THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

CONTENTS AND INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER 1. THE PURPOSE OF THESE STUDIES ON THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

CHAPTER 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.

CHAPTER 3. CHRIST'S SECOND COMING IS AT A SET TIME, NOT AT ANY TIME.

CHAPTER 4. THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

CHAPTER 5. WILL THE CHURCH GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

CHAPTER 6. JERUSALEM'S HOLOCAUST IN A.D.70 WAS NOT THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

CHAPTER 7. WHAT IS PAUL TEACHING IN 2THES.2v1-12.?

CHAPTER 8. IS IT UNKIND OF GOD TO LET US TO GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION?

CHAPTER 9. WHEN WILL THE RESURRECTION OF CHRISTIANS TAKE PLACE?

APPENDIX 1. THE RAM AND HE GOAT, ANTIOCHUS AND THE ANTICHRIST.

APPENDIX 2. A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF DANIEL.10v1 to 12v13.

APPENDIX 3. THE FIRST YEAR OF ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS IS B.C.474.

APPENDIX 4. THE GREEK WORDS GOD USES TO SPEAK OF CHRIST'S RETURN.

APPENDIX 5. DIVINE MYSTERIES AND EPOCHS. "MUSTERIA" AND "KAIROIS."

INTRODUCTION.
Since the first edition of this book was written in 1954, many significant world events have occurred, which indicate that our Lord's return is near. Mt.24v33. Most Christians agree that we are living in the spiritually perilous last days. 2Tim.3v1. Sadly, most Christians are ignorant about prophetic truth, either because they have received almost no teaching about it, or have been incorrectly taught and misled on the subject. Many are also ignorant about the armoury of spiritual gifts that God has provided for His Church for the extremely dangerous events that precede Christ's return. This ignorance is particularly dangerous in the light of our Lord's many warnings to, "beware," "watch and pray," and "take heed." Jesus warns us that the abounding iniquity of the last days will cause the "agape" love of many Christians to "wax cold." Mt.24v12. Lk.17v33. 18v1-8. In 1Tim.4v1., Paul also warns us; "Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." "Depart," is "apostesontai," the future middle of "aphistemi," "to withdraw, to go away, or fall away, to become apostate." See Lk.8v13. and Heb.3v12. In 2Thes.2v3., Paul uses the noun "apostasia," which means "falling away, rebellion, apostasy," to speak of the rebellion against God and apostasy caused by Antichrist's evil career.

The folly of making a fact of judgement a rule for prophetic interpretation.
Jehovah's Witnesses, and others, have made Num.14v34. Ez.4v6 and 2Pet.3v8., an excuse for changing the period of 1260 days in Rev.12v6., into a period of 1260 years, this is folly, for it makes a prophetic date meaningless, and has no warrant from Scripture. In Numb.14v34. and Ezek.4v6., the days are literal days, and the years are literal years. In 2Pet.3v8., Peter compares the many years of God's longsuffering with His tremendous judgements at Christs return, Peter is certainly not stating a principle of prophetic interpretation. Ezekiel's symbolic act in Ezek.4v4-9., was certainly not a divine principle of prophetic interpretation, those who say that it is, prove their inability to rightly interpret the Scriptures. Ezekiel performed a symbolic act of 430 days (390+40), which represented 430 years of past sin for which God had decreed judgement. Those who twist prophetic facts like this, do it to their own ruin and shame. 2Pet.3v16-18.

In Numb.14v34., God states a fact of judgement, not a principle of prophetic interpretation; He decreed that the 40 literal days of unbelief and wandering would receive 40 literal years of judgement, until all those who were over 20 years of age had died in the wilderness. God had to prepare a new generation of believing hearts to conquer Canaan. Num.14v16,28-39. N.B.v29. The unbelief in the hearts of the people was produced by the carnality and idolatry that most Israelites had wilfully practised in Egypt, and which they were still guilty of practising in the wilderness according to Ezek.20v1-17. 23v3,8,19,27.. It was this wickedness that produced their evil heart of unbelief, and stopped them from entering Canaan. Heb.3v12,16-19.

