What Can We Know About The Second Coming

WHAT CAN WE
KNOW ABOUT
THE SECOND
COMING?
CONTENTS

W
here do we stand after
Christians Divided On 2,000 years of false
The Rapture Question . . 2 alarms and the current
“future fatigue”? Should we join
Why Would He Return those who have thrown in the
Again . . .And Again? . . . . 4
towel on prophetic study in favor
Some Don’t Agree . . . . 13 of “more practical, life-related
Now You See Them, issues”? Or, if we are convinced
Now You Don’t . . . . . . 18 that nothing is more practical than
World Of Joy;World to look for our Lord’s return, how
Of Terror . . . . . . . . . . . 21 should we do that? Should we be
expecting an any-moment return?
The King Is Back—
To Stay! . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Or should we be more concerned
about preparing for the coming
Helping You years of unparalleled trouble that
Help Others. . . . . . . . . 29
the prophets predicted?
Christ’s Return In an effort to answer some of
And You . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 these questions, Herb Vander Lugt
and Dave Branon have written this
booklet. It is our prayer that their
work will lead you to an increased
awareness of what the Bible has to
say about our Lord’s promised
return. Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo & Design:Terry Bidgood
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 1988,1999,2003 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

CHRISTIANS granted. Just as a child finds
DIVIDED ON the inner strength to pull his
act together when he thinks
THE RAPTURE his dad is coming through
QUESTION the front door, so those who
live in the expectation that
MILLIONS Christ could return at any
REPORTED MISSING moment have reason to live
News reports arriving from a different and better life.
cities around the globe tell of It gives husbands reason to
a mysterious disappearance love their wives and to spend
of thousands and thousands time with their children. It
of people. In some instances gives managers incentive
entire families have vanished to be considerate of their
without a trace . . . . workers and to treat them
the way they would want to

C
ould this headline and be treated. It gives everyone
lead paragraph appear who knows the way to
in your newspaper heaven urgent reason to
tomorrow? Is it possible that introduce others to Christ—
Christ could return today before it is too late.
and suddenly remove His But, having said that,
children from this earth, could Christ return today?
leaving an unbelieving Church people do not
world to wonder where all all agree. While all true
the Christians have gone? Christians believe in the
This is an extremely return of Christ, many
practical issue. If Christ disagree about the details
could return today, we need of when it will occur.
to be ready. We cannot Some think that Christ
afford to take the future for will come back at the end
2

of the age just prior to rescue of the nation of
destroying and recreating the Israel. This view includes
heavens and the earth. This those who hold to either
is termed amillennialism a pretribulational or a
because it does not recognize midtribulational approach
a literal millennium (1,000- to the Lord’s return.
year reign of Christ on earth). But with these options
before us, what do we really
know about the second
The return of Christ coming of Christ? To begin,
represents not only we know that everyone who
looks for Christ’s return has
the ultimate sense reason to live the kind of life
of accountability but that will please the Lord at
the ultimate sense His coming. The apostle John
recognized this when he
of hope as well. wrote, “When He is revealed,
we shall be like Him, for we
Others believe that shall see Him as He is. And
Christ will return only everyone who has this hope
after a predicted period in Him purifies himself, just
of unparalleled trouble. as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2-3).
This view is called Beyond that incentive for
posttribulationalism because right living, we believe it is
it sees Christ coming for His very important for us to be
people after the tribulation. ready for a two-part return
Still others, however, of Christ, the first phase of
believe that our Lord will which could occur at any
return in two phases—once moment—maybe even today.
for the salvation of His But what is the evidence
church and once for the for such a position?
3

WHY WOULD pages will explain why that
CHRIST RETURN seems to signal a two-part
return of Christ—one for the
AGAIN . . . AND church and one for Israel.
AGAIN?
THE DISTINCTION
IMMINENT
BETWEEN ISRAEL
COND
CH
AR
AND THE CHURCH
SE
Basic to this discussion is
KINGDOM

ACTERISTIC
SET UP

RAPTURE
our belief that the first of
GLORIOUS
RETURN
these two returns is for the
CO
MING
rescue and removal of the
S

IN church (1 Cor. 15:51-53;
T E R N I NG
VE 1 Th. 4:13-18; 5:9). The
YEARS
second relates to God’s plan
for Israel (Ezek. 36:16-38;

T
he main evidence for Jer. 23:5-6; Rev. 19:11-21).
a two-part return of Both have different places
Christ revolves around in God’s prophetic program.
(1) God’s distinct plans for Even though both share a
Israel and the church and common spiritual ancestry
(2) prophecies that describe that can be traced back to
the time of Christ’s return as the faith of Abraham (Gal.
being both knowable and 3:7), they have different
unknowable. The reasoning places in God’s world plan.
might seem to be a little Israel represents a nation
involved at points, but the with whom God has made
main point to keep in mind very earth-centered and
is that Scripture teaches us geographically related
to be always ready for the promises (Isa. 2:1-6; Ezek.
Lord’s return. The following 36–37). But the church is a
4

