Part 9 of 12 / The Second Coming

Introduction: The King Returns

While the Rapture takes the Church to meet Christ in the air, the Second Coming refers to Christ's visible return to earth to judge the wicked, defeat the Antichrist, and establish His Millennial Kingdom. This event fulfills promises made throughout Scripture - from the prophets in the Old Testament to the words of Jesus in the Gospels and the writings of the Apostles.

Understanding the Second Coming helps believers distinguish between the Rapture and Christ's return to reign, while inspiring hope readiness, and worship.

Scriptural Foundation

"But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." - Matthew 24:29-31

"Behold , H e is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen." - Revelation 1:7

"You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything."

- Revelation 12:11

Key Elements Of The Second Coming

1. Visible & Glorious

   
   

   1. Unlike the Rapture, which may be sudden and secretive for believers, the Second Coming is public and unmistakable:

      
      

      1. Every eye will see Him.

         - Revelation 1:7, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen."

         
         

      2. Christ will come with angels and power.

         - Matthew 24:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory; and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels."

         
         

      3. Cosmic signs will accompany His arrival - a darkened sun, falling stars, and shaking heavens.

         - Matthew 24:29, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."

   
   

2. Judgment Of The Wicked

   
   

   1. Christ returns to execute justice on the earth:

      
      

      1. The Antichrist and False Prophet are defeated and cast into the lake of fire.

         - "Revelation 19:20, "And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone."

         
         

      2. Nations that oppose God are judged.

         - Revelation 19:15, "From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty."

         
         

      3. Sins and rebellion are confronted, and evil is restrained.

3. Rescue Of Israel And The Elect

   
   

   1. At Christ's return, Israel experiences national restoration:

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      1. Israel recognizes the Messiah and mourns because of their rejection of Him.

         - Zechariah 12:10-14, “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be great, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; all the families that are left, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves."

         
         

      2. Christ gathers the elect, completing the Rapture promises for those not taken earlier.

         - Matthew 24:31, "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."

         
         

      3. Cosmic signs will accompany His arrival - a darkened sun, falling stars, and shaking heavens.

         - Matthew 24:29, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."

         
         

4. Establishment Of The Millennial Kingdom

   
   

   1. Unlike the Rapture, which may be sudden and secretive for believers, the Second Coming is public and unmistakable:

      
      

      1. Satan is bound for the Millennium

         - Revelation 20:1-3, "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time."

         
         

      2. Christ reigns from Jerusalem, fulfilling Messianic Prophecies

         - Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:9, "Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the L ord Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the L ord , To the house of the God of Jacob; So that He may teach us about His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go out from Zion And the word of the L ord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, And will mediate for many peoples; And they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, And never again will they learn war; And the L ord will be King over all the earth; on that day the L ord will be the only one, and His name the only one."

         
         

      3. Nations will experience justice, righteousness, and peace under God's authority.

         
         

Timeline Within The Tribulation

• Event _ Rapture

  • Description _ Believers caught up to meet Christ in the air.

  
  

• Event _ Tribulation

  • Description _ Antichrist rises, global suffering, God's judgment poured out.

  
  

• Event _ Second Coming

  • Description _ Christ returns visibly to earth, defeats evil, gathers elect, begins Millennium.

  
  

• Event _ Millennial Kingdom

  • Description _ 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth.

  
  

• Event _ Final Judgment

  • Description _ Satan released, judged; new heaven and new earth established.

Living In The Light Of The Second Coming

Hopeful Expectation

• Christ's return ensures justice and ultimate victory.

Motivation For Holiness

• 2 Peter 3:11-12 urges believers to live holy and Godly lives as we await the day of God.

  
  

Evangelistic Urgency

• Knowing Christ will return to udge motivates sharing teh Gospel with urgency.

Summary

• The Second Coming Is Distinct From The Rapture, Visible To All, And Accompanied By Cosmic Signs.

• Christ will judge the wicked, defeated the Antichrist, and establish His Millennial Kingdom.

• Believers are called to live faithfully, watchfully, and expectantly.

Reflection & Discussion

1. How does knowing Christ will return publicly change the way you view the world?

2. What lessons from the Second Coming can you apply in your personal walk with Christ?

3. How does the certainty of Christ's reign give you hope amid your current trials?

Prayer For This Week

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the promise of Your Second Coming. We rejoice that You will return to defeat evil, rescue Your people, and establish Your righteous reign. Keep us faithful, steadfast, and watchful, living in holiness and hope as we anticipate Your glorious appearing. In Your Mighty Name, Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Until Next Week ~ Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!