The folly of interpreting prophetic fact symbolically.
To interpret the vital facts of the prophecy of our Lord in Mt.24., or any prophetic fact, as, "symbolical," is to make nonsense of prophecy. People interpret prophetic facts symbolically, so that they can twist the facts, and make them mean what they desire. The literal interpretation must always be applied to a Scripture, before any figurative interpretation is attempted. God does use figurative language, symbols, or heavenly cartoons in the prophetic truth that He gives us in His Word, and He gives us great spiritual truth by these means. However, we should interpret prophetic truth, like any other Scriptural truth, the literal being interpreted as literal, and the symbolic as symbolic. When our Lord interpreted Dan.9v24-27. and 12v1-13., He interpreted them literally, as they were intended to be interpreted, and applied them to events concerning Jerusalem, Judea, and the Temple. The apostles had asked for prophetic facts, and the timing of those facts, Jesus gave them the literal facts and literal signs of His coming, not a confusing symbolic conundrum, muddle or maze. To make Mt.24., only apply to the Jews, is as dishonest an exposition as the symbolic interpretation put upon it by the Jehovah's Witnesses, and other false sects. It is a twisting and perversion of the Scriptures, which leaves the Church without any prophetic fact from the lips of Christ. A prophetic delusion is the only possible result from such a method of interpretation. 2Pet.3v16. 2Thes.2v11,12.

Some have, incredibly, gone to Dan.4. for information on Christ's second coming. This is total nonsense, for Dan.4v14,28-36., tells us that this was concerning Nebuchadnezzar, and was fulfilled in his time. No Scriptures about Christ's second coming have any links with Dan.4. Jesus directed Christians to Dan.9v20-27. and 12v1-13. for information on His second coming, not to Dan.4.. The only reason that people do not follow Christ's pattern of exposition, is because His lucid exposition of the Scriptures does not fit in with their prophetic delusions. The final period of 3½ years mentioned in Dan.7v25. 9v27. and 12v6,7., exactly matches the prophetic time scale mentioned Rev.11v2,3. 12v6,14. and 13v5.; as the period of 1,260 days or 42 months, or a time, times and a half time. Our Lord intends us to take these lengths of time literally, as all prophetic times were to be taken literally in the past. Gen.15v13-16. Jer.25v12. with Ezra.1v1. and Dan.9v1,2..

In the book of Revelation, where God means years He says years. Rev.20v2-7. Note the other periods of time mentioned in Revelation, the "five months" of Rev.9v5,10., and the thirteen months of Rev.9v15.. If we don't interpret these times literally, we end in utter darkness. Jesus intends us to interpret these dates as literally as the other prophetic dates of Dan.9v20-29. If we take the year for a day theory and apply it to Rev.12v6,14., we are left with a period of 1260 years from Satan being cast out of the heavenly places and the heavens cleansed, to the coming of Christ, which is clearly complete nonsense. Rev.12v13,14.

Our Lord's solemnly warns us that we must not misinterpret prophetic truth.
Jesus gave solemn warnings in Rev.22v19,20., about the serious consequences of adding to, or taking from, His prophetic truth. He looks upon addition to, and subtraction from, prophetic truth, as serious error, not as a matter of opinion. After reading many books on prophecy, I have come to the conclusion that our Lord's solemn warnings about the consequences of misinterpreting His prophetic truth, have not been taken seriously. We need to remember that Paul handed over Hymenaeus and Alexander for execution for wrong doctrine on prophecy concerning the resurrection and second coming of Christ. Paul said that their wrong doctrine was blasphemy, and ate like a cancer or gangrene; their false doctrine had overthrown the faith of some Christians. 1Tim.1v18-20. 2Tim.2v15-19. James.3v1. Jesus informs us in Mt.24v48-51., that the pretribulation rapture theory will likewise overthrow the faith of some Christians; for they will look upon the seeming delay of their Lord's coming, as a denial of the fact of His coming, and as a result backslide from the faith and join with the worldlings in persecuting and beating those who were once their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The perilous last days demand real spiritual preparation. Jesus warns us that we need to watch and pray and seek God for his spiritual armoury and a reserve of oil if we are to spiritually survive those evil times. Mt.24v44 to 25v13. Lk.18v1-8. 21v34-36. Christian leaders who teach that God's spiritual gifts to His Church have been withdrawn, and oppose and forbid their operation in their churches, are denying to Christ's Church the essential spiritual equipment, that will enable Christians to survive the evil last days of this age. Jesus pronounced a "woe" upon teachers who take away "the key of knowledge," and hinder people from having an experience of God and His gifts. Luke.11v52. James.3v1. The gifts of the Spirit give us power for service and confirm the truth of the Gospel; they are the cutting edge of New Testament evangelism. Rom.15v18-21. The Holy Spirit's devotional gifts help to sanctify Christians and build the fruit of the Spirit in them, and are a necessary and vital divine aid to communion with God. 1Cor.14v1-5,12-20,31. N.B. v4,18. Ps.68v18. God is preparing us for the great day of Christ's coming, His gifts build "agape" love in the Church. 1Cor.14v1-5,39,40. Heb.2v4. God is pouring out His Spirit upon all mankind, just as He promised to do before the great and terrible day of our Lord's return. Joel.2v11,28-32. Acts.2v16-21.

