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PROMISE AND PREDICTION
In Hebrews 9:28 there is reference to the completed work of Christ and to His future work at the end of history: “So Christ was offered to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” The writer affirms that Christ is coming a second time.
There are only two comings of the Lord: the first and the second. The first coming was “to bear the sins of many”; He is coming “a second time” for salvation, that is, to effect the eternal salvation of those He redeemed at His first coming. His first coming has taken place, over 2,000 years ago; those who belong to Him are waiting for Him to come “a second time” (see: One Second Coming). The Second Coming of Christ is mentioned throughout the New Testament. It is promised by Christ and predicted by others, even predicted by angels.
Promised by Christ – Repeatedly Christ promised or stated that He would come again:
Predicted by others – in addition to the above statements by Jesus there are supporting statements from others:
Angels:
Paul:
Peter:
James:
John:
Writer of Hebrews:
These statements from the Scriptures make the event certain. If the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God and constitute normative Revelation, then the events that they affirm have already occurred (history) or will occur in the future (prophecy). The fact is that the Bible can be trusted (see: The Significance of Truth). And without doubt the Bible predicts and avows that Jesus will return to this earth at the end of days.
Though the return of Christ is certain, no one knows when it will take place. On at least two occasions Jesus makes this point; He stated the truth during His life and following His resurrection:
Without specifying a particular time, the Scriptures do indicate signs by which the discerning believer will know that the end is approaching (see: Signs of His Coming). It is not necessary for the followers of Christ to know the specific date of His Return; to know that He will return is sufficient.
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PROMISE AND PREDICTION
In Hebrews 9:28 there is reference to the completed work of Christ and to His future work at the end of history: “So Christ was offered to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” The writer affirms that Christ is coming a second time.
There are only two comings of the Lord: the first and the second. The first coming was “to bear the sins of many”; He is coming “a second time” for salvation, that is, to effect the eternal salvation of those He redeemed at His first coming. His first coming has taken place, over 2,000 years ago; those who belong to Him are waiting for Him to come “a second time” (see: One Second Coming). The Second Coming of Christ is mentioned throughout the New Testament. It is promised by Christ and predicted by others, even predicted by angels.
Promised by Christ – Repeatedly Christ promised or stated that He would come again:
For as the
lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24: 27);
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30);
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:37, 39);
you do not know what hour your Lord is coming (Matt. 24:42);
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matt. 24:44);
when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him (Matt. 25:31);
Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matt. 26:64);
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels (Mk. 8:38);
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also (Jo. 14:3);
If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you (John 21:23);
Behold, I am coming quickly (Rev. 22:7);
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work (Rev. 22:12);
Surely I am coming quickly (Rev. 22:20).
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30);
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:37, 39);
you do not know what hour your Lord is coming (Matt. 24:42);
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matt. 24:44);
when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him (Matt. 25:31);
Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matt. 26:64);
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels (Mk. 8:38);
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also (Jo. 14:3);
If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you (John 21:23);
Behold, I am coming quickly (Rev. 22:7);
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work (Rev. 22:12);
Surely I am coming quickly (Rev. 22:20).
Predicted by others – in addition to the above statements by Jesus there are supporting statements from others:
Angels:
This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like
manner as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).
Paul:
eagerly
waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 1:7);
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (I Cor. 15: 23);
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20);
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4);
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? (I Thess. 2:19);
so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints (I Thess. 3:13);
For this we say to you . . . the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (I Thess. 4:15-16);
and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels . . . when He comes, in that Day to be glorified in His saints (II Thess. 1:7, 10);
blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing (I Tim. 6:14);
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (II Tim. 4:8);
looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:13).
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (I Cor. 15: 23);
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20);
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4);
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? (I Thess. 2:19);
so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints (I Thess. 3:13);
For this we say to you . . . the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (I Thess. 4:15-16);
and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels . . . when He comes, in that Day to be glorified in His saints (II Thess. 1:7, 10);
blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing (I Tim. 6:14);
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (II Tim. 4:8);
looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:13).
Peter:
Repent
therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times
of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He
may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before . . . (Acts
3:19-20);
In this you rejoice . . . that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:6-7);
the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:13);
that when His glory is revealed (I Pet. 4:13);
but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (II Pet. 3:10);
looking and hastening the coming of the day of God (II Pet. 3:12).
In this you rejoice . . . that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:6-7);
the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:13);
that when His glory is revealed (I Pet. 4:13);
but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (II Pet. 3:10);
looking and hastening the coming of the day of God (II Pet. 3:12).
James:
Therefore be
patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord . . . for the coming of the Lord
is at hand (Jas. 5:7-8).
John:
abide in Him,
that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at
His coming (I Jo. 2:28);
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7).
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7).
Writer of Hebrews:
To those who
eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from
sin, for salvation (Heb. 9:28).
These statements from the Scriptures make the event certain. If the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God and constitute normative Revelation, then the events that they affirm have already occurred (history) or will occur in the future (prophecy). The fact is that the Bible can be trusted (see: The Significance of Truth). And without doubt the Bible predicts and avows that Jesus will return to this earth at the end of days.
Though the return of Christ is certain, no one knows when it will take place. On at least two occasions Jesus makes this point; He stated the truth during His life and following His resurrection:
But of that
day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father
only . . . therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at
an hour you do not expect (Matt. 24:36, 44; Mk. 13:31-32);
It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (Acts 1:7).
It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (Acts 1:7).
Without specifying a particular time, the Scriptures do indicate signs by which the discerning believer will know that the end is approaching (see: Signs of His Coming). It is not necessary for the followers of Christ to know the specific date of His Return; to know that He will return is sufficient.
Return to: The Blessed Hope; Next Article: Terminology
For overview of THEOLOGY, see: Site Map - Theology