The Second Coming - 6
End Time Events
End time events can be very confusing. Let’s try and put some in order. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 we read about the first resurrection which occurs at the time of the rapture. Then comes the seven years of Tribulation followed by the visible return of Christ the King and His millennial reign on earth. At the end of this all non-believers are resurrected to face the great white throne judgement and then the second death. The second death has no power over believers.
We always want to know when this will happen. The scriptures call us to spiritual watchfulness and a godly lifestyle so that as ‘sons of the light and sons of the day’ (1 Thessalonians 5 verse 5) we are not taken by surprise. Second coming teaching encourages us to live clean and holy lives. This is spelt out clearly in John’s first letter. “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming” (chapter 2 verse 28). “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope purifies himself just as He is pure” (chapter 3 verses 2 and 3).
One day, in the fullness of time, at the rapture the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the midst as the church of the first born is air lifted to glory and to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The residence of the Holy Spirit on earth will be withdrawn. The day of the Lord, frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, especially in the prophet Joel, will come upon the earth – ‘the day of Jacob’s trouble’, the painful culmination of Daniel’s seventieth week.
Do you realise, believer, that the very presence of the church, Christ’s body, on earth is delaying the coming judgement? It’s ‘as in the days of Lot’ (Genesis 19). Lot was not a dedicated man, but his very presence in Sodom held back the wrath of God until he was snatched away.
Some may recall the old hymn which said:-
“He is not a disappointment! He is coming by and by,
In my heart I have the witness that His coming draweth nigh.
All the scoffers may despise me and no change around may see,
But He tells me He is coming, and that’s quite enough for me!”
In Romans chapter 8 we’re told there’s a lot of groaning going on in this fallen world. To groan is to be burdened, to utter a deep moaning sound as in pain or grief. Paul writes “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of child birth right up to the present time” (verse 22). The whole universe craves release from the curse placed on it in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3 verse 17). How creation longs to be liberated from its bondage to decay. Christians are also groaning. “We ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (verse 23). Don’t you ever long for that day when you’ll have a new body, a resurrection body? No need for any more hearing aids, false teeth, walking sticks, Zimmer frames, stair lifts, wheel chairs. How we resent old age and yearn for the redemption of our bodies, delivered forever from decay and corruption. The Holy Spirit also groans as He helps us in our weakness. Paul writes, “We do not know what we ought to pray for but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (verse 26). This intercession by the Spirit for the saints is ‘in accordance with God’s will’ (verse 27). What we’re seeing are the death throes of one civilisation and the birth pangs of another.
In Daniel chapter 7 human history is portrayed as four savage beasts. This reveals the world’s true character. That’s what is hiding behind the statue’s refined and sophisticated façade in Daniel chapter 2. World empires, at heart, are unregenerate. Gentile powers and their rule which look so impressive in men’s eyes, when impacted ultimately by God’s kingdom, will be, like the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, smashed to pieces (Daniel 2 verses 31 and 35). The rock ‘cut out, but not by human hands, that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth’ is Messiah and His kingdom rule. It’s as if Gentile history is presented as a dream, just an image, and then you wake up in the morning to the reality of God’s kingdom ruling over all. O Lord, lighten our darkness, for in Your light we shall see light!