In Joel.2v11,31., the word for "terrible," in "the great and terrible day of His coming," is "yaw-ray," which means, "to fear, to put in fear, to fill with dread." In Acts.2v20., "yah-ray," is translated by the Greek adjective "epiphanes," (only here in N. T.); and means "conspicuous, manifest, or notable" and comes from the verb "epiphaino," "to shine upon, to give light, to become visible, to appear." "Epiphaino" is used in connection with Christ's birth and first coming in Luke.1v79., and of Christ's coming to save us in Titus.2v11. and 3v4.. The noun "epiphaneia," "a shining forth," was used by the Greeks of the appearance of a god; it occurs six times in the New Testament, once concerning Christ's first coming in 2Tim.1v10.; and with Christ's second coming in 2Thes.2v8. 1Tim.6v14. 2Tim.4v1,8. and Titus.2v13.. Jesus has visited us and shone upon us in his triumphant redeeming humanity. As God the Word He will shine upon this world in the full glory and power of His majestic deity, and, with fierce righteous anger and justice, will cleanse creation of evil men and angels. Is.25v6-9. 34v1-8. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. 66v16. 2Thes.1v7-10. Rev.19v11 to 20v3.6. His second advent will be truly awesome and will produce overwhelming fear among worldly people. Jesus said men will swoon and be lifeless through fear, and will hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and cry for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from God the Father's face and the wrath of the Lamb. Lk.21v26. Rev.6v15-17. Paul warns us that this will be an awesome day even for Christians, for this is the day when the exam results of our lives are made known. Paul speaks in 2Cor.5v11., of "the fear of the Lord," as the motivating force for godly living in the light of that great day; he tells us how he laboured and acted from honour to be well pleasing to Christ at His judgement throne. 1Cor.1v8. 3v10-17. 2Cor.1v14. 5v9-11. Phil.1v10. 2v13,14. 1Thes.5v2. This will be a truly blessed day for Christians who are walking with the Lord and love His appearing. 2Tim.4v8. Titus.2v13. Abiding in Jesus saves us from shame at His second coming. 1Jn.2v28.

It was to be expected that the blessed hope of Christ's glorious return would be a subject of controversy among God's people, for prophecy has always resulted in controversy. Indeed, the Old Testament prophets were so controversial that most of them died for their prophecies. Do we stop preaching or discussing the truth of Christ's second coming because it is controversial? Of course not! All important truth is controversial. On many occasions God the Father and Christ spoke strongly to God's people, and the false prophets among His people. Mt.23v13-39. Mk.3v5. In this study I have used strong words where I felt that I should do so. I have not done this because I enjoy controversy, but so that those who read this study may be informed and challenged to think about Christ's second coming. I am concerned that Christians should be brought back to study the Scriptures, instead of accepting man-made theories without question. In Acts.17v10,11. the Bereans were called noble-minded when they received Paul's doctrine with all eagerness of mind; and continually, carefully and exactly searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul taught was true. "Searched" is "anakrinontes," the present participle of "anakrino," "to examine, to sift, to make careful and exact research as in legal processes." Let us imitate them. W. H. Turner. July 14th. 1998.


1. THE PURPOSE OF THESE STUDIES ON THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

A. To give a Scriptural examination of the doctrine of Christ's second coming.
I want to encourage Christians to study and meditate on the Scriptures concerning our Lord's return. Many believe this glorious truth and joyfully look forward to this wonderful event; however, few have really studied it for themselves, preferring to rely on the opinions of others.

B. To prove that Christ returns, and the Church is caught up after the great tribulation.
This states that the gathering up of the Church to Jesus at His return takes place after the great tribulation, and before His millennial reign. This post-tribulation rapture viewpoint is called by some "Historic Premillennialism," for it is the historic view of the Church. Unfortunately, many Christians have not even heard of this point of view, and many more have only a superficial knowledge of its Scriptural basis. In some cases this is because they have had no material to base their studies on. I hope that these brief notes may remedy this in some measure.

