The Return of Jesus

How will Christ come? Will He come as a man again? Will His coming be seen on TV? Does the Bible give us any warnings about what to look for as His return draws near? Let us take a close look at what the Bible says about this important subject.

Chirst himself gave us some valuable information about His coming and one of the things He did is He warned us that there would be some deceptions associated with the approach of His second coming. Matthew 24 is one of the most important chapters of the Bible on the subject of His return. In that chapter He warns us that there will be false Christs. We read:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24

This warning is also recorded in Mark 13:

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22

Notice that they will show GREAT signs and wonders. So miracles are not to be a sign that someone is a true prophet or a true Christ. Notice that these false Christs will appear before His true return. So we should expect to see great things done by those claiming to be Christ. There are those today that are even now claiming to be "a Christ". But notice that the Bible talks about there being only one true Christ--- "the Christ, Jesus. For someone to claim to be "a Christ" should be a warning to a Bible student. (See Matt. 16:16 & 20; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20; John 1:41; John 4:29& 42; John 20:31; 1 John 2:22 and 1 John 5:1)

We read also in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 this:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2 Thes. 2:9

If we take a moment to think and look at one of the first lying wonders of Satan we find him in the garden of Eden as a snake. He made it appear that this snake could talk. He spoke through this medium to Eve to decieve her and cause her to distrust God. One of the first things he told her that was a lie was that she wouldn’t die. He is still using that lie today to lead people away from God and will continue to use it. He promises immortality to the unconverted sinner. He tempts us to think that all people will be saved or that all have some type of immortality. But the Bible says that God only has immortality. (1 Tim. 6:16) We recieve it when Christ comes. (1 Cor. 15:53-54)

What other kinds of wonders will the false Christs and false prophets use to lead people astray? In Revelation we read:

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Rev. 13:13

Fire? He will make fire come down in the sight of men. That sounds like a great sign, doesn’t it. But the Bible says that we shouldn’t believe it. The Bible says that these signs and wonders will be used to decieve. So working great miracles isn’t a true test of His coming.

So how do we know the true second coming from the false? The same way that you would know a counterfiet dollar from a true dollar, by studying the true and knowing what the true looks like. When a new form of currancy is made we need to know what it looks like so we will not be decieved. As we study the true coming of Christ and know how he will come we can be protected by the counterfiets. So how will he come? What will it look like? What will it sound like?

Here are a few texts that help us understand what it will look like:

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27

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

For an idea of what the glory of his Father is like read these verses: Ex. 24:17; Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:1; 2 Chron. 7:1-3. From these you can see that it is very bright and unmistakeble. There will be no doubt about his power.

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 1:11

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

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. 2 Peter 3:10

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Matthew 26:64

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:26

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62

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 24:26-27

And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. Luke 17:23-24

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. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; Luke 17:26-28

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. 1 Cor. 15:52

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 Thes. 4:16-17

And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Joel 2:11

Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. Amos 5:18

The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zeph. 1:14

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. Rev. 1:7

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah 51:6

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. Isaiah 34:4

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Rev. 6:14

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. 2 Peter 3:10

Does all this sound like what most people think will be Christs second coming? It sounds like something that NO ONE could overlook. It is loud and it is like lightning that can be seen everywhere. He will come in the clouds with thousands of angels in heaven and every eye shall see him. Lightning is hard to miss even if you are in a very dark room of your house. It lights up the whole sky. It thunders and rocks your house. You don’t need the TV news to know it is there. That is how the Bible describes the true coming of Christ. The Bible says that the sky will roll back and the earth will be burned up and the elements will melt. Every eye shall see him. There will be nothing secret about it.

