The 2nd Presence and Kingdom of God
Christ has returned! That's right! Did you know that Jesus is present as ruler and King? Many religions today teach He is coming again but actually He has already returned and that's what the Bible says!
Ever since the Miller movement around 1844, Christians have been interested in the 2nd coming with a renewed interest in prophecy but they were looking for the wrong thing at the wrong time and were expecting Him to come back as a man and take on the human nature again which is no where taught in the Bible. When their expectations were not realized they were dissapointed and thought it must be in the future and apparently many think that today.
A LOOK AT MATTHEW
"And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple and his disciples came to him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world? - Matthew 24: 1-3 This is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD as a sign of His presence and the disciples wanted to know when this would happen.
WHAT IS THE END OF THE WORLD?
In the 24th chapter of Matthew the desciples asked Jesus "what will be the sign of your coming and end of the world", they asked how they would know when Jesus was present and when the world would end. He had just explained to them that it would occur when the temple would be destroyed and that was one of the main outward visible signs. But what was the "world" (sometimes translated age). It was the old order and way God dealt with man (or Israel ) at that time under the law covenant.
That was also referred to as "the heavens and earth" because God always dealt with Israel through covenants. That passed away when Christ returned and Peter refers to this passing away of the old heavens and earth and establishing of the new heavens and earth in 2nd Peter 3: 3-13, and they passed away with "fervent heat" and were "burned up". This is also shown in Luke where Jesus talks about the time when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20) and explains in verse 22 of that same chapter that those are the "days of vengeance." which is the same as the "day of judgment", "day of the Lord", "day of wrath", etc. That happened in 70 AD. This doesn’t mean we aren’t judged after that for as we read in Hebrews 9:27; “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
He also says that "all things which are written may be fulfilled.". What was fulfilled? It is what was written about in old testament times and the establishment of what is referred to in Hebrews as Zion , heavenly Jerusalem , new Jerusalem, the city of God , and especially "the Kingdom". Also the resurrection and Daniel refers to it as "those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." - Daniel 12:2
WHAT TEMPLE IS JESUS REFERRING TO?
There's no way He could be referring to any other temple then the one existing in His day. See Matt 24:1-2 The temple and the sacrificing services was just a continuation of the sacrificing done when Israel had the tabernacle in the wilderness and the law covenant was still in effect at the time the new testament was being written but was passing away. "....Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." - Hebrews 8:13
Ofcourse there's many other proofs of Christ’s presence (not coming but already here) and it is associated to what is called, the "Day of the Lord", "Day of Redemption", "Day of Salvation", and many other aspects as related in the book of Revelation which many people today believe is about the future when actually Revelation is prophecy that has been fulfilled and shows the wonderful position we have as His people being in His Kingdom today.
THE LAST DAYS
The writer of Acts tells us that Pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel. "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams." It also says "The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Today we call on His name and are being saved. The out pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was another one of the signs and it happened in the "last days".
Notice the writer of Acts uses the words “But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel…” which means he is saying that Pentecost was happening in the last days and that it was the fulfillment of what Joel was fortelling; so if they were in the last days how can we be in the last days 2000 years later? Was not the writer of Acts writing under inspiration of the holy spirit which cannot make a mistake?
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION OF THE 2ND PRESENCE AND KINGDOM WITH THE NEW COVENANT?
The new covenant is the Kingdom! It's His new covenant Kingdom! This is Gods way of dealing with mankind and Gods tabernacle (dwelling) is with man now; see Rev 21:3. In Hebrews the 12th chapter, 24th verse, it mentions Jesus as being the mediator of the new covenant and then 4 verses later speaks of the Kingdom they were receiving. In other words, the Kingdom was in the process of being "set up" at that time when Jesus lived and up to 70 AD. when His 2nd presence took place.
SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER
In old testament times when atonement was being made and the tabernacle being used the whole procedure was not complete until the priest appeared at the gate to bless the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to the people. The anti-type of this is the 2nd presence and is called a 2nd appearing in Hebrews 9:28 - "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." If this didn't happen and Christ is not present then that would mean He is still sacrificing for sin or even worse, it wasn't accepted by God.
So we can see from this that all the types and shadows and procedures under the law covenant were fulfilled in 70AD. Another scripture to see on this is Matt 5:18; “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” We can be sure that every “jot and title” (every item) of the law covenant passed away in 70AD because it was fulfilled. If this is not true then Gods people, Christians today would be under every “jot and tittle” of the law covenant.
CLOUDS OF HEAVEN
It was said that Jesus would be coming on "clouds of Heaven" and "every eye would see Him". - Matt 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 What were the clouds and was He seen? Apocalyptic language is often symbolic and poetic and clouds represent the trouble which Israel experienced at that time, when the Roman armies surrounded the holy city and the temple was destroyed. Jesus is a highly exalted divine being and invisible. The seeing here is by spiritual sight or experiencing but not literal sight. This is discussed in other places of the Bible, for example, the old testament saints saw God by the eye of faith and His guidance in their lives.-see Hebrews 11:27: "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible." In another place in the Bible it refers to the "eyes of your understanding”, - see Ephesians 1:17-19. We as Gods people and saints today see Him this way, through faith. The enemies of Jesus saw Him quite differently then the saints. They saw only wrath. Some of His enemies were pagans, pagan Rome and even Jews which were judiaizers who were opposed to Christ and Christianity - "but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost." - 1st Thess 2:16
CAUGHT UP IN CLOUDS AND CHANGED
There were many of the church who were being persecuted and in holding cells, prisons and being killed but they would be rescued at the parousia. 1st John 3:2 says, “…it has not been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Here it says they would be “like Him” and “see Him as He is” and at the parousia there was a rapture type event where they were changed to be “like Him”, that is, raised to the same level of existence and plane of life Jesus was on and “see Him as He is”.
