The Second Coming of Jesus
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:27-28) Today's Bible teachers routinely say that we are living in the last days and the second coming is in our near future. None of the authors of the New Testament agree with them. INTRODUCTION For the past 150 years or so Evangelical leaders have been constantly teaching that Jesus will return soon. These leaders have set very specific dates and predictions for all kinds of end time events, such as the rapture, the anti-Christ, the great tribulation, second coming, etc. They all have one thing in common - they have all been wrong every single time. Something is obviously wrong with the end time understanding of Evangelicals. What is needed is a sober look at what the Bible actually says about the end times. Modern biblical scholarships offers such an examination. Hype is not a substitute for scholarship. THE BIRTH OF THE APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEW The Israelites believed that they were destroyed by the Assyrians (722 BC) and Judah was in Babylonian captivity because they had not been faithful to YHWH. God was punishing them for their sins. This was the view of the Israelites. The prophets promised that if Israel repented and turned back to YHWH then he would restore them to their land and make Israel prominent among nations. The prophets were wrong. Israel did repent, turned to YHWH and worshiped him alone (see Ezra), but nothing happened. They returned to the land, but it was never under their control. The apocalyptic worldview was a way of interpreting the reality of Israel's suffering even though they turned back to YHWH and were still not independent. The apocalyptic worldview said that Israel was being punished because they were keeping God's law and God's enemies hated them for that. God was not punishing them. God's enemies were. Out of this a dualistic cosmology emerged (us vs. them), the forces of good against evil. It was at this time that Satan began to be seen as God's main enemy. Before he had been an agent of YHWH to ensure God's people were truly righteous. It was at this time during Greek rule (336-63 BC) and Antiochus IV that the belief in the afterlife found its way into some strands of Jewish theology. Martyrdom gave rise to the hope of a resurrection and vindication for those who gave their life for YHWH. Prior to this, any belief in an afterlife was denied in scripture (e.g. Eccl 9:3-6). In the New Testament, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, were actually the conservatives. The Pharisees were the liberals because they did believe in the resurrection. A belief in a final judgment also started in conjunction with a belief in a resurrection during this time period. One major component of apocalyptic thought was that God's vindication was always imminent. Apocalyptic thought was carried into the New Testament period. THE BOOK OF DANIEL The Book of Daniel is not about the second coming of Christ in our future (futurism), nor is it about the Jewish War in 66-73 CE (preterism). The traditional theory that Daniel was the original author of the Book of Daniel has been disputed by recent scholars. Although the book had been historically classified as prophetic, the style of writing is apocalyptic which was popular between 200 BCE and 100 CE. Critics of Daniel, at least since the third century works of Porphyry, view the Book of Daniel as a pseudepigraph dated around 165 BCE that concerns itself primarily with the Maccabean era and the reign of the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. Those who share this view typically adhere to the Maccabean thesis when analyzing the Book of Daniel. The stories of chapters 1-6 are considered to be a literary genre of legends that are older than the visions of chapters 7-12. The visions in the latter half of Daniel are theorized to have been written by an anonymous author in the Maccabean era who assembled the legends with the visions as one book in the 2nd century BCE. According to this view, it is not considered to be read as a prophecy of western political history or of an eschatological future. Rather, the critical focus is on the witness to the religiosity of the Maccabean time period. Though many evangelical commentators still defend a sixth century date, for mainstream scholarship the issue was settled over a century ago. The common view is that the court tales represent a stratum of older, traditional stories, while the visions and final redaction of the work date to the second century BCE. The visions describe the national crisis that occurred under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who persecuted and slaughtered thousands of observant Jews, polluted the Jerusalem temple, and tried to replace traditional customs with Hellenistic religious practices. JOHN THE BAPTIST John the Baptists was an apocalyptic prophet. He predicted the coming judgment on Israel and the coming of the kingdom of God. In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ( Matthew 3:1-2). But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-10). THE LAST DAYS The authors of the New Testament identified their own time period as the “last days, last hour, end of the age, etc.” God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (1 Peter 1:20-21). But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; ( Acts 2:16-17) Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18). Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11) He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26) THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS According to the Gospels, which were written decades after Jesus lived, Jesus said he would return within the lifetime of his disciples. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 10:23) For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:27-28) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and 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 heaven to the other.“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. (Matthew 30-34) Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64) Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (John 21:22) The authors of the New Testament believed Jesus would return soon in their lifetime. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:7-9) For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John (Revelation 1:1) Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3) Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Revelation 3:11) Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7) And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) THE RAPTURE Paul believed the rapture would take place in his lifetime or the lifetime of his contemporaries. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died,so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:13-18) 2 PETER 3 There is a strong scholarly consensus that 2 Peter is the last New Testament document to be written. Some date it as late as 150, and most date it between 120 and 150. Among the reasons for its late dating are its references to 1 Peter (3.1), its mention of the letters of Paul (3.15-16), and its use of phrases from the letter of Jude. In addition, it offers an explanation for the delay of the second coming of Jesus (3.3-10). By the time 2 Peter was written, the author was trying to explain why Christ had not returned yet in light of scoffers. This indicates that he believed the return of Christ was physical, literal, and visible. "This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home." (2 Peter 3:1-13) CONCLUSION Even a casual reading of the New Testament shows that Jesus was expected to return in the first century. The writers of the New Testament stressed this point as much as they could. However, by the time 2 Peter was written between 120 and 150 CE the author was trying to explain why the second coming had not taken place yet. There are three basic possible viewpoints regarding the second coming of Jesus in light of the imminent expectation of the New testament authors: 1. Jesus returned in 70 CE in a spiritual, invisible, covenantal, way in judgment against Jerusalem, reminiscent of Old Testament cloud comings (Isa 19:1). This view is known as preterism. 