Introduction: One ironic thing is that we live in a time when even the scoffers are in a state of rather fearful expectation. The frightening potential of worldwide destruction exists on several levels. Even the most impassioned secularists must acknowledge the very real potential that the world as we know it could end at any time – through nuclear war, nuclear accident, an energy crisis, various ecological disasters, new killer viruses like AIDS (or worse), or even a cosmic collision of some kind. In fact, most people recognize that this world cannot exist forever. And we face constant reminders of this. For nearly the whole of the twentieth century, an unremitting string of books, articles, scientific studies, and even Hollywood productions have assaulted the public consciousness, warning us that if we do not collectively change the way we’re living, we’re going to go out of existence along with our little planet. In fact, the most vocal doomsayers today are not people who expect the return of Christ, but secularists who have recognized that this world and all life on it inevitably will end someday. They are right. It will end, but not because of ecological irresponsibility or human destructiveness.
How will it end? Can we know? Yes, we can. The Bible gives a very clear, direct answer. The world as know it will end with the return of Jesus Christ. The history of the will climax in His literal, bodily return to the earth.
This is as certain as any truth in Scripture. Here are nine reasons from Scripture by which we know that Christ is coming again –
How will it end? Can we know? Yes, we can. The Bible gives a very clear, direct answer. The world as know it will end with the return of Jesus Christ. The history of the will climax in His literal, bodily return to the earth. This is as certain as any truth in Scripture. Here are nine reasons from Scripture by which we know that Christ is coming again –
I. Why must Christ return? Nine reasons that prove it
A. The Promise of God demands it -
1. The OT was full of Messianic promise. In fact, it’s fair to say that the coming Messiah was the main focus in the Old Testament. The first hint of a Messianic Redeemer came in Genesis 3, right after Adam’s fall, when God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (v.15). In the closing chapter of the final book of the Old Testament, God promised that “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healings in His wings” (Malachi 4:2). And between those two promises, the entire Old Testament is filled with prophesies of the coming Deliverer – at least 333 distinct promises, by one estimate.
2. More than 100 prophecies were literally fulfilled at the first advent of Christ. All the prophecies dealing with the first advent of Christ were fulfilled precisely, and literally. His riding on a donkey, the parting of His garments, the piercing of His hands and feet, and the vivid prophecies of His rejection by men in Isaiah 53 – all these have been interpreted symbolically by Old Testament scholars before Christ. But the New Testament record repeatedly reports that such things were fulfilled in the most literal sense, so “that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled” (Matthew 26:56; cross references – 2:15;4:14-16;8:17;12:17-21; 13:35; 27:35; John 12:38; 15:25; 19:24,28)
3. It stands to reason, then, that the remaining two-thirds of Old Testament Messianic prophecies will also fulfilled literally. And that requires the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.
4. Scripture says God “cannot lie” and that He will not change His mind (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19). What He promised, He will do. And much of what He promised about Christ requires that the Savior return to earth in triumph in order to bring it to pass. The truthfulness of the Bible is at stake.
B. The Teaching of Christ demands it –
1. Christ’s own words also make it clear that He will return. His earthly teaching was filled with references to His Second Coming. Many of His parables spoke of it. In fact, the Gospels include entire chapters dealing with events related to the Second Coming (Matthew 24-25; Luke 21).
2. On the night of His betrayal Christ told the disciples, “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 to Myself” (John14:2,3). Not only is the credibility of God at stake in the Second Coming, but so is the credibility of His Son. If Jesus doesn’t return He’s a liar.
3. But His own words are a divine guarantee that He will be back. “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
4. Christ, on trial for His life, defended His own deity with a bold declaration of His Second Coming in the most triumphant terms. He told the High Priest, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).
5. Several of the parables Christ told to illustrate His Kingdom emphasized the truth of the Second Coming. He did this “because [the disciples] thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately” (Luke 19:11). So He stressed repeatedly that the aspect of His Kingdom in operation since His first coming until now is spiritual and invisible (Luke 17:20-21), whereas the visible, earthly aspect of His kingdom pertained to His Second Coming.
6. In the book of Revelation, Christ repeatedly said, “Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). The Revelation unfolds “the things which will take place after this”(1:19). And the crown and culmination of the world is Christ’s triumphant in Chapter 19.
7. So Christ has repeatedly assured us of His return. He made these promises during His earthly ministry, just before His ascent to heaven, and even in a vision to John from His throne in heaven. He wanted both friends and enemies to know that He would be back. His very credibility depends on the Second Coming.
C. The Testimony of the Holy Spirit demands it -
1. Since “God …cannot lie” (Titus 1:2), His promise guarantees Christ’s return. Jesus is truth incarnate (John14:6); so His teaching also infallibly confirms the fact of the Second Coming. The Holy Spirit, who is called “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17;15:26), also testifies of the Second Coming.
2. The Apostle wrote these words under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration in I Corinthians 1:4-7 … “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was
given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. It was the Holy Spirit who confirmed the testimony of Christ in them, and it was the Holy Spirit who gave them their expectancy for Christ’s coming. Moreover, the Holy Spirit as the divine author of Scripture thereby confirms the promise of Christ’s coming (II Peter 1:20-21).
4. The Holy Spirit further confirmed the promise of Christ’s return through the writer of Hebrews and said, “…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time” (9:28).
