Two Comings of Christ
I feel like sharing another difference that is so important in the
Word of God, inspired by my reading of a commentary on Titus by C.R.
Stam. This is the hope that we are called to as members of the church,
the Body of Christ, compared to the hope of Israel. In other words,
let's compare the rapture event that is exclusive to the Pauline
epistles and the second coming of Christ Jesus. Let's start with Titus
2:13-14
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
There are many, even Christians, who haven't understood yet what this
"blessed hope" is, confusing it with other passages such as in Matthew
24 and Luke 21. Trying to combine Pauline revelation and what Jesus
spoke of in His earthly ministry will only lead to confusion and debate,
which is why we have all sorts of views on when Jesus will come back
and who will go through the Tribulation period, etc. Note that the first
epistle that Paul wrote chronologically already contained a new
revelation in 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10
9b how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.
Take a moment and let those words sink in. We, as the body of Christ,
are to wait for Jesus from Heaven, who delivered us from the wrath to
come. In chapter 4 verses 16-18 he expounds on this:
16 For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP
TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Now I want to contrast this to what we read in Acts 1. In verse 6 the
disciples ask "wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?" Reading up until this point, this is a legitimate question.
They knew that God had promised Israel that they will inherit the earth
going all the way back to the promises made to Abraham. We could talk at
length about that, but for now I want to focus on what happens next in
verses 9-12a
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO
HEAVEN? 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.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem...
Why did the men in white apparel ask the disciples this question? Why
shouldn't they stand gazing up into Heaven? That's where Jesus Christ
just ascended. I would think anyone would be staring in awe at that. So
why did they ask the question and draw their attention back to the
earth, assuring them that Jesus would return in like manner as they saw
Him go? Also, note that after this assurance, they returned unto
Jerusalem.
I believe the explanation is in the difference between
the return of Jesus Christ to reign on earth and His coming to catch
away the church, the Body of Christ. In light of this, observe
Philippians 3:20
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our conversation, or citizenship, is in Heaven after trusting in the
finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary as members of the
church, the Body of Christ. Contrast this with that nation of promise,
Israel. There are a plethora of verses to look at, but I will just use
Jeremiah 23:5
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I
will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and
prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
All
the Old Testament covenant and prophecy points to this earthly hope, as
well as the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus and the twelve preached
during His earthly ministry. It also helps to explain why the angels
redirected the gaze of the twelve from Heaven back to Earth. They were
already told of the specific signs which would herald their Lord's
return to earth. When those signs appear, THEN they were to begin
looking for Him. Before these signs appeared, He could not come because
God cannot lie. Look at Luke 21:25-28, especially in verse 28
25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the
waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for
looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers
of heaven shall be shaken.
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 to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
When Jesus told His disciples to "watch" it was of this time that He
was talking about. They shouldn't begin watching for His return when He
was still with them, that would be silly. He would have to leave for a
time first and then those signs would come. Therefore, the apostles went
back to Jerusalem to wait for power from on high to come (Luke 24:49).
Some of these signs then came to pass in Acts 2:16-17
"This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel...in the last
days..."
And in Acts 3:19-20
"Repent...the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus Christ, which
before was preached unto you."
This was in line with Israel's
hope, but now let's look again at the blessed hope mentioned in Titus
2:13, because Israel, as a nation, refused the offer of the promised
kingdom and Jesus as King. We read that God postponed the kingdom and
began to reveal a secret, or "mystery". Look at Ephesians 3:1-11
1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given
me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is
now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable [meaning
not found in the Old Testament] riches of Christ;
9 And to make all
men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning
of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of
God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
Also see Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18, 24-29 because it is so
important to see this distinction.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all
things under his feet, and gave him
to be the head over all
things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Colossians 1:18, 24-29
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence.
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,
which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now
is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man
in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in
me mightily.
Looking then at Romans chapter 1 we
see that the Gentiles were concluded in unbelief. Romans chapter 2,
Psalm 2:1-3, Acts 4:25-28, and 8:1-3 we see that Israel was also in
rebellion. Right after Acts 8 we see God show His grace by saving Saul,
the chief of sinners, and raising him up to send the message of
reconciliation by faith apart from works in Acts 9-16. The gospel of the
kingdom gave way to the gospel of the grace of God in which there is no
difference between Jew and Gentile, slave or free (Galatians 3:28). All
are viewed as children of Adam, but all may be reconciled to God
through Christ.
Romans 11:32 - For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Ephesians 2:16 - And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
So, we look for the Lord to come not to the Mount of Olives, but the
Lord Himself to descend from Heaven with a shout...and we shall be
caught up...to meet the Lord in the air. We don't even look for the same
Jesus as the apostles looked for. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have
known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Note the difference as the cloud received Jesus out of the sight of the
apostles that they could still see. Not so with Saul on the road to
Damascus. He was blinded with "a light...above the brightness of the
sun" according to Acts 26:13. Throughout the Old Testament God appeared to Israel
veiled in a cloud, so it is reasonable that He will again return to
earth in the same manner or earthly eyes could not look upon Him and
see.
But we of the church, the Body of Christ, are given a
position now in Christ, in the epouraneous, the Greek word for highest
heavens, and some day we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51) so that
we may live with Jesus in glorified bodies and share in His glory! How
awesome is that?
The apostles stood outside as "a cloud received
Him out of their sight," and were assured that He would return in a
cloud (Luke 21:27), but we of the church, the Body of Christ, are to be
"caught up together...IN the cloud" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). An
interesting note is that in Luke 9:24, Peter, James, and John entered
into a cloud, but the Greek word for "into" is "eis", which often means
only to come into contact with. Contrast this with the Greek word for
"in" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 which is "en", and means to be, or remain,
within.
Also note that the Body of Christ has not been given one
sign to look for that will tell us that Jesus is going to come for us.
Otherwise, this event would not be imminent. We don't need to wait for a
revival of the Roman empire, or the rise of Antichrist, or the rebuilt
temple. We are to just wait for Him, serving as we wait, reminding us of
1 Thessalonians 1:10
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
And Philippians 3:20 - For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Why this eager waiting? Look at the next verse, Titus 2:14 - Who gave
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Think
about that. Jesus desires to have us for Himself! He gave Himself for
us, died in agony and shame, so that "He might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar (special) people, zealous
of good works."
Under Mosaic Law, the terms were IF ye will obey
My voice indeed...THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me. (Exodus
19:5). But Israel couldn't keep this command. The Law was given only to
show man of his need of Christ (Galatians 3:19).
So How does
Jesus "purify unto Himself a peculiar people?" Read Ephesians 5:25-26 -
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD.
It is so important to get to know
Jesus Christ through diligent study of the scriptures. But at the same
time, not to get stuck in doctrine only, but truly develop your personal
relationship with your personal Savior. Praise be to God that we can
proclaim to the lost sinners that Jesus "gave Himself a ransom for ALL
(1 Tim 2:6). He gave Himself for US (Titus 2:14) so we can personally
apply this as the apostle Paul says, "He loved ME and gave Himself for
ME." (Galatians 2:20).
Do you know this Jesus Christ, the one
according to the bible? It all starts by trusting in the gospel of His
grace, that His sacrifice for your iniquity is sufficient to redeem you
unto Himself. There is no work you can do yourself, for it is "by grace
that ye are saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8).
