The Second Coming Of Christ (4)

IV. THE TIME OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.

We need to carefully distinguish between Christ's coming for His saints -- sometime called the "rapture" or "parousia"; and His coming with His saints -- the "revelation" or "epiphany."

In considering the matter of the "signs" of Christ's coming we need to pay particular attention to and distinguish between those signs which have been characteristic of and peculiar to many generations, and have, consequently, been repeated; and those which are to characterise specifically the near approach of the coming of Christ. Christians are not altogether in the dark concerning these facts: Luke 21:29-33 -- "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand" (v.36). Also 1 Thess.5:1-8 -- "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" (v.4).

1. NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR

Matt.24:36-42 -- "But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (v.36). Mark 13:32 cf. Acts 1:7.

The Scriptures tell us enough regarding the time of Christ's coming to satisfy our faith, but not our curiosity. These statements of the Master should be sufficient to silence that fanaticism which is so anxious to tell us the exact year, month, and even the day when Christ will come. This day is hidden in the counsels of God. Jesus Himself, by a voluntary unwillingness to know, while in His state of humiliation, showed no curiosity to peer into the chronology of this event. We should not nor ought we to want to know more than Christ did on this point. Can it be that "that day" was not yet fixed in the counsels of the Father, and that its date depended, somewhat at least, upon the faithfulness of the Church in the evangelising to the world? We know not certainly. The Revelation which Jesus gave to John would seem to teach that "that day," which was at one time hidden from Christ, is now, in His state of exaltation, known to Him.

2. YET, WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT WHILE WE MAY NOT KNOW THE EXACT DAY OR HOUR OF CHRIST'S COMING, WE MAY KNOW WHEN IT IS NEAR AT HAND. (Matt.24:36-42; 1 Thess.5:1-5.)

There are certain "signs" which indicate its nearness:

General apostasy and departure from the faith (1 Tim.4:1; 2 Tim.3:1-5; Luke 18:8).

A time of great heaping up of wealth (James 5:1-9).

A time of great missionary activity (Matt.24:14). Consider the missionary activity of the last century. Is it not marvellous? Is it a "sign" of His coming?

The modern history of the Jews throws much light on the question of the nearness of Christ's coming. The following facts are interesting in this connection: The large number of Jews returning to Palestine; the waning of the power of the Turkish government, which has held Palestine with an iron hand and has excluded the Jew; the plans already before the nations to give the Holy Land to the Jews by consent of the powers; the early and latter rain in Palestine; railroads, electric lights, etc., now in the land long desolate -- the fig-tree is budding, and the hour of the coming is at hand.

It should not be forgotten in this connection that many of the signs mentioned refer primarily to the coming of Christ with His saints. But if that stage of the coming be near then surely the first stage of it must be. Other signs have reference to the first stage in the one great event of His coming, which is known as the "rapture" or Christ's coming for His saints.

3. IT SEEMS CLEAR FROM THE TEACHING OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT THE COMING OF CHRIST FOR HIS SAINTS AT ANY MOMENT.

By this is meant that there is nothing, so far as we can see from the teaching of the Scriptures and the signs of the times, to hinder the introduction of the Day of the Lord, or the Second Coming of Christ looked upon as a great whole -- a series of events, by Christ's coming to take His own people unto Himself. In other words, there is nothing to hinder the "rapture" or "parousia" -- the "epiphany," "manifestation," or "revelation" is something for a later day.

Some objections are offered to this view, which it will be well to examine and answer even though briefly.

First, That the Gospel has not been preached to the entire world (Matt.24:14), therefore the coming of Christ is not imminent.

Reply: We must understand the emphatic words of the text: By "end" is meant the end of the age; but the rapture, or Christ's coming for His saints, of which we are here speaking as being imminent, is not the end of the age. By "world" is meant the inhabited earth; by "Gospel," good news; by "witness," not conversion but testimony. Even if these events are to precede the "rapture," have they not all been fulfilled? See Acts 2:5; 8:4; Rom.10:18; Col.1:6, 23, for the answer, which is certainly in the affirmative. We must give the same meaning to the word "world" in Romans and Colossians that we do to Matt.24:14. Further, is the Church the only witness? See Rev.14:6. If the rapture is not the end of the age, and if an angel can proclaim the Gospel, why cannot part of the work of witnessing be carried on after the rapture?

Second, Peter, James, and John were told that they should not taste of death until they had seen the coming of Christ's kingdom (Matt.16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27).

Reply: True, but was not this fulfilled when they saw Christ on the Transfiguration Mount? Peter, who was there, in his second epistle (1:16-18) distinctly says it was thus fulfilled.

Third, the disciples were told that they shall not have gone over all the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes (Matt.10:23).

Reply: Mark 6:30, Luke 9:10 shows that they did not finish all the cities, nor is there evidence anywhere that they ever did, for Israel rejected the message of the kingdom. May it not be that under the restoration of the Jews and the preaching of the "two witnesses" (Rev.11) this shall be accomplished?

Fourth, Christ said "This generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled." See Matt.24:34; Luke 21:32; Mark 13:30. Reply: What is meant by a "generation"? Some would say "forty years," consequently the Master referred to the destruction of Jerusalem, which event was the second coming of Christ. But this is not necessarily the case. The word "generation" may refer to the Jewish race; cf. the use of the same Greek word in Matt.11:16; 16:4; Mark 8:38; Luke 7:31; 16:8; 17:25; Phil.2:15; Psa.22:30; 24:6. And in this connection consider carefully the wonderful preservation of the Jewish race. Other nations have passed away, having lost their identity; the Jew remains -- that generation (race) has not yet passed away, nor will it "till all these things be fulfilled." [FOOTNOTE: Jesus is Coming, by W.E.B., is heartily recommended as an exceedingly helpful book on this subject. The author is indebted thereto.]