They saw him in the glorified condition Jesus was in (the plane of life he was on after the ascension) because they were brought up to the same plane of life he is on, “as He is”. Many other scriptures say the same thing and death and the grave would be defeated at the Parousia (2nd presence) and not only for that generation but for generations to follow. 1st Peter 5:4 says it would happen when He appears, “and when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” The Bible also says his “reward” was with him. (Revelation 22:12 and Matthew 25:46).
GATHERING TOGETHER
The clouds are also mentioned in 1st Thess 4:17 where those who are "alive and remain" are caught up together with them in the clouds." This is the same symbolic language and means the same thing as in "the gathering together of His elect from the four winds." - Matt 24:31. Even though the "sleeping saints" have been raised, those which were said to be "asleep in Christ", we living at this time, are not left out of the picture at all. But to understand what He's talking about one has to look at the subject of resurrection. We, today, are living resurrected lives (even before we actually go beyond the veil as the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:19, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”). Living resurrected lives has to do with sonship and adoption as sons which we as new creatures have. Because of Christs 2nd presence the prophets of old have received their reward and are no longer in the grave.
The poetic language of the Bible and especially apocalyptic language is not always meant to be taken in a wooden literal sense. For example, you may have heard someone say; "It’s raining cats and dogs outside." We know it's not literal but is communicating it's a "hard rain". Things like the 1000 years, moon turning to blood, sun turning into darkness, heavens rolling up like a scroll, mark of the beast, Armageddon, trumpets, etc, have a meaning they are communicating to us.
Even though the Bible is the word of God it’s a work of literature and that means many literary devices are used such as symbolism, metaphors, hyperboly, poetic language, etc. It’s not always meant to be taken literally. For example when Revelation talks about “every eye will see Him…” it doesn’t mean by literal sight. We often say “Oh, I see” which means “I understand”. In Ephesians 3:18 the reference is made to “the eyes of your understanding…”
The pre-parousia saints did see Him at the 2nd presence but only after their change came and they were raised to heaven as Paul talks about in Corinthians. In other words they did not see Him while they were on the human plane of life but only after they were raised to a higher nature, the divine nature and were made “like Him”. (1st John 3:2) Many times in Hebrews it mentions Jesus as being “at the right hand of God” which means He reigns with the Father, and is something He was when the new testament was being writen as well as today. Hebrews 8:1 “…we have such a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Is this something that can be seen literally by human eyes? No. Also see Matthew 26:64 which says, referring to the 2nd presence, “…hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES TO STUDY
* Acts 2: 25-36 - These verses show that Jesus was put on David’s throne as King and that it's not a future event.
* Revelation 5:5 - This shows he opened the book and loosed the seven seals (representing judgment).
* Acts 3:19-26 - Shows the Jesus is the "greater prophet" and that the times of restitution (restoration from sin and death) had actually begun, notice verse 24 which says, "all the prophets have foretold these days".
SIGNS AND WONDERS
The apostle Peter explains the events of Pentecost was something foretold by Joel and took place right before the Day of The Lord, "But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel." Acts 2:16 Peter also makes reference to the Day of The Lord in the last chapter of 2nd peter and compares it to the flood in Noahs day, The heavens pass away with a great noise and the elements burn up - that happened in 70 AD (when the law age passed away) and a new heavens and new earth (new covenant) was brought in.
A very clear indication of the 2nd presence is in Matt 16:27, 28 which says: "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then reward every man according to his deeds. Truly, I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom." This shows that the return and rewarding (resurrection of saints) must have begun in the 1st century because there were some still alive - those who were around when Jesus spoke those words and it would be with-in their lifetime. - "not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom." Also see Revelation 22:12 which reads, "Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with Me, to render to everyman according to what he has done."
The following verses show the 2nd presence and establishment of the Kingdom of God was something to take place soon, in relation to the writers of the new testament, and Revelation which was written before 70 AD. The writers of the New Testament were writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit and would not have indicated it to be within their lifetime if it were not true.
"must shortly come to pass..." - Rev 1:1
"...the time is at hand" - Rev 1:3
"I come quickly" - Rev 22:7 and Rev 22:12
"...must shortly be done" - Rev 22:6
"the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" - matt 3:2
"Surely, I come quickly" - Rev 22:20
"this generation" - Matt 23:36
"the Kingdom of God is at hand" - Mark 1:15
"The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" - Luke 10:9
"...the time is at hand." - Rev 22:10
"...the Kingdom of God is come unto you." - Matt 12:28
It can be seen from these verses that the writers of the new testament considered themselves to be living in the last days.
