Topical Bible: The Second Coming of Christ: Foretold by Prophets

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The Second Coming of Christ is a central tenet of Christian eschatology, anticipated as the moment when Jesus will return to earth in glory to fulfill the promises of God and establish His eternal kingdom. This event is not only a New Testament revelation but is deeply rooted in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, where various prophets foretold the coming of a Messiah who would reign with justice and righteousness.

Old Testament Prophecies

The anticipation of a future, triumphant coming of the Messiah is woven throughout the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when the Lord will return to establish peace and justice. Isaiah 11:4-5 declares, "But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide in favor of the earth’s oppressed. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist."

Daniel, another major prophet, provides a vision of the coming of the "Son of Man," a title Jesus frequently used for Himself. In Daniel 7:13-14 , it is written, "In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

Zechariah also prophesies about the Lord's return, emphasizing the establishment of His kingdom. Zechariah 14:4 states, "On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south."

New Testament Affirmations

The New Testament writers affirm and expand upon these Old Testament prophecies, presenting the Second Coming as a future event that will bring the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus Himself, in the Olivet Discourse, speaks of His return, saying in Matthew 24:30 , "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory."

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently references the Second Coming, urging believers to live in anticipation of this event. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 , Paul writes, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord."

The Book of Revelation, penned by the Apostle John, provides a vivid and symbolic portrayal of the Second Coming. Revelation 19:11-16 describes the return of Christ as a conquering King: "Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God."

Conclusion

The Second Coming of Christ, as foretold by the prophets, is a profound and pivotal event in Christian theology. It is the culmination of God's promises and the hope of believers, who await the return of their Savior to establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness. The prophetic voices of the Old Testament, echoed and expanded in the New Testament, provide a consistent and compelling narrative of this future hope.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Daniel 7:13
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jude 1:14
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Signs of the Redeemer's Return
... between the two stages in the second coming of Christ ... declare that the return of
Christ to the ... have said, the Old testament Scriptures foretold certain things ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/chapter six the signs of.htm

The Interpretation of this Fact.
... things" look back to the previous verse where Christ had foretold ... Second, "And what
shall be the sign of Thy coming? ... shall they see the Son of Man coming in a ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/2 the interpretation of this.htm

The Holy Spirit in Relation to Prophecy. ...
... who used it knew"the preparation in Jewish history for the coming of the Christ,
and the ... of the Holy Spirit in the writers of the second century: just as ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 1 the holy spirit.htm

The Five Books Against Marcion
... in Order to Make Room for His Second God, Exposed ... He Whose Coming is So Grandly
Described Both in the Old ... The Creator, by His Christ, the Fountain of the Grace ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the five books against marcion/

Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
... 8 For ^c Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom [Wars and
rumours of wars would be the second sign, but ... The coming of Christ would be ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxiii destruction of jerusalem foretold.htm

Thessalonica
... The Saviour foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures was to offer Himself as a
sacrifice in ... Paul was a believer in the second coming of Christ; so clearly ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 22 thessalonica.htm

Petilianus Said: "But that the Truth of this May be Made Manifest ...
... the baptism of Christ was renewed a second time, or ... John therefore was a foreteller
of Christ nearer to Him ... it was only granted to foretell the coming of Christ ...
/.../chapter 37 85 petilianus.htm

The Christian's Book
... Second Era, the Theocracy. ... The coming of the perfect king and kingdom under the Messiah
is prophesied. The work and place of Christ is foretold by the prophets ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study vi the christians book.htm

Proofs of Jesus Christ
... These were the effect and sign of His coming. ... The first write; the second condemn;
the last kill. ... Jesus Christ would not have the testimony of devils, nor of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xii proofs of jesus.htm

Introduction
... in weakness and humiliation, but at His second He shall ... were His people looking for
the Coming of the ... salvation by the finished work of Christ, the multitudes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/introduction.htm