Basic Bible Doctrine (Part 17) - The Second Coming of Christ

XIII. The Second Coming of Christ 1. This Basic Bible Doctrine series started by covering things that took place before time began and will end by covering things that will take place after time ends. 2. What will the second coming of Christ be like? How will we know when it happens? A. When Jesus left this earth after His resurrection, angels told the disciples who watched him depart into heaven that he would return in like manner (Act 1:9-11). i. Like - 1. Having the same characteristics or qualities as some other person or thing; of approximately identical shape, size, colour, character, etc., with something else; similar; resembling; analogous. ii. Manner - 1. a. The way in which something is done or takes place; method of action; mode of procedure. iii. Therefore Jesus will return in a way which has the same characteristics and qualities, and is similar, resembling, and approximately identical to the way that He left. B. Jesus left this earth: i. bodily (Luk 24:36-43). ii. tangibly (Joh 20:26-27) a. Tangibly - adv. in a tangible manner b. Tangible - adj. 1. a. Capable of being touched; affecting the sense of touch; touchable. iii. visibly (while they beheld, he was taken up...out of their sight) (Act 1:9). iv. audibly (while he blessed them) (Luk 24:51). C. Therefore His return will be: i. bodily - Jesus will come in His body (eyes, head, clothes, mouth, thigh) (Rev 19:11-16). ii. visibly a. They shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven (Mat 24:30). b. The Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED from heaven (2Th 1:7). 1) Reveal - 1. trans. To disclose, make known (to one) in a supernatural manner. 2. To disclose, divulge, make known (to one) by discourse or communication. 3. To display, show, make clear or visible, exhibit. c. In FLAMING FIRE... (2Th 1:8). d. The BRIGHTNESS of his coming (2Th 2:8). e. The heavens being ON FIRE...(2Pe 3:12). iii. audibly a. A GREAT SOUND of a TRUMPET (Mat 24:31). b. The Lord himself shall descend with a SHOUT (1Th 4:16). c. With the VOICE of the archangel (1Th 4:16). d. With the TRUMP of God (1Th 4:16). e. The heavens shall pass away with A GREAT NOISE (2Pe 3:10). iv. tangibly - it will be a very touching experience for the wicked (2Th 1:7-9). 3. What will happen? A. Jesus will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire (2Th 1:7-8). B. He will appear in the clouds (Mat 24:30). C. He will descend from heaven (1Th 4:16). D. The devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all the armies that gathered together to make war against Jesus Christ will be destroyed and cast into the lake of fire (2Th 1:7-9; 2Th 2:8-9; Rev 19:19-20; Rev 20:8-10). E. He will resurrect the dead (1Th 4:16). i. The resurrection of the dead will be both of the just and unjust (Act 24:15). ii. There will only be one resurrection of all that are in the graves (Joh 5:28). iii. Of all those who are resurrected, the righteous will be resurrected to eternal life and the wicked will be resurrected to eternal damnation (Joh 5:29; Dan 12:2). F. The elect will be gathered from the four winds of the earth (Mat 24:31). G. The elect which are alive at the second coming will meet the Lord in the air with the elect which were resurrected (1Th 4:17). H. All will be judged at that time (2Ti 4:1; Mat 25:31-33). I. Those judged according to their works will be cast into the lake of fire, and those found in the book of life will be taken to heaven (Rev 20:11-15; Mat 25:34; Mat 25:41). J. The heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire (2Pe 3:10-12). K. A new heaven and a new earth will be ushered in where there will be no more sorrow and death (Rev 21:1-6). 4. When will it happen? A. The resurrection which happens at the second coming of Christ will happen at the last day (Joh 6:39,40,44,54; Joh 11:24) i. The resurrection happens at the LAST TRUMP (1Co 15:52), when all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, at which time there will be a great sound of a TRUMPET (Mat 24:30-31), which happens when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout...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 (1Th 4:16-17). ii. The resurrection happens at the same time that the heavens be no more (Job 14:12). iii. This is the day of the Lord in which the heavens and the earth are destroyed by fire which comes as a thief in the night (2Pe 3:10). iv. The day of the Lord is the day of the coming of the Son of man which comes as a thief in the night (Mat 24:42-44). v. The coming of Christ will be as the days of Noah in which the destruction of the world will happen at His coming (Mat 24:37-39). B. When is the last day? i. No one knows (Mat 24:36). ii. Jesus in His humanity didn't even know (Mar 13:32). iii. The second coming will be a surprise as a thief in the night is, so we must always be watching (Mat 24:42-44). 5. When Jesus appears: A. We will appear with him (Col 3:4). B. We will be changed (1Co 15:51-52). C. We will be like Him (1Jo 3:2; Phi 3:21). D. We shall see Him as He is (1Jo 3:2; Psa 17:15). E. We will be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). 6. The second coming of Christ is our hope (Tit 2:13). A. It's what we should be looking for (Heb 9:28; 2Pe 3:12). B. It's what we should be waiting for (1Co 1:7). C. It's what we should be desiring and for which we should be praying (Rev 22:20).