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What will happen when the second coming of our Lord Jesus
occurs? Many have twisted the Scripture (2 Pet. 3:16), and failed
to "abide in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9), concerning
the return of Jesus. Despite all the fanciful theories of a
secret rapture, the antichrist, and a literal battle of Armageddon
that are propounded by the errors of denominational teaching;
the truth can be found through diligent and truthful study of
God's word. An open minded student of the scriptures can discover
the chain of events that will occur when the Lord returns and
the truth can give those who are securely "in Christ"
the assurance of comfort regarding the greatness of that day.
We do not know when it will occur (Matt. 24:36), but we can
learn exactly what will happen when it does. Let's look to the
New Testament, and see what God has revealed to us concerning
what will come to pass on the last day. 1. The dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the bodies of those Christians who are alive will be changed. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the return of the Lord. He stated, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming" (1 Cor. 15:22-23). He went on to write, "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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51-52). 3. All men will be judged. Jesus stated, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). It is the word of Christ that will judge all men on that day. Jesus said, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). 4. Christians will be taken to heaven. Those who are in Christ will meet Christ in the air. Paul described it this way to the Thessalonians: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Christians will be taken to that place that Christ described He was preparing. He said, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). 5. Death will be destroyed, and Christ will deliver up the Kingdom to His Father. Paul also explained this in his discourse to the Corinthians regarding the last day. He wrote, "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. 15:24-26). These events are to occur as sure as you are reading this page right now. All the wrongs will be made right, and death will reign no more. Many great and amazing things will happen on that last day, and it should be a day that all Christians look forward to with great joy and assurance. -Ed |