Why I still expect Jesus to come again
May 22nd, 2011 by jonknewtonCategory: Uncategorized
I’m not at all surprised the rapture didn’t happen yesterday. Not only did the predictions break all the rules, such as Jesus’ words about “that day and hour no one knows” (Matt.24:36), but even if God did want to warn us, this was an unlikely prophet. Moreover I think the paradigm is all wrong: secret rapture followed by great tribulation followed by public return of Christ followed by final end (with a possible 1000 years in the middle). The whole “rapture” concept is unscriptural in my view (as I explained in chapters 3-4 of my book “Revelation Reclaimed”).
But that doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t coming again, it just means we won’t know in advance and it probably won’t happen that way. This is important now, as no doubt most people will take the failure of Camping’s prediction to mean the whole expectation of a second coming to be wrong.
So why do I, and others, still believe in the second coming?
1. because the NT clearly teaches it (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess.4:16; Matt.25:31; 1Cor.15:23; Heb.9:28; etc). Both Jesus and his apostles unanimously taught it as a core truth.
2. because it is an article of belief in the ancient creeds. If you read the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, you’ll find they both say something like “he will come again to judge both the living and the dead.”
3. Christian theology demands it: the bodily resurrection of Jesus is the “firstfruits of them that sleep” (1 Cor.15:20); that is, it foreshadows the future resurrection of all believers. Moreover Christian gospel demands a final judgement, which cannot happen until he comes again (e.g. Matt.25:31-46).
4. Justice also demands it. He must be publicly revealed as Lord and Messiah and judge the world in justice so that the many crimes committed by humans do not go unpunished. cf Rev.20:11-15; Acts 17:31.
But let me clarify what I mean by the second coming of Jesus Christ. I am talking about a coming that, according to the New Testament, is:
- personal (Acts 1:11)
- visible (Matt.24;27; Rev.1:7)
- glorious (Matt.25:31)
- unexpected (Matt.24:36-44,50; 1 Thess.5:2-3)
- consequential for both Christians and the world as a whole, leading to rewards and punishments (Matt.24:45-51; 25:31-46; 2 Thess.1:6-10)
- followed by bodily resurrection or translation of his followers (1 Thess.4:16-17)
This is the great hope of Christians (Tit.2:13), a motivation to godly living and fervent service and a warning to the whole world of coming judgement.
Hi Jon,
Love your blog! I guess I’d love for you to explain what you think Christ is coming back to do?
In Acts 1:6-8 the disciples ask Jesus point blank, “are you now going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” to which He responds by saying “It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses…” etc.
To me this conversation clearly rules out a metaphoric Kingdom that is occurring now, Jesus is plainly saying, “no the the time of the Kingdom is not not your concern , instead I need you to be my witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit…” It also makes a Kingdom that arises out of the Spirit’s work of creating a glorious church seem unlikely as well, because Jesus seems to be contrasting the two ideas of Kingdom and Holy Spirit Witnessing.
So is your view that He coming back to restore a Kingdom? Or is He just coming back to judge and then get straight into making the new heavens and new earth? Or I am way off?
Matt Jarlett on May 27th, 2011 at 3:14 pmI think you may be playing too much “either/or” here, Matt. Try reading the passage as “both…. and”.
jonknewton on May 27th, 2011 at 4:07 pmThe kingdom is now and then, spiritual and visible, and continues forever (Rev.22:3-5)