multinational organism becomes evident that some
made up of all true believers predictions refer to the Lord’s
in Christ—Jew or Gentile. return for the church, while
The church is at the center others relate to His return
of God’s program until “the as the King and Deliverer
fullness of the Gentiles” is of Israel.
fulfilled (Rom. 11:25) and This provides an
has been given a hope explanation for why the
that is to be realized more church is not specifically
in heaven than on earth referred to in most of the
(1 Th. 4:13-18). book of Revelation.
Revelation 6–18 (which
describes the “great
A two-phase return tribulation” to which Jesus
would explain why alluded in Matthew 24:15-
Israel but not the 28) never mentions the
church. While an argument
church is mentioned from silence is not the
in the endtime strongest, it does seem
events of Revelation. significant. It gives credence
to the idea that Christ will
have returned to remove the
The distinction between church prior to all of those
Israel and the church is endtime events related to
basic to understanding the restoration and salvation
prophecy. Many have called of the nation of Israel, called
it the key to unlocking what the “time of Jacob’s trouble”
the Bible says about the (Jer. 30:7). The church will
future. When the two are already be with her Lord
kept distinct, many prophetic and will come with Him
details fall into place. Then it when He returns to save
5

Israel and set up His than the promise of our
promised earthly kingdom. Lord’s return.
That brings us to a If the Lord were to
second important reason return today, all of your
for being ready for a worst problems and all of
two-part return of Christ. your deepest pleasures
The teaching of the Bible
includes (a) prophecies of
dramatic events that will
A two-phase return
occur just prior to the Lord’s makes sense if the
second coming to earth and first phase (for
(b) predictions of another
coming at a time that is
the church) could
not expected. It seems happen at any
reasonable to resolve this time and the
apparent contradiction by
seeing them as describing
second phase
two different phases of the (for Israel) happens
Lord’s return. at a definite,
Just keep in mind that
if this discussion seems
presignaled time.
unrelated to your real needs
and problems, you’re would suddenly look entirely
missing something. Nothing different. For that reason,
is more practical than the let’s take a closer look at
return of Christ. When seen what the Bible has to say
properly, nothing provides about (1) the any-moment
more hope. Nothing provides return for the church and (2)
more accountability. Nothing the final presignaled event
puts the pains and pleasures climaxing the worst trouble
of life in better perspective the world has ever seen.
6

THE DISTINCTION and the “when” or time
BETWEEN AN question related to His
ANY-MOMENT AND unannounced coming for
A PRESIGNALED the church (vv.36-51).
RETURN The signs of His
In the Olivet Discourse, coming—alerting all
delivered only shortly generations (vv.3-14).
before His crucifixion, Jesus The Lord began by
answered questions raised describing seven events
by His disciples after He had that would occur before His
predicted the destruction of return. They will be signs of
the temple at Jerusalem. His coming because their
They asked, “Tell us, when purpose will be to remind
will these things be? And His children throughout the
what will be the sign of Your age, saying, “Jesus is coming
coming, and of the end of again.” Our Lord talked
the age?” (Mt. 24:3). about false christs (v.5), wars
Notice that the disciples’ and rumors of wars (v.6),
question has three parts: (1) famines (v.7), pestilences
When? (2) What will be the and earthquakes (v.7),
signs of Christ’s coming? (3) persecution (v.9), defections
What will be the signs of the from the faith (vv.10-13),
end of the age? As we read and worldwide preaching
our Lord’s answer, we find of the gospel (v.14).
that He began with the sign It is a fact of history
part of the question. He that all seven of these
dealt with the signs of His occurrences took place to
coming that will alert all some degree during the first
generations (vv.3-14), the century. However, like most
signs of the end of the age prophecies, the near-at-hand
related to Israel (vv.15-35), and far-off elements were
7

blended together into one description of a brief, terrible
picture. Therefore, Jesus’ time of trouble that will end
statements have different when the Lord returns. We
applications to different might be puzzled by the
generations. To believers statement about the
who lived and died under “abomination of desolation”
terrible persecution, “the in the “holy place.” But the
end” in verse 13 is the end Jewish people to whom Jesus
of life. But to those who spoke understood it. They
live during the coming knew that according to
tribulation, it will be the Daniel 9:24-27 a hostile
end of the age. Similarly, Gentile ruler would someday
the worldwide preaching of desecrate their temple and
the gospel during the first initiate horrendous
century was to the Roman persecution. While Luke
world (Col. 1:5-6), while 21:20-24 contains some
for us today it is to the elements that were partially
entire globe. These events fulfilled in the destruction of
portrayed by our Lord served Jerusalem and the temple in
as signs to first-century AD 70, Matthew 24:15-31
believers and to those of all focuses on the endtime.
subsequent generations that There will be:
He is coming again. • Enough fear to drive
The signs of the end the Jews to the hills
of the age—related to (vv.16-18).
Israel (vv.15-35). At • Unparalleled trouble
verse 15, we suddenly find and woe (vv.19-20).
ourselves with a very specific • Great tribulation that
prediction about “an would threaten all life
abomination of desolation.” if the days were not
This is followed by a detailed shortened (vv.21-22).
8