C. To correct the following erroneous doctrines on the second coming of Christ.

1. Amillennialism.
Amillennialists teach that Christ's Millennial kingdom extends from the time of His resurrection from the tomb, to the time of His second coming at the end of this age. Amillennialism in reality means "no Millennium;" it denies the fact of the future literal thousand year reign of Christ, and spiritualises the great Old Testament prophecies concerning Zion and Jerusalem, and applies them to the Church. The future prophecies of the glorious Millennial reign of God, when war and sin are banished, are applied to this present war torn evil world, and spiritualised in a totally ambiguous and incomprehensible form. Amillennialists also state that Satan has already been bound; this is not only flatly contradicted by the Scriptures, but also by our present day great increase in satanic manifestations and occult activities, and rapidly deteriorating world-wide moral depravity. The Scriptures clearly state that the Millennium starts at the end of this age, not at the beginning; as can be seen by the promises which have been given in the Scriptures to both Israel and the Church.

When the Millennium comes the Scriptures say the following will take place.
a. The righteous dead are raised. Rev.20v4-6. Is.25v6-9. Dan.12v1-3.
b. Jesus will reign gloriously from Jerusalem; Is.2v1-3. 24v23.; because of this all roads will lead to Jerusalem. Many highways designed and possibly built by God will converge on Jerusalem. Is.11v16. 19v23-25. 35v7,8.
c. The effect of Christ's reign is peace, righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. Is.32v1,16-18. 62v8. The violence, wars, and moral depravity in the world today, manifest the reign of Satan.
d. Longevity is restored. An 100 year old is looked upon as a child. Is.65v20-25. Children play in Jerusalem. Zech.8v4,5.
e. The restoration of the blessings of Eden. Deserts blossom as the rose. Is.35v1,2,6,7. 55v12,13. There will be abundant fruitful harvests as the result of a divinely created plentiful water supply and wonderful sunny weather by a miraculous increase of the suns power. Is.29v17. 30v23-26. 32v15. 41v17-20. 51v3. Joel.3v17,18. Ezek.47v1-12 with Zech.14v8. Jesus will domesticate wild animals and take the ferocity out of them. Is.11v6-10. 65v25. Rom.8v18-23. N.B. v20. When Jesus comes down, with His people to reign; His presence will bless us with Eden again. Is.51v3.
None of these events have taken place, and so the Millennium cannot have started.

2. Postmillennialism.
Postmillennialists teach that the world will improve, and almost everyone will be converted, and evil will be rooted out by the Gospel agencies. They say Christ's second coming will take place after he has reigned in a spiritual way for 1,000 years; the last resurrection, the final judgement, and God's eternal kingdom will follow these events. Our Lord and Paul completely disagree with this doctrine, for they teach that the world will get increasingly worse, and will be in gross spiritual darkness when our Lord returns. Mt.24v12. 1Tim.4v1. 2Tim.3v1-13. Our Lord's feet stand upon the Mount of Olives before the Millennium starts. Zech.14v1-4. Acts.1v9-12. Rev.14v1.

3. Pretribulationism.
Pretribulationists teach that Christ will come for His Church before the great tribulation at a secret coming. We will prove that this is untrue and the Scriptures teach that there will be no any moment pretribulation secret coming of Christ, or a secret rapture of the Church; and that this doctrine only originated about the year 1830.

Dr. S. P. Tregelles writes in a footnote on page 35 of his book, "The Hope of Christ's Second Coming:"
"I am not aware that there was any definite teaching that there would be a secret rapture of the Church at a secret coming, until this was given forth as an 'utterance' in Mr Irving's Church, from what was there received as being the voice of the Spirit. But whether anyone ever asserted such a thing or not, it was from that supposed revelation that the modern doctrine and the modern phraseology respecting it arose. It came not from Holy Scripture, but from that which falsely pretended to be the Spirit of God, while not owning the true doctrine of our Lord's incarnation in the same flesh and blood as His brethren, but without taint of sin. After the opinion of a secret advent had been adopted, many expressions in older writers were regarded as supporting it; in which, however, the word 'secret' does not mean unperceived or unknown, but simply secret in point of time. Thus in a passage of Milman:-

          "Even thus amidst thy pride and luxury,
          O Earth, shall this last coming burst on thee,
          THAT SECRET COMING OF THE SON OF MAN:
          When all the cherub-throned clouds shall shine,
          Irradiate with His bright advancing sign,
          When the great Husbandman shall wave His fan," etc.


