JESUS CHRIST HAS COME BUT WHERE IS HE? The second presence of Jesus Christ is one of the f undamental doctrines of the Holy Bible. During his first advent on earth, he promis ed his apostles that after he had died and gone to heaven, he will come again to rece ive them unto himself. – John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:12,20. St. Paul also confirmed the promise of Christ to co me again in his letters to Christians in his days. – (2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:1 3; etc.) So, the promise of Christ second coming is not in dispute in the Christian Re ligion. The areas where opinions and interpretations vary a re: “How will he come?” “Will he be visible to human eyes? When will he come?” “ Has he come?”. As to how Christ will come, some professed Christia ns make reference to Acts 1:9-11 where two angels who appeared after his ascension s aid that Jesus Christ will come in like manner as he was seen going to heaven. There is nothing in the utterance of the two angels that gives the understanding that Christ would come again in the flesh. The angels d id not say Christ will come in like form or shape but in like manner. The manner of Ch rist’s ascension was quiet. 50 There was no public demonstration or flourish of tr umpets as to attract the attention of the world. His second coming therefore will also be quiet. It is those who watch by being spiritually vigilant to understand the sig ns of the times that will know of Christ second presence. – Revelation 3:3; 16:15. Again, some erroneously make reference to Matthew 2 4:27 where it is written that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be as the li ghtning that cometh out of the east and shineth unto the west. This again does not show that Christ will come visibly the second time as some believe. The corre ct interpretation of this text is that at the second presence of Christ, who is the l ight of the world (John 8:12), men will be spiritually enlightened as to have the accu rate knowledge and understanding of the purpose of God that would make them know of Christ’s return. However, this knowledge will not cover the whole world instantly but gradually as the sun comes from the east and shines even to the west. In the long run, the whole world would know of his presence through the preaching of the s aving gospel by His true servants. Many who believe and are waiting to see Christ phys ically do refer to the Book of Revelation 1:7 where it is written: “Behold, he com eth with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Firstly, this text should not be interpreted litera lly, because it is a figurative language. The word “clouds” in the text symbolizes invisibility. It was the clouds that received Christ out of the sight of the apostl es when he ascended to heaven. (See Acts 1:9-11.) “Every eye shall see him” in th e text does not mean the literal eye, but the eye of understanding. (Ephesians 1:17- 19) To “see” means to discern or to understand. So, “every eye shall see him” me ans that people will discern or get to understand from the signs of the time that C hrist has come the second time. Those who pierced Christ in the text under referenc e are opposers of truth and righteousness or those opposing the work of God tod ay. They are the ones to wail at Christ’s second presence because he will take ve ngeance on them. – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2:8-10. Jesus Christ himself told his disciples that the wo rld will never see him again when he said: “Yet a little while, and the world seeth m e no more ...” (John 14:19,22) This was also confirmed by St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthian Christians. - 2 Corinthians 5:16. As regards the time Christ would come again, the Ho ly Bible shows that it is in the last days in which we are now living. That we are n ow in the last day is without doubt. The signs of the time that has fulfilled Bib le prophecies show that we are now in the last days or the end of the world in which J esus Christ promised to come again. – Daniel 12:4, 8–10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5. In Matthew 24:3-8, it is clearly revealed that the end of the world will be marked by nation rising against nation, and kingdom against k ingdom; and there shall be 51 famines, pestilences and earthquakes in divers plac es. This found fulfilment in the war of 1914 – 1918, and it was labeled World War I. This was followed by a wide– spread epidemic – the Spanish influenza. Earthquak es have continued to ravage various parts of the world from that time till now showing that Christ has come the second time. See also Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26- 30. Jesus Christ has come again but in spirit. He is in eternal glory in heaven with his attention focused on the affairs of the sheep of Go d all over the world. – Mathew 18:20; I Peter 3:18,22. The Second coming of Jesus Christ is by revelation and Christians are advised to walk by faith and not by sight. – Luke 17:26-30; 2 Corinthians 5:7. Dear members and friends, without going further, he re I chose to stop on my talk on the subject: “Jesus Christ Has Come But Where Is He ?” Thank you for reading
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:20:05 +0000
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