceived by Satan. But everyone else will be deceived.
“and whoever comes to me I will not cast out.” John 6:39 “But to all who received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name...” John 1:12 “I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts.” Hebrews 8:10 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Answer: Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door (this door represents the mind or heart of man) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” Revelation 3:20 Jesus knocks through the Holy Spirit and my conscience and asks for entrance into my heart so that he can change my life. If I surrender my life to him unconditionally, he will blot out all my past sins (Romans 3:25) and give me the power to live a godly life (John 1:12). When my life has been changed by Jesus, he imputes his own righteous character to me so that I may stand fearlessly before the holy God. Then doing his will becomes a joy. It is so simple that this reality is doubted by many. And yet it is a fact. It is up to me to give my life to Christ and let him live in me. It is up to him to bring about the great miracle of change in my life and to prepare me for his second coming. This is a free gift that I only need to accept.
“Therefore you also be ready! For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect it.” Matthew 24:44 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with drunkenness and carousing, and that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34 “But as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:37
Answer: There is a great danger that we will be so preoccupied with the worries of this life, or so fascinated by sinful pleasures, that the coming of the Lord will come upon us like the flood upon the people in the days of Noah and we will be caught unprepared and lost. This will one day be the experience of countless people. What about you? Jesus is coming very, very soon - in our day. Are you ready? That is the only thing that counts!
