Part 7

The 2^nd Coming of Christ to Earth

 

Jesus of Nazareth did not ride triumphantly into Jerusalem to become King of Israel on Palm Sunday. Yes, the Jerusalem townspeople may have cried: “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:12-13), but Jesus was entering the city, riding “an ass’s colt” (V14, 15). This definitely was not a very royal entry. Zechariah had prophesied of this 1^st lowly entry of the Lord into Jerusalem , saying: “Behold thy King!” and then he describes His entrance as, “lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass” (Zech.9:9). This is not Jesus’ triumphal entry to be seen in His 2^nd coming to earth.

Once before, when Jesus knew that they “would come and take Him by force to make Him a King, He departed…into a mountain Himself alone” (John 6:15). Jesus of Nazareth knew He had not come to be King, not yet. He knew that it was not yet time for Him to reign as King; first, the cross, then the throne.

We do read of Him coming again in Revelation 19:11-16. How different the symbolism. The once meek, lowly One, “having salvation,” now comes, “in righteousness doth He judge and make war.” First He rode “an ass’s colt,” then “Behold! a white horse” (Rev 19:11)! Those eyes that were once filled with tears as He wept over Jerusalem at His first entry are now “as a flame of fire” with His head having “many crowns” (Rev 19:12).

Our Lord’s true triumphal entry is still future. According to prophecy He will come again, put down all rebellion against Himself, and reign in glory and power over the heavens and the earth. Thank God He has not yet come to “judge and make war.” Today still, in love He and His word point us to Mount Calvary , where He died for our sins and offers us the riches of His grace. “Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom.4:25)

In His 1^st coming to earth, Jesus of Nazareth definitively said “I am come but (only) unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel ” (Matt 15:24). He also told His Jewish disciples; “I will… go and prepare a place for you (the Messianic believers of Israel ), I WILL COME AGAIN, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF… (Jn 14:3). In Hebrews we read, “…unto them (believing Israel ) that look for him (Messiah) shall He appear the second time” (Hebrews 9:28).

When Christ comes again to earth it will be as the resurrected victorious God-Man – Jesus the Christ, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Christ’s victory in the great “conflict of the ages” will largely be actualized with His 2^nd coming to earth at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ in His Theocratic Kingdom on earth.

Yet, Satan, sin, death and hell are not finally dealt with until the very end of the Millennium, at the beginning of the eternal Kingdom on the New Earth.

Jesus is currently seated in the 3^rd heaven. “The LORD (the Father) said (to the Son) … Sit thou at my right hand, UNTIL I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool.” (Psa 110:1). Jesus is awaiting the time when His enemies will be brought low by the end time judgments; to make them as His “footstool,”… then Christ will return to earth.

What has the Lord done during this waiting period?

Among other things, the Lord turned His attention from Israel to the Gentiles for a time. “… blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Romans 11:25b)

The Gentiles had been excluded during His earthly ministry. “But he (Jesus) answered and said, I am not sent but (only) unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel .” (Matthew 15:24) “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . (Matthew 10:5-6)

“But now” all was not lost because a few years after the cross Christ called, saved, and gave Paul the “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) “for ye Gentiles” (Eph 3:1-5), it includes the Rapture of the Gentile “body of Christ” (1Thes 4:13-18, 2Cor 5:1).

“… YE (Ephesian believers) being in time past GENTILES in the flesh…¹²… YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel , and strangers from the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE, and WITHOUT GOD in the world ¹³BUT NOW in Christ Jesus ye (Gentiles) who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:11-13).

Jesus prophesied to His Messianic followers of His return before He left. His coming again would “begin” (Matt 24:8) with “signs” (Luke 21:25 below), to occur over several years. His 2^nd coming is NOT to be quick like the Rapture of the “body of Christ.” His 2^nd coming won’t occur “UNTIL the TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED” (Luke 21:24 below, cf. Rom 11:25)

“they ( Israel ) shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, UNTIL the TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED. (Luke 21:24).

