THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING

THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING

 

 

• The time is not revealed

No possible way to ascertain chronologically the time, since the age of Grace is indefinite in length and was unforeseen i.e. it was contingent. 
1 Thess. 5:1-2 deals with order not chronology. "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

Mark 13:32 "Knoweth no one" A deterrent to the curiosity mongers.
Cf. Matt. 24:36 - same teaching - "But my Father only."
Acts 1:6, 7 "Not for you to know the times or seasons."
Every kind of time involved -
In Mark   Hour - brief period        
                         Day - longer period

Every type of person1. The Son
2. The Angels

In Acts
Every kind of time involved
Season - longer period
Times - extended period
Every type of person
3. The Disciples
4. Every One
In both Mark and Acts the Father alone knows

• The time always imminent

Impending, liable to happen

Definition:

Mark 13:33-37 Night divided into four watches. Can't tell in which he will come.

Luke 12:35-46 (The key to the parable of the virgins is in Matt. 25. Vs. 40 has to do with time and not attitudes of unexpectedness. Neither knew the time. (Luke - in Father's house. Matt. - in the bridegroom's house. Two parts to the Jewish Wedding.)

cf. Phil 3:20; Heb. 9:28; Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 5:6

 

Argument: Either the Lord deceived us, or His coming is imminent. There is no prophesied event that stands between the present moment and the Second Coming of the Lord.

Objection: What about the signs? The second coming of the Lord is a vast thing. Signs point to the revelation in glory and not necessarily to the rapture. We should look for His coming not for signs.

 

• The time in relation to the Millennium

Rev. 19:11-16 with 20:1-6 Very important The word Millennium (1000) is used 6 times in these passages.

Cf. all O.T. prophecy which teaches a period of judgment first and then a period of Divine Rule following.

Cf. Alford on Rev. 20 who says that anyone reading this passage with an unprejudiced mind would see that the second coming is before the Millennium. Therefore if a man were to read this for the first time, he would believe in the pre-tribulational coming of Christ.

 

• Contrast Post-Millennialism and its Implications

Fundamentals of Post-Millennialism

1. Christ will come after the Millennium

2. The Church must bring in the Millennium

3. The World would gradually improve

4. O.T. prophecies are either spiritualized or actualized by science, in a somewhat dissipated fashion.

5. First Resurrection of Rev. 20 is spiritual.

6. Only one general resurrection

7. Only one general judgment.

 

• The Robbery of Post-Millennialism

1. Robs the Christian of his confidence in plain statements of the Bible.

2. Robs the Church of the Blessed Hope.

3. Robs Israel of all her promises. Calling Christ a liar.

4. Robs Christ of His throne.

5. Robs earth of her deliverance.

6. Robs the mission of the Church of its simplicity.

7. Robs the Bible of its warnings and predictions about the end of the age.

8. Robs the dead Christian of a special resurrection.

9. Robs the atonement of Christ of its blessed result (John 5:24).

Post-Millennialism says the believer will come into judgment calling Paul a liar.

 

• Results of Post-Millennialism in the Church.

1. Caused the Church to assume temporal power. (Politics)

2. Since the Kingdom is not being brought in, the Church leaders are blaming the gospel and attempting to change it.

3. The Roman Catholic Church exercised temporal rule for over 1500 years for they believe the Church is the Kingdom.

4. Fear any movement by the Church to take temporal power - the ruling Church will loose holiness.

 

• If the time seems long, the Bible reveals the reason

James 5:5-7 "Husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth."

2 Peter 3:8-9, 15 "Not planning that any should perish, but that they might have plenty of time to repent."