How Jesus REALLY Returns

Over 20 million people think that Christ has already returned. While they use isolated Bible verses to support their views, let's see what all the scriptures have to say.


In Matt 24:3-5 Jesus' disciples asked him, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming "I am the Christ" and will deceive many.'"


Preconditions of His Return


Many false Christs will deceive many.

Matt 24:4-5,24, Mark 13:6,22, Luke 21:8


Wars and rumors of wars.

Matt 24:6, Mark 13:7, Luke 21:9-10


Famines, earthquakes, pestilence, fearful events, great signs from heaven. Matt 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11, Rev 6:1-8,14, 8:5


--- Previous was just the beginning. Matt 24:9, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:9, Rev 6:11


Persecution of believers. Matt 24:9, Mark 13:9,11, Luke 21:12, Rev 6:9-11


Many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other.

Matt 24:10, Mark 13:12, Luke 21:16


Many false prophets will deceive many. Matt 24:5,11,24, Mark 13:6,22, 1 Tim 4:1-2, 2 Tim 4:3-4


Increase of wickedness and love of most will grow cold. Matt 24:12, 2 Tim 3:1-3


Gospel preached throughout the whole world. Matt 24:14, Mark 13:10. Note: Wycliff Bible translators and others are actively working on that.


An abomination that causes desolation in the holy place as Daniel spoke of (Dan 9:27 on the wing of the Temple in Jerusalem). Matt 24:15, Mark 13:14, 2 Thess 2:4. Note: There is not a temple in Jerusalem today.


About a month later (Dan 12:11 minus Rev 13:5) great distress. Matt 24:16-22, Mark 13:14-20, Luke 21:22-24, Rev 8:6-9:21


Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles for 3 1/2 (lunar) years. Luke 21:24, Rev 11:2, Rev 13:15, Dan 12:6. Note: 2/3 of inhabitants killed (Zech 13:8)


Two witnesses will prophesy for 3 1/2 (lunar) years. Rev 11:3


Believers taken care of for 3 1/2 (lunar) years. Rev 12:7,14


This generation (or race) will not pass away until all this happens. Matt 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32


Jesus' words will never pass away.

Matt 24:35, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:33


What to Watch for and Do


First, watch that no one deceives us.

Matt 24:4, Mark 13:5, Luke 17:23, 21:8


Stand firm [in Jesus] until the end.

Matt 24:13, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:19

If anyone says, "Look here is the Christ", do not believe it.

Matt 24:23-26, Mark 13:21, Luke 21:8


It will be as obvious as lightning flashing across the sky. Matt 24:27, Luke 17:24


Do not seek Christ in the desert, or in an inner room (prison?). Matt 24:26


Those in Judea must flee to the mountains when the abomination Daniel (9:27) described appears. Matt 24:16, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:21


Watch in the heavens. Matt 24:29-30, Mark 13:24-26, Is 13:10,34:4, Lk21:25-27


Come out of Babylon. Rev 18:4


Be alert, and don't be caught (spiritually) sleeping when Christ returns. Mk 13:33-37


Long for Christ's return. 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 22:17,20.


The Rapture


Angels will gather the elect in the rapture.

Matt 24:40-42, Mark 13:27, Luke 17:34-35, 1 Thess 4:16-18, Rev 14:14-16.


All nations will mourn and see Christ coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory. Mt24:30, Mk13:26, Rv1:7


No one will predict the day or hour of the rapture. Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32


 

How Jesus will Return


"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." Matt 24:29, Mark 13:24-25, Is 13:10, 34:4, Luke 21:25, Rev 6:12-14


Christ (son of man) will appear in the sky. Matt 24:30, Mark 13:26, Rev 19:11-18.


Men will faint from terror, hiding in caves when Jesus comes. Luke 21:26, Rev 6:15


"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." Rev 1:7


"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one but he himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev 19:1-16.


"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" Acts 1:10-11


False Views of Christ's Return


False teaching about the last days is as old as the Bible. Paul said in 2 Tim 2:17-18 "Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place and they destroy the faith of some." Thus even in Paul's day some said the resurrection had already taken place. Below are some more modern errors.


Jim Jones claimed Christ was inside of him in a special way.


Rev. Moon: the Bible says Christ will come back in the clouds. Since one verse in the entire Bible, Heb 12:1, mentions clouds of witnesses as groups of people, Christ will come among crowds of people. Rev. Moon's followers believe him to be the Lord of the Second Advent, Christ returned, visible God.


Bahais: Bahaullah is the fulfillment of Christ's second coming, as well as the reappearance of the twelfth imam in Shiite Moslem tradition.


Every eye did not see him, the world did not see Jesus in the sky, and the nations did not mourn because of Bahaullah. He is dead now, so unless he comes back he cannot fulfill the rest of these prophecies.


Divine Light Mission: Guru Mahara Ji is Christ returned; that is why his followers have elaborate ceremonies where they kiss his feet. He came from India to America in an airplane, right? The airplane flew through clouds, right? Right???


Jehovah's Witnesses claim Christ would return in 1874, 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975. Some said he did return in 1918, but you had to have "spiritual eyes" to see him. Others may admit that the Watchtower led people astray on that.


Conclusion


Many have tried to make one or two of the prophecies of Christ's return apply to them, but they cannot make all the verses apply. They ignore the others either by believing the Bible is unimportant, or else by saying the verses that prove them wrong have a deeper, "spiritual" meaning. Parts of the Bible do indeed have a spiritual meaning, but some too easily turn phrase "spiritual meaning" into an excuse for calling the literal meaning a lie.


Two questions: For every verse that is said to have a "deeper, spiritual meaning" one way to tell if that is just an excuse is if one can even say what that spiritual meaning is. For example, what is the meaning of: "when every eye will see him, even those who pierced him," "he will come back the same way the apostles saw him go into heaven," and "men will faint with terror and hide in caves and among rocks because of his appearing?"


A second question for those who believe Christ already has returned is this: if God really did mean that Christ was to literally, physically return in the physical clouds, how could God have been any more clear in the Bible?


In the end, Philippians 2:9-11 says every knee (including Bahaullah's) will bow to Jesus. For more information about finding the genuine Jesus, please contact Christian Debater(tm)


For more info please contact Christian Debater™ P.O. Box 144441 Austin, TX 78714 www.BibleQuery.org


by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.