|
Will Jesus Return?
A great deal has been written in the Bible about the first appearance of the Jewish Messiah. Over 300 specific prophecies exist regarding this much-anticipated event. However, many people are surprised to learn that the Bible also talks about a second appearance of the Messiah.
Not only does Scripture clearly identify that the Messiah would come to earth, leave for a time, and return again, but it identifies both the event itself and the circumstances that lead up to the event. There is no reason to believe that the one event could be so specifically proven, even to the very day, and that the other event is merely a "myth." If one came true, it makes sense to be alert and prepared for the second.
"Men of Galilee," [the angels] said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
(Acts 1:11)
So what does the Bible say about the second coming of Jesus?
Old Testament predictions
Most of the Old Testament prophecies were concerned with the first coming of the Messiah, but a few references were made about his second appearance at the "end of history." Isaiah, Zechariah, and Ezekiel were given specific visions.
The first prophecy in the Bible at Genesis 3:15 indicates that Jesus would "bruise Satan's head" meaning his authority over mankind. Some people take this to mean the events of the cross, where Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, but others say it implies the final victory of Jesus over Satan at the battle of Armageddon.
"See, the day of the LORD is coming a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless."
(Isaiah 13:9-11)
Isaiah was given a vision of the coming of Jesus that describes terrible times for the world, along with some kind of atmospheric disturbance that blots out the light of the sun. Some suggest that this refers to nuclear winter.
"Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand--a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come."
(Joel 2:1-2)
The prophet Joel, writing around 800BC, goes on the describe the actions of this mighty army. It's capability and movements are couched in visual terms that are eerily similar to those of modern 20th century warfare. He also refers to a darkened daylight sky.
"The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. 'Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.' "
(Joel 3:15-17)
Since Joel refers to a city that will never again be ruled by foreigners, we are informed that this prophecy does not refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. Even to this day Jerusalem is under foreign control, so the prophecy must refer to an event still in the future.
"Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south."
(Zechariah 14:3-4)
The prophet Zechariah described a great earthquake that would split the Mount of Olives in two. This is a hill just east of Jerusalem overlooking the city.
In another prophecy, Zechariah described the physical effects of nuclear bombs on human flesh around the time of this great battle--that flesh would rot and fall off the skin of soldiers as they stand, and their eyes would fall out of their sockets.
New Testament predictions
"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
Several of the apostles wrote about the return of Jesus in their letters to various Christian churches. These describe events of great magnitude just prior to his return, including an increase in persecution of Christians, ungodliness in society, wars, economic turmoil, the enforcement of a peace treaty with Israel and its neighbors, an increase in earthquakes, and the ability to communicate worldwide. It will be a time of great destruction and turmoil, with a suggestion of nuclear wars.
"...there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."
(Revelation 8:7-9)
John may have been describing a huge flaming meteor crashing into the sea. There have been a number of recent movies describing comets hitting the earth, and the visual effects are surprisingly similar to what John described. Or John may have been shown the image of a nuclear explosion. Anyone who has seen camera footage of a typical nuclear bomb can relate to it's appearance "like a huge mountain, all ablaze." No event of the kind described here has taken place on earth since Bible times. While it is possible -- indeed likely -- that some events described by the apostles were fulfilled in AD70, it is clear that many of the statements are yet to take place. At the brink of mankind's annihilation, Jesus will return in power and glory, an unmistakable event seen by the whole world. He will rule a world of peace for 1000 years, at which time there will be another attempt by Satan to win control. Jesus will again be victorious and will rule a kingdom of peace for eternity.
|
