The Second Coming Versus
The Appearing - 2




The Lord Jesus Christ will pick up His dealings with Israel again. At that time His return to earth will be the hope of the awaiting Israel as well as those believing Gentiles who will be counted as the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29)

Many Christians who ignore the dispensational dividing line of Acts 28:28 confuse the two hopes and make them one.  We are clearly told that in this dispensation there is but ONE HOPE (Eph.4:4).  Those who rightly divide the Word of Truth recognize the difference between the "appearing" of the Lord in Glory and the "coming" of the Lord.

The New Testament books written during the Acts of the Apostles all speak of the return of the Lord.  The Lord descending from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God (1 Thess. 4:14-17) all speak about the Lord "coming".  For Him to "descend from heaven" he must leave heaven and "come".  That was the hope of the believers during the period of time covered by the Book of Acts.  Notice the references set forth in the books written during that period.  You will note the references to "come" and "coming".

REFERENCES TO HIS 2ND COMING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT - "COME" and "COMING"

1 Cor 1:7 - "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Cor 4:5 -  "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,..."
1 Cor 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.
1 Cor 15:23 -  "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming".
2 Thess. 1:10 - When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe..."
1 Thess. 2:19 - "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"
1 Thess. 3:13 - "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."
1 Thess. 4:15 - "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
1 Thess. 5:23 - "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thess. 2:1 -  "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him..."
2 Thess. 2:8 - " And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"
James 5:7 - "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord..."
James 5:8 - "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
2 Pet 1:16 - "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
2 Pet 3:4 - "And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

REFERENCES TO HIS 2ND COMING IN THE GOSPELS - "COME AND "COMING"

Mat 16:27 - "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."
Mat 16:28 - "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
Mat 24:3 - "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?"
Mat 24:30 - "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."
Mat 25:31 - "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:"
Mark 13:26 - "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
Mark 14:62 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.
John 14:3 - "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 14:28 - "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."
Luke 19:13 - "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come."
Luke 21:27 - "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

Throughout the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles believers anticipated the return of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven.  Some would be changed, "put on immortality", and be "caught up" to meet the returning Lord in the air. They would accompany Him back to the Mount of Olives. Paul entertained his hope during the Acts period (see 1 Thess. 4:4-17 and 1Cor. 15:51-55).
The Lord also promised the Twelve that they would to sit upon 12 thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel when He comes from heaven to the earth to set up His Kingdom (Mat 19:28).

NEXT>          <BACK