The Second Coming Of Christ
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9). This was the ascension of Christ. The disciples were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives and suddenly Jesus was lifted up before their eyes. They saw Jesus go up. Then they saw a cloud and then they didn't see Jesus any longer. Some of these disciples had seen this cloud before (Luke 9:28-36).
Transfiguration|Ascension|
A cloud|A cloud|
Disciples saw two men: Moses & Elijah|Disciples see two men in white clothing: Angels|
When it was over, only Jesus and the disciples remained|When it is over only the two men and the disciples remain|
What was this cloud? It was likely the Shekinah Cloud, the cloud that hid the presence of God in the days of the Old Testament. It was the same cloud of smoke that Isaiah saw in Isaiah 6:4. It was the same cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness. It was the cloud that filled the tabernacle and it was the cloud that filled the Temple. It was the cloud that represented and which hid the presence of God. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11). Who are these two men? They are called “two males” (avndrhj du,o). If they are the same as those described in the parallel account in Luke 24:4, then they are angels. Their words seem almost by way of a rebuke. “Why are you standing here looking? Why aren't you headed back to Jerusalem where He told you to go?” The message of the two men is that the going of Christ will one day be reversed. He who went up and was hidden by a cloud will one day return in the clouds. As He left, so shall be His return. How did He leave? From the Mount of Olives. In the clouds. In a visible manner. This is not the only promise of the Second Coming, but this is one of the most striking because it is accompanied by a visual lesson. If you want to know the nature of the Second Coming, then look at the way Jesus departed, for the angels clearly stated that His return will be in “just the same way.”
Description|Testimony of Scripture|
His Coming Will Be Visible|Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him (Revelation 1:7).|
His Coming Will Be Audible|For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God... (1 Thessalonians 4:16).|
His Coming Will Open the Graves|...and the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).|
His Coming will bring judgment|For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds (Matthew 16:27).|
His Coming will involve a gathering of God's people|And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:31).
We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17).| To this list, we can also add that His coming will be a surprise. While the Scriptures do say that Jesus is coming like a thief, the Scriptures point out that His “thiefly coming” will be anything but secret or quiet. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10). This is not a quiet coming. But it is unexpected and hence can be likened to the coming of a thief. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
Once again this coming is not secret. It comes with all of the force of a woman going into labor. I can tell you from experience as both a father and a grandfather that such things do not take place secretly. The point instead is that it hits unexpectedly and without warning. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (Matthew 24:43-44). The point is that, because the return of Christ will be without warning, we are to always be ready and in anticipation, living in the light of His return. The teaching of the unexpectedness of His coming is a call to faithful living.