 “²⁵THERE SHALL BE “SIGNS” in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth DISTRESS OF NATIONS (Gk., ethnos, Gentiles), with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (tsunami); ²⁶ MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…” (Luke 21:25-26a).

Satan’s evil hand and God’s judgments upon the world will bring men low; serving God’s purpose to dispense judgment due, and… to turn rebellious Israel to the Lord. Only then will Israel “glory at His appearing” (1Peter 1:7). These Israelites will, of their own freewill, receive Jesus as Messiah in the light of their now recognized need. They will then enjoy His unending love, mercy, and grace toward them forever in His Kingdom on earth.

Mankind long ago declared war on God, killing His prophets, and then on His Son. Yet, Peter wrote, God is still withholding judgment. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING (patient) TO US-WARD (toward ISRAEL), not willing that any should perish, but THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE. (2 Peter 3:9).

Peter continued, writing of “the Day of the Lord” and His judgments that are to come.

^“But the DAY OF THE LORD will come as a thief in the night (suddenly, unexpectedly); in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10).

Paul also writes of the Lord’s “vengeance” (v8) that will fall upon those who “receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).

Ultimately, at the consummation of the ages when Christ returns to earth, He will not forget His promise to “the twelve Apostles” who “walked with Him.” They will sit on “twelve thrones” in His eternal Kingdom on the earth (Matt. 19:28). The Roman Popes claim to be successors to the Apostle Peter, but there can be no successors to Peter or the eleven other Apostles, since only the original “twelve” will have been resurrected in the “first resurrection” (Rev 20:6) to occupy those thrones of authority in the Theocratic Kingdom on earth.

The culmination of “the conflict of the ages” begins with the Rapture or removal of the Gentile “body of Christ” and then followed by the Tribulation judgments. The purpose of these judgments is twofold; 1) to bring judgment on a Christ hating world and, 2) to purge, prepare, and refine the remnant of a believing Nation of Israel for their righteous co-reigning with Christ as the priests of God in the Kingdom.

Some think God’s “wrath” in judgment comes only at the 6^th Seal of Revelation in the 4^th year of the Tribulation or later, but this is not correct. The awful events Christ spoke of will span the 7-year Tribulation as the judgments “BEGIN to come to come to pass” (Luke 21:28). (see chart,TribEventTimeline)

In the midst of the Tribulation, the “POWERS (ANGELIC FORCES) OF HEAVEN SHALL BE SHAKEN (TOPPLED)” This is the fall of the Devil and his angels from the 2^nd heaven, then “cast into the earth” (v9 below). The Devil and his host will be toppled by Michael the Archangel in the “midst” of the 7-year Tribulation (Dan 9:27).

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸ And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL (accuser), and SATAN, which DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD: he WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH, and his angels were cast out with him. ¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, NOW IS COME salvation, and strength, and the KINGDOM OF OUR GOD , and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Rev. 12:7-10)

“for the POWERS (Satanic powers) OF HEAVEN shall be SHAKEN (Gk., saleous, TOPPLED). ²⁷ And THEN shall they see the SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. ²⁸ And when these things BEGIN (commence) TO COME TO PASS, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your (Israel’s) redemption” (cf. Isa 54:5, 8) draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:26b-28)

Satan will then be fully manifest with his horrific acts in the person of the Antichrist, and testified to by “the false prophet.”

 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. ²⁴ And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully (FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, cf. v25), and shall prosper, and practise (perform), and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people ( Israel ). ²⁵ And through his policy also he shall cause craft (fraud of craftiness) to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and BY PEACE shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes (the Lord); but HE SHALL BE BROKEN WITHOUT HAND. (Daniel 8:23-25)

Thus the Satanic trinity will be fully developed and at work in the Tribulation. The “Beast” (Antichrist) will have miraculous powers to attract “the whole world” to his cause in opposition to God and His Christ. In Rev 13:11 we see  reference to “another beast,”  also called “the false prophet” (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The “false prophet” will be a false “christian” religious leader who will sway the western world. “And I beheld ANOTHER BEAST coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11). The “lamb” implies a Christian, but one who has the “horns”…, actually “the dragon” as a counterfeit Christian.

