His different comings and the events connected to them

As with every Bible theme, we find the passages about the return of Christ and about His various other comings, scattered everywhere. These Scriptures must be properly put together and placed rightfully where they belong to. Indeed, there are several comings, but only one return of Christ, when He, the Heavenly Bridegroom, will meet the earthly Bride in the air (I Th. 4: 13-18) and take her home to the wedding supper (Rev. 19: 1-10).

The return of Christ was not mentioned in the so-called “Apostolic Creed” — of which the early apostles, of course, had no knowledge, as it was only formulated in the 4th century A.D. The taking away of the true believers (or “rapture”, to use the term as some expositors will do) — this great event which takes place at the end of the time of grace for the gen-tiles, was not even mentioned in that Creed. It says only, “…from hence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” The final judgment known as the “White Throne Judgment” will only be after the one thousand years reign (Rev. 20: 11-15).

The incorrect teachings about this theme were already introduced in the first centuries after Christ. We continue to find them — perhaps in a slightly altered form — even in some churches today. Augustine (354-430) who is very highly regarded by some church historians, taught that the new birth is the first resurrection. But Paul, who was held in high esteem by Augustine, was trying to attain the first resurrection as his final goal, even though he was already born again and was filled with the Holy Ghost (Phil. 3: 10-11). According to Augustine, Satan was already bound, and the church was looked upon as to be in the Millenial reign. The united power of state and church became known as the “God-state”.

We shall not take time to refer to what men have said through the ages, but simply set out the biblical standpoint. Strangely, not one of the apos-tles has dealt exhaustively with the subject of the return of Christ from beginning to end; rather, many Scriptures are scattered throughout the Bible and they have to be properly placed. The believers in the days of the apostles had the privilege of listening to many of the teachings and preachings on these subjects. Paul, for instance, could say that he was preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20: 27). Apparently, in their letters to the churches, the apostles took it for granted that these things were already known. They simply reminded them here and there of what they had previously taught in the different local assemblies. To paint a complete picture of the subject, we have to search for the respective places in the whole Scriptures and put them rightfully together.

From the Gospel of Matthew right to the end of the Book of Revelation we find statements about the various comings of the Lord and about His return. Therefore, it is necessary to search carefully to find out on every occasion what coming is being spoken of. These scriptural references are not set in a chronological order.

To see how important it is to understand what is being spoken of, we will choose two Bible passages. Sometimes they may sound similar, and yet can be referring to totally different events or sets of circumstances. In Mt. 25: 1-10 we are told of those who would be ready when the Bridegroom comes and they go with Him into the Wedding Supper. In Lk. 12: 35–40 we read of those who wait for their Lord, as He comes back from the Wedding Supper. Between these two events is a space of years, and two different comings and two different groups are being spoken of. At the same time similar or even the same words — for example “Wedding Sup-per”, “lamps” and being “ready” — are found in both of these Scriptures.

Various events are connected with every coming of the Lord. It is im-portant to keep in mind that there was the fulfilment of over a hundred prophecies at the first coming of Christ. As touching the New Testament church, she experiences three comings: The first time the Lord came as Saviour to redeem His own; the second time He comes as Bride-groom to take the redeemed home (which will be His promised return); and thirdly, after the Wedding Supper He comes with His own (Rev. 19: 11‑16) to fight all the forces of the enemy, after which He establishes the millenial reign on earth.

We shall deal primarily with the return of Christ and the taking away of the Bride church at His second coming. The attainment of this highest goal is the longing of every redeemed. All true believers have waited to see that day, since Christ ascended to heaven. He said before leaving His own, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14: 2-3). Time and again He has referred to this great event.

In Mt. 24 the disciples showed their master the beautiful temple. To their astonishment His response to this was, “See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mt. 24: 2).

After this they asked Him three questions:

1) “Tell us, when shall these things be?”

2) “and what shall be the sign of thy coming?”

3) “and of the end of the age?” All who read the chapter carefully will note that Jesus an-swered those three questions. In reference to His second coming He said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 27).

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 37).

“… and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 39).

“Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Mt. 24: 42).

“Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Mt. 24: 44).

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage” (Mt. 25: 10).

“Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk. 21: 36).

During the days of the apostles and the early christian era there was a living hope and expectation of the return of Jesus Christ in the hearts of those who believed. Many Bible passages give witness to this hope. Please consider also the following scriptural references prayerfully.

“… when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you” (Acts 3: 19b-20)

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11: 26).

“… how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come” (I Th. 1: 9–10).

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (I Th. 2: 19).

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (I Th. 4: 16).

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Th. 5: 23).

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” (II Th. 2: 1).

“… that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Tim. 6: 14).

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (II Tim. 4: 8).

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10: 37).

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord … Be ye also patient, establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth near” (Jas. 5: 7–8).

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …” (II Pet. 1: 16).

“… knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” (II Pet. 3: 3–4).

“Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I Jn. 3: 2).

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; but every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (I Cor. 15: 22-23).

