SPECIAL TOPIC: VIEWS OF THE SECOND COMING

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS

This subject has caused great arguments.
The how is not certain, the when is not certain, but the event is sure!
Where did you get what you believe?
What is the purpose of the Second Coming?
Does the Bible teach a systematic eschatology?
Why is our day so interested in the Second Coming?
All theories concerning the physical return of Jesus are conservative views.

EARLY CHURCH PREMILLENNIAL (Historical Premillennial)

Presuppositions	Advocates	Strengths
History of the Earth is analogous to 7 days of Creation (Epistle of Barnabas, Irenaeus, Methodius) Each day represents 1000 years (II Pet. 3:8; Ps. 90:4)	Papias Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hipplytus, Methodius George Ladd (Historical Premillennial)	Certain events must occur before Parousia Gospel to all nations (Matt. 24:14) Conversion of Israel (Rom. 11:25ff) Great Apostasy (Matt.24:10; II Thess. 2:3) Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21) Revealing of Man of Sin - Antichrist (II Thess. 2:3) A visible, universal Rapture and Coming

AMILLENNIAL (realized or inaugurated millennium)

Presuppositions	Advocates	Strengths
The Church is Spiritual Israel (Rom. 2:5,9,28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:9,29; 6:16; Rev. 1:6; 1 Pet. 3:6) One Covenant (Old and New, Rom. 4 - Abraham is Paul's example for justification by faith) Christ's Kingdom is not temporal (John 18:36) One Second Coming One Resurrection One Judgment The Eternal Kingdom	Some Early Church Fathers Augustine Zwingli Calvin (Presbyterianism) Ray Summers (Baptist) Jay Adams (Reformed) Most Churches of Christ	Victory won at Calvary, not Millennium Satan bound now Unity of God's plan of redemption

POSTMILLENNIAL (millenium now)

Presuppositions	Advocates	Strengths
Jesus defeated Satan which allows His followers to free people from the Kingdom of Darkness Church's preaching of the gospel will bring in the Kingdom (2 Pet. 3:12; Matt. 6:10) Things are getting better and better	Jonathan Edwards A. H. Strong W. T. Conner Most 19^th Century Scholars	Takes temporal judgment coming of Jesus seriously Believers have a part in God's plan Optimistic about contemporary culture Believers should be active in culture and government

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIAL

¹ There are 3 views of this Secret Coming:
1) Pre-tribulationist
2) Mid-tribulationist
3) Post-tribulationist
² Judgment of Believers (II Cor. 5:10)
³ Judgment of Nations (Matt. 25)

Presuppositions	Advocates	Strengths
The Bible is divided into seven distinct dispensations Literal fulfillment of every OT prophecy to Israel Church and Israel totally separate. The Church is God's Plan B when the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah The Church will be secretly raptured,before the Tribulation. The book of Revelation, after chapter 5, is Jewish. NT interpreted in light of OT prophecy	John Darby Plymouth Brethren) Clarence Larkin D. L. Moody C. I. Scofield (Reference Bible) Dallas Seminary (Pentecost, Ryrie, Walvoord) W. A. Criswell (Southern Baptist) Hal Lindsey Tim LaHaye Bible Churches (Dallas Seminary)	Takes Bible prophecy literally (especially Daniel) Any-moment return (Matt. 24:40-42)

BOB'S TENTATIVE CURRENT OPINION

Presuppositions

Dialectical Tensions:

One Plan (Gen. 3:15)
Unity of the people of God (Rom. 2:28-29;4; Gal. 3:29; 6:16;
Eph. 2:11-3:13)
Apocalyptic nature of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation (literary genre)
OT saw one coming (Two Ages), one visible coming
One visible coming (Matt. 24:27)
One Rapture ( I Thess. 4:13-18)
One Resurrection
One Judgment (Matt. 25; Rev. 20)
The Eternal Kingdom

between Old Covenant prophetic models and New Covenant apostolic models
between the Bible's monotheism (one God for all) and the election of Israel
between the conditional aspect of biblical covenants and promises ("if...then") and the unconditional faithfulness of God to fallen mankind's redemption
between Near Eastern literary genres and modern western literary models
between the Kingdom of God as present, yet future
between belief in the imminent return of Christ and the belief that some events must happen first

Conclusion

Martin Luther, "Revelation is not an inspired book."
John Calvin said of the book of Revelation, "Only God knows what this means."
There is no approved or majority opinion on the Second Coming (i.e., church councils).
Every generation of believers forces the Bible into its own historical and cultural settings.
There is no systematic eschatology in the NT, but truth is revealed for us to "be ready" and "be active."
Only conservatives fight over this issue.
It is every generation of believers' hope, encouragement, and motivation to expect the Second Coming in their lifetime.

BOB'S SPECIAL TOPIC LINKS THAT RELATE TO THIS SUBJECT

Special Topic: This Age and the Age to Come

Special Topic: Apocalyptic Literature

Special Topic: The Antichrist

Special Topic: Any Moment Return of Christ vs. Not Yet

Special Topic: The Day of the Lord

Special Topic: Delayed Second Coming

Special Topic: Forty Two Months

Special Topic: The Great Red Dragon

Special Topic: The Great Tribulation

Special Topic: Immanuel's Person and Reign

Special Topic: Jesus' Return