The “false prophet” will have supernatural power to “make fire down from heaven (Gk., ouranos, sky) to earth” (Rev 13:13). The signs he performs, combined with the demonic words he speaks (Rev 16:13-14), will cause people to give their allegiance to and even worship “the Beast (Antichrist)” (Rev 13:14). The “false prophet” will have tremendous religious influence and, inspired by “the Dragon (Satan),” he will successfully convince most of the world to commit idolatry in worshipping “the beast” (the Antichrist) (Rev 13:12). This evil trinity will work in unison against the purposes of the Lord to establish and populate His Kingdom.

“And I (John) saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of THE DRAGON (SATAN), and out of the mouth of THE BEAST (ANTICHRIST), and out of the mouth of THE FALSE PROPHET. ¹⁴ For they are the SPIRITS OF DEVILS (demons), WORKING MIRACLES, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:13-14)

Ultimately, at Christ’s 2^nd coming to the earth His enemies will be destroyed, except the Devil who will be locked away for 1,000 years. Christ will come and save Israel from annihilation, and bind “the Dragon” during the Theocratic Kingdom . After the horrible Tribulation period with its final 3-1/2 year “Great Tribulation” period, Christ will return to form His Theocratic Kingdom on earth. This fulfills the prayer Jesus gave His Jewish disciples; “Thy KINGDOM COME… thy will be done IN EARTH (Matt 6:10).”

Christ will visibly return to earth exactly where He ascended from on the Mount of Olivet in Jerusalem . “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

The victorious Christ will then reign in His Theocratic Kingdom with the “rod of iron.” The millennial Kingdom Reign of Christ on earth will commence with the outworking of the “harvest.” The “harvest” is to be per His parable concerning the “the wheat and the tares.” Here the “wheat” represents the believers, and the “tares” represents the false intermingled grains, unbelievers. It’s clear from Jesus’ words that NO unbelievers will be harvested alive into Christ’s Kingdom on earth. Note in Matthew 13:30 and in v40 (below), the tares are gathered first and burned. The unbelievers are consumed.

“Let both (wheat and tares) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the TARES (false intermingled grains, unbelievers), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the WHEAT (believers) into my barn. (Matt 13:30).

The gathering of the “wheat believers” into the Lord’s “barn” (above) as a place of safety may refer to this from Rev 12:6; “And the woman (Israel’s elect) fled into the wilderness, where she hath A PLACE PREPARED OF GOD, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days (3-1/2 years)”

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. ³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM; but the tares are the CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE (Satan); ³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (Gk., aion, age); and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ As therefore THE TARES ARE GATHERED AND BURNED IN THE FIRE; so shall it be in the end of this world (age). ⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather OUT of HIS KINGDOM all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴² And shall CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father…” (Mat 13:36-43)

The parable of “the wheat and the tares” is to be fulfilled as seen here in Rev 14.

“I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown (divine authority), and in his hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE. ¹⁶ And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Rev 14:14-16)

In contrast with “the Lord Himself” gathering “the body of Christ” unto His self “in the air” (1Thes 4:16-17) at the Rapture, at His 2^nd coming the Lord’s angelic “reapers” will harvest the believers of Israel into His “barn” just as His millennium Kingdom reign begins. The “wheat believers” will be gathered into the Lord’s “barn” as a place of secure safety, while the “tares” (false grains, unbelievers) are left as grapes to be crushed in “the great winepress of the wrath of God.”  (Read Rev 14:17-19).

Then also we have Jesus’ parable of the sheep (the genuine Tribulation believers of the Kingdom Gospel of Israel ) and goats (unbelievers) (Matt 25:31-34, 46) to confirm that No unbelievers will enter the Millennial Kingdom . ALL the goat unbelievers will go to “everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

“And he shall set the SHEEP on his right hand, but the GOATS on the left.” (Matt 25:33)

“Then shall he (the Lord) say also unto them (the Goats) ON THE LEFT hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41)

“these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into Life Eternal” (Matt 25:46)

Notice that also in Matt 25:40 there will be non-Jewish “sheep.” These are the Gentile believers who helped the King’s “brethren ( Israel )” during the Tribulation. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”(Matt 25:40)

These two parables match the words of the Book of Revelation confirming that ALL who enter the Millennium on earth will be genuine believers. The Lord will gather the believers of Israel out of all the nations of the earth into “the Land” long promised.

