III. THE PURPOSE OF THE SECOND COMING.
1. SO FAR AS IT CONCERNS THE CHURCH.
1 Thess.4:13-17; 1 Cor.15:50-52;
Phil.3:20, 21, R. V.; 1 John 3:2. When Christ comes again He will first raise
the righteous dead, and change the righteous living; simultaneously they shall
be caught up to meet the Lord in the air to be with Him forever.
Eph.5:23, 32; 2 Cor.11:2; Rev.19:6-9;
Matt.25:1-10. The Church, the Bride of Christ, will then be married to her
Lord.
Matt.25:19; 2 Tim.4:8; 1 Pet.5:4; 1
Cor.3:12-15; 2 Cor.5:10. Believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness in
service at His coming. (See under The Final Reward of the Righteous, page 266.)
2. SO FAR AS IT CONCERNS THE
UNCONVERTED NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.
Matt.24:30; Rev.1:7; Matt.25:31, 32;
Rev.20:11, 12; Isa.26:21; 2 Thess.1:7-9. A distinction must be recognized
between the judgment of the Living Nations, and that of the Great White Throne.
These are not the same, for no resurrection accompanies the judgment of the Living
Nations, as in the case of the throne judgment. Further, one thousand years
elapse between these two judgments (Rev.20:7-11). Again, one is at the
beginning of the Millennium, and the other at its close.
3. WITH REFERENCE TO THE JEWS.
The Jews will be restored to their own
land (Isa.11:11; 60) in an unconverted state; will rebuild the temple, and
restore worship (Ezek.40-48); will make a covenant with Antichrist for one week
(seven years), in the midst of which they will break the covenant (Dan.9:27; 2
Thess.2); they will then pass through the great tribulation (Matt.24:21, 22,
29; Rev.3:10; 7:14); are converted (as a nation) at the coming of Christ
(Zech.12:10; Rev.1:7); become great missionaries (Zech.8:13-23); never more to
be removed from the land (Amos 9:15; Ezek.34:28).
4. WITH REGARD TO ANTICHRIST, AND THE
ENEMIES OF GOD'S PEOPLE.
2 Thess.1:7-9; Rev.19:20; 20:10. These
shall be destroyed by the brightness of His coming; will be cast finally into
the bottomless pit.
5. TO SET UP THE MILLENNIAL REIGN ON
THE EARTH.
The Millennium means the thousand years
reign of Christ upon the earth (Rev.20:1-4). Some think that it is the
continuation of the Kingdom Age broken
off by the unbelief of the Jews at the time of the Apostles.
The Millennium begins with the coming
of Christ with His saints; with the revelation of Christ after the great
tribulation (Matt.24:29, 30); at the close of the seventieth week of Daniel.
For illustration, see Rev.19:11-14; Dan.7:21, 22; Zech.14:3-9.
Then come the destruction of Antichrist,
the binding of Satan, and the destruction of the enemies of God's people
(Rev.19:20; 20:1-3, 10).
The Judgment for the Living Nations
(Matt.25).
The conversion and missionary activity
of the Jews (Zech.8:13-23; cf. Acts 15:14-17). Then, we may have a converted
world, but not now, nor in this age; Israel, not the Church, then concerned.
The nature of the Millennium:
It is a Theocracy: Jesus Christ Himself
is the King (Jer.23:5; Luke 1:30-33). The Apostles will, doubtless, reign with
Christ over the Jews (Isa.66; Matt.19:28); the Church, over the Gentile nations
(Luke 19:11-19; Heb.2:6, 7).
The capitol city will be Jerusalem
(Isa.2:1-4). Pilgrimages will be made to the Holy City (Zech.14:16). The reign
of Christ will be one of righteousness and equity (Isa.11:4; Psa.98:9).
A renovated earth (Rom.8:19-31;
Isa.65:17; c.35).
The events closing the Millennium are
apostasy and rebellion (Rev.20:7-9); the destruction of Satan (Rev.20:10); the
Great White Throne judgment (Rev.20:11-15); a new heaven and a new earth
(Rev.21 and 22).