Christ The Coming King

As the end of the year approaches, it is natural to consider what comes next. We spend so much time considering the birth of Christ. But for every time the Bible mentions the first coming of Christ, it mentions the second coming 8 times. Despite the scoffers who deny the Second Coming (2 Pet. 3:3–4), the Bible repeatedly affirms that Jesus will return. That truth appears in more than five hundred verses throughout the Bible. It has been estimated that one out of every twenty-five verses in the New Testament refers to the Second Coming. Jesus repeatedly spoke of His return (e.g., Matt. 16:27; 24–25; 26:64; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26) and warned believers to be ready for it (e.g., Matt. 24:42, 44; 25:13; Luke 12:40; 21:34–36). The return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth is thus a central theme in Scripture.

But at the end of the year, how many concern themselves with the second coming of Christ? The Apostle Peter predicted that kind of unbelief when He said, “ ‘Where is the promise of His coming,’ the scoffers ask?” Scoffers have always wanted to deny the second coming because it’s connected with judgment and they’re not ready or willing to face the judgment of God. But in spite of what the scoffers say, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus will return.

As we consider our own personal lives, how we function in our community, our workplaces, our families and among our friends, where does the kingdom of God and the second coming of Christ factor? If he said that He is comming soon what bearing should this have in our decision making, our stewardship and relationships?

In Revelation 1:7-8 John presents five truths about His second coming and answers these questions in considering its 1) Necessity (Revelation 1:7a), 2) Glory (Revelation 1:7b), 3) Scope, Response (Revelation 1:7c), and 4) Certainty (Revelation 1:8).

1) The Necessity of the Second Coming (Revelation 1:7a)

Revelation 1:7a Behold, he is coming (with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. )

After the introduction and greetings (vv. 1–6), verse 7 begins the first great prophetic oracle in the book of Revelation. This verse is composed of two OT citations. The first is from Dan. 7:13, which in its OT context refers to the enthronement of the “son of man” over all the nations (cf. Dan. 7:14) after God’s judgment of evil empires (Dan. 7:9–12) (Beale, G. K., & Carson, D. A. (2007). Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament (p. 1090). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos.).

The exclamation idou (Behold) is an arresting call to attention. It is intended to arouse the mind and heart to consider what follows. Fittingly, the first thing John calls attention to is the glorious truth that He [Jesus] is coming. The present tense of erchomai (is coming) suggests that Christ is already on the way, and thus that His coming is certain. The present tense also emphasizes the imminency of His coming.

Please turn to Matthew 26 (p.833)

The “coming (or expected) One” was a title for the Messiah (Matt. 11:2–3; cf. Luke 7:19–20; John 3:31; 6:14; 11:27). There are many reasons why Jesus will return. The promises of the Father, Jesus, and the guarantee of the Holy Spirit all require that Jesus return. His program for the church, Israel, unbelieving nations, Satan and His reward for faithful service to Him, all require that Jesus return. But just his humiliation demands that He return. At His first coming, He was rejected, reviled, abused, and executed as a common criminal. But that cannot be the way the story ends. At His sham trial:

Matt. 26:62–68 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” (ESV)

• Here Caiaphas wants Jesus to admit to this charge so that he can be accused of insurrection against Rome and tried before Pilate for treason.In verse 64 Jesus declares that he is not only the human Messiah anticipated by the Jews but also the divine Son of Man (see Dan. 7:13–14; note on Matt. 8:20) who sits at the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1–2) and who will come on the clouds in power to reign over the earth (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1883). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).