He will be coming from heaven and that is the direction we have been told to look.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

How can we know that it is about to happen? We already have seen that false Christs will appear and will do great signs and wonders but are there other signs? Yes the Bible tells us about other signs.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: Acts 2:20

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: ... So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:29 &33

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. ... So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Mark 13:24, 25 & 29

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 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. Matthew 24:5-6

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. Mark 13:7

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Luke 21:9

Have these things happened yet? Well, it seems like we are always hearing about wars and rumours of wars. We are in one right now as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentegon. For many years we have heard rumours in the news about wars in various parts of the world. South Africa, Ireland, Beirut, Lebanon, Iran, Quwait. The list is endless of countries that are torn with strife. We have had battles that some people refuse to call a war. They call them conflicts, actions and other names to hide the fact that they are wars. They are all crying for peace but there is no peace.

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jeremiah 6:14

Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Ezekiel 7:25

To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 13:16

This is a clear sign of the end. But what about the darkness of the sun and the moon? What about the stars falling from heaven? Few people today ever have heard about these events already happening. Few people that do know about it bother to tell anyone about it. One writer giving an historical account of the dark day recorded the event this way:

"Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,--a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England."--R. M. Devens, Our First Century, page 89. ...

The intense darkness of the day was succeeded, an hour or two before evening, by a partially clear sky, and the sun appeared, though it was still obscured by the black, heavy mist. "After sundown, the clouds came again overhead, and it grew dark very fast." "Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light, which, when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious to the rays."--Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or, American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 10, No. 472 (May 25, 1780). Said an eyewitness of the scene: "I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete."--Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, 1st series, vol. 1, p. 97). Though at nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the deathlike shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood.

And here is a quote about the stars falling from heaven:

In 1833, . . . the last of the signs appeared which were promised by the Saviour as tokens of His second advent. Said Jesus, "The stars shall fall from heaven." And John in the Revelation declared, as he beheld in vision the scenes that should herald the day of God, "The stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." This prophecy received a striking and impressive fulfilment in the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833. That was the most extensive and wonderful display of falling stars which has ever been recorded; "the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion! No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or with so much dread and alarm by another." "Its sublimity and awful beauty still linger in many minds. . . . Never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same. In a word, the whole heavens seemed in motion. . . . The display, as described in Professor Silliman's Journal, was seen all over North America. . . . From two o'clock until broad daylight, . . . an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens."--R. M. Devens, American Progress; or, The Great Events of the Greatest Century, ch. 28, pars. 1-5. . . .

So the sun and moon not giving their light, the stars falling, the "powers of heaven were shaken". These things have happened and are now almost forgotten. Does that mean that Christ isn’t coming? No, He told in a parable that people would think that He had delayed his coming. Read it in Matthew:

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51

We are over a hundred and fifty years closer to our Lords return than when those things happened. We are seeing "earthquakes in diverse places" as the Bible says. Read Romans 1 and 2 Timothy 3 and ask yourself if any of those discriptions of people of the last days fit what you hear in the news. Clearly they do. People are without natural affection. Mothers and fathers are killing their children at an alarming rate. Animals show more affection for their offspring then many humans. It hasn’t been that long since parents would give their lives for the sake of their children now they kill them and it is so common that they are considered prime suspects when a child is killed. Children kill their parents for money. Wives kill husbands and husbands their wives for no apparent reason. Children in kindergarden are becoming killers and are full of hate. They kill their playmates over some minor thing.

Will things get better and better and then Christ will come and live with us here? No, He told us that he was going to heaven to build mansions for us and then he would return to take us there. The Bible account is that things here will only get worse and worse not better. Will mankind get better and the wicked be saved? Will the wicked just quit being wicked? No, we are told:

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, Matthew 13:49

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Matthew 13:40

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev. 22:12

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thes. 2:10-13

Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Isaiah 13:6

Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Isaiah 13:9

Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Joel 1:15

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. Jude 1:7

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:18

The wicked will be destroyed according to this text and many others.

Some would like for you to think that since we don’t know when Christ is coming we shouldn’t concern ourselves with studying the subject but the Bible says:

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2 Thes. 2:3

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 Tim. 3:1

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Tim. 4:3

Christ said that he was going away to build us a mansion and would return to take us there. If He is doing that He is’t looking for an earthly reign. He will take people to heaven. He said that His kingdom is not of this world:

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 14:3

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36

Study your Bible that you will be ready. The Lord gives us this promise:

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:13