• What is the
Relationship between 1st and 2nd Advents?
• What is the
Object of Christ's Second Presence?
• How Long will his Second Advent Last?
What is the Relationship
between 1st and 2nd Advents?
1st
Advent = Redemption
2nd Advent = Restitution |
The 2nd Advent will accomplish the work of
Restitution. The resurrected Christ will restore the human race to perfect life. "For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." I Cor. 15:22
The 1st Advent Christ purchased a kingdom.
The 2nd Advent he returns to establish that kingdom.
The 1st Advent Christ performed countless miracles
illustrating the power of his future kingdom.
The 2nd Advent he returns to show the far greater reality which those miracles
illustrated.
The 1st Advent Christ laid down the principles of
divine justice.
The 2nd Advent he returns to judge the world in righteousness.
The work of the first advent is related to the work of the
second advent as cause is related to effect.
What is the Object of Christ's
Second Presence?
Christ
Comes Again to Reign.
The object of Christ's second presence is to reconcile
"whosoever will" of the world to God, by a process of ruling, and teaching,
disciplining, called judging and blessing. "For he must reign, till he hath put all
enemies under his feet." I Cor. 15:25,26
The beginning of Christ's Reign is in a
time of trouble.
"The Lord reigneth [resulting
in]...clouds and darkness...a fire...burneth up his enemies...hills melted
like wax at the presence of the Lord...." Psa. 97:1-7
The nations are "angry" -- they
don't want to lose their power. Rev. 11:15,17,18.
But Christ's kingdom destroys the kingdoms
of this world before he sets up his righteous peaceable kingdom.
"In the days of these kings shall...God...set up a kingdom
which...shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms." Dan.
2:44
The present evil order will be destroyed by
the conquering "The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." "On
his head [are] many crowns"...from the civil rulers of this
unrighteous world. Rev. 19:11-16
Christ
Comes Again to Reward.
Christ gave a parable to demonstrate that he
would reign at his return and reward his servants.
"A certain nobleman went into a far
country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return....
And...when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded
[his] servants to be called unto him...that he might know how much every man
had gained by trading." Lk. 19:12-15.
"The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.... And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the
time...that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and
to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great..."
Rev. 11:14, 18.
Christ
Comes Again to Reap.
When Christ returns, he not only is a King
but he is the Chief Reaper, in charge of the Harvest of the Wheat at the
end of the age. Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43.
"...upon the cloud sat one like unto the
Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp
sickle...And he...thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was
reaped." Rev. 14:14-16
Christ
Comes Again to Regather Israel.
One of the "signs" of Christ's return
is Israel becoming a nation again. [See
"Signs of Christ's Presence--Fig Tree.]
"...the fig tree. When his branch is yet
tender, and putteth forth leaves [Israel coming back to life], ye know that
summer [the kingdom of God, Lk. 21:29-31] is nigh...even at the doors."
This is also described as part of the
Lord's
reigning over Israel.
"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely
with a mighty hand...will I rule [Heb. - begin to reign] over you:
And I will bring you out from the people, and
will gather you out of the
countries wherein ye are scattered..." Ezek. 20:33,34
Christ
Comes Again to Bring Righteousness.
Christ's first work as King is to
execute
righteousness and justice, which at
first brings a time of trouble. But
then his righteous reign will bring a reign of peace.
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse; and he [Christ] that sat upon him was called Faithful and
True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."
Rev.
19:11
"For...Melchisedec, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God...first being by interpretation
King of
Righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace..."
Heb. 7:1,2 "Christ...called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." Heb. 5:5-10.
Christ
Comes Again to Resurrect.
At Christ's return, he will resurrect all who
have died in Adam. First he will resurrect his faithful Church and then the
rest of those who have died.
"For as in Adam all die, even so
in
Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ
the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's
at his coming
[parousia]." I Cor. 15:22,23.
"Martha saith unto [Jesus], 'I know that
[Lazarus] shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said
unto her, 'I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.'" John 11:24,25
Christ
Comes to Restore All That Was Lost.
Christ will not only restore life
to the world, but all that Adam lost will be restored.
"And the Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Rev. 22:17
"[God] shall send
Jesus Christ,...whom the heaven must receive [retain]
until the times of restitution of
all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began." Acts 3:19-21
These
"times of restitution" are
pictured by the "Israel's Jubilee." Every 50th year, not
only were bondsmen set free, but debts were cancelled and land was
returned to its original owners. Most of the Jubilee Year was probably
required to straighten out affairs and get each one fully installed again
in all his former liberties, rights, and possessions.
Likewise with the "times of
Restitution." It will open with sweeping reforms, with recognition of
rights, liberties, and possessions long lost sight of.
But the work of
completely restoring (to the obedient) all that was originally lost will
require the whole Messianic Age. The resurrection to life will only be the
beginning. Full restitution will be accomplished when those willing will
be brought back into harmony with God.
"And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle [God's dwelling place, Christ and
his Church] of God is with men, and
He will dwell with them, and they
shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their
God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev.
21:3,4
Click below for more
information on:
"Our Lord's Return
-- Its Object the Restitution of All Things."
Summary of
"Earth's Great Jubilee"
"Earth's Great Jubilee"
How Long will Christ's Second Advent
Last?
Christ will reign 1,000 years. Rev. 20:4,6 The first advent
lasted 34 years, from Bethlehem and Nazareth to the cross, the tomb and the resurrection.
The second advent lasts 1,000 years of triumphant reign and overthrow of evil. The second
advent could never have been possible without the first. However, the second, covering a
broader period of time, also covers a broader work.
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