The third line was taken up as if it taught the new doctrine of this secret coming; whereas the whole passage (even if it had any theological value) teaches a coming in power, glory and publicity, in contrast to that which is private: so, too, as to other writers, whose words were sometimes used. Sometimes from a hymn being altered, writers appear to set forth a secret rapture of which they have never heard, or against which they have protested.

In 1863 I heard it publicly and definitely maintained, that the secret coming is the second one promised in Scripture, and that the manifest appearing of our Lord is His third coming. Many seem to think this who do not say so in definite words. But a third coming is something very different from His coming again." End of Tregelles quote.

Edward Irving and Margaret Macdonald.
In 1830 Edward Irving was defrocked from the Church of England because his superiors believed that his doctrinal beliefs and preaching on the sinfulness of Christ's nature, was heretical. Irving set up his own church, which he called "The Catholic Apostolic Church," but which others called "The Irvingites." In his congregation there was a Scottish girl called Margaret Macdonald; and in one of his services she went into a trance and gave some prophecies. In this trance she said that she saw the people of God going up in the air to meet the Lord. From this "revelation," Irving preached that the Church would be raptured and miss the great tribulation. Irving went over to the conferences in Ireland at Powerscourt, near Dublin, and preached this doctrine. Ironside, who writes in support of the doctrine of the pretribulation secret rapture of the Church, states that this "blessed doctrine" came to light in the Powerscourt conferences in Ireland in the 1830's. Mr Robert Baxter, a principal leader in this movement, published the doctrine of a secret coming of Christ everywhere he went, and it was quickly received. This view was also adopted by J. N. Darby, and it has been earnestly maintained by many who have studied his writings. Scofield wrote this doctrine into his notes in His Scofield Bible, and Larkin drew some charts; and the doctrine infiltrated into the brethren movement; however, Tregelles, Newton, George Muller, and many others, rejected the revelation and doctrine as unscriptural. They realised that Margaret Macdonald's "revelation," had brought into the Church a false doctrine, which was previously unknown in Church history, and was in direct contradiction to the Scriptures.

Jerry Brewer wrote in the magazine "Victorious Life," that the pretribulation rapture teaching came into existence through this young, about fifteen year old Scottish girl Margaret Macdonald, from a "personal revelation," which she claimed was based only upon Scripture, between February 1st. and April 14th. 1830, in her home town of Port Glasgow in Scotland.

Corrie Ten Boom wrote in the Logos magazine, that those who teach that the Church will escape the great tribulation are the false teachers that Jesus warned us to expect in the latter days. She said that most of these teachers had little knowledge of what is already taking place across the world, for in countries which she had visited the saints are already suffering terrible persecution. Corrie states that the Christians in China were told: "Don't worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated, raptured." Then there came a terrible persecution; millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later Corrie heard a bishop from China sadly say, "We have failed, we should have made the people strong for persecution, rather than telling them, that Jesus would come first." Turning to Corrie he said, "You still have time, tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes; to stand and not faint." Corrie states, "I feel I have a mandate, a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world, that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation."

Oswald J. Smith said, "For a true child of God it is not a question of preference but of truth. Does God's Word say so? Why then rebel? Is not His plan best? Besides what difference does it make so long as we are ready. Spiritual preparedness is the only important factor after all. I wonder if we have been lulling the Church into a false security. Can it be that we have been preaching an easy escape? Ought we to prepare the Church for the greatest of all ordeals? Should not her teaching harden her for the fire of the great tribulation? What kind of soldiers are we training? I am afraid that we have been very guilty and that God will certainly hold us responsible for the type of Christian our preaching is producing. We need men and women today of the martyr spirit. The test of the inquisition is coming again, and woe betide the premillenialists who are not ready. The Church must be purified in the fires of persecution. I have heard many people today make the following statement, 'Surely a loving God would not let His Church go through the great tribulation?' Well might I remind you of something, just who do we think we are, the Christians of the United States? My Christian brothers in China, Russia, and around the world have suffered much for the cause of Christ." End of quote.

