What does the "second coming of Christ" mean?
score:0
Actually many Christians are confused about the 2nd Coming and what it means, particularly as to how it fits with lots of other end times events - such as the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, 2 Witnesses, 3rd Temple and other events. One example of this is that it's very common in many denominations to hear people talk about or make a reference to Jesus' coming, but they really mean the rapture.
*At the rapture, Christ comes FOR his bride- [the Christians] but he doesn't come down to earth. We are caught.up quickly into the clouds- just as the bride in a Hebrew wedding is literally lifted up and carried away.
Let's break it down a bit in a way that will clarify.
It's helpful to explain it in terms of Christ's first Advent and Christ's Second Advent.
The First Advent is Christ's birth, life, ministry, miracles, death, burial and resurrection. Many events, - all part of his first advent or first coming to earth as a baby/ suffering servant. Advent means "arrival" or "coming".
In the same way, we are looking for Christ's second Advent. This also is many events, but all connected or linked to Christ's second coming to earth as a judge/ conquering king. It includes the rapture [which is from the Latin word "rapturo" and literally means to be caught up, snatched up quickly by force], when Christians who have died will be resurrected, and those Christians who are alive [us] will be caught up/raptured into the clouds as the bride. It also includes the events of Revelation, the Anti-Christ, the Mark of the Beast, the bowl judgments poured out, the two witnesses who are killed and resurrected, the great white throne judgement, Christ returning to earth with his bride, and the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ.
This is the predominant view held by most Protestant denominations, but there is a lot of differing views on the timing of the rapture, in relation the 7 year tribulation. [Whether the rapture happens before the Tribulation starts, in the middle, at the end, or in the 2nd half, but before God's wrath is poured out.] This is where the terms Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, Post-tribulation, and Pre-wrath come from. They are all referring to the timing of the rapture in relation to the Tribulation.
The important thing to keep in mind is that the Rapture and 2nd coming are two very separate and distinct events with totally different goals and purposes.
The Second coming is the "Day of the Lord" and it is used by Paul and OT writers. It is always linked with gloom, calamity, judgment and darkness. Sun turns black and the moon turns to blood. This is Christ coming back to earth with his bride. “The Day of the Lord" is a biblical term and theme used in both the Hebrew Bible (יֹום יְהוָה) and the New Testament (ἡμέρα κυρίου), as in "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come" (Joel 2:31, cited in Acts 2:20).
In stark contrast is the Rapture - which is the Day of Christ. The Greek word in the New Testament is Harpazo. This is a wedding celebration, and Christ comes FOR his bride, and we meet him in the clouds.
The two most well-known passages about the rapture are 1 Thessallonians 4:14-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51,52.
It's interesting and very significant that both these passages were written to two early church congregations of mixed Jewish and Gentile believers, and written by the same author - Paul.
Here is an excellent article, and it explains why the "Last Trumpet" used by Paul to tell us when the rapture happens is categorically not the 7th Trumpet in Revelations. Rapture at the Seventh Trumpet Judgment?
Upvote:0
I am not up on my scripture but is the 'second coming of Christ', Jesus specifically?
I am answering from the Catholic and Protestant perspectives, however, I think that my answer is true for most other Christian denominations, too.
... or is it the coming of a yet another 'anointed one'?
No.
... so is the 'second coming' Jesus coming ...
Exactly this is meant.
The Apostles' Creed says about Jesus:
...
He ascended into heaven, ...
...
He will come again ...
...
This "coming again" is meant by "second coming of Christ".
... down from a cloud ...
I doubt that most Christians today think that "a cloud" will be involved...
Upvote:2
Read Matthew 24:30(ESV) - "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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..."
Jesus referred to himself as, and is referred to as, the "Son of Man" many times throughout the New Testament. In fact the New Testament in general refers to the return of the "Son of Man", rather than the return of Christ. Also ref. Matthew 24:36-39.
In Revelation 20:4-6, "Christ" is used not as a title but as a proper noun. While the word Christ is a title, it has now become the name of our savior and is his alone, the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).
There is only one savior, one Messiah, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, and the Son of Man.
Jesus warns us not to believe the false Messiahs who will appear (Matthew 24:23-27).
It is definitely Jesus Christ himself who will return to gather his elect. I pray to the Lord that you and I will be among them.
Upvote:2
Without getting into an elaborate explanation about the second coming of Christ, I'll say simply that you could just as accurately have called the "second coming of Christ" the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NIV, my emphasis).
Jesus's first coming began with his conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. His second coming will occur--according to the Father's good timing--when he appears in the clouds, above the earth.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV).
(As for Christ's third advent, it will occur
at the end of . . . [a] time of terrible judgment--sometimes referred to as 'the great and terrible day of the Lord' and elsewhere called, 'the time of Jacob's trouble'. Zechariah gives a clear description of certain end-time events and like many Old Testament prophets gives clear insight into God's unfolding plan of redemption.)
Yes, the word Christ means "anointed one." In light of Jesus's second coming, consider the word Christ as an honorific stressing his kingly identity. Just as the Hebrew kings of old were anointed, as was King David by Samuel (see 1 Samuel 16), Jesus was anointed by his Father to be the king over all kings and the Lord over all lords (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; and Revelation 19:16). Jesus's anointing took place in the counsels of God in eternity past.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus recognized and bore witness to the truth that he was God's Anointed One when in the synagogue in Nazareth he read from the prophet Isaiah:
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21 NIV).
Notice in verse 18 of Luke 4 that Jesus told his audience in the synagogue that his anointing (really, his second anointing) was being fulfilled in their presence.
Jesus was anointed by his Father in eternity; he announced and then lived in the Spirit of that anointing during his public ministry.
