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There are two arguments that surround the predicted 2nd coming of Christ. Those outside the church argue 'IF' Jesus Christ is coming back. Those inside the church argue 'WHEN' Jesus Christ is coming back. Are there signs of the times that provide a basis for predicting when Christ will return?
It is true that the Bible includes a number of general statements about the last days and the coming of Christ. Peter said in II Peter 3:3-9 that the last days would be characterized by evolutionary teaching, uniformitarianism, the denial of the flood, the denial of divine judgment. But those teachings have permeated our society for a long time. Paul in II Tim. 3:1-5 spoke of immorality that would characterize the last days. But if you study Roman and Grecian culture you will find even then society was fraught with decadence. Ezekial 38 and Daniel 11 predict a devastation of Israel by a great northern army. Daniel wrote that the Antichrist will sponsor a religion of materialism. John in Rev. 17 describes a great 'harlot' church. But there has and always will be false Christ's, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising and falling, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, false prophets, the love of saints growing cold. So there is NO proof that Jesus Christ may or may not return today or for 100's of years. We have the right to insist that Jesus Christ WILL return. We have the right to insist that Jesus Christ MAY return soon. But we DO NOT have the right to insist that He WILL return soon.
The fact and certainty of the Lord's return should be emphasized, but the chronology of his return should be de-emphasized. II Peter 3:5-18 gives us reasons why Jesus Christ will return. I call them "Arguments for the Second Coming of Jesus." The first argument for the second coming of Christ is the argument from history in v.5-7. Peter is describing in these few verses the flood. If the flood of Noah's time was just a fable or a myth then the whole epistle of Peter is merely a fable or myth. What does the flood have to do with the second coming of Christ? Peter says, if you don't think Jesus Christ is going to come and judge the world -- remember that he judged it once before with a flood. Peter is saying, history validates the fact that God keeps his word when it comes to the promise of coming judgment. Judgment came once - it will come again. History, because of the judgment of the flood, proves that this world is built on moral principles and if those moral principles are violated - then God will judge the world. God has never allowed sin to go unpunished.
The soul that sins shall die -- that is individual judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed -- a city was judged. Canaan was annihilated by Israel -- a nation was judged. Whether it is on a personal level, a city level, a national level, or as the flood on an international level -- all judgment is due to sin. Romans 1:18 says 'for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men".
The wrath of God is not God indiscriminately going around stomping on anyone that does something wrong. It is the fact that the world is built on moral principles and when those moral principles are violated -- God's wrath judges. If God needs to judge the whole world, He will -- because he did it once before. In Noah's day they did not expect a flood because it never rained before the flood! Gen. 1:7 tells us that when God created the earth he suspended this great canopy of water in vapor form over the earth.
This canopy created a greenhouse effect on the earth. The suppression of the sun's rays may also account for the longevity of man in the early years of history. Then Peter says in v.7 that the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire. Before the flood the earth was reserved for judgment by water. Now it is being reserved for judgment by fire. Did you know the sun is 160 million Centigrade. That's 370,000 x 10 to the 18th power of kilowatts of power. NASA tells us that every star in the sky is a ball of fire averaging 14 million Centigrade. The middle of the earth's core is made up of iron and nickel so hot that they are in a molten liquid state. The ozone layer around the earth absorbs ultraviolet light that could burn every living creature on earth. At the end of the 1,000-year millennium a new heaven and a new earth will be formed out of a gaseous cataclysmic destruction involving fire. Listen to the argument from history. God did it before and God will do it again.
The second argument for the return of Christ comes from scripture v. 8. Peter is telling us that God keeps different times than we do. God is not on a clock. God isn't checking out his watch to see when to start the next phase of his program. Time to God is one vast eternal present. He sees the end from the beginning. Peter says God isn't keeping dates because time to God is nothing. But if time is nothing to God, why does time exist? And that question is actually Peter's third argument. The argument from God's character v.9. Why doesn't Jesus come now? It is not because it is not time, it is not because he forgot the date, it is because God wants to exhibit his mercy. He is long suffering - he is not willing for any to perish. God wants to give you time to repent. But that does not mean He will not come! The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness. There is no gap between the promise and the fulfillment.
God sees both moments as one. Do you understand Peter's argument for the 2nd coming of Christ from God's character? He endures with us out of love! The door of salvation is open. Even for those who mock him. So to those of you who may not know Jesus Christ, those of you who have never accepted him I do not know when he is coming back but his hand of mercy is extended to you -- NOW!
I cannot assure you that it will be extended come tomorrow. History argues that Jesus is coming. Scripture argues that Jesus is coming. God's character argues that Jesus is coming. The Promise of Christ, himself, is the 4th argument v.10. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Jesus said in Mt. 24 Be on the alert, for the son of man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Jesus said, I am coming back and it will be sudden. Paul echoed that thought in I Thess 5. Notice the words 'the day of the Lord". The day of the Lord in scripture does not refer to a 24-hour day.
It is an Eschatological term referring to a period of time. Specifically the period that begins with the tribulation to the end of the kingdom. And interestingly, the term is always used in reference to judgment. At times the scriptures use the phrase 'the day of Christ' which refers to the rapture, the marriage supper of the lamb, the Bema seat, the fellowship between Christ and His church.
Other times the scriptures uses the phrase 'the day of God' which refers to the recreation of heaven and earth for eternity. So when the rapture occurs it begins the day of Christ and we (believers) all go up and experience the day of Christ with Jesus while the rest of humanity experience the day of the Lord in judgment. And when that is completed the day of God begins. So Peter says, Jesus himself said -- Christ is coming back and what is going to happen when I come back?
A whole universe destroyed in a great big ball of fire. Then what? V. 13 a new heaven and a new earth. So there are Peter's 4 arguments for the 2nd Coming of Christ. History tells us he is coming. Scriptures tell us he is coming. God's character tells us he is coming. Jesus tells us he is coming. He's coming! Are you ready? Can you honestly say in your heart today -- Even so, come, Lord Jesus
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The Rev. Dr. James Barnes is currently the pastor of White Memorial Church in Milroy.