THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

Yes. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ, who came to the world two thousand years ago, will come a second time. He himself spoke about this to his disciples in his last week of life in Jerusalem (John 14:1-3). Also, after His ascension into heaven, two angels appeared to the disciples and said that He would return in the same way that they saw Him ascend (Acts 1:11). What does the Bible say about this return of Jesus to the world? How will it happen? What signs indicate that this coming is approaching? When, exactly, will it take place? And what is its purpose? 

Well, according to the evangelists Matthew and Luke, Jesus Christ will not come as a man, as He did the first time. According to these authors, He will return in glory and in the splendor of His power, with His angels in the air (Matthew 24:30; 25:31; Luke 21:27). On this subject, the Apostle John, in his Revelation, gives a brief description of Christ in his state of glory, in his eternal Kingdom (Revelation 1:12-16) and says that "he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be!" (Revelation 1:7). 

Of course, information like this causes a lot of interest in people, and it was not different among the disciples. So they asked Jesus, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). Jesus then goes on to give a list of signs, namely: false messiahs doing great wonders to deceive even the elect, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, intense persecution of Christians, and a great tribulation, unprecedented in human history, which, "for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24: 1-22; Luke 21:5-18). 

These signs give good indications of the time of Jesus' coming, but when exactly will He return? No one has this information. According to Jesus Christ himself, "about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). But He suggests that it will be suddenly when no one expects it (Matthew 24:37-39). However, the text of Jesus' eschatological sermon gives a rough idea of the timing of this second coming. 

See, for example, what Matthew 24:29,30 says: "immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory". Notice that Jesus says it will be "immediately after the distress of those days" arising from wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences and persecution of the Church.  This is the answer that Jesus gives to the disciples' question: "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). 

Immediately, in the next verse, number 31, the text reveals the purpose of this second coming of Christ. Notice what it says: "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other". Yes. It is at that moment that Jesus rescues His Church to be with Him forever. In this point, the "second coming of Christ" shows that Christianity is not a religion that brings only good morals to the world, but it is, above all, a movement of God toward man to rescue him from this existence, marked by sin, suffering and death, that was established after original sin.  

Notice that, according to this discourse of Jesus, the Church will go through the great tribulation. Yes, that is the testimony of the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus Himself said that the great tribulation, "for the sake of the elect" will be shortened. Luke, too, speaking in the context of that tribulation said, "and so you will bear testimony to me" (21:13). The Church of Christ, as salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13,14), will be in the midst of the great tribulation of those days bearing witness to Christ and His eternal Kingdom. 

But then what is the advantage of being a Christian, since he will be given over to persecution and suffering? Indeed, it will be difficult days and many will honor God with martyrdom, but God will protect His people. About this, in this context of tribulation, Luke says: "But not a hair of your head will perish" (21:18). The fifth trumpet of the book of Revelation also deals with this theme. It speaks of a huge cloud of locusts that were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, nor... but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (9:1-11). 

It is worth remembering that the word "martyrdom" comes from the Greek koiné, the original language of the New Testament, and means "to bear witness", "to be a witness".With regard to the fear of dying, in those days, all the inhabitants of the earth will go through that experience. The only thing they will be able to do is to decide which side they will die on: God's side or the other. For, in those days, the structures of Creation will be shaken, when God will restore it, bringing "new heavens and a new earth," that is, a new Creation and a new humanity (1Peter 3:7-10; Revelation 21 and 22).

Antônio Maia – M. Div.

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