The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe in the second coming of Christ. His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray. Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7
Before He establishes His kingdom on earth, Jesus will come for His Church, an event commonly referred to as the “Rapture.” At that time the dead in Christ will be raised and living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14. In this resurrection, those who have died in Christ will have their redeemed souls and spirits united with a body similar to Christ’s glorified body. Christians living at the time of this event will not die, but will be changed to be like Christ. 1 John 3:2. This expectation is a motivation for holy living, as well as a source of comfort. 1 John 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:18. No man knows the day or the hour when this will take place. Matthew 24:36; John 6:39
After the Rapture of the Church, Christians will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. He will reward them on the basis of the works they have accomplished. Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10. This is not a judgment to determine their salvation but a reward for labor on Christ’s behalf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the “great day of His wrath,” “the great tribulation” and the “time of Jacob’s trouble. Revelation 6:17; Revelation 7:14; Jeremiah 30:7. ”This time of unprecedented difficulty will affect Israel and all nations. Its purpose will be to prepare Israel for her Messiah. Zechariah 12:2; Zechariah 12:3; Zechariah 14:1-3
At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth. Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 19:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 19:16. His Kingdom will last for a thousand years. Revelation 20:2; Revelation 20:4-6. At this Second Coming, the Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:1-3. The nations and their representatives will be judged. Joel 3; Matthew 25. Israel will be restored to her land, never more to be removed. Amos 9:15; Ezekiel 34:28. Christ will reign with firmness and equity. Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 11:4. His kingdom will be marked by material and spiritual blessing, since the curse upon the earth will be removed. Romans 8:19-21.
The Messianic Kingdom will close with apostasy and rebellion.Revelation 20:7-9. God will crush this uprising in the last battle of the ages and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10. All those who rejected the Word of God will be resurrected. Revelation 20:11-13 They will be judged by Christ and cast into the lake of fire, the place where they will suffer final and everlasting punishment. Revelation 20:14; Revelation 20:15; Mark 9:48.
After this judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is the norm. 2 Peter 3:13. There will be a new Jerusalem and the everlasting presence of God among all the redeemed. Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:3; Revelation 2:3-5.
By Evangelist Kapanza Alfred Emmanuel