Until 1830, the Church almost unanimously taught that Christians would go through the great tribulation. Up to this time, the Christian leaders and scholars of Church history, from every shade of doctrinal opinion, believed and taught that Christians will be on earth during the period known as the great tribulation. You have to ignore the teaching of the Church throughout Church history, and twist the Scriptures a great deal, to believe that Christians will not have to go through the great tribulation.

Many Christians have come to wrong conclusions about the second coming of Christ because their thoughts have been dominated by intuition, speculation, escapism, and the opinions of men. Many Christians decide what they will believe before they have properly studied the Scriptures; and read the Scriptures with a closed mind, and with a determination to make them fit their theories. Persecuted Christians in other countries are not helped by the escapist prosperity Gospel theology that has corrupted affluent Western Christianity; such theology fails to be appropriate, helpful, realistic, or Scripturally true. This dangerous theological escapism destroys the faith of those who are called upon to suffer for the truth. Those who "dig deep," and come to their doctrinal conclusions by a diligent and unbiased study of God's Word, and welcome and obey the truth they find, will have foundations that are built on solid rock, and which will stand secure in the vehement floods and storms of life. Lk.6v47-49. Those who preach a pretribulation secret rapture of the Church and return of Christ, not only weaken themselves for the last days, they also put themselves amongst the false prophets of the last days. 2Pet.3v15-18. James.1v18-25.


2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.

1. The Scriptures place great emphasis upon the second coming of Christ.
It has been said, "There is more Scriptural authority for Christ's second coming than for all the other doctrines of the Bible put together." This statement soundly condemns the lack of interest shown by far too many of God's people today towards this vital subject. The silence of most preachers on the theme of this blessed hope of the Church gives cause for great alarm, particularly when the signs of the times indicate that the coming of Christ is near. What we believe regarding this subject will matter a great deal in the not so distant future. The lack of interest in Christ's second coming is a sure sign of a loss of first love for Jesus, and a spiritual apathy and lethargy among the people of God. Someone who noted the longing for Christ's coming and the zeal for this truth in the first part of Church history, wrote, "It would have been deemed a kind of apostasy not to have sighed after the day of the Lord." Those who have neglected the subject of our Lord's second coming should repent and meditate afresh upon this blessed hope that purifies. 1Jn.3v3.

2. The Scriptures warn us to take the subject of His Second coming very seriously.
God warns us that judgement will fall upon those who misinterpret the book of Revelation and add to, or take away, its prophecies. Rev.22v18,19. An added secret rapture means an added judgement upon those who teach it. The subject of prophecy demands a teachable spirit, diligent study and trembling at the Word of God. 1Tim.4v14-16. 2Tim.2v15. Is.66v2.

God has already executed preachers for wrong doctrine on the Second Coming of Christ.
In 1Tim.1v19,20., we read that Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme. We learn from 2Tim.2v16-18., that Paul did this because they had overthrown the faith of some Christians, by saying that the resurrection and the second coming of Christ had already taken place. Paul said their wrong doctrine ate like a canker and gangrene, and they died for their dangerous heresy, executed by the operation of God's judgement gifts through Paul; just as Peter had executed Ananias and Sapphira with those same gifts. Acts.5v1-11. Note in Acts.5v11., how "great fear fell upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things." The deaths of Hymenaeus, Philetus, and Alexander, show how serious and dangerous it is to misinterpret prophecy.

In Mt.24v48-51., Jesus warns us that if Christians believe that His second coming and the rapture take place before the great tribulation; then, when it does not happen, their faith will be overthrown, and they will say, "My Lord delays His coming;" and as a result go and live bad lives. Will the Lord Jesus feel any more tolerant of such faith destroying teachers and teaching, than He did of Hymenaeus and his false doctrine? Our Lord reveals the striking fact that these people will blame God for a delay, rather than examine and question their own doctrine. Let us be very careful what we teach about our Lord's second coming.

We can always find the truth if we really want to.
The Bible is not so badly written that we cannot find the truth; if that were so we should rename the Bible, "Man's Word," instead of "God's Word," and give up the doctrine of the inspiration of the Scriptures. We can absolutely rely on the Holy Scriptures, for God has made the cardinal truths of the Gospel perfectly clear for the sincere seeking heart. Unfortunately, however, the glorious truths connected with the second coming of Christ, like many other truths, have suffered at the hands of teachers, who for a variety of reasons have held down the truth. Truth has been perverted by pride, laziness, mercenary motives, false reverence for the traditions of men, and seeking the praise of men rather than the praise of God. Fear of suffering for the truth, or being thought unorthodox has blinded the minds of many to the truth.