"Little children, it is the last time and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrist; whereby we know that it is the last time." -1st John 2:18
"...Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son..." - Hebrews 1:2
"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit..." - Acts 2:16, 17
"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." - 1st Peter 1:20
Many today say that Revelation was written in 94AD but that would be impossible. In Revelation and the whole new testament there is no mention at all about a destroyed temple and it would be inconceivable that they wouldn’t have written about it if they were writing after 70AD. The temple was the center of worship to Israel and the jews and extremely important and their lives revolved around it and the sacrificial system of the law covenant. In fact, John the revelator, speaks as if it was standing (not destroyed) in Rev. 11:1. The whole new testament must have been written before 70AD.
THIS GENERATION
In the old testament there was the wrath that would come upon Israel and this is after the Babylonian captivity. For example, Isaiah 26:21 reads, “For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.” Jesus makes reference to this in Luke 11:50-51, “That the blood of all the prophets which was slain from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.”
Notice He says it would take place within that generation, the 1st century and that happened in 70AD which is what is called “the days of vengeance”---Luke 21:22 It was also the consummation of the New Covenant, that is, the fulfillment of all the types and shadows of Israels law covenant.
In revelation which was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the days of vengeance took place, the saints are pictured as asking how long will it be until they are avenged. Rev. 6:10, “And they cried with a loud voice saying, “How long, O’Lord holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Also another interesting fact is that its not just avenging but is connected to the resurrection hope Israel had in the old testament. See Revelation 11:18, “The nations were angry and Your wrath has come. And, the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that you should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
That unmistakenly identifies the time of the resurrection of the pre-parousia saints as taking place at the same time as the days of vengeance and 2nd presence, which occurred in 70AD. It also means that death has been destroyed as in 1stCorinthians 15:26, and 1st Corinthians 15:54.
It’s what the prophets and saints looked forward to in old testament times and is referred to in Hebrews 11:16 as the “heavenly country”, the city of God.
CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET SHORTLY
In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked Jesus when those things would take place and when would His presence be and when the end of the age take place? It was not 3 different questions but one question in 3 parts. The end of the world (or age is a better translation) took place in 70AD with the destruction of the temple and judgement that came upon Jerusalem and Israel. That was the complete end and from that time forward we are in the new heavens and new earth as talked about in Revelation the 21st chapter. Churches today say we are in the Christian age and Bro Russell called it the gospel age, but it would be properly called the Messianic age or kingdom and there is no end.
Jesus is operating fully as the messiah and it’s His eternal Kingdom or sometimes called “the Kingdom of God.” Peter says in 1st Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand…” and he was talking about what would happen in 70AD. That was the complete end of the order of things under the law covenant where animals were sacrificed and God dealt with Israel under the Mosiac law covenant. So all the types and shadows of the old testament were fulfilled when all that passed away in 70AD. See Luke 21:20-22, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near…For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
That means all prophecy was fulfilled and His Kingdom fully established. Up to that time (from the cross up to the late 60s [67ad]) He was in the process of setting up the kingdom and the Christians were said to be reigning with Him for 1000 years. Even though some were martyred and some weren’t. Then the little season came and the severe persecutions under Nero came and Nero was the man of sin or anti-Christ. But the anti Christian forces were mainly the Jewish people who were not believers (the judiazers) and were against Christ. After that, fire came down from heaven and destroyed them (revelation 20:9) and that’s what happened in 70AD.
Christs return was in the clouds of heaven which means judgment and trouble and He used the Roman armies, under Titus, to destroy Jerusalem. Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly…” and thats what happened. It’s a reference to the verses in Genesis which tell of the fall of Adam in the Garden and that the seed of the women (Jesus) would overcome Satan. The curse of the fall has been solved now because “the last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1st Cor 15:26) and that was fulfilled in 70AD. We still have “biological death today whether someone is saved or not but we, Christians, do not wait in the grave (sleep) as the Bible say they did before Christ returned. We can and do enter into the Most Holy which represents heaven (Heb 10:19) and that’s what we have today---“the high calling”.
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WHAT WAS THE "GREAT TRIBULATION"?
It's the same as mentioned in Luke 21:22-23, "For these are the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days. For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people." So we see its where the Roman armies came and destroyed Jerusalem (verse 20) and this is also mentioned in Matthew 24:21, "For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew the 24th chapter is companion verses to Luke 21, companion means its saying the same thing and is about the same thing. Daniel also foretold about that same time of trouble as in Daniel 12:1-3, "....And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...." When they (the believers who understood Jesus words) saw the Roman armies coming, they left Jerusalem and fled so that they wouldn't get caught in the trouble (Matthew 24:16-20). That trouble happened in about 66 1/2AD to 70AD.
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” – Colossians 1:13
NKJV used for quotes.
Michael Burke (A St Louis Bible Student, in St Louis, Missouri) ---------email: blueskytoday07@gmail.com
Any material here is not copywrited and can be used by anyone.
See a talk by me here at this website: greateststoryevertold.webstarts.com
Also see: kingdomlife2019.webstarts.com