The Second Coming of Christ

by Terry Wane Benton

The first time He came was personal. He came to offer Himself "to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:28). To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time for salvation.

The first time was to save us from sin and condemnation. So, what does it mean that He will appear the second time "for salvation?" I John 3:2 says that when He is revealed, "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Thus, we will be saved from this mortal body through which we are tempted and tested. We will be saved from a world of sin and temptation.

The first coming aided us in washing away sins as we got dirty from time to time, but the second coming will save us from the environment of sin and contamination. There is salvation from past sin and condemnation provided for by His benefits in the first coming, and there is "eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:9) awaiting those who love and obey Him.

Now, the second coming will be personal and real. He came representatively in a judgment on Jerusalem in AD 70. That was not the "second coming." It was a coming of a different kind for a limited reason. When He comes a second time, it will be direct, real, personal, visible, and audible to all, and "all will be changed" (I Corinthians 15:51; John 5:28-29). All Christians will be changed to the immortal body prepared to live in heaven with God forever. We will be changed to immortality! We will be saved from the wrath coming on the disobedient. We will be saved from an environment of sin.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!