• False christs and began to answer the “when”
prophets (vv.23-26). question. He didn’t set a
• Startling celestial signs date. He said His second
and the visible descent coming would catch people
of the Son of Man “with by surprise (see Lk. 12:40).
power and great glory”
(vv.29-31).
These will be the signs
How can the Lord’s
that the end of the age is second coming
near. Just as the appearing catch people by
of buds on trees signals the
soon onset of the summer
surprise if it’s going
season, so do these signs to be presignaled by
show “that it is near, at the all the spectacular
very doors” (v.33). In fact,
the generation that sees the
events described in
beginning of these signs (the Matthew 24?
desecration of the Jewish
temple depicted in verse 15) First, Jesus explained that
will not pass off the scene the coming of the Son of
before the Lord has returned Man would be “as the days
(v.34). of Noah were.” In those
The “when” days, despite Noah’s
question—related to warnings of danger, the
His unannounced people went about their lives
return for the church as usual. There was no
(vv.36-51). After reminding concern for an imminent
His disciples that people flood, because the people
who see the signs He had didn’t believe it was coming.
spoken of can be sure that There were no heavenly
the return will be near, Jesus signs or unusual events—
9

only the incessant return to establish His
hammering and sawing by kingdom over the earth.
Noah and his sons. When This event will be clearly
the rains came, the people presignaled.
were caught by surprise.
After giving a couple of
examples of what will happen Why didn’t the
when His unexpected coming Lord spell out the
takes place, our Lord makes details of His
this sobering, yet exciting
warning: second coming so
Therefore you also be clearly that we
ready, for the Son of could put them
Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect together and know
(Mt. 24:44). exactly how and
How can the Lord’s when it will occur?
second coming catch people
by surprise if it is going to
be presignaled by all the Matthew 24 describes
striking and spectacular both stages of Jesus’ return:
events described in Matthew the surprise, any-moment
24:15-31? That’s a key rapture of believers (vv.36-
question. The best answer 44) and the glorious return
seems to be found in seeing of Jesus at the close of the
the Lord’s second coming as tribulation to end the
occurring in two stages. destruction and establish
First He will come to catch His kingdom (vv.15-35).
up (or “rapture”) His own He began with the glorious
people. This event will be return because that was
unannounced. Then He will the concern of the disciples
10

when they asked the teach us that we should live
question. He introduced in continual readiness for
the unexpected element to our meeting with Him.
prepare them for the truths In blending together into
about the church age and one picture references to the
rapture—truths that would destruction of Jerusalem in
be made clear after His AD 70, the endtime sacrilege
ascension. in the temple, the apostolic
persecution, the endtime
PURPOSEFUL great tribulation, the signs in
AMBIGUITY the heavenly bodies, and an
If you have read our Lord’s unexpected coming, the Lord
prophetic words recorded followed the pattern of the
in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Old Testament prophets. In
and Luke 17 and 21, you their prophecies they also
probably wish you could merged, without explanation
find somebody who would about sequence, predictions
give you a crystal-clear that would occur at four
explanation of all He said. different time periods: (1) in
If so, join the club! Many their own lifetime, (2) in the
people have had the same near future, (3) at Messiah’s
experience and asked, first coming, and (4) at the
“Why didn’t He spell out the end of time. For example,
details of His second coming the prophecies of Jesus’ birth,
so clearly that we could put exaltation, rule, suffering,
them together and know and death (Isa. 7:14;
exactly how and when it 52:13–54:17; Jer. 23:5; Mic.
will occur?” The answer is 5:4) were written in such a
quite simple: He didn’t set way that they could not be
out to give us this kind of placed in chronological order
information. His aim was to until they were fulfilled.
11

We can be thankful that (Mt. 25:1-13), 10 virgins are
God doesn’t tell each of us invited to attend a wedding
individually the exact time reception, but they have to
or manner of our death. wait for the arrival of the
Similarly, He didn’t give us a wedding procession. They
precise answer to the what, know it is coming, but they
when, and how questions don’t know just when. The
regarding our Lord’s return. procession in which each
It’s better for us to live in the person carries a lighted
tension produced by the torch arrives, but five of the
realization, “Perhaps today, girls can’t join the group
but maybe not in my because they have no oil in
lifetime.” their torches. However, the
five who are prepared
IMMINENCY become part of the rejoicing
PARABLES company. The message is
At the conclusion of the clear. “We don’t know when
Olivet Discourse, Jesus told Jesus is coming back.
two parables that shout out Therefore, be ready!”
the message, “Be ready!” Down through the
In the first one (Mt. centuries Bible expositors
24:45-51), the servant is left have applied these parables
in charge while his master is to the church. The servant
away on a trip. He begins who behaved wickedly and
thinking that the owner will the five girls who had no oil
be gone a long time, so he represent professing
abuses the people under Christians who are not truly
him and lives it up. But the saved. When Jesus comes
master returns unexpectedly unexpectedly for His own,
and punishes him severely. He will punish them and
In the second parable exclude them from His
12

banquet hall. What a call to moment, pretribulational
readiness! What a powerful doctrine of Christ’s return
intimation of imminency! relates to its supposed
recent origin. Some
posttribulationists attempt
SOME DON’T to show that it began in the
AGREE 1820s with an unstable

