The Second Advent of the Lord
Perhaps no subject has stirred more debate in modern times than the nature of the return of Christ. There are many, most prevalently in the United States, who take the belief that the Lord will return once in secret (for a second time) and then once at the close of the tribulation (for a third time). Among its detractors, this notion is known as the “secret rapture” doctrine. One of the key texts that the doctrine’s supporters use to “prove” it true is Christ’s discourse on the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the end of the world in Matthew 24.I don’t have time to do a verse-by-verse synopsis of this important passage of Scripture, but we can break down the more important parts that pertain to the Lord’s Second Advent. At the beginning of the discourse, Jesus warns the Apostles that not one stone will be left upon another, and that the temple would be destroyed, to which they respond in verse 3:
Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the consummation of the world?
Jesus then takes the reader through a litany of the trials and tribulations. We will be scandalized, hate one another, our love and charity will wax cold. Nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be false Messiahs and false prophets, who will seduce many people, along with wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences. But Christ tells us in verses 13-14:
But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations: and then shall the consummation come.
We then encounter a series of verses that clearly have double-meanings. Remember, the first question that the Apostles asked Jesus was “when shall these things be,” and they were referring to the destruction of the temple. In this chapter, Jesus is answering both of those questions, so we can apply what he says both to the early Church as well as to the last days. Verse 15:
When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.
Today, it is common belief that this refers to the Man of Perdition, or to the Antichrist. Doubtless, it does refer to that Person of Evil, but we must remember that the Jerusalem Christians saw their way of life destroyed, and they (as well as the Jews of their time) referred to the Roman armies, and to Titus their leader, as the Abomination of Desolation. In their mind, this was the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place, spoken of by Daniel, attempting to take the place of God. This double-meaning is so important to understanding what Jesus is telling us here that Matthew adds the explanatory note “whoso readeth, let him understand.”
In verse 21, after explaining that woe will come upon women who are with child, and give suck, and warning that those in Judea should flee to the mountains. He says in verse 21:
For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.
We know what this likely refers to in terms of the very last things in time, but it was also a “great tribulation” for those people when the temple was destroyed. At this point, Jesus switches gears and we can clearly see that he is talking about the last things. He begins to answer the second question more pointedly in verse 27-31:
For as lightning cometh out of the east and appeareth even into the west: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty. And he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.
Beginning in verse 36 through 42 comes one of the most important apocalyptic passages in all of Scripture:
But of that day and hour no one knoweth: no, not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone. And as in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For, as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noah entered into the ark: And they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come.
Note that Jesus tells us that his coming will be as it was in the days of Noah. They were marrying, and giving in marriage, eating and drinking, even till the day Noah entered the ark. Who were they? They were the wicked who refused to believe Noah that the flood was coming and that they had better get righteous! Christ tells us that his coming will be as it was in the days of Noah, and then describes two men in the field, two women grinding at the mill, etc. Translation: If it is going to be as it was in the days of Noah, I am not so sure I want to be snatched away!
The most important verse of the entire Chapter is verse 44, and it is the one we would do well to most remember:
Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 10:43 AM
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