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SECOND LOOK AT THE SECOND COMING
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The subject of this article is not to question the deity of Christ. He is without question the Son of God. I settled that question many many years ago. I believe He is who He claimed to be, and that He did everything He said He would do. In fact, it is for this very reason that I took a second look at the Second Coming.
One of the main objections that the critics have used to deny the deity of Jesus is that they say He did not in fact do everything He said He would do. In his book, “Why I Am Not A Christian”, Bertrand Russell says the following, “ I am concerned with Christ as He appears in theGospels... there one does find some things that do not seem to be very
wise...For one thing, He certainly thought that this second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living at the time. There are a great many texts that prove that...He believed that His coming would happen during the lifetime of many then living. That was the belief of his earlier followers, and it was the basis of a good deal of his moral teaching.” (New York: A Touchstone Book by Simon & Schuster, 1957), 16.
This critical comment is only one among many from those of Jewish, Moslem and Atheist background. All stating that they could not accept His claims based upon the fact that He
did not do what He said He would do. These same writers speak highly of Jesus as a good, moral man, who did many wonderful things. But here again we are faced with a moral dilemma. Would a good moral man make such claims and then not do them. He is either Liar, Lunatic, or Lord, there is no middle ground.
To these critical comments about Jesus, the futurist says, that He simply changed His mind, established the Church in place of the Kingdom, and one day He will come and try
again. This claim has simply become more fodder for the skeptic to feed on. It is an open admission that Jesus in fact did not do what He said He would do.
To these same critics the Amillenallist says, that Jesus did come back in A.D. 70. It was a coming in destruction and judgment, but not the Second Coming. Again, while that in part is true, it forces us to a third coming, and this too becomes more fodder for the skeptic to feed on. This becomes an admission that Jesus did part of what He said He would do, but not all.
So let me ask a question. Does it really matter what we believe about the timing of the Second Coming of Christ? I am not suggesting that one’s believe on the timing of the
second coming is a matter of salvation., but I do believe it matters in our ability to reach out to the skeptical mind and lead them to faith in Jesus. And I am not alone.
R.C. Sproul says, “The evangelical world cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to the railing voices of skepticism that gut Scripture of its divine authority, that assault the credibility of the apostolic witness and even of Christ himself. We must take seriously the skeptic’s critique of the time-frame references of New Testament prophecy, and we must answer them convincingly.” (The Last Days According to Jesus, 203, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998)
“If they were wrong about something as important as this, (timing of the second coming), how can we trust them to convey other aspects of the faith along to us correctly—such as the requirements for salvation, etc.?” (Dead In Their Tracks, by John Joe, International Preterist Asso. Inc. 2001, page 23).
This is too important a subject to brush aside. So much of scripture is involved. Sproul in the book mentioned above estimates that two thirds of the New Testament relates directly or indirectly to eschatology. Others estimate that 25 to 30 percent of the entire Bible does.
In this brief article I want to challenge you to look closely at only two passages of scripture.
“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes” (Matt.10:23).
Jesus was without question speaking to the twelve disciples (Matt. 10:1ff). My question is simply this. Did Jesus do what He said He would do? The futurist has to insert a change of plans to make this fit into the scheme of God. This passage is heartily agreed to as a coming in Judgment by others, but not the Second Coming in Judgment of the world. But lets continue, one more verse.
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. 28 “Truly I say to you, there are
some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matt. 16:27,28).
My question here is the same. Did Jesus do what He said He would do? Read it carefully. Note there is a general judgment referred to here - “Every Man” - more than just
the destruction of Jerusalem. It was to be within the life time of some of those standing in the presence of Jesus.
Jesus not only claimed to be the Son of God, He also claimed that He would return within the life time of some of those who heard Him. When He returned He would judge every man according to His deeds. The skeptics understood what He said. The decision about Jesus is the same, whether we are talking about His claims to deity, or His claims about
the Second Coming. He was either a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.
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