The Second Coming differs from the Harpazo 519-2 - 23 - 2

Always interesting to write on a familiar subject and compare today's and past thoughts.

According to “The Doctrine of Immanency” we can expect Jesus at any moment; there is nothing more required for the Rapture of the Church to occur. The Church will have been caught up to the Lord in the "Blessed Hope" before the Second Coming of Christ. There are many names for the Second Coming of Christ such as “Day of the Lord” and as “The Day of Vengeance of our God” in Isaiah 61:2.

Past leanings. “While the rapture can occur at any time, the Second Coming of Christ will be predictable once future events have set it in motion. The seven year tribulation starts with the signing of a covenant between the Anti-christ and Israel. Horrific as the first 3 1/2 years will be, the last half of the tribulation will be the time of Jacob's troubles with a Holocaust unlike anything ever occurring before.  The Second Coming of Christ will bring the tribulation to an end.”

While I want to believe that we, the Church, will be caught up before the start of the seven year Tribulation, I’m not so sure. Revelation 12 has the woman being pursued by the dragon while holding a baby. The baby ascends and the woman is transported to Petra to be protected during the three and a half years of Jacob's troubles. The baby is Jesus and the woman is the remnant of Israel. We, the Church, are the body of Christ so do we get caught up with Jesus, the Head of the Church? This strongly suggests a mid-tribulation rapture.

Pre-trib, mid-trib aside, we will not be here to go through all or half of the seven year tribulation which starts with the covenant between Israel and the Anti-Christ. A preview of the Second Coming of Christ is detailed in Isaiah 63:1-4 “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”

Again, the Church will not go through wrath of God, the final three and a half years of the tribulation. Rather we will return with Jesus to witness Him “treadeth in the winefat” and more as He destroys the army of the son of perdition. Then a thousand year Millennium. And finally one last unsuccessful attempt by Satan to overthrow Jesus and the "New Heaven."

defending the Biblical doctrine of the “Second Coming” in today’s “pagan” environment 544 - 6 - 7

I would refer the unbeliever to scripture. 2 Peter 1:19, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

With thanks to CM and his Prophecy 101 Commentary:

The Return of Christ to Rule
• 1,845 references in the Old Testament.
• 17 books give prominence to the event.
• 318 references in the New Testament.
• 216 chapters.
• 23 of 27 books give prominence to the event.

• For every prophecy of Christ’s 1st Coming there are 8 of His 2nd Coming!
Firsthand reporting provides great validity of Scripture as does historical reporting such as Historian Flavius Josephus. That said, nearly 2000 years later there seems to be a growing disbelief in the validity of Scripture. Critics cite such things as mass hallucination, wishful thinking by the witnesses and more. Anything to serve their atheist agenda.

Try as the atheist might to discredit God, they cannot deny the text of the Septuagint finished nearly 300 years before the birth of Jesus as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We certainly have the more sure word of prophecy.
Enoch prophesied the Second Coming of the Lord/ Jesus: Jude 1:14-15, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Hosea 5:15, “I will go and return to my place, (H4725) till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction (H6862) they will seek me early.” 

After His crucifixion Jesus returned to the Father and will return after the tribulation.

Verses relating to The Second Coming of Jesus:

Daniel 2:44-45, 7:9-14, 12:1-3
Zechariah 14:1-15
Matthew 13:41, 24:15-31, 26:64
Mark 13:14-27, 14:62
Luke 21:25-28
Acts 1:9-11, Acts 3:19-21
1 Thessalonians 3:13
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 2:8
2 Peter 3:1-14
Jude 14-15
Revelation 1:7, 19:11-20:6, 22:7, 22:12, 22:20

H4725 - From H6965; properly a standing, that is, a spot; but used widely of a locality (generally or specifically); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind): - country, X home, X open, place, room, space, X whither [-soever]

H6862 - From H6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, that is, trouble); also a pebble (as in H6864); (transitively) an opponent (as crowding): - adversary, afflicted (-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.

Why did the arresters fall to the ground? Why did Jesus heal Malchus? 532-2 - 17 - 8

John 18:4-8, "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way"

Twice Jesus said, I am he and I would suggest that the word he should be spelled with a capital H in recognition of his deity. Exodus 3:14, "And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you." John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

As the very incarnation of the Godhead I would suspect that it would be difficult for hostile hands to touch Jesus unless Jesus were to allow it. Perhaps Jesus caused the guards/arresters to fall down to the ground to get their attention and compliance. Jesus was in control and made certain that his disciples were not arrested. John 18:9, “That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.”

John 18:10, "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus." No mention of Jesus healing Malchus in John 18, however, Luke 22:49-51, "When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." Matthew 26:51 and Mark 14:47 both refer to the injured ear but not to the healing. Only in the book of John is Malchus referred to by name.

Jesus came as the suffering servant who gave his life to reconcile a fallen world to his Father. Jesus was and is love and compassion and the healing of Malchas would logically follow.

That said, perhaps the falling to the ground of the arresters is more suggestive of Jesus at his second coming. At that time Jesus will come as the conquering Messiah with the two edge sword of the Word. I would suspect that all it took to knock the guards over was just a tiny minuscule of the force that Jesus has. Imagine the awesomeness and power of Jesus at his second coming.