- I am trying to point out that the sign most visible regarding
the Second Coming of the Lord is not the coming for the gathering
of the Church. I have had people point out to me that the Lord
comes at the end of the day of the Lord and therefore the Church
must go through it all, but this is not true. The Second Coming
is just like the first.
- At the First Coming of the Lord we see the Lord's witness
preaching for some time before the Lord comes. John probably preached
for three and a half years before he baptized Jesus.
-
John 1:7 7
He (John), came as a witness to testify concerning
that light, so that through him all men might believe. (NIV)
-
John 1:31
I myself did not know him, but the reason I came
baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." (NIV)
- John prepared the hearts of the people for the coming
of the Lord. Then he saw the Lord and said...
-
John 1:29-34
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and
said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who
comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31
I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with
water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down
from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known
him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told
me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain
is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and
I testify that this is the Son of God." (NIV)
- At his First Coming we then see Jesus minister behind
the scenes for three and a half years, then we see the official
sign of the Coming King of Israel.
- Well, the Second Coming is very similar.
- First we see, not one, but two witnesses, to prepare
the heart of the people. And after they have done so they too see
the Lord's coming and say...
-
Jude 14-15
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these
men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands
of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the
ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly
way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against
him." (NIV)
- Then after the two witnesses, and the whole church, are
taken up in glory, the Lord then works behind the scenes again
for three and a half years before his Official Coming.
That
like his First Coming, the Lord's Second Coming has two points, one
the Official Coming, and the other the actual, so we should consider
this when looking at the prophecies.