W
hen the Lord Scottish clergyman named
appears in the air Edward Irving. They say
unexpectedly to that he was the first person
take His people to heaven, to develop the idea that
many Christians will be Christ’s return would occur
just as surprised as non- in two stages, and that an
Christians. That is because eccentric named Margaret
many believers are not Macdonald picked up on his
convinced that the rapture teaching during the 1830s.
of the church could occur Then, a few years later,
at any moment. They know J. N. Darby and several
that Jesus is coming back, other Plymouth Brethren
but they do not see His teachers further developed
return in two stages. They the idea of the two-stage
don’t keep an eye on the sky. return. Posttribulationists
Let’s look at their objections tell us to reject the any-
to an imminent rapture. moment rapture idea
because it, like the
OBJECTION: teachings of the Mormons
The Any-Moment and Jehovah’s Witnesses, is
Rapture Is A Recent of recent and dubious origin.
Idea In Church Before we obey these
History. A common critics and bid farewell to
objection to the any- our belief in the rapture, let’s
13

think through their charge. the Roman Empire and
Was the any-moment sometimes thought of
teaching really new? Did the themselves as already in
two-stage teaching originate the great tribulation.
with evil, irresponsible Christians down through
people as posttribulationists the centuries, mindful of the
claim? Did the teaching of warning of Jesus that His
the second coming develop coming would catch the
differently from other world by surprise, never
important doctrines? We’ll felt comfortable saying that
find that each of the above Jesus Christ could not come
questions can be given at any moment. Many
a solid answer of no. Christians expected Christ’s
1. The any-moment return during great natural
idea was not new. The disasters like earthquakes
writings of the church fathers or tornadoes. When the
are filled with warnings to dust storms during the
live in continual readiness early 1930s caused an
for our Lord’s return. These eerie daytime darkness in
men applied the parable of some of our midwestern
Jesus about the wise and states, many Christians
foolish virgins to the people panicked, thinking that the
of their age, urging them to second coming was at hand.
keep their lamps burning The idea that the Lord
so they would be ready for could come at any moment
Jesus at His return for them. certainly did not originate
They probably didn’t see the with Edward Irving. In fact,
need to develop a concept it didn’t even originate with
of two stages in the Lord’s Darby. He simply tried to
return because they tended develop a biblical viewpoint
to identify the Antichrist with that would explain how the
14

imminent-return idea could Augustine, Luther, Calvin,
be harmonized with the and Wesley, had flaws and
teaching of the Bible about a blind spots. But like them,
tribulation prior to the return. they were also sincere
2. The Plymouth men of God who made
Brethren who developed tremendous contributions
the two-stage teaching to the church in both
were biblical scholars. leadership and doctrine.
The claim that Irving and 3. The method of
Macdonald clearly taught development for this two-
the two-stage second coming stage return idea is similar
doctrine rests on flimsy to that of other doctrines.
evidence. In fact, their The doctrines of justification,
writings on this subject sanctification, and God’s
are confusing. While Darby sovereignty, though taught
and his Plymouth Brethren by Christian leaders down
associates may have picked through the centuries, were
up some ideas from Irving never as fully developed as
and Macdonald, they they were by Luther, Calvin,
developed their teaching and Wesley. Throughout the
through a careful and years of church history, the
systematic study of the Holy Spirit has led the
Scriptures in the original Lord’s people into clearer
languages. They were understanding of God’s
systematic in the application Word in every area of
of the Scriptures. They Christian doctrine, including
rejected some elements that of the second coming.
of Irving’s teachings and In summary, the claim
produced a sane and that we should abandon the
coherent doctrine of last pretribulation, any-moment
things. These men, like doctrine of Christ’s return
15

because of a recent and never support an argument
dubious origin carries no by adding to the Bible
weight. The logic that rejects something that isn’t there.
a teaching on this basis One of those “somethings”
demands that we also that isn’t found in God’s
reject Luther’s teaching on Word is the word rapture.
justification, Calvin’s insights When we use this word
into God’s sovereignty, and to designate the time of
Wesley’s contributions Jesus’ return in the air to
toward an understanding take His followers to
of sanctification. heaven, though, we are
not violating Scripture. For
example, the word Trinity
The claim that we doesn’t appear in the Bible,
should abandon the but posttribulationists don’t
deny its truth.
pretribulation, any- Where, then, does the
moment doctrine term rapture come from? In
of Christ’s return 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul
said that living believers will
because of a recent be “caught up” with the
and dubious origin dead in Christ to meet the
carries no weight. Lord in the air. The Greek
word Paul used here is
harpazo, which means “to
OBJECTION: snatch away.” When the
The Rapture Is Not Bible was translated into
In Scripture. If we are to Latin, the scholars rendered
consider ourselves people harpazo as rapturo. It is
who “go by the Book,” we just a short step then from
have to be careful that we rapturo to the English word
16

