Topical Bible: The Second Coming of Christ: Illustrated

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The Second Coming of Christ, also known as the Parousia, is a central eschatological event in Christian theology, anticipated as the future return of Jesus Christ to Earth. This event is characterized by its suddenness, visibility, and transformative impact on the world. The Second Coming is distinct from the first advent of Christ, which was marked by His incarnation and earthly ministry. The anticipation of Christ's return is rooted in numerous biblical prophecies and teachings, which provide a vivid illustration of this future event.

Biblical Foundations

The New Testament is replete with references to the Second Coming, emphasizing its certainty and significance. Jesus Himself spoke of His return, as recorded in the Gospels. In Matthew 24:30-31 , Jesus declares, "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. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

The Apostle Paul also addresses the Second Coming in his epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 , he 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."

Characteristics of the Second Coming

1. Visibility and Glory: The Second Coming will be a visible event, witnessed by all humanity. Revelation 1:7 states, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen." This visibility underscores the public and undeniable nature of Christ's return.

2. Suddenness and Unexpectedness: The timing of the Second Coming is unknown, and it will occur unexpectedly. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:44 , "For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect." This element of surprise calls for constant vigilance and preparedness among believers.

3. Judgment and Restoration: The Second Coming will usher in a time of judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom. In Matthew 25:31-32 , Jesus describes, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."

4. Transformation of Creation: The return of Christ will bring about the renewal of creation. Romans 8:21 speaks of creation being "set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." This transformation reflects the ultimate redemption and restoration of all things under Christ's reign.

Illustrative Imagery

The imagery associated with the Second Coming is rich and symbolic, often drawing from Old Testament prophecies and apocalyptic literature. The depiction of Christ coming on the clouds, accompanied by angels and the sound of a trumpet, evokes a sense of majesty and divine authority. The gathering of the elect from the four winds signifies the comprehensive and inclusive nature of Christ's redemptive work.

The Second Coming is also illustrated through parables and metaphors, such as the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), which emphasize readiness and faithful stewardship in anticipation of the Master's return.

Theological Implications

The doctrine of the Second Coming holds profound theological implications for Christian belief and practice. It affirms the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, the fulfillment of God's promises, and the hope of eternal life for believers. The anticipation of Christ's return serves as a source of encouragement and motivation for holy living, as expressed in 2 Peter 3:11-12 : "Since everything will be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God."

The Second Coming of Christ remains a cornerstone of Christian eschatology, offering hope and assurance of God's sovereign plan for the culmination of history and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 12:36,39
And you yourselves like to men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 19:12,15
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Power of Christ Illustrated by the Resurrection
... state of glory, by the power of the coming Savior ... as occurring to those who shall
be alive when Christ comes ... saints when the Lord shall appear a second time will ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the power of christ illustrated.htm

Book and Tract Catalogue.
... Illustrated. By IC Wellcome. ... JR MACDUFF, DD, and Rev. JH BROOKES, DD On the Second
Coming of Christ, the duty to watch.12 pp. [USD]1.00 per 100; 25 cts. ...
/.../moody/that gospel sermon on the blessed hope/book & tract catalogue.htm

A Remarkable Passage
... kingdom of Christ, corrected and illustrated by Notes. ... they pierced, and when Christ
himself, inaugurated ... immediately subjoins, "At whose second coming, do not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/a remarkable passage.htm

How the Prophets and Holy Men of the Old Testament Knew the Things ...
... same body, and partakers in the promise of Christ." For, in ... This may be illustrated
from another quarter. ... hope, and yet is present at the second coming of our ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/2 how the prophets and.htm

The Four-Fold Gospel
... To Distinguish the Gospels. Combination Illustrated. Lesser and Fuller Forms. ...
Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold. CXIV. The Second Coming of Christ. CXV. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/

The Gospel of Luke
... The origin of the Kingdom is now illustrated in the parable of the ... 80 AD; Weiss,
since the evangelist evidently expected the second coming of Christ in his ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of luke.htm

Heralds of the Morning.
... the Saviour's birth, the message of the second advent was ... to warn the people to prepare
for His coming. ... so many of the professed followers of Christ refused to ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /17 heralds of the morning.htm

Heralds of the Morning
... the Saviour's birth, the message of the second advent was ... to warn the people to prepare
for His coming. ... so many of the professed followers of Christ refused to ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 17 heralds of the.htm

The Debt of Iren??us to Justin Martyr
... read with it c.6 of Justin's Second Apology some ... The anointing which made Him the
Christ is something which to Justin's mind occurred before His coming as man. ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/ii the debt of irenaeus.htm

The Gospel According to St. Matthew
... x.), and the ministry is illustrated by words and ... feast, three questions to entrap
Christ, His question ... siege of Jerusalem, the second coming (xxiv.), three ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter iii the gospel according.htm