A Summary of the End Times
We seem to have a new generation of doomsday prophets. Nostradamus has predicted the beginning of World War III this weekend, and Christians are again suggesting dates for our Lord’s return. We cannot set dates! This column is to set the stage for a discussion of the mistakes that many are making in prophetic pronouncements.
Everyone is looking for a utopia, a golden age of peace and prosperity. We express that desire when we pray. “Thy kingdom come.” There really is going to be such a time. Jesus is going to rule in righteousness here on this earth. History is moving toward a glorious conclusion. All the prophets of Israel foretold such a time. Each of the great covenants made with Israel look forward to it. The fulfillment of the promises to Israel that she would possess the land promised her awaits a yet future day. Our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will one day come back to earth to set up God’s Kingdom on earth. The Jews expected the Messiah to “restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6), but by rejecting their King, that generation lost its golden moment. The kingdom was postponed and now awaits Messiah’s reentry into this world to be fulfilled.
TWO ASPECTS OF THE SECOND COMING
If you had lived in the times of the Old Testament prophets and had read their prophecies, you might have thought that the Messiah was going to come in one grand event to suffer for humanity and reign over the earth. Several Scriptures give that picture. For example, Isa.9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Even Mary must have had such a hope when the angel promised her, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Lk. 1:32-33).
Living on this side of the ascension of Jesus, we know that the promises of glory and government will be fulfilled at a second advent. We now know that there were two aspects to His coming separated by at least two thousand years. In the same way, the Second Advent itself will have two different aspects separated by at least seven years. The first will be the coming of the Lord into the air to take the church (all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture) to be with Him. The words “caught up” were translated by a Latin word “rapturo” from which we get the word “rapture.” The second aspect will be the coming of Christ to the earth with the believers to set up the Messianic Kingdom.
A. Reasons for the Distinction
Some reasons for seeing a distinction between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Advent are involved with the tension between two seemingly contradictory lines of teaching in the New Testament.
1. The tension as to time
a. Jesus may come at any moment (1 Thess. 1:10; Titus 2:13; James 5:9; Rev. 3:3).
b. We are to prepare for a long delay (Matt.25:5,14,19; 24:48).
2. The tension as to signs
a. No signs are associated with His coming (John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 5:6; 1 Cor. 1:7).
b. There shall be signs of His coming (Matt. 24:5, 29-30).
3. The resolution
The best way to harmonize these tensions is to recognize that there are two aspects to His coming. One has no signs and can happen at any moment, the other has many signs and cannot happen until the prophecies have been fulfilled.
B. The Rapture
There are four theories relating to the time of the Rapture in relation to the period called the Tribulation.
1. Partial Rapture
This view teaches that only committed Christians who are right with God and “filled with the Spirit” will be taken up with the Lord.
2. Post-tribulation
Many believe that the Lord will come after the tribulation period. The Rapture will be immediately followed by the Second Advent.
3. Mid-tribulation
Along with a new view called “the pre-wrath rapture,” this view sees the church doing through the first 3 1/2 years of the period but being raptured before the time of God’s wrath.
4. Pre-tribulation
This view best explains the tensions between the passages having to do with the time and signs of Jesus’ coming. He may come at any moment in the Rapture, which will be before the predicted Tribulation. After that seven-year period, He will come back to earth to set up His kingdom.
C. The Second Advent
All agree that the return of Christ to earth is after the Tribulation. He will return to end the campaign of Armageddon, regenerate and regather Israel (Israel being “in faith” now), judge the nations, bind Satan. and set up the Messianic Kingdom.