rapture. Therefore, although imminent because Jesus
it is true that the word itself would have had to wait at
does not appear in our least until Peter had passed
English translation of from the scene at an old age.
Scripture, the sense of Age is such a relative
the word is surely there. term. Does this mean Peter
Christians will be snatched would have to be 75 before
away when the Lord Jesus’ words would be
descends with a shout. fulfilled? In the New
Testament era, lifespans
OBJECTION: were much shorter than they
Jesus’ Prophecy About are now. Paul, for example,
Peter. Another objection to called himself “aged” when
the doctrine of imminency he wrote to Philemon, and
stems from what Jesus told he was probably in his fifties.
Peter, as recorded in John Taking into account that
21. He said, “When you Peter was already in his mid-
were younger, you girded thirties when Jesus spoke
yourself and walked where those words, it would not be
you wished; but when you very many years until he too
are old, you will stretch out could consider himself old.
your hands, and another Granted, there would
will gird you and carry you have been a few years in the
where you do not wish” first century during which
(v.18). This prophecy, which anyone who knew of this
we know now indicated that prediction would have
Peter would be arrested and known that Jesus’ coming
martyred, is used by some was not imminent, but that
to refute the possibility of time was brief. Besides,
imminency. The return of Peter was “old” by the time
Christ could not have been Paul wrote his epistles.
17

NOW YOU SEE master magician pales in
THEM, NOW comparison with what will
occur when Jesus Christ
YOU DON’T appears to end this age and
usher in the day of the Lord!
IMMINENT No mirrors, no stage hands,
and no trickery will be
CH
COND
AR
SE needed when the Savior
KINGDOM

ACTERISTIC
SET UP

RAPTURE
reaches out His arms and
GLORIOUS makes millions of people—
RETURN
CO both living and dead—
MING
S

IN disappear from earth.
T E R N I NG
VE Here’s how Paul
YEARS
described the disappearance
of millions into the heavens.

S
everal years ago, Behold, I tell you a
David Copperfield mystery: We shall not all
astounded a national sleep, but we shall all be
television audience by changed—in a moment,
making the Statue of Liberty in the twinkling of an eye,
“disappear.” Those who at the last trumpet. For
watched the spectacle on the trumpet will sound,
TV confessed bewilderment and the dead will be
and amazement at such a raised incorruptible, and
grand display of illusion. we shall be changed
All the while, the audience (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
knew, and Copperfield And in 1 Thessalonians
himself agreed, it was all 4:16-17 he said:
just a trick. The Lady The Lord Himself will
never left her pedestal. descend from heaven with
How that illusion by this a shout, with the voice of
18

an archangel, and with the indicates that all people who
trumpet of God. And the trusted in Jesus from the Day
dead in Christ will rise first. of Pentecost (the first time
Then we who are alive and anyone was “in Christ”) until
remain shall be caught up the moment of rapture—both
together with them in the the living and the dead—
clouds to meet the Lord in would join Jesus. This is an
the air. And thus we shall event solely for Christians.
always be with the Lord. Will this be a secret
From these two passages event? Some Bible students
we can learn several things refer to this “catching up” of
about the rapture. the church as a secret
Who will be rapture. They claim that only
raptured? Imagine the Christians will hear the
thrill of hearing the shout of shouts and trumpet blasts.
the Lord, the voice of the Whether or not this is true,
archangel, and the trumpet this event will hardly be
of God. Imagine looking up secret. When whole
and seeing Jesus with His congregations of people
open arms, ready to hold disappear, when employees
you for an eternity. Imagine suddenly vanish, when vital
these things, though, only if public services are disrupted
you are a Christian. In both by mass absenteeism, people
of these passages, Paul is will notice. So no matter how
addressing brethren, a term blinded the unbelieving
that denotes fellow believers world may be to the events
in Jesus Christ. Also, in in the sky, they’ll soon know
Paul’s letter to the that something extraordinary
Thessalonians, he has occurred.
mentioned that the “dead in What happens to
Christ” would rise first. This believers? A quick trip to
19

heaven is just the beginning telling them that His
of the marvelous things that departure was related to
will happen at the rapture. what He was doing for
Apparently, the moment believers—preparing an
living believers are ushered eternal dwelling place for
into Christ’s presence, they them. Then He told them
will receive their new bodies. He would be coming back
Paul wrote, “We shall all be to take them to that place. If
changed—in a moment, in Jesus does not take us to be
the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trumpet. . . . For
this corruptible must put on The rapture will
incorruption, and this mortal hardly be secret.
must put on immortality”
(1 Cor. 15:51-53). When whole
Where will believers congregations of
go? Posttribulationists teach people disappear,
that when Jesus appears in
the sky, Christians will rise when employees
to meet Him, make a U- suddenly vanish, when
turn, and descend to earth. vital public services
Then Jesus will set up His
earthly kingdom. Besides the are disrupted by
obvious strangeness of this mass absenteeism,
up-and-down scenario, this people will notice.
theory has another problem.
It seems to contradict John
14. After Jesus had made the with Him at the rapture,
Upper Room announcement then what happened to His
that He was departing, He promise of a place in His
reassured His disciples by Father’s house?
20

