READING 7 – Christ’s Second Coming

By Tzvetan Petkov

“For the Son of Man is going to come with His an- gels in the glory of His Father, and then He will re- pay each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27, English Standard Version. “The proclamation of the judgment is an announcement of Christ’s second coming as at hand. And this proclamation is called the everlasting gospel. Thus the preaching of Christ’s second coming, the announcement of its nearness, is shown to be an essential part of the gospel message.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 227.

Adventism originated in the proclamation of Christ’s soon coming. Therefore, true Adventism identifies itself with and is based on prophecy, the fulfillment of the signs of the times, and the time of the judgment, of which the most glorious moment is the second coming of Christ.

Hope of all ages

Down through the ages, Christians have faced difficulty, trial, and persecution. Their hope has always been the reward to be received at the second coming of Christ. In the Middle Ages, the martyrs who were burned at the stake during the Inquisition sang hymns as they looked up to heaven, embracing the hope of the second coming of Jesus. Their faith and conviction were so deep that many of them felt no pain from the flames, and their faces reflected the joy of salvation and eternal life. Those beholding them were astonished, and thus every drop of martyr blood became a seed, a powerful sermon of and testimony for the gospel.

“It pointed forward to His second coming in glory to re- deem His people, and it set before men the hope, through faith and obedience, of sharing the inheritance of the saints in light. This message is given to men today, and at this time there is coupled with it the announcement of Christ’s second coming as at hand.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 226.

A place for you

A major portion of Jesus’ sermons were related to the out- pouring of the Holy Spirit and His return to the Father. He promised His disciples that, after His ascension, He would prepare dwelling places for His followers. “… Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3, English Standard Version.

To live forever in the new heavenly kingdom has always been the desire of every true believer. Also, the prophet Isaiah was shown in vision what life in the new kingdom will be like. He declared in his poetic writings that the lion and the lamb will live together, thus demonstrating the peace, harmony, and love that will exist among God’s creatures. Together, the redeemed will celebrate the glorious restoration of God’s perfect creation as the unfallen worlds, man, animals, and plants will rejoice in and reflect God’s divine love and perfection forever.

Coming in the clouds

When Jesus walked on earth in His human nature, He suffered from heat, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and all of the other limitations of this world. He came to serve in humility and was subject to the persecution of the fallen spiritual world and the people who were allied with it. Crucified and sacrificed for the fallen human race, the Saviour gained the complete victory over the enemy and became man’s sole Representative and Substitute. But at His second coming, He will come in power and glory. “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” Mark 13:26, 27, English Standard Version.

Since this great event is so greatly desired and longed for, Satan will try to deceive the whole world by appearing as Christ in different places around the world. The Lord warned His followers to be watchful, because false christs and prophets will appear before Jesus’ coming takes place. In Matthew 24:8, the Lord equated His coming with birth pains. No matter how pre- pared a pregnant woman may be, the pains accompanying her child’s birth will always surprise her. No one knows the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, so continual readiness is necessary for all who will participate in that glorious event. Those who see Him without their having tasted death will be changed and meet Jesus in the air. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17, English Standard Version.

First resurrection

When Christ appears in the clouds, “every eye shall see Him.” Revelation 1:7. He will call the righteous from their graves in the first resurrection. All of the faithful believers who died, from the time of Adam to the close of probation, will arise from the dead and join the 144,000 who are alive. What a day that will be! The saints will witness the greatest event of all time–the appearance of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. In the partial resurrection that occurs previously during the seven last plagues, according to the prophecy of Daniel, the sealed faithful part of the 144,000 will come from the grave at the same time as will the fiercest persecutors of Jesus, in cluding the Sanhedrin that condemned Him. This special resurrection will fulfill Christ’s prophecy: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26, English Standard Version.

All who arise in the first resurrection will not only inherit eternal life but will also have the privilege of participating in the judgment of the unbelievers during the one thousand years of rest. “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6, English Standard Version. In the book of Revelation, this resurrection is called the first, be- cause the prophecy reveals that a second great resurrection will take place after the one thousand years, when Jesus will raise the wicked from the dead to reap the fruits of their deeds and unbelief, facing the result of the divine judgment. Their full and final destruction in the lake of fire will cleanse God’s universe of every sin and all evil.

No more tears or pain

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation 1:9, English Standard Version. The reward of all the faithful believers will finally be given to them, and justice and righteousness will be fully restored. The saved will have no more suffering but will thrill to eternal joy and happiness. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4, English Standard Version. For those who have passed through the seven plagues, a special promise is given: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any- more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.” Revelation 7:16, English Standard Version.

It is difficult to imagine life without the hurt of physical or mental pain. Today, the enemy of souls is trying to destroy the followers of God, attacking them with trials and temptations. However, God uses the difficulties we face as instruments for our perfection and sanctification. Nothing can harm the elect. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31, 32, English Standard Version.

