"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7
ELON MUSK 2020: "This is the first time in the four and a half billion years history of earth that it's been possible to extend life beyond earth. Before this, it was not possible. How long will this window be open? It may be open for a long time or it may be open for a short time. I think we should, it, it would be wise to assume it will be open for a short time."
The window of opportunity is indeed a short time. The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are aligning perfectly such that the second coming is close and that window of opportunity will close. The stone is about to crush the feet of iron and clay of the Daniel 2 image.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT HIS SECOND COMING?
"...I will come again.."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. 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." John 14:1-3
DID CHRIST'S DISCIPLES BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING?
"And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
THE APOSTLE PAUL SPOKE ABOUT THE SECOND COMING!
"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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ! Timothy 4:16-18
WHAT SIGNS TELL US ABOUT THE NEARNESS OF THE SECOND COMING?
The signs spoken of in scripture can be grouped into events related to Religion, Politics, Social and Nature.
WHAT RELIGIOUS SIGNS PREDATE THE SECOND COMING?
"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:5
"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." Matthew 24:24.
There have been false Christs in the last two to three decades including the couple from Queensland, Australia who claim to be Jesus and Mary Magdalen. False teachers abound today. Every wind of false doctrine is blowing Christians away. Scripture says: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:11
WHAT POLITICAL SIGNS PREDATE THE SECOND COMING?
WAR: "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." Matthew 24:6-8
Peace talks abound - Israel, Northern Ireland, Africa, Asia.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1Thessalonians 5:3
The 20th Century is the bloodiest century with 180 million killed.
WHAT SOCIAL EVENTS PREDATE THE SECOND COMING?
FAMINES IN DIVERS PLACES: "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." Matthew 24:6-8
UN REPORT 2001
38 countries with food shortage.
1/6 World population.
One billion people face hunger tonight.
10,000 die of starvation every day.
PESTILENCES IN DIVERS PLACES - AIDS, SARS, ANIMAL VIRUSES IN PIGS & CHICKENS, COVID 19
EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES
"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." Luke 21:11
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BLESSED HOPE OF CHRISTIANS? Tit 2:13 Looking for that BLESSED HOPE AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
The word “and” here is from the Greek kai, which often means “even.” - The great God, EVEN our Saviour Jesus Christ. The blessed hope EVEN the glorious appearing of the great God even our Saviour Jesus Christ.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT THE MANNER OF HIS SECOND COMING?
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, 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
As Christʼs ascended into heaven Bodily, Visibly, Literally so He will return in the same way.
What are these clouds?
"Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:" Psalm 104:3
"The chariots of God [are] twenty thousand, [even] thousands of angels: the Lord [is] among them, [as in] Sinai, in the holy [place]." Psalm 68:17
Makes sense then when Revelation 1:7 says: "Behold he cometh with clouds..." Christ is coming with all the angels.
"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:" Matthew 25:31
"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. 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." Matthew 24:26,2
The second coming will be a very visible coming. It will not be a quiet coming. It will not be a silent coming. It will not be a secret coming.
"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him." Psalm 50:3
WILL CHRIST REALLY APPEAR VISIBLY AT HIS SECOND COMING? “So Christ...shall... APPEAR the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28 Christʼs first appearance was very literal & visible so He will APPEAR the second a time.
WILL CHRIST'S SECOND COMING BE VISIBLE TO EVERYONE? “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him... and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Rev 1:7 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“ Matt 24:30
Clealry the righteous AND the wicked see Jesus return. Rev 1:10 does not say Jesus comes “behind” clouds, but with them. “Every eye shall see HIM.” Note: Rev 1:7 does not say Jesus comes “behind” clouds, but “with clouds.” “Every eye shall see HIM.” Neither does Rev 1:7 say that He will seen by all “at the same time.” Christʼs coming will be “from east to west” (See next point). Just as the sun rising in the east & setting in the west is seen by all in the course of a day, so the Sun of righteousness will be seen by every eye on the last day.
WHAT DID CHRIST LIKEN HIS RETURN TO? “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.” Matthew 24:27.
Note: Lightning is VERY visible.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT THE TIMING OF HIS SECOND COMING?
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" 2Peter 3:9-12
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober." 1Thessalonians 5:1-6.
WHO WILL RETURN WITH JESUS AND WHY? “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.” Matthew 25:31. “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall GATH- ER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt 24:31.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF JESUS' SECOND COMING?
The reason is twofold: to redeem the saints, His commandment keeping people and to make an end of sin and sinners, the transgressors of His law.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you [i.e. the mansions in heaven], I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3 “And, behold, I come quickly; and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.
Christ returns to receive all His people and to give them the rerward of eternal life!
"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." Matthew 24:31
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE RIGHTEOUS AT THE SECOND COMING?
“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.” 1 Thess 4:16-17.
Notice that the “dead in Christ” will ascend into the clouds TOGETHER with the living in Christ. “...they [the faithful dead, Abel, Enoch etc.] without us should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:40.
All the faithful will be perfected TOGETHER when Jesus Returns. The Dead saints will come to life again and TOGETHER with those who remain alive till the Second Coming, rise to meet Jesus in the clouds. “For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they THEY THAT ARE CHRISTʼS AT HIS COMING.” 1Cor 15:23. ALL those that are Christʼs and are still sleeping in their graves will be made alive AT CHRISTʼS SECOND COMING.
“ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life...” John 5:28-29.
ALL the righteous that are still in their graves will rise in the resurrection of life at the Second Coming.
WILL THE RESURRECTION BE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME?
