The Bible Says . . .

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” -Luke 21:28

1. Can we be sure that Christ is coming back?

John 14:1-3. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself: that where I am. there ye may be also.

2. How does the Bible describe Christ's second coming?

Revelation 1:7. Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.

Matthew 24:27. 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.

• It will be visible to everyone.

Matthew 24:30, 31. And then shall all the tribes of the earth ... 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 the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

• All will see Him.
• The glory of God blazes forth with overwhelming power.
• The thunderous peal of a trumpet is heard.

Acts 1:11. 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.

Luke 24:36-39. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you But they were terrified, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And He said unto them, ... Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.

• His return is personal and physical, tangible and real.

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 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 them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• Christ will not touch the earth at His second coming. That is why Christ warned, “If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ; or there, believe it not” Mt. 24:23. The true Messiah will not appear on earth. Anyone on earth claiming to be the Messiah, no matter how great his miracles, signs, and wonders, is an impostor.

3. Are there any signs showing that Christ's coming is near?

Matthew 24:33. So likewise ye. when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Matthew 24:36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no. not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

• The hour and day is unknown, but its approach may be recognized from the signs of the times.

Daniel 12:4. But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book. even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

• In the last century there has been a vast increase in knowledge and travel, and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation have been unlocked.

Luke 21:26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.

Matthew 24:24-26. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you. Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Matthew 24:6-8. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences. and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

• Jesus says of these signs, $ldquo;But the end is not yet.” Calamities have occurred throughout earth's history as a constant reminder of Christ's sure return. As the end draws near, however, the frequency and severity of these events will increase.

Revelation 6:12, 13. And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs. when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

• In 1755 an earthquake centered in Lisbon, Portugal shook the entire European continent. On May 19, 1780 an unusual darkness was witnessed over North America and when the moon came up it was coppery red like blood. The Leonid meteor shower began the evening of November 12, 1833. It lasted all night and is estimated to have peaked at 60,000 meteors per hour. These events are generally recognized as fulfilling this prophecy.

Matthew 24:29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

• The tribulation spoken of here occurred during the 1260 year rule of the beast power of Revelation 13. See “The Beast Revealed” p. 14. This tribulation ceased around 1762 when the last “heretic” was martyred.

Matthew 24:37-39, 42. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until ... the flood came, and took them all away.

• People are more preoccupied with the amusements and responsibilities of life than with preparing for heaven.

2 Peter 3:3, 4. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming?

• Skepticism regarding the second coming is in itself a sign of the end.

2 Timothy 4:3, 4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but ... shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving. and being deceived.

• The evils listed here have been widespread since the fall of man, however as people reject God's Spirit there will be an increase in the intensity and prevalence of these evils.

James 5:1-4. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl ... Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord.

• In the last days there is tension between labor and capital as the rich pile up colossal fortunes, and the poor grow steadily poorer.

Isaiah 51:6. The earth shall wax old like a garment.

Revelation 11:18. Thou shouldest [God shall] ... destroy them which destroy the earth

• Man is destroying the earth and making it uninhabitable.

4. What events will take place just prior to Christ's coming

Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

• With the recent advances in communications and technology the gospel is reaching the unreached parts of the world at an ever-accelerating pace

Revelation 13:15-17. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

• A coalition of churches, will lead the world into rebellion against the true gospel. The principle of religious liberty will be abandoned, and those who refuse the mark of the beast will be condemned to death.

Daniel 12:1. And there shall be a time of trouble such is never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered.

Revelation 16:1. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

• There will be a time of unprecedented trouble on the earth before the Lord comes.

5. Why is Christ coming?

Revelation 22:12. And behold I come quickly and My reward is with Me to give every man according as his work shall be.

• He is coming to reward His people and execute judgment on the wicked.

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 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 them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord

• He is coming to gather His saints from every age and take them to heaven.

Revelation 20:14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

• He comes to put an end to Satan, sin, and death.

2 Peter 3:13. Nevertheless we, according to His promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

• He will restore the earth to its original beauty and splendor.

Revelation 19:6-8. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

• Those who follow Christ are represented in Revelation by the pure woman who becomes the Lamb's bride. What a marvelous reunion as Christ takes up His position as ruler of the universe.