To prophecy students this is a basic idea, very expertly explained in such wonderful books as Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. That is, that there will be two returns of the Lord Jesus.
To many, this is considered as just the beginning of the teaching of prophecy--"kid stuff". But since I would like to be one who has great sympathy for those who are neglected and treated as "kids" by the Corporate Church, this is what I love to talk about.
How many faithful church goers never hear that the so-called one Second Coming--an event prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24--pertains to Israel. It is given on Mt. Olivet in answer to questions by the disciples concerning the coming restoration of the kingdom. This wonderful event is the subject of many prophecies, and is explained in detail by Jesus.
So what's the problem? Nothing, except that it concerns Israel and not the church.
Since it is about Israel and not the church, then why do almost all churches (ones that even deal with prophecy at all) use it as the cornerstone of many of their teaching? YouTube, for instance, has endless videos attempting to prove that the Second Coming is near.
The best I can say about such people is that they are ignorant. To them it seems that the Bible stops at the Gospels, as if the church epistles were written in vain. For in them we see another event, and this one is for the church alone.
How can we differentiate between one event and the other? The first Return is in the clouds. 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Clouds, air--this describes His return for the church.
In contrast, His Return with the church is to the earth. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,... (Zechariah 14:4). Is it not wonderful that when Jesus gives his wonderful prophecy, he does so on the very place to which he will return?
No comments:
Post a Comment