The sin of being a teacher that tickles people's ears. 2Tim.4v1-4. James.3v1.
The false prophets of Israel and Judah painted a rosy picture when God said the future was very black. If we tickle people's ears with the things they want to hear; we will have to answer to God for such expediency. Those who preach wrong doctrine on the second coming of Christ are numbered amongst the false prophets by the Lord. Mt.24v21-27. The penalties imposed by God will be proportionate to the effect of the false doctrine on Christians. In 1Cor.3v9-15., Paul warns us that Christian leaders, workers, and preachers can have all their works burned up, and be saved so as by fire. Let us prayerfully examine ourselves to see if there is any wicked way in us. Mt.7v15-23. 24v45-48. Mk.7v7-13. Jn9v34. Acts.20v30. 2Pet.2v3. 1Cor.4v1-5. 2Cor.2v17. Gal.1v10. 2v2. Eph.4v14. Phil.2v19-22. 1Tim.6v3-5. 2Tim.4v3,4. Titus.1v11. Heb.5v10-14. 1Pet.5v2. Jer.28v1-17.

The above Scriptures show us the great spiritual danger we are in if we think that we can treat the Word of God lightly. The mind has to be disciplined like the body; there is no place for intellectual laziness among Christian leaders. We are to worship God with all of our mind, as well as our heart, soul, and strength. Heb.5v11-14. Acts.17v10-12. 2Tim.2v14-26. N.B. v15,24. We need to wait upon God for the light that He alone can give. Gal.1v11,12. 1Cor.2v7-16. We should work out our sermons with fear and trembling as well as our salvation. Phil.2v12,13. Many who have repented of their sins, need to repent of their sermons. The Lord has not only a complete record of our actions, thoughts and words; He also records the intents of heart behind our actions, thoughts and words; and one day we will have to give an account of the thoughts and intents of our hearts, as well as every idle and untrue word. Mt.12v34-37. Heb.4v12. 2Cor.5v10. We need to keep our minds malleable and open to receive truth from wheresoever and whosoever it comes. Let us think before we speak and realise fully the words, "My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgement." James.3v1.

God does not expect babes in Christ to investigate and interpret truth without mature Christian aid.
God has set in the Church ministries whose work is to bring us to the same mind on all points of doctrine, that is, "the mind of Christ." 1Cor.1v10. 2v6,14-16. 3v1-4. Eph.4v7-16. A carnal mind and slothfulness will result in us remaining in permanent spiritual babyhood, when we should be mature teachers of truth. 1Cor.3v1-4. Heb.5v10 to 6v12. The work of teaching and training God's babes is rendered more difficult by false teachers who try to mislead God's people on important doctrines. 2Pet.2v1. Bible teachers should not insist on people accepting their own brand of theology, they should rather enable their hearers to understand the Scriptures for themselves. In the day of battle, the only truth that we can fight effectively with, is the truth that we have made our own, and is a part of our soul and experience.


3. CHRIST'S SECOND COMING IS AT A SET TIME, NOT AT ANY TIME.
Some Bible students state that at any time in history, the Church could have been caught up to heaven, and they believe that this can still happen at any moment. It is very difficult to understand how Christians can believe this after studying the Scriptures. Jesus said His return would be at an appointed time, and after many prophecies and signs have come to pass.

1. Jesus told Peter that he would die an old man. Jn.21v18-23.
In 2Pet.1v14,15., Peter reminded his hearers that our Lord had said that he would die when he was an old man, and stated in his second epistle that this was about to happen; he wrote this epistle in about A.D. 67 or 68. Peter also warned his hearers not to expect things to happen too quickly, for with the Lord, "a thousand years are as one day;" however, when the Lord fulfils the promise of His coming and returns, in one day He will do the work of a thousand years, "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years." Ps.90v4. with 2Pet.3v8-13. Peter was probably martyred at Rome in about A.D. 68.