For those who go through suffering on this earth, God promises not only salvation and eternal life but also glorification and the complete restoration of the human race as it was originally created. The redeemed will have the privilege of being partakers of the divine nature. “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21, English Standard Version.

Crowns and harps

The symbol of the crown is used by the Lord Jesus to de- scribe the glory and honor that will be given to those who overcome and become part of the heavenly kingdom. The apostle Paul exclaimed: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8, English Standard Version. Crowns with stars will be given to all who are saved. The redeemed feel that they do not deserve them and will lay them down at the feet of Jesus, the Author of their faith. Unimaginable joy will be experienced by those who are saved. All of the difficulties, poverty, privation, loss, persecution, and trials of this life will be considered as nothing when compared to the glory and greatness that will be given to the faithful.

Those who inherit eternal life will be so filled with joy that they cannot hold back the song, praise, and rejoicing that spring from their hearts. Glorious instruments will be given to them. “And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:2, 3, English Standard Version. All of the redeemed will have the gift of music. They will be able to ex- press with music those things that cannot be said with words. A surge of emotions and feelings will stream from their hearts. God’s glorious presence in the heavenly kingdom inspires the angels and the four living creatures before the throne of God to constantly repeat, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Al- mighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8, English Standard Version.

Song of the Lamb

The redeemed will sing a special song. “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!’” Revelation 15:3, English Standard Version. The words of this song reveal the special experience made by those who enter heaven, like that of Moses and the Israelites, who crossed the Red Sea through God’s miracle and experienced His deliverance from their enemies. Through the merits of the Lord Jesus, by a miracle, we may become partakers of His righteousness, the forgiveness of sin, and eternal life. No one else can sing this song, because salvation is a personal matter. The experience of others cannot bring about our salvation. Christ calls His sheep by name. He opens and closes the door, and only those who hear and recognize His voice are part of His flock. Those who follow Christ on earth will rejoice to be with Him in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Streets of gold and a place of light

The new Jerusalem is described by the apostle John as an amazing place with twelve foundations of precious stones, twelve pearly gates, and streets as of pure gold. “The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.” Revelation 21:18, English Standard Version. The angel also pro- vided the exact measurements of the city–its length, width, and height. Everything is so real, wonderfully planned for the saints, and designed to meet their needs. In the middle of the city is the temple. Only the 144,000 will be privileged to enter there. Furthermore, we understand from the Scriptures that the light that illuminates the city comes from Jesus Christ Him self. Many artists have attempted to illustrate this majestic city, but human imagination is not sufficient to imagine the beauty and glory of the new Jerusalem.

In vision, Sister White visited the heavenly kingdom, and on several occasions when she returned to the earth’s reality she found it to be unbelievably dark in comparison with the wonderful heavenly light. “After I came out of vision, everything seemed changed; a gloom was spread over all that I beheld. Oh, how dark this world looked to me! I wept when I found myself here, and felt homesick. I had seen a better world, and it had spoiled this for me.” –Life Sketches of Ellen G. White,67.

The redeemed assemble on the shore of the sea of glass before entering the heavenly Jerusalem. Depending on one’s character, each one of the redeemed will enter the city through a specific gate named after the twelve patriarchs, who overcame traits that are reflected in all of humanity. The light of the heavenly Jerusalem will be so bright that no sun will be needed. The amazed throng of the redeemed will be over- whelmed with joy and gratitude in that holy place. The promise of Jesus will be fulfilled. The saints will enter their dwelling places, knowing that they are of great value, much more than any person’s merits by comparison.

Visiting other worlds

A special privilege will be given to the group of the 144,000, “… They that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth….” Revelation 14:4, American Standard Version. They will visit unfallen worlds with the Him and enjoy the presence of other holy beings and the angels. Sister Ellen G. White made the following experience in vision: “The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious…. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely…. Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated…. I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place…. Then the angel said, ‘You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.’” –Early Writings, pp. 39, 40.

The experience and reward of the redeemed will be beyond imagination. If today, as we observe nature, we sense some- thing of the Creator’s wisdom and perfection, how much more wonderful it will be when we are able to fly around the universe and study the creation of other worlds. The heavenly kingdom consists of the new heaven and the new earth. It is an infinitely better place where no sin or death exists. “Heaven is a good place. I long to be there and behold my lovely Jesus, who gave His life for me, and be changed into His glorious image. Oh, for language to express the glory of the bright world to come! I thirst for the living streams that make glad the city of our God.” –The Adventist Home, p. 543.

If we are faithful to the end, we will be there. We will see and touch the golden streets of the new Jerusalem. We will see the light shining from the Lord Jesus, receive the crowns of gold, and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Let us do everything in the light of eternity, dedicating our hearts and minds to Jesus, and preparing to meet Him in the clouds when He comes soon. Amen!