WORLD OF worlds will be as different as
JOY; WORLD any two societies have ever
been. Let’s see what will
OF TERROR be going on in these two
divergent worlds in the years
IMMINENT that separate the two stages
of Jesus’ return.
COND
CH
AR
SE
KINGDOM

ACTERISTIC
SET UP

RAPTURE
A TIME OF JOY:
GLORIOUS AN AWARDS
RETURN
CO CEREMONY
MING
Few scenes are as touching
S

IN
T E R N I NG
VE and heartwarming as the
YEARS
awards presentations at the
Olympic games. We can all

T
he rapture will recall specific athletes and
change everything. their reactions as they
In addition to calling received their medal and
out the world’s population then proudly turned to gaze
of Christians, it will create a upon their country’s flag as
new society of people with the national anthem was
glorified bodies far removed played.
from the limits of earth. No In a small measure, this
longer will this blue marble can help us see what will
have a monopoly on the transpire for the raptured
populace. And just as believers at the event called
earth and heaven will the judgment seat of Christ
be composed of entirely (2 Cor. 5:10). Soon after
opposite groups of people, Jesus has called His
so they will represent totally people together with a
variant events. The two shout and a trumpet blast,
21

this presentation of those things that were done
rewards will begin in on earth with God’s glory in
heaven. Christians will mind will live on. Like gold
stand before Christ the and silver, they cannot be
Judge, either to be rewarded burned. The key elements
with crowns (lit. a winner’s in testing these works
wreath) for the good things will be their quality and the
they have done for God,
or to “suffer loss” for their
failure or neglect. Christians will
To understand what it stand before
means to “suffer loss,” think
again of the Olympic athlete. Christ the Judge
The medalists earn the prize, and either be
while those who lose rewarded with
must step aside with the
realization that they have crowns for the
not gained the reward. They good things they
are still members of their have done for God
Olympic teams, of course,
but they have suffered loss. or “suffer loss”
What, then, will be God’s for their failure
means of judging what was or neglect.
worthy of honor and what
wasn’t? First Corinthians
3:13-15 speaks of a trial motivation behind them.
by fire. Any works that What kind of rewards can
were done with a selfish the Christian work toward?
motivation will perish in the At least five distinct crowns
fire just as wood, hay, and are mentioned in Scripture.
stubble are consumed. But • An incorruptible crown
22

for overcoming the old A TIME OF TERROR:
nature (1 Cor. 9:25-27). ANTICHRIST AND
• A crown of rejoicing JUDGMENT
for being a soulwinner What a contrast there will
(1 Th. 2:19-20). be between the best of times
• A crown of life for in heaven and the worst of
enduring persecution times on earth! Although
and trials (Jas. 1:12; things may at first seem to
Rev. 2:10). be tolerable, after Jesus
• A crown of righteousness removes the Christians and
for eagerly looking the restraining power of the
forward to Christ’s Holy Spirit, the situation will
return (2 Tim. 4:8). deteriorate quickly. Two
• A crown of glory for events during this time will
shepherding the flock spell trouble, terror, and
of God (1 Pet. 5:4). tragedy for those left behind.
The glory of the event The first—the revealing of
is only beginning when all Antichrist—will precipitate
the crowns are handed out, the second—the tribulation.
for these rewards are not Referred to as the “man
earned for personal gain. of sin” in 2 Thessalonians
When Christians receive 2:3, Antichrist will gain
their crowns at the power as the final king of
judgment seat of Christ, the restored Roman Empire.
they will give honor to Jesus Of course, a man who
by casting them at His feet achieves the measure of
(Rev. 4:10). Imagine the worldwide power that will
scene as millions of glorified go to Antichrist cannot do
believers offer their heavenly so without first conning his
rewards to God for His fellowman into following
glory! him. How he will do this is
23

not exactly known, but he 24:1,3,6), and sudden
will probably show that he destruction (1 Th. 5:3).
can create an orderly society
out of one that has been
reeling in chaos. In addition, Antichrist will not
he will work miraculous be the only source
wonders by the power
of Satan. Yet his of suffering during
benevolence will soon this time of
turn to malevolence. He tribulation.These
will fiercely persecute and
attempt to slaughter all who days will also be
accept Christ and would marked by great
dare refuse his demand calamity—the
that he be worshiped
(Rev. 6:9-11). result of God’s
Antichrist will not be judgment
the only source of suffering and wrath.
during this time of
tribulation. In addition,
these days will be marked Near the last part of the
by great calamity that will great tribulation, Antichrist
come as a result of God’s will unwittingly begin setting
judgment and wrath (Joel the stage for an event on
1:15; Rev. 11:18; 16:9). God’s prophetic calendar
Amid this devastation will that will be the grandest
be the death of one quarter event of all time—the
of the world’s population revelation of Jesus Christ
(Rev. 6:8), massive at His glorious return.
earthquakes (Isa. 2:19),
catastrophic fires (Isa.
24

