Two Comings of Christ

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).