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that EVERYONE which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.” John 6:40. “And this is the Fatherʼs will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again AT THE LAST DAY.” John 6:39 Obviously the resurrection will occurs at the LAST DAY not over a long period of time.
WHAT WONDERFUL THING WILL HAPPEN TO THE RIGHTEOUS? “We shall ALL be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
At Christʼs Coming ALL will be changed.
“We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21. Christ will bestow a glorious immortal body on His people when He returns.
WHAT IS THIS RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS CALLED? “... This [is] the first resurrection. Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, ” Rev 20:5, 6.
“...the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14.
Will every case be decided before Christ returns? “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11-12.
There will only be two classes when Christ returns, the saved and the eternally lost. There will be no second chance for the wicked after the Second Coming.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WICKED AT THE SECOND COMING? “ And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man... the flood came, and destroyed them ALL. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] ALL. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26-30.
When Christ returns ALL the wicked will be destroyed.
“...the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [i.e. the wicked] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1Thess 5:2-3.
“With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:4; cf. 2Thess 2:8. “And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth.” Jeremiah 25:33. There will not be one wicked soul left alive on earth when Christ returns.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT "ONE SHALL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT"? “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man... and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed....In that night...one shall be taken and the other shall be left...And they answered and said unto him, Where Lord? And he said unto them, Whereso- ever the body is, thither will the eagles [vultures] be gathered together.” Luke 17:26-30. As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the day the Son of man returns. Those left behind will be left behind DEAD! As it says in Rev 19:17, a supper for vultures!
“...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction...” 2Thess 1:7-9.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BEAST AT THE SECOND COMING? At the second Coming: “[the beast and the false prophet]...were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Rev 19:20-21. When Christ returns ALL the living wicked will be slain. WHAT EFFECT WILL THE SECOND COMING HAVE ON THE EARTH ITSELF? “I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger.” Jer 4:26
“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste... The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.” Isa 24:1 Christʼs return will result in total devastation. The earth will be “utterly emptied.”
“...and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Rev 16:18-20.
“ I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled..” Jer 4:23. With ALL the saints caught up into the clouds and taken to the mansions Christ has prepared (John 14:1-3), and with ALL the wicked slain, the earth will be utterly empty. There will be “NO man.”
WILL THE SECOND COMING BE A SURPRISE FOR EARTH'S INHABITANTS? As the Lordʼs coming is to be “as a thief in the night” isnʼt it going to be a SECRET? “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1Thess 5:2-4
Note: It will come as a thief, unexpectedly, to the unprepared but NOT to the faithful Christian who has noticed the signs of the times. Jesus shows that “as a thief” means unexpectedly, not invisibly. See Luke 12:39. Jesus will come again at a time the unprepared donʼt expect (Matt 24:44-51).
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT THE DAY IS NEAR? 1. Wars & rumours of war (Luke 21:9) 2. Distress in nation (Luke 21:25-26) 3. Increase in knowledge (Dan 12:4) 4. Scoffers & Skeptics (2Pet 3:3; 2 Tim 4:3-4) 5. Moral degeneracy (2Tim 3:1-5) 6. Craze for pleasure (2Tim 2:4) Vain sporting rivalry, evil games. 7. Increasing lawlessness (Matt 24:12; 2Tim 3:13) 8. Destructive earthquakes, famines & diseases (Luke 21:11) 9. 95% of the world now have access to the gospel (Matt 24:14) 10. Spiritualism (1Tim 4:1; Rev 16:14) Supposed communictions with the dead.
HOW MAY WE BE READY FOR THE SECOND COMING? “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.” 1John 5:4
Let Jesus into your heart so He can change your life. If you will let Him in and believe His word, He will forgive your sins and give you power to overcome the world. It is so simple that many doubt it, but itʼs true.
HOW WILL EARTH'S INHABITANTS REACT TO THE SECOND COMING?
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7
WHY WILL EARTH'S INHABITANTS REACT IN THIS WAY?
Because they know they have lost the opportunity for salvation. They did not heed the warnings given them.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23
"For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:21
WHAT WILL BE EARTH'S SOCIAL CONDITION AT THE SECOND COMING?
Business as usual. "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 day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:37-39
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all." Luke 17:26,27
Earth's social condition especially in the first world is as described above, one of merriment, indulgence of appetite, entertainment, marrying and giving in marriage.
WHAT WILL BE EARTH'S MORAL CONDITION AT THE SECOND COMING?
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." Jude 1:7,8
The earth is morally bankrupt, indulgent of fleshly lusts on a grand scale - sexual fornication is widespread, divorce, pornography, sexual abuse of children, sexual abuse of women, homosexual activity by both men and women, stealing, murders, adultery and lying. It appears as if restraint on the sex front has been almost entirely lost by the inhabitants of earth. cf the French Revolution. They discarded the only moral compass and restraint, God's Law, and therefore, reap a terrible harvest of sexual abuse and licentiousness.
Paul warned of these things in 1 Corinthians 6:8-10: "Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
The Scripture does not paint a very pretty picture of the second coming of Christ for the majority of earth's inhabitants.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY REGARDING THE NARROW WAY?
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13,14
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT BEING A TRUE DISCIPLE, A TRUE CHRISTIAN?
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31,32
"...FEW there be that find it."
Tragically the majority of earth's inhabitants, Christian and Non-Christian, will perish in the flames of the Second Coming due their refusal to follow the WORD of God, to keep His ten commandment law which is the yardstick of justice and the broken standard from which mercy and grace naturally follow.
They preferred their own way. They preferred the word of their pastors instead of the word of God. They preferred what their Church said over the Word of God. Jesus said: "[Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:7-9
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.