KCU/03/Jesa

Topic 22: Second Coming conscious? Question: Based on what you know from the Bible & other sources (including the Theology Matters reading), how do you think we should live in light of the Second Coming? (Be sure to do more research into the issue. If the group cannot come to a consensus, feel free to have different group members each express their own opinions.)

Asheem Dahal contribution

Jesus Christ is coming one, but we regard his coming as progressive and not to be confined to any single event. In one sense, the coming of Christ refers to "his presence in the Church and in the hearts of believers". He has come again and again at great crises and turning points in the history of the world. These coming have been not only to judgement but also for the justice and righteousnes. The coming will be nothing less than the personal, visible, and glorious return of the same Jesus who ascended into heaven. Some scholars hold that Christ will come in two stages: first secretly, later, openly to be seen by all. Having returned to earth, Jesus Christ will be the judge of the nations and of every person who has ever lived. At his coming, the old universe will be marveously regenerated in order to be born as "new heaven and earth". Those who are alive at second coming of Jesus experience the transformation of their earthly, perishable bodies.

Comparison between first coming and second coming

In His first coming, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manager in Bethlehem, just as prophesied. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. However, there are some prophecies regarding the Messiah that Jesus has not, as of yet, fulfilled. The Second Coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill these remaining prophecies. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering servant. In His Second Coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances. In His Second Coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of Heaven at His side.

Some written scriptures which shows that Jesus will come back.

Jesus promised His disciples He would come again. It's in the Bible, John 14:1-3, TLB. "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there."

What will we see and hear when He comes? It's in the Bible, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

Does anyone know the exact time of Christ's coming? It's in the Bible, Matthew 24:36, NIV. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Will Christ's coming be a time of reward? It's in the Bible, Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 22:12, NIV. "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

At Jesus' second coming, we will fully experience the reality of our salvation. It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 1:7-8, TLB. "Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing His will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when He returns."

Works cited from Coming Day by Oscar L. Joseph, New int'l dict of Bible.

Jake Lewis's contribution

The second coming. What is it exactly?

To understand what is meant by the second coming, you first have to know what the first coming is. The first coming refers to Jesus Christ's life here on Earth for the first time. This includes his teachings, miracles, dying on the cross, and his resurrection, all of which were for the greater good and to allow salvation for us. The second coming, although never mentioned as that in the Bible, refers to when Jesus is supposed to come back down to Earth, and take all his "children" back up to Heaven with him. Some phrases that the second coming term has originated from is: "First and the Last," "The Beginning and End," "The Alpha to Omega."

Predictions of the Second Coming

Many people have decided that they can predict when the Second Coming will be. A personal one of mine that I have studied is at a local state park, Carter Caves State Resort Park. In Saltpetre Cave, there is a signature wall, deep in the depths of the cave, by a church group from Portsmouth, Ohio. The dates are dated from July 17- July 19, 1869. What happened, was that their Reverend took them down to the cave for refuge during this period that was supposed to be the Second Coming of Christ. Only after 3 days of staying in the cave, did the congregation body realize that their leader was in fact wrong in his prediction and they left to proceed on with their lives.

Some other more known prediction on the Second Coming involve people such as: 1. Charles Taze Russell - 1874 2. Sun Myung Moon - 1917-1930 3. Harold Camping - 1994 4. Nostradamus - 1999 and several others.

Truth of the matter is that Jesus Christ will come when it is least expected. NO ONE, except the Heavenly Father, himself, knows the exact time when he will come. Acts 1:6-12 refers to Jesus talking to his disciples and them concerned on when he will come back. The scripture states: "So when the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards the sky, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go to heaven."

Different Views on the Second Coming

1. Jesus has already come down to Earth once, and the next time he comes down will be when he takes all of his followers up to heaven with him, and the unfaithful will be left here on Earth to face the consequences of Satan's rule, and live eternally in Hell. (Majority Christians)

2. Jesus, the Messiah, has yet to come down to Earth. Instead, Jesus, is viewed as a prophet and the real Messiah has yet to show himself. (Jews)

3. Same as first, except after the second coming, there will be a second chance to accept Jesus, while the anti-Christ is ruling/ coming to power here on Earth. (Left Behind Theories)

How should we live our lives in the light of the second coming?

1. Live our lives fully everyday, worshiping His name, and spreading the word of the Gospel, because he could come back at any moment, and we have to be ready for it. (Majority Christians)

2. Follow the old Law, because the Messiah has yet to reveal himself, and build his Earthly kingdom. (Jews)

3. Same as first, except if what you "give" is good enough at the second coming, then there is still yet another chance to "give" after the Rapture. (Left Behind Theories)