THE MANNER OF HIS COMING

While the Bible says that Satan will counterfeit Christ's second coming. he will not be allowed to counterfeit the manner of His coming, and no one need be deceived. See Matt. 24:23-27.

WHAT WILL THE SECOND COMING BE LIKE?

The Bible says the second coming will be visible, audible, glorious, and that He will not touch the ground.

"While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And two men stood by them in white apparel: Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11.

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him," Rev. 1:7.

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Matt. 25:31.

"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:27.

"And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from . . . one end of heaven to the other." Matt. 24:30, 31.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord," I Thess. 4:16, 17.

WILL IT BE UNEXPECTED?

The Bible speaks of the second coming more than 1800 times, so this event should not be a surprise to those who are watching for it. Christ's coming as a thief points not to secrecy but surprise, despite the worldwide advance proclamation of His return. Although people have been well warned, most will not be watching for Christ's return. Thus His coming will be as unexpected as if they had never heard anything about it.

"The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night . . . But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. . . . Therefore let us not sleep, as do others: but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. 5:2, 4, 6.

"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;* . . Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. . . . If the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, . . . Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matt. 24:37-44; cf. 2 Pet. 3:10-12. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth," Rev. 16:15.

* Noah warned the people of a coming flood for one hundred twenty years before it came and took them all away. See Gen. 6:3.