“At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” (Zeph 3:20)

“Our ( Israel ’s) God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. ⁴ He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people ( Israel ). ⁵ GATHER MY SAINTS (of Israel ) TOGETHER UNTO ME; THOSE THAT HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH ME BY SACRIFICE.” (Psalm 50:3-5)

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again (Heb., shub, I shall reverse) the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem ” (Joel 3:1)

The “sheep and goat” judgment will divide the nations as was prophesied. “I WILL ALSO GATHER ALL NATIONS (Heb, Goy, Gentiles), and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (meaning, Jehovah-judged), and will plead with them (Heb., shapat, judge them) there for my people and for MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, whom THEY HAVE SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS (Gentiles), AND PARTED MY LAND.”  (Joel 3:2)

Today we see and hear of the USA and other western nations encouraging the further division of Israel and Jerusalem . Judgment will come upon all these nations, including the USA . In establishing His Kingdom, Christ will “break (to pieces)” the Gentile nations “with a rod of iron.”

“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psa 2:9). “⁸… it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the LORD, That TWO-THIRDS IN IT SHALL BE CUT OFF and DIE, but ONE THIRD shall be left in it (the Land): ⁹I WILL BRING THE ONE-THIRD THROUGH THE FIRE, will REFINE THEM (Israel) AS SILVER is refined, and test them as gold is tested. THEY WILL CALL ON MY NAME, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘THIS IS MY PEOPLE’; and EACH ONE WILL SAY, ‘THE LORD IS MY GOD.’” (Zech 13:8-9)

During the Tribulation many new believers will be saved to the Messianic “gospel of the kingdom” that will be preached by the “two witnesses” (Rev 11:3) who will perform miraculous signs. There will also be 144,000 of Israel “sealed” from harm (Rev 7:2-8). Many people of every tribe and tongue will be saved (Rev 7:9-17), along with the many Jews who will be saved as Israel ’s “remnant,” also becoming witnesses by “their testimony” (Rev 12:17), perhaps be martyred. Thus the Lord will save many from Satan’s kingdom and enlarge the membership of His Kingdom on earth.

Many of these will live through the Tribulation and on into the Millennial and eternal Kingdoms on earth. They will have children born during the Theocratic Kingdom of the Millennium. Everyone born of Adam’s physical lineage is “by nature children of wrath” (Eph 2:3). They will have that “(Sin) spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience. (Eph 2:2b). So, Christ will have to “rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev.2:27). There will be only one religion during the Millennium – one faith in the one true God according to the “gospel of the Kingdom.” Those who refuse to worship Christ will be punished (Zech. 14:16-19). In fact during the theocratic rule of Christ, those who rebel against that righteous rule will be executed (Isa. 11:3-4; 29:20-21).

The sin nature in some of those born in the Millennium will be fully exposed soon after Satan is “loosed” from his 1,000 year imprisonment. Many will not only refuse salvation in Christ’s righteous Kingdom, but they will join Satan in his final rebellion. It’s not strange then that we read of Satan being loosed to stir up the final rebellion. In verse 9 (below) we see the final rebellion; the rebels attacking Jerusalem are then devoured by the fire from God out of heaven.

“… he laid hold on the dragon, that OLD SERPENT, WHICH IS THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, and bound him a thousand years,” (Rev 20:2)

“…when the thousand years (of the Theocratic Kingdom) are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations …And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints (Israel) about, and the beloved city (Jerusalem): and FIRE CAME DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, AND DEVOURED THEM.” (Rev 20:7-9)

This is immediately followed by casting the “Devil and his angels,” into “the lake of fire,” where the Antichrist and the false prophet were consigned 1,000 years before, at the end of the Tribulation.

“THE DEVIL that DECEIVED THEM was CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE and BRIMSTONE, where the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 21:10).