2. Jesus said Jerusalem and the Temple had to be destroyed and Israel scattered among the Gentiles.
On several occasions our Lord prophesied that Jerusalem and the Temple of his time were going to be destroyed; this prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70. Mt.23v37-39. 24v1,2. Lk.19v41-44. 21v20-24. Christ also prophesied in Lk.21v24., that Israel was going to be scattered among the nations and then regathered to Palestine, this, as Jesus indicated in His parables, was obviously going to take "a long time" to come to pass. Mt.25v19. Lk.20v9. Jesus will return at a set time appointed by God

"The Times of the Gentiles," mentioned in Lk.21v24., take a long time to be fulfilled. They are the periods of time during which God has allowed many different nations to have empires, and to exercise authority and power over a period of many years. This has been a long term purpose of God and has already lasted several millenniums. These "Times of the Gentiles," probably started at the Babylonian captivity, when God's purposes for Israel had been frustrated by their sin; and Christ said that these Gentile times will continue right up to His second coming. These Gentile times are designed to expose the hearts of men and break their pride. On judgement day "every mouth will be stopped, and all the world will become guilty before God," not only by the exposure of personal sin, but also by the exposure of national sin. The wickedness and misuse of power of every nation, and their failure to rule justly, righteously and in love, will be exposed and revealed to all. Rom.3v19.

Our Lord said His second coming would be "after a long time."
In His parable of the pounds in Lk.19v11-27. N.B. v11., our Lord warned His eager disciples of this long delay before His second coming and told them not to expect the kingdom of God to "immediately appear." In the parable of the vineyard Jesus again warned His disciples that it was going to be "A LONG TIME" before the murdered beloved Son, "the stone the builders rejected," was going to return to become "the head of the corner." Lk.20v9-18. N.B.v9,17.

In Mt.25v19., in the parable of the talents, the Lord again states of Himself, "AFTER A LONG TIME the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." In James.5v7,8., James exhorts his persecuted fellow-Christians to exercise "long patience" in waiting for the second coming of Christ; just as the husbandman waits for the harvest with "long patience" as well as "eager expectation." "Long patience," is "makrothumon," the present active participle of "makrothumeo," "to patiently endure, to have long patience." Our Lord waits patiently for that day. Heb.10v13.

We read in Rev.14v12., almost at the end of the great tribulation, that to overcome Antichrist, Christians will need to manifest "the patience of the saints." "Patience" here is the noun "hupomone," which speaks of endurance under trial, the same word describes the triumphant fortitude that Jesus manifested when he "endured the cross." Heb.12v2,3. Patience and endurance are fruits of Spirit that we need to manifest in our lives in connection with our Lord's second coming.

3. The Gospel had, and still has, to be preached to every nation.
Christ Himself states, "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and THEN shall the end come." Mt.24v14. 28v19. Acts.1v8. Mk.16v15. Many of these nations have only been discovered in recent years. This preaching is through life as well as lips. Jesus is the light of the world, and He has told us that He desires His Church to reflect His glory and be the light of the world also. Jn.8v12. with Mt.5v14-16. The fulfilment of this task has brought much tribulation upon the Church, from the people of the world, who have loved darkness more than light because their deeds are evil. Jn.3v19-21. The sufferings of the Church in the Great Tribulation will only be what it has suffered down the centuries through trying to preach and live the Gospel. Indeed, it is not possible to suffer any more than untold millions of God's children have suffered for preaching Christ and His truth. God will certainly not take the Church out of the world in its hour of greatest need and leave billions of needy souls in darkness and despair without the light and hope of the Gospel. This is totally alien to the spirit of the cross. The Scriptures state that Christians will be preaching and dying for Christ and His Gospel until the day of His coming at the end of the great tribulation. Mt.24v13,14,29-31. Acts.2v20,21. Rev.6v9-11. 7v13-15. 11v3-7. 12v17. 13v7. 14v12-20. 15v2,3. 16v6. 17v6. 18v24. 19v2. 20v4-6. etc.

4. Our Lord promised specific signs that would indicate the near proximity of His return.
Jesus never said that He could return at any moment without any warning; indeed, He told us the very opposite, for He clearly stated that there will be specific signs of His coming. When Jesus said that we shall not know the day or the hour of His coming, He also said that we shall definitely know the season of His coming by the signs that He has given to us. When these specific signs come to pass, we are told, "look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh," and "the kingdom of God is at hand," and that our Lord's second coming "is near, even at the doors." Mt.24v33. Lk.21v28,31. Though the day of the Lord will come as a thief upon the worldling and unlearned carnal Christian, Paul states in 1Thes.5v1-4., that it will not come as a thief upon Christians who know prophetic truth and are walking in the light. Mt.24v3,29,32-36. 25v13. Mk.13v28,29. Lk.21v25,26.

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