THE KING IS overrun Antichrist and his
BACK—TO STAY! troops. Unfortunately for
them and for the people of
neighboring countries in the
IMMINENT
Middle East, Antichrist will

CH
COND
lead his army to victory. As

AR
SE
Daniel described it, “He
KINGDOM

ACTERISTIC
SET UP

RAPTURE
shall enter the countries,
GLORIOUS
RETURN
overwhelm them, and pass
CO
MING
through. He shall also enter
S

IN
T E R N I NG
the Glorious Land, and
VE many countries shall be
YEARS
overthrown” (Dan. 11:40-41).
Yet all will not be calm in

T
he tensions that Antichrist’s camp. Despite his
headline the nightly victories, he will hear rumors
news from the Middle that new armies from the
East in our day do not Orient are ready to attack.
compare with the events Angrily, he will dispatch his
that will mark the final troops to Jerusalem. Indeed,
months of action during the the Eastern armies will
tribulation. As the clock arrive, spelling trouble for the
winds down on the reign of Jewish people. These new
Antichrist, more and more armies will stand against the
countries will align together Jews in Jerusalem—just as
against him and do battle Antichrist’s troops will. Here’s
with him in Palestine. how Zechariah described it:
At the climax of those I will gather all the
hostilities, armies of the “king nations to battle against
of the north” and the “king of Jerusalem; the city shall be
the south” will attempt to taken, the houses rifled,
25

and the women ravished. This, then, is the second
Half of the city shall go coming of Jesus Christ. The
into captivity, but the King of the universe, who
remnant of the people had appeared in the air just
shall not be cut off from a few years before, will have
the city (Zech. 14:2).
The scene seems
hopeless. The Jews have
The King of the
nowhere to turn as two universe, who had
opposing armies sweep over appeared in the air
them. There appears to be
no way out for this war-
just a few years
wracked people. before, will come
back to end the
THE WARRIOR-KING
INTERVENES tribulation and
Suddenly, the scene will to establish His
change. The heavens will millennial kingdom
open and Jesus will return.
He is portrayed as clothed in
on earth.
a robe dipped in blood and
riding on a white horse as come back to end the
He appears in the air to tribulation and to establish
send his white-clothed army His millennial kingdom on
against the armies of earth.
Antichrist (Rev. 19:11-21).
Victory will be swift and THE JUDGE-KING
complete as the beast is HOLDS COURT
captured and banished to Among Jesus’ first duties as
the lake of fire, and his army He prepares to set up His
is soundly defeated. 1,000-year reign is to sit in
26

judgment on several groups “brethren” during those
of people. Remember that devastating years. Those
He will have already judged who showed kindness to
many when He distributed them showed their love for
rewards to the raptured Jesus, so they will enter the
saints after they were taken kingdom. The rest will be
up to heaven. But now there “cast away” either because
are new people to examine. they worshiped Antichrist or
In the first days after our because they mistreated
Lord’s return to earth, He Jews or both.
will judge three groups:
1. Resurrected believers THE CREATOR-KING
from before Pentecost, along RE-CREATES
with martyred tribulation Shortly after Jesus’ glorious
saints (Dan. 12:1-3). return, He will transform
2. Jews who had gone this age-old earth, reversing
through the tribulation some of the fallout from the
(Ezek. 20:33-44). Some will curse in the Garden of Eden.
be allowed to become These changes will allow the
citizens of the kingdom and inhabitants of earth to enjoy
some will be cast into a time of prosperity and
Hades. Their destination will happiness unparalleled
depend on whether they in human history. His re-
chose to accept Christ or to creation will be marked by:
follow Antichrist and his Increased
revolt. Productivity. Isaiah said
3. Gentiles (Mt. 25). that “the desert shall rejoice
What Jesus will do with and blossom as the rose; it
Gentiles who endured the shall blossom abundantly”
tribulation will depend on (Isa. 35:1-2). Evidently, new
how they treated Christ’s areas of land will be made
27

fruitful, and this new source assured that His plans for
of usable land will lead to a this time will surely cause
time of great prosperity. our lives to be more
Even the fishing will enjoyable.
improve (Ezek. 47:9).
Better Weather. THE RULER-KING
Notice again the words of REIGNS
Isaiah, who wrote, “Then He The millennial kingdom of
will give the rain for your our Lord Jesus Christ will not
seed with which you sow the be a democracy. Rather it will
ground, and bread of the be a benevolent dictatorship.
increase of the earth; it will Another way of describing
be fat and plentiful” (Isa. it would be to call it a
30:23). Jesus’ transforming theocracy—a government
work will include changes in led by God. As ruler of the
the climate of earth. The sun earth during this time, Jesus
will be more radiant, and will be a king who will “reign
even the moon will shine and prosper, and execute
brighter (v.26). judgment and righteousness
Peaceful in the earth” (Jer. 23:5).
Coexistence Of As King, Jesus will do
Animals. “The wolf also what no other leader in
shall dwell with the lamb, history has been able to do.
the leopard shall lie down He will govern with absolute
with the young goat, the calf authority, righteousness,
and the young lion and the and justice. Finally, after so
fatling together” (Isa. 11:6- many failures on the part of
7). Although we don’t know mankind, a utopian world
how this will affect such will have arrived. Jesus will
things as the food chain rule as we have always
among animals, we can be desired leaders to rule.
28