His different comings and the events connected to them

As with every Bible theme, we find the passages about the return of Christ and about His various other comings, scattered everywhere. These Scriptures must be properly put together and placed rightfully where they belong to. Indeed, there are several comings, but only one return of Christ, when He, the Heavenly Bridegroom, will meet the earthly Bride in the air (I Th. 4: 13-18) and take her home to the wedding supper (Rev. 19: 1-10).

The return of Christ was not mentioned in the so-called “Apostolic Creed” — of which the early apostles, of course, had no knowledge, as it was only formulated in the 4th century A.D. The taking away of the true believers (or “rapture”, to use the term as some expositors will do) — this great event which takes place at the end of the time of grace for the gen-tiles, was not even mentioned in that Creed. It says only, “…from hence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” The final judgment known as the “White Throne Judgment” will only be after the one thousand years reign (Rev. 20: 11-15).

The incorrect teachings about this theme were already introduced in the first centuries after Christ. We continue to find them — perhaps in a slightly altered form — even in some churches today. Augustine (354-430) who is very highly regarded by some church historians, taught that the new birth is the first resurrection. But Paul, who was held in high esteem by Augustine, was trying to attain the first resurrection as his final goal, even though he was already born again and was filled with the Holy Ghost (Phil. 3: 10-11). According to Augustine, Satan was already bound, and the church was looked upon as to be in the Millenial reign. The united power of state and church became known as the “God-state”.

We shall not take time to refer to what men have said through the ages, but simply set out the biblical standpoint. Strangely, not one of the apos-tles has dealt exhaustively with the subject of the return of Christ from beginning to end; rather, many Scriptures are scattered throughout the Bible and they have to be properly placed. The believers in the days of the apostles had the privilege of listening to many of the teachings and preachings on these subjects. Paul, for instance, could say that he was preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20: 27). Apparently, in their letters to the churches, the apostles took it for granted that these things were already known. They simply reminded them here and there of what they had previously taught in the different local assemblies. To paint a complete picture of the subject, we have to search for the respective places in the whole Scriptures and put them rightfully together.

From the Gospel of Matthew right to the end of the Book of Revelation we find statements about the various comings of the Lord and about His return. Therefore, it is necessary to search carefully to find out on every occasion what coming is being spoken of. These scriptural references are not set in a chronological order.

To see how important it is to understand what is being spoken of, we will choose two Bible passages. Sometimes they may sound similar, and yet can be referring to totally different events or sets of circumstances. In Mt. 25: 1-10 we are told of those who would be ready when the Bridegroom comes and they go with Him into the Wedding Supper. In Lk. 12: 35–40 we read of those who wait for their Lord, as He comes back from the Wedding Supper. Between these two events is a space of years, and two different comings and two different groups are being spoken of. At the same time similar or even the same words — for example “Wedding Sup-per”, “lamps” and being “ready” — are found in both of these Scriptures.

Various events are connected with every coming of the Lord. It is im-portant to keep in mind that there was the fulfilment of over a hundred prophecies at the first coming of Christ. As touching the New Testament church, she experiences three comings: The first time the Lord came as Saviour to redeem His own; the second time He comes as Bride-groom to take the redeemed home (which will be His promised return); and thirdly, after the Wedding Supper He comes with His own (Rev. 19: 11‑16) to fight all the forces of the enemy, after which He establishes the millenial reign on earth.

We shall deal primarily with the return of Christ and the taking away of the Bride church at His second coming. The attainment of this highest goal is the longing of every redeemed. All true believers have waited to see that day, since Christ ascended to heaven. He said before leaving His own, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14: 2-3). Time and again He has referred to this great event.

In Mt. 24 the disciples showed their master the beautiful temple. To their astonishment His response to this was, “See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mt. 24: 2).

After this they asked Him three questions:

1) “Tell us, when shall these things be?”

2) “and what shall be the sign of thy coming?”

3) “and of the end of the age?” All who read the chapter carefully will note that Jesus an-swered those three questions. In reference to His second coming He said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 27).

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 37).

“… and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt. 24: 39).

“Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Mt. 24: 42).

“Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Mt. 24: 44).

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage” (Mt. 25: 10).

“Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk. 21: 36).

During the days of the apostles and the early christian era there was a living hope and expectation of the return of Jesus Christ in the hearts of those who believed. Many Bible passages give witness to this hope. Please consider also the following scriptural references prayerfully.

“… when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you” (Acts 3: 19b-20)

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11: 26).

“… how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come” (I Th. 1: 9–10).

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (I Th. 2: 19).

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (I Th. 4: 16).

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Th. 5: 23).

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” (II Th. 2: 1).

“… that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Tim. 6: 14).

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (II Tim. 4: 8).

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10: 37).

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord … Be ye also patient, establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth near” (Jas. 5: 7–8).

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …” (II Pet. 1: 16).

“… knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” (II Pet. 3: 3–4).

“Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I Jn. 3: 2).

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; but every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (I Cor. 15: 22-23).