13-Questions On The Second Coming - NIV

1. Isn't Jesus Coming Secretly? Doesn't the Bible Say There Will Be Two in the Field, One Taken and the Other Left?

Matthew 24:40 Two men will be in the field; one will be _taken_ and the _other_ left.

2. The Bible Makes It Abundantly Plain That Jesus' Second Coming Is Not a Secret Event.

Revelation 1:7 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.

Psalms 50:3 Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire _devours_ before him, and around him a _tempest_ rages.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord _himself_ will come down from heaven, with a loud _command_, with the voice of the archangel and with the _trumpet_ call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord _forever_.

Matthew 24:27 For as _lightning_ that comes from the east is _visible_ even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

When the Bible speaks of those being left, it does not say they will be left alive on earth.

3. This Passage Describes the Event in Detail.

Luke 17:26-36 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. [27] People were eating, drinking, _marrying_ and being given in _marriage_ up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. [28] "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and _selling_, _planting_ and _building_. [29] But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. [30] "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is _revealed_. [31] On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. _Likewise_, no one in the field should go back for _anything_. [32] _Remember_ Lot's wife! [33] Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will _preserve_ it. [34] I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. [35] Two women will be _grinding_ grain _together_; one will be taken and the other left. " [36] [Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and _theother_ left.]

In Noah's day there were two classes. One class was taken, or saved, and one was left, or destroyed by the flood.

In Lot's day there were two classes. One class was taken out of the city and saved. The other class left in the city and consumed by fire. It will be similar when Jesus comes.

It will be similar when Jesus comes. One class will be taken to heaven with Jesus and the other class will be destroyed.

4. The Question Is Raised, "Where Lord? Where Are These People Left?".

Luke 17:37 "Where, LORD?" they asked. He _replied_, "Where there is a dead body, there the _vultures_ will gather."

Revelation 19:11-18 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. [12] His eyes are like _blazing_ fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he _himself_. [13] He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven were _following_ him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] 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. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather _together_ for the great supper of God, [18] so that you may eat the flesh of kings, _generals_, and mighty men, of horses and their _riders_, and the flesh of all _people_, free and slave, small and great."

The eagles eat carrion-dead things. The eagles Gather to feast on the dead.

Each Bible reference to Jesus coming as a thief is in reference to the unexpected time of His coming, not the manner of His coming. He comes quickly as a thief, unexpectedly as a thief, but in glorious splendor as lightening in triumphant glory.

5. The Wicked Are Destroyed When Jesus Comes.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. [8] He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be _punished_ with _everlasting_ _destruction_ and shut out from the _presence_ of the Lord and from the majesty of his power

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will _overthrow_ with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the _splendor_ of his coming.

6. Doesn't the Bible Teach That Jesus Is Coming As a Thief?

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a _thief_ in the _night_.

Matthew 24:42-44 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. [43] But _understand_ this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was _coming_, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be _broken_ into. [44] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not _expect_ him.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, [2] for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, "Peace and safety," _destruction_ will come on them _suddenly_, as labor pains on a _pregnant_ woman, and they will not escape. [4] But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day _should_ _surprise_ you like a thief. [5] You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not _belong_ to the night or to the darkness.

Matthew 24:27 For as _lightning_ that comes from the east is _visible_ even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

7. Do God's People Live Through the Coming Tribulation Or Are They Raptured Before the Tribulation? The Experiences of Ancient Israel Were Examples Given by God for His People Living at the Close of Time.

1 Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as _warnings_ for us, on whom the _fulfillment_ of the ages has come.

8. Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego Entered the Flames When They Refused to Bow to the Idol Set up by Babylon's King.

Daniel 3:16-28 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. [17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. [18] But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." [19] Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his _attitude_ toward them _changed_. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual [20] and commanded some of the _strongest_ soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. [21] So these men, wearing their robes, _trousers_, _turbans_ and other _clothes_, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. [22] The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [23] and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. [24] Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in _amazement_ and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "_Certainly_, O king." [25] He said, "Look! I see four men _walking_ around in the fire, _unbound_ and _unharmed_, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." [26] Nebuchadnezzar then _approached_ the _opening_ of the blazing furnace and _shouted_, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, [27] and the _satraps_, _prefects_, _governors_ and royal advisers _crowded_ around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not _scorched_, and there was no smell of fire on them. [28] Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and _rescued_ his servants! They _trusted_ in him and defied the king's command and were _willing_ to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

9. Jesus Comes As a Thief After the Plagues.

Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief ! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be _shamefully_ _exposed_."

10. This Text Emphatically Declares "No Man Can Enter the (Heavenly) Temple Until the Plagues Are Completed. ".".

Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven _plagues_ of the seven angels were _completed_.

11. Anti-Christ Is Revealed Before Jesus Comes.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 _Concerning_ the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, [2] not to become easily _unsettled_ or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. [3] Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] until the _rebellion_ occurs and the man of _lawlessness_ is revealed, the man doomed to _destruction_.

12. The Anti-Christ Is Destroyed by the Brightness of His Coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will _overthrow_ with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the _splendor_ of his coming.

13. Now Is the Day of Salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I _helped_ you." I tell you, now is the time of _God's_ favor, now is the day of salvation.

14. Both the Wheat and the Tares (The Righteous and the Wicked) Grow Together Until the Harvest.

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the _harvesters_: First collect the weeds and tie them in _bundles_ to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

The righteous are saved and the unrighteous are lost. In the parable of the unfaithful servant, there is no second chance.

15. The Unfaithful Are Lost When the Lord of the Household Comes Unexpectedly.

Matthew 24:44-51 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. [45] "Who then is the _faithful_ and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his _household_ to give them their food at the proper time? [46] It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. [47] I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his _possessions_. [48] But _suppose_ that servant is wicked and says to _himself_, 'My master is _staying_ awaya long time,' [49] and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with _drunkards_. [50] The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. [51] He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the _hypocrites_, where there will be _weeping_ and _gnashing_ of teeth.

16. In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Men and Women Are Either Saved Or Lost When Jesus Comes.

Matthew 25:31-34 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will _separate_ the people one from another as a _shepherd_ _separate_s the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. [34] "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your _inheritance_, the kingdom _prepared_ for you since the _creation_ of the world.

Next Bible Study: 14-Judgment

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