HELPING YOU will come unexpectedly.
HELP OTHERS 4. Why is it so important
for us to live with the

A
s you study the second expectation that Christ
coming with others, could return at any
try using these moment? (2 Pet. 3:10-14;
questions as discussion 1 Jn. 2:28–3:3).
starters. You’ll find that
digging into the Word will CHARACTERISTICS
create a hunger for clear OF THE RAPTURE
teaching and analysis of 1. List as many
the topic. characteristics as
you can about the
EVIDENCE FOR rapture of the church.
AN ANY-MOMENT 2. According to
RETURN 1 Corinthians 15:51-53,
1. What biblical evidence what is in store for
suggests that Christ’s Christians who will be
return will be in two raptured?
phases? 3. How does Jesus’ promise
2. Why is the distinction in John 14:1-3 that He
between Israel and would go to prepare a
the church basic to place for His followers fit
understanding prophecy? into the rapture picture?
3. How can the following
conflict be resolved?
The Bible teaches that
many dramatic events
will precede the Lord’s
second coming, but it
also predicts that Christ
29

CHRIST’S all the spare space was filled.
RETURN AND Then, on the night before
their parents were to return,
YOU Richard and Marvin rolled

R
ichard De Haan, up their sleeves and had a
f ormer president marathon dishwashing
and teacher of session. Although the young
RBC Ministries, used to De Haans never got caught
tell a story on himself that with their dishes dirty,
pictures the readiness Richard commented, “How
Christians should have ashamed we would have
when they think of the been if our parents had
rapture. When Richard and come back earlier than we
his brother Marvin were still expected!”
living at home, their parents, The imminent return of
Dr. and Mrs. M. R. De Haan our Lord Jesus should lead
would often have to go out us to a similar sentiment.
of town for speaking How ashamed we would
engagements. The boys be if He came back and
enjoyed the independence we weren’t expecting Him.
of being left alone—except Unlike our illustration, we
for one thing. They detested do not know exactly when
doing the dishes. Jesus will return in the air
On one such occasion, to take His people to be with
they put off sticking their Him. As a result, we should
hands in soapy dishwater live in a continual state of
as long as possible. They expectancy. We shouldn’t
stacked the grimy plates, be stacking our “dirty
glasses, and silverware in the dishes” all over; we should
oven after each meal. Soon constantly keep our lives
all the dishes were dirty and clean and in line with what
30

God expects from us. gospel should propel us into
That’s not the only part a deeper concern for the lost.
of our lives that should be Let’s look at it another
affected by the hope of an way. Suppose you knew
any-moment return of our exactly when Jesus would
Lord. In addition, we should come back. You would
probably have a “To Do”
list that would fill pages:
Temporal goals • Write letters.
lose some of their • Make phone calls.
• Pay back money owed.
importance when we • Apologize for
realize that we might wrongs done.
not have as much • Tell neighbors
about Jesus.
time as we thought • Pray for unsaved
to accomplish things family members.
of eternal value. • Spend more time
reaching out to the lost.
And on and on the list
have a sense of urgency could go. More than anything
toward those who don’t else, we would want to get
know Jesus. All too often everything squared away
we live as if we have all the before the big day that was
time in the world to convey coming closer every second.
the message of salvation, Although we would be secure
when in reality we don’t in our salvation, we would
even know if we will have want to do all we could to
the rest of the day to do so. further the Lord’s work in the
The prospect of lost time we had remaining.
opportunities to share the The fact that we don’t
31

know the day and time of own, those who have never
Jesus’ return, though, accepted Him will be left
shouldn’t deter us from doing behind to face a time of
exactly that. We may not trouble and difficulty this
have the assurance that we world has never before seen.
can accomplish everything God’s wrath will be poured
on that “To Do” list, but we out over the face of the
should have those kinds of earth. Death, destruction,
goals—perhaps with more deceit, and danger will reign.
urgency. Temporal goals lose It’s a prospect that should
some of their importance cause every thinking person
when we realize that we to consider seriously the
might not have as much time claims of Jesus Christ.
as we thought to accomplish Yes, Jesus is coming back.
things of eternal value. Perhaps He will come today.
There is another, even Are you ready? If not, you
more important, can be. Without another
consideration. Everyone who second’s delay, pray
knows that Jesus Christ could something like this: “Lord
come back at any moment Jesus, I admit that I’m a
must do some serious sinner. I believe the Bible
thinking. Beyond making lists and what it says about You.
of good things that need to Realizing that You gave Your
be done, each person must life for me, that you died for
make sure that he knows my sins and arose from the
Jesus Christ as personal dead, I am trusting You and
Savior. That is the single You alone for my salvation.”
most important commitment That is the first and most
any man, woman, or child important step in getting
could ever make. ready for His return, a return
After Jesus returns for His that may be today!
32

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