5. Peter penned similar Spirit-inspired promises. Here’s one: “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:13). And another: “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (5:4).
6. Again and again the Holy Spirit testifies through the writers of the New Testament that Christ is coming a second time. His testimony, through the pens of the men whom He employed as instruments to write the inspired Word of God, adds a third infallible witness to that of the Father and the Son. Through the inerrant Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is still testifying that Jesus is coming.
D. The Program for the Church demands it –
1. God’s plan for the church also demands the return of Christ. He is currently “visit[ing] the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). He is gathering His elect into one great body, the church. And the church’s role is to be like a pure bride for God’s own Son, ready to be presented to Him at His Second Coming.
2. And that is precisely the imagery the apostle Paul uses in II Corinthians 11:2… “I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
3. Scripture repeatedly portrays Christ at His Second Coming as a bridegroom coming to claim His bride. Every marriage has vital elements, each symbolized in the relationship of Christ with His church:
a. First is the bridal price or dowry.
b. Second is the bridal betrothal.
c. Then comes the marriage feast.
4. The institution of marriage itself is a beautiful metaphor that pictures Christ’s love for His church. And if He were not going to return to claim her, it would spoil the whole point. So God’s program for the church demands the return of Jesus Christ.
E. The Corruption of the world demands it -
1. Christ must return to judge the world. Matthew 16:27 records Jesus’ words, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Scripture portrays the return of Christ as the “blessed hope” of the church (Titus 2:13). But for the world of unbelievers, the return
of Christ is a terrifying aspect, because His coming means immediate judgment on them. In John 5:25-29 He promised this coming judgment: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth— those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
2. Scripture repeatedly associates Christ’ return with final, comprehensive judgment. Like in Jude 14,15 and II Thessalonians 1:7-10.
3. Scripture tells us that all judgment has been committed to Christ (John 5:22). And Scripture repeatedly portrays Him returning to earth in order to carry out that
judgment. The consummate picture of this is Revelation 19:11-16, which says “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
4. Jesus must return in order to execute just retribution on sinners and carry out the judgment He has promised.
F. The Vindication of Christ demands it -
1. It is inconceivable that the last view the world would have of Jesus Christ would be that of a bleeding, dying, crucified criminal, covered with blood, spit and flies, hanging naked in a Jerusalem twilight.
2. Did you realize that after His resurrection, He never appeared in a public venue before unbelievers? Plenty of believers saw Him, touched Him, spoke to Him, and
gave unanimous testimony that He was risen from the dead. But there is no record that unbelievers ever saw Him. If they did, they no doubt became believers immediately. Believers who saw Him certainly had all their doubts dispelled, as illustrated in Thomas’s encounter with the risen Christ in recorded in John 20:24-29.
3. So the last time the world saw Him on display, He was humiliated, suffering, and hanging on the cross. His glory has not yet been displayed to the world.
4. But the world will see it. Scripture says, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time” (Hebrews 9:28). “He is coming clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him” (Revelation 1:7). “As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).
5. The indignity and shame of the crucifixion took place in full view of a scoffing crowd. How public will the display of His glory be?
a. “Every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7).
b. “…they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27).
6. The Savior who was humiliated and taunted and put to death in a public display of humanity’s hatred of God will return as conquering Lord in view of the entire world. He must return.
G. The Destruction of Satan demands it - 1. Satan, though an already-defeated foe as far as Christians
are concerned, still exercises a kind of dominion over this world. Three times in the Gospel of John, Christ referred to the devil as “the ruler of this world” (12:31;14:30;16:11). In II Corinthians 4:4 the apostle Paul calls Satan “the god of this age.” In Ephesians 2:2 he calls him “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” In Ephesians 6:12 he refers to Satan’s hierarchy of evil spirits as “principalities…powers…the rulers of the darkness of this age…spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” I John 5:19 says, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
2. Christ is only rightful ruler of this world, and when He returns He will overthrow and destroy Satan completely.
3. Christ as Son of God was the legitimate Heir to all creation (Psalms 2:6-8; Hebrews 1:1,2). He also earned the right to the title deed of the earth because He redeemed the world from the dominion of Satan. Having already paid the redemption price, Christ must return to earth to establish His dominion here.
4. After one last-ditch effort by Satan at the battle of Armageddon to retain his unlawful dominion over the earth, Christ Himself returns. Revelation19 describes the scene, when He comes suddenly and destroys His enemies. In Chapter 20 of Revelation Satan is chained and thrown into a bottomless pit and then finally confined forever to an eternal lake of fire. With that, Christ’s final victory over Satan is complete.
5. Scripture consistently portrays Christ’s return to earth as the necessary prelude to Satan’s ultimate doom. Therefore Christ must return to earth accomplish the final destruction of His archenemy.
H. The Hope of the Saints demands it - 1. Only the glorious, triumphant return will fulfill the hope of
the Saints. God is not in the business of giving false hope. He knows what we are waiting for. He knows the longing of our hearts. His Word gives us every reason to long for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ – and He will not disappoint that blessed hope.
2. Peter saw the promise of Christ’s return as a great comfort for the people of God in their times of trial – “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious
than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7).
3. All true believers long for the day when Jesus Christ will return to earth. Paul characterizes all Christians as those who “love His appearing” (II Timothy 4:8). The return of Christ will instantly usher in the fullness of our glorification.