As for "false Messiahs," well, I guess you could call them with some accuracy antichrists (see 1 John 2:18).
Upvote:2
Rhetorician has given an excellent answer to your question. There are many different views about the second coming of Christ but if I may, I would like to add a few points taken from the Bible.
The first coming of the Christ, the Messiah, happened some 2,000 years ago. He was the humble servant king, prophesied in Isaiah chapter 53, who was oppressed and afflicted and led, like a lamb, to the slaughter. He came to do the will of his Father in heaven:
For he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).
When he returns, it will not be as a humble servant king but as a judge. He will be accompanied by the heavenly hosts to destroy all God’s enemies, including the unseen agents of evil and darkness and all who follow them. Yes, he will come with the clouds, and every eye will see him (Revelation 1:7) but the purpose of his second coming is to judge and make war:
With justice he judges and makes war... The armies of heaven were following him... “He will rule them [the nations] with an iron sceptre.” (Revelation 19:11-16).
Christ Jesus is God’s anointed as Peter declared in his testimony of “Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all”:
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him... he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:38,42).
There are pretenders who seek to dethrone Him, false prophets and antichrists, but they will get their rewards at the second coming of our Lord and Saviour who is called Faithful and True, the Word of God, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. There is no other “anointed” by God.
More post
- 📝 Similarities and differences between the priesthood of all believers and the LDS priesthood
- 📝 What is the difference between AME and AME Zion Churches
- 📝 What evidence is there to show that John Wesley and John Calvin did not believe that Jesus is Michael?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief in generational curses?
- 📝 From a Thomistic perspective, why is there h*m*sexuality among animals?
- 📝 Of the 1752 Catholic Canon Laws, how many does the average Catholic need to be aware of in order to practice faithfully?
- 📝 Which book of the law is Joshua 1:8 referring to?
- 📝 Are Catholic bishops infallible?
- 📝 Understanding Trinity, is the belief that each Person has independent Will?
- 📝 God created the world, who created God?
- 📝 Did the Roman Catholic Church attempt (through government/university influence) to ban publication of Protestant Literature in the early 1500s?
- 📝 How do Protestants deal with pre-Reformation heresies?
- 📝 Is illegal downloading a sin?
- 📝 Is there a biblical basis for God calling one to place one's career above their other duties?
- 📝 What are our options for how Jesus pre-existed at John 8:58?
- 📝 How can God be three persons?
- 📝 Does Christianity claim that the Bible is God's only Word?
- 📝 Can Saints in Heaven Refuse to Pray for us?
- 📝 Does the Bible condone bribery?
- 📝 According to Jehovah's Witnesses, how many of the 144 000 have already been identified?
- 📝 Trinity as God in Three Persons or Manifestations?
- 📝 How do believers in Jesus' deity explain that Jesus is never claimed to be God/divine in the Old Roman Creed and the Didache?
- 📝 How old is the idea of premillenial rapture?
- 📝 Do orthodox christians eat pork and are they circumcised?
- 📝 Chimera Image on my leather jacket?
- 📝 What happened to Joseph, Jesus' father?
- 📝 How does Mark's Gospel mark the final hours in the life of Jesus
- 📝 Is there any Scriptural support for claims about Jesus appearing to Muslims in dreams and visions?
- 📝 Were the names Matthew, Mark, Luke and John common in the time of Jesus?
- 📝 Who is the earliest Church Father affirming the present Catholic interpretation of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law but did not abolish it?
- 📝 What exactly does it mean that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus was the "second Adam"?
- 📝 What does it mean to "Bless the LORD"?
- 📝 What does it mean to interpret the Bible literally?
- 📝 What does being lukewarm mean in contrast with being hot or cold for the church of Laodicea?
- 📝 What does the abbreviation "RNIO" mean in a painting of the Virgin and Child?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church mean when it calls humans co-creators with God?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus, Father, and Holy Spirit are of the same nature but different personas?
- 📝 What does it mean that John's Gospel does not have an account of the institution of the Eucharist?
- 📝 What does John Calvin mean to imply by the "suffrage" of the church?
- 📝 What does "communion of saints" mean in the Apostle's Creed?
- 📝 What does it mean for the Spirit to only speak of what he hears? (trinitarian perspective)
- 📝 From a Fundamentalist viewpoint, what does it mean to "take the Bible literally"?
- 📝 What does "Christ was born across the sea" mean in Julia Ward Howe's The Battle Hymn of the Republic?
- 📝 What does TS Eliot mean by "old dispensation" in The Journey of the Magi?
- 📝 What does it mean to magnify or glorify the Lord?
- 📝 What does inherit the earth mean in Matthew 5:5
- 📝 What does R. C. Sproul mean by the 'essence' of God?
- 📝 What does Romans 13:13-14 mean by "behave decently, as in the daytime"?
- 📝 What does it mean to say the Bible is the "Word of God" and how is it justified?
- 📝 According to Jehovah’s Witnesses what does the name Immanuel mean in light of their belief that Jesus is a created being and not God?
- 📝 What does it mean that God is the saviour of all people, especially those who believe?
- 📝 What does the Nicene Creed mean when it says that the Father and the Son are of the same substance?
- 📝 According to Roman Catholicism, what does "proceeds' mean in the Nicene Creed?
- 📝 What does it mean for the soul to be "immediately" created by God?
- 📝 When the Pope says "We commend to the Lord the souls..." what does it mean exactly? It it a symbolic gesture, a prayer, something else?
- 📝 What does the Chalcedonian Creed mean by person?
- 📝 What does it mean to be clean in the context of the Old Law?
- 📝 What does it mean that the Virgin was assumed "in body" in Heaven?