13-Questions On The Second Coming - RSV

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 Then two men will be in the _field_; one is _taken_ and one is left.

2. The Bible Makes It Abundantly Plain That Jesus' Second Coming Is Not a Secret Event.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who _pierced_ him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on _account_ of him. Even so. Amen.

Psalms 50:3 Our God comes, he does not keep silence, before him is a _devouring_ fire, round about him a mighty _tempest_.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord _himself_ will _descend_ from heaven with a cry of _command_, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the _trumpet_ of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; [17] then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:27 For as the _lightning_ comes from the east and shines as far as 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 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man. [27] They ate, they drank, they _married_, they were given in _marriage_, until the day when Noah _entered_ the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise as it was in the days of Lot--they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they _planted_, they built, [29] but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and _sulphur_ _rained_ from _heaven_ and destroyed them all-- [30] so will it be on the day when the Son of man is _revealed_. [31] On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. [32] _Remember_ Lot's wife. [33] Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will _preserve_ it. [34] I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. [35] There will be two women _grinding_ _together_; one will be taken and the other left." [36] * [No text]

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 And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be _gathered_ _together_."

Revelation 19:11-18 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called _Faithful_ and True, and in _righteousness_ he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many _diadems_; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. [13] He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, _arrayed_ in fine linen, white and pure, _followed_ him on white horses. [15] From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the _nations_, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Al_mighty_. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. [17] Then I saw an angel _standing_ in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in _midheaven_, "Come, _gather_ for the great _supper_ of God, [18] to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of _captains_, the flesh of _mighty_ men, the flesh of horses and their _riders_, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both 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 to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, [8] _inflicting_ vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They shall suffer the _punishment_ of eternal _destruction_ and _exclusion_ from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be _revealed_, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his _appearing_ and his coming.

6. Doesn't the Bible Teach That Jesus Is Coming As a Thief?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you _yourselves_ know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the _night_.

Matthew 24:42-44 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. [43] But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the _thief_ was coming, he would have _watched_ and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] Therefore you also must be _ready_; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not _expect_.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything _written_ to you. [2] For you _yourselves_ know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] When people say, "There is peace and _security_," then sudden _destruction_ will come upon them as _travail_ comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. [4] But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to _surprise_ you like a thief. [5] For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.

Matthew 24:27 For as the _lightning_ comes from the east and shines as far as 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 Now these things _happened_ to them as a warning, but they were written down for our _instruction_, upon whom the end 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 Abed'nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." [19] Then Nebuchadnez'zar was full of fury, and the _expression_ of his face was _changed_ _against_ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. [20] And he ordered _certain_ mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. [21] Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other _garments_, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace. [22] Because the king's order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. [24] Then King Nebuchadnez'zar was _astonished_ and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." [25] He answered, "But I see four men loose, _walking_ in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the _appearance_ of the _fourth_ is like a son of the gods." [26] Then Nebuchadnez'zar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego came out from the fire. [27] And the _satraps_, the _prefects_, the _governors_, and the king's counselors _gathered_ _together_ and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not _singed_, their mantles were not _harmed_, and no smell of fire had come upon them. [28] Nebuchadnez'zar said, "_Blessed_ be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, who has sent his angel and _delivered_ his servants, who _trusted_ in him, and set at _nought_ the king's _command_, and _yielded_ up their bodies _rather_ than serve and worship any god _except_ their own God.

9. Jesus Comes As a Thief After the Plagues.
Revelation 16:15 ("Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his _garments_ that he may not go naked and be seen _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 ended.

11. Anti-Christ Is Revealed Before Jesus Comes.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now _concerning_ the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, [2] not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter _purporting_ to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. [3] Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the _rebellion_ comes first, and the man of _lawlessness_ is revealed, the son of _perdition_,

12. The Anti-Christ Is Destroyed by the Brightness of His Coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be _revealed_, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his _appearing_ and his coming.

13. Now Is the Day of Salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "At the acceptable time I have _listened_ to you, and _helped_ you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, 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; and at harvest time I will tell the _reapers_, Gather the weeds first and bind them in _bundles_ to be burned, but gather the wheat 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 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [45] "Who then is the _faithful_ and wise servant, whom his master has set over his _household_, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] _Blessed_ is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. [47] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his _possessions_. [48] But if that wicked servant says to _himself_, 'My master is _delayed_,' [49] and begins to beat his fellow _servants_, and eats and drinks with the _drunken_, [50] the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, [51] and will punish him, and put him with the _hypocrites_; there men will weep and gnash their 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, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] Before him will be _gathered_ all the nations, and he will _separate_ them one from another as a _shepherd_ _separate_s the sheep from the goats, [33] and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. [34] Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom _prepared_ for you from the _foundation_ of the world;

Next Bible Study: 14-Judgment

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