2. Jesus predicted a physical, literal, visible return, but he was wrong. 3. Jesus never predicted a return at all. It was an invention of the authors of the New Testament who wrote decades after Jesus lived. Futurism is not an option as it completely ignores the legion of time statements regarding the return of the Lord. Words like, “soon,” “at hand,” “shortly to come to pass,” “this generation,” “some standing here,” mean what they say. If “soon” doesn't mean “soon” then it doesn't mean anything at all. Words mean things. It does appear that the New testament writers were expecting a physical, visible return of the Lord in their lifetime and therefore either option two or three is probably the correct view. The New Testament teaches that Jesus would return within the lifetime of the disciples. Both Jesus and the authors of the New Testament believed this. So it either happened in a spiritual sense (preterism) or the New Testament writers were wrong (C.S. Lewis). It is possible that the Olivet Discourse and Revelation are ex eventu prophecies written after the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 A.D. Either way, futurism is not an option. The New Testament writers were not speaking of events in the distant future. Jesus solemnly told His disciples and other contemporaries He would return in their lifetime (Matt 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64; John 21:22; Rev 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). The authors of the New Testament expected Jesus to return in their lifetime (1 Thes 4:13-18; James 5:7-9; Heb. 10:37; Rev 1:1-3). The authors of the New Testament said they (not us) were living in last days, last times, end of the age, etc. (Acts 2:16-17; James 5:3; 1 Cor. 7:31; 10:11; Heb. 1:1-2; 9:26; 1Pet. 1:20-21; 1 John 2:18-20). John The Baptist and Jesus taught (in contrast to the modern church) that the Kingdom was a present reality back then and that it was spiritual, not physical, in nature (Matt 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:7; 12:28; Luke 17:20-21). Preterism is the belief that all Bible prophecies, including those concerned with the return of Christ, resurrection of the dead, rapture, judgment, and arrival of the kingdom of God, came to complete fulfillment in A.D. 70 upon the destruction of Herod’s temple in Jerusalem as predicted by Jesus. The New Testament is saturated with time statements indicating that Jesus and the authors of the New Testament were expecting Jesus to return in their lifetime. Words like "soon," "at hand," "shortly to come to pass," "this generation," "near," "will not tarry," "come quickly," etc. are found throughout the New Testament. There are only a few possible responses to these time statements: 1. Pretend that the time statements do not mean what they say, that is that they mean time the way God sees time. The problem with this view is it waters down the time statements to the point where they don't mean anything. "Soon," "at hand," simply mean any time in the future. It could be tomorrow or it could be 2,000 years. The words no longer have any real meaning. This is the view that futurists take. 2. Another response to the time statements is to take them literally but conclude that Jesus and the authors of the New Testament were wrong about their eschatological expectations. This is known as the critical scholarship view. C.S. Lewis held this view. Most scholars date Matthew in the 80s A.D.. In which case the Olivet Discourse would be an ex eventu prophecy, told after the event. The same might be true for Revelation if it were written in the 90s referring back to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 3. The other view is to take the time statements literally and believe that Jesus did come back spiritually in 70 A.D. This is known as Preterism. The Birth of The Apocalyptic Worldview Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and Judah was in Babylonian captivity because they had not been faithful to YHWH. God was punishing them for their sins. The prophets promised that if Israel repented and turned back to YHWH then he would restore them to their land and make Israel prominent among nations. The prophets were wrong. Israel did repent, turned to YHWH and worshiped him alone (see Ezra), but nothing happened. They returned to the land, but it was never under their control. The apocalyptic worldview was a way of interpreting the reality of Israel's suffering even though they turned back to YHWH. The apocalyptic worldview said that Israel was being punished because they were keeping God's law and God's enemies hated them for that. God was not punishing them. God's enemies were. Out of this a dualistic cosmology emerged (us vs. them), the forces of good against evil. It was at this time that Satan began to be seen as God's main enemy. Before he had been an agent of YHWH to ensure God's people were truly righteous. It was at this time during Greek rule and Antiochus IV that the belief in the afterlife found its way into some strands of Jewish theology. Martyrdom gave rise to the hope of a resurrection and vindication for those who gave their life for YHWH. Prior to this, any belief in an afterlife was denied in scripture (e.g. Eccl 9:3-6). A belief in a final judgment also started in conjunction with a belief in a resurrection. One major component of apocalyptic thought was that God's vindication was imminent. Source: The Human Faces of God by Thom Stark, p.163-168 Articles What Is a Preterist? What Did Jesus Say? What Is The Preterist View? Preterism 101 Websites Preterism Matters Preterist Information Beyond The End Times International Preterist Association Fulfilled Magazine Restoration Ministries Berean Bible Church Dr Kelly Birks New Creation Ministries Death Is Defeated Bible Prophecy Fulfilled Tree of Life Ministries Books on New Testament Prophecy and Apocalyptic Thought at Amazon |
Modern Biblical Scholarship Books The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (and Why Inerrancy Tries To Hide It). by Thom Stark Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium by Bart D. Ehrman Jesus of Nazareth: Millenarian Prophet by Dale C. Allison Preterist Books Parousia: The New Testament Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming by J. Stuart Russell Christianity's Great Dilemma: Is Jesus Coming Again or Is He Not? by Glenn L. Hill Behind the Veil of Moses: Looking Past the Shadow of the Old Covenant, to Find the Substance of the New Covenant, and the Nature of the Second Coming by Brian Martin Matthew 24 Fulfilled by John L. Bray The Beast of Revelation by Kenneth L Gentry Articles Apocalyptic Literature in Judaism & Early Christianity Apocalypticism Explained Book of Daniel Book of Revelation Other Books The Apocalyptic Imagination The Apocalyptic Literature Daniel: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature . |