The Second Coming, part 2 0f 2

Today’s program is a continuation of last week, on the subject of the “Second Coming” of Christ.

Recap of last weeks’ program:

•  “Second Coming” Terminology
  • Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest expressions of the Christian faith, dating from the earliest times of the church
  • But the term “Second Coming” is nowhere to be found in the Apostles’ Creed — nor in the Bible itself for that matter
  • “Second Coming” is a man-made term, but has become widespread
• Problems with “Second Coming” Terminology

1. Jesus “came back,” “returned” or “appeared” at least 12 times during the 40 days after His crucifixion, all recorded in the Bible. Could there have been more?
2. “Second Coming” implies that Jesus was once here, and will come back some day, but He’s not here now. Jesus says otherwise.

• “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)
• “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you” (John 14:18)
• Jesus is, in fact, always here, though we may not always perceive Him

3. “Second Coming” terminology makes either miss, or misconstrue any other “coming” of Jesus, even when clearly spelled out in the Bible

• We tend to miss, or misconstrue Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:30, “this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened,” leading to erroneous conclusions

1. Jesus either lied or was mistaken, i.e. Bertrand Russell in “Why I am not a Christian” and recent Mormon YouTube accusation
2. Distort Jesus’ words, to arrive at a completely backwards understanding, evading clear meaning of the text

• Exploration of Matthew 24:30
  • This verse is replicated by John in Revelation 1:7
  • Combines Daniel 7:13 & Zechariah 12:10
  • Incorporates both of these OT texts by reference
• God’s destruction of Israel in the Jewish War of 66 AD to 73 AD was an act of vengeance
  • Israel is God’s wedded, covenental wife
  • Israel did not recognize her own husband who had come to her in the flesh
  • Not only did Israel not recognize her husband, she actually killed him
  • Despite this, God held out an olive branch of peace to Israel, to all who would repent – but it was a limited time offer
  • When God had had enough, he capitally punished his unfaithful wife, by stoning her to death

(Isaiah 19:1; Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 12:10-14; Matthew 16:28, 24:1-34, 26:63–64, 28:20; Luke 2:1, 21:20-22; John 11:25-26, 14:18, 19:15; Acts 1; 1 Corinthians 15:19, 45; 2 Corinthians 1:20, Revelation 1:7, 21:3-4)