I have a question:\u00a0 how do I explain the second coming?\u00a0 I heard how you described it when you gave the explanation of the rapture, but I’m still confused.\u00a0 Am I understanding correctly that Jesus will descend with the angels and the dead in Christ will rise up to meet him in the air and then those who are alive in Christ will do the same?\u00a0 What happens next?\u00a0 Are all those who are left unsaved? And are they going to experience immediate devastation or will they have a second chance sometime down the road? My friend has seen the\u00a0Left Behind<\/em>\u00a0films.<\/p>\n Thanks for your help.<\/p>\n\t The best reply is to just point out what the Bible has to say on the subject.\u00a0 There really aren’t all that many passages.<\/p>\n The problem with\u00a0Left Behind<\/em> and the many books that describe the end of the world that way is that they do not line up with what is very plainly revealed in II Peter and I Thessalonians.\u00a0 Paul and Peter make it clear that the end of the world is a very sudden event — it will catch people completely off guard.\u00a0 The events are:\u00a0 Jesus comes with a command, the voice of the archangel, and a trumpet call (not a quiet event).\u00a0 The dead in Christ will rise very fast, those still alive in Christ will then rise and then the earth will burn so that nothing is left.\u00a0\u00a0 There is no mention of any second chance.\u00a0 It will be like in the days of Noah — for which no one on the earth was given a second chance.<\/p>\nDarrell Hamilton\n\t Thanks!<\/p>\n I had already sought out all the biblical passages about it but was still questioning whether I had missed something. You answered my question in that the earth will burn after the saved are caught up with the Lord. There is no 1000 year reign on earth, then?<\/p>\n\t That is correct.\u00a0 The 1000 year reign is from twisting (that really is the best word for it) Revelation 20.<\/p>\n There are a lot of symbols in this section of Scripture and those who want a 1000 years reign on earth pick some of the elements in this section to be literal and some to be taken figuratively.\u00a0 For example, they almost always take the dragon to figuratively represent Satan.\u00a0 They don’t actually think that he will look like a dragon.\u00a0 In fact, most of the explanations I have heard allow everything in this passage to be figurative except for the 1000 years.\u00a0 For some reason, they insist that the thousand years has to be literal.\u00a0 They don’t require that the rider of the white horse have a sword in his mouth.\u00a0 They don’t even require the rider to actually be on a horse.\u00a0 Some like the birds eating the flesh of the fallen, but others are willing to make that figurative, just because they can’t stomach the picture.<\/p>\n I’m certainly no expert on Revelation.\u00a0 There is much of it that is steeped in a lot of symbols that I still don’t understand.\u00a0 A rule of thumb that I use for understanding Revelation is that no interpretation of Revelation can undo, change or alter a clear teaching that is found elsewhere in the Scripture. Some symbols, though, are easy enough.\u00a0 The rider, the sword, and the use of white are all references to Jesus, his word, and righteousness.\u00a0 The dragon, the serpent, and the beast are all aspects of Satan and his minions.\u00a0 There is a battle that is depicted here, but it is not necessary that it be a physical battle.\u00a0 Jesus had said that his kingdom was not of this world and if it were, then His servants would fight.\u00a0 (John 19).\u00a0 He never said that he was temporarily setting up a spiritual kingdom that would eventually be replaced by an earthly one.\u00a0 That would defeat the purpose for why he was to suffer on the cross.\u00a0 Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.<\/em>“<\/p>\n So my current “working theory” is that John is describing the challenge that the spread of the gospel will face for the rest of time — starting from the first. The opening of the seven seals and the seven trumpets are aspects of the early church as they struggled to understand what was going on as the complete revelation of God was being unfolded before them.\u00a0 By the time we get to chapters 19 and 20, the Word (the gospel) is marching out and conquering all the last strongholds of resistance.\u00a0 The battle began long ago and will continue throughout the remainder of time.\u00a0 At some points in history, it will look like Satan will have the upper hand — but he will certainly be defeated.\u00a0 The dead who rise to rule with Christ are those whose writings we read in the Bible now.\u00a0 For example, even though Paul died almost 2000 years ago, he is still active in our lives because his words are still here for us.\u00a0 In a sense, he is reigning with Christ because his words are commanding us just like Christ’s word (the two-edged sword) commands us.\u00a0 Satan was completely defeated in his goal of destroying the Word.\u00a0 His goal had always been to make sure the Word died out.\u00a0 The 1000 years just represents an uncertain (to us) period of time.\u00a0 During that time, Satan is powerless to stop the Word.\u00a0 That has been true for at least the last 1900 years.\u00a0 There are now so many copies of the Bible in so many languages, that it is impossible for anyone to claim they had no access to what the Word said and it would be impossible to destroy all copies.\u00a0 When Satan is “released”, he does not attempt to destroy the Word — he tries to deceive the nations.\u00a0 I would contend that he has also been doing that for many centuries now and will continue till the end of time.\u00a0 So while many people are looking to Revelation to predict the future about coming wars, etc. I believe that we are already in the middle of the last war.\u00a0 In a sense, we currently live someplace in the middle of 20:9 waiting for the final judgment of 20:11.\u00a0 Religious deception is all around us.\u00a0 There are people who worship false prophets, popes, synods, and ecclesiastical orders, as well as the outright vile religions of Islam, Hindu, and Buddha.\u00a0 All the false religions of the world (even the many that claim to be facets of Christianity) are forever trying to surround and contain those that belong to Jesus (the city that he loves).\u00a0 There is a struggle as the religions of deception try to push those who follow Christ into oblivion — some of it may be physical, but most of it is spiritual as the evil religions push sin as being acceptable forms of worship.\u00a0 We even see some of the worst of their “fruits” just casually looking around.\u00a0 They call homosexuality something good.\u00a0 They add sexually provocative dance as a “right of passage” and call it the prom.\u00a0 They promote divorce, adultery, and fornication as “healthy”.\u00a0 They promote drinking as good “adult beverages.”\u00a0 But even more deceptively, they call “love” things that are not love.\u00a0 They push for the mission of the church to be a mission to eliminate physical suffering rather than the spiritual perfection that it is.\u00a0 The battle has been waged for a long time and it is just a matter of realizing that we are surrounded and must fight as if our very lives were at risk by the surrounding armies of Satan.<\/p>\n Anyway, that is how I see it.<\/p>\nDarrell Hamilton\n\t Thanks for your lesson. All my children were here tonight and we read everything you sent. I have another question, what about the seven years of tribulation?<\/p>\n\tAnswer:<\/h2>\n
II Peter 3: 3-13<\/strong>
\nFirst of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.\u00a0 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.\u00a0\u00a0 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.\u00a0 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.\u00a0 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.\u00a0\u00a0 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.\u00a0 That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.<\/em>\nI Thessalonians 4:13-5:11<\/strong>
\nBrothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.\u00a0 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.\u00a0 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.<\/em>\nI Corinthians 15:51-53<\/strong>
\nListen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.\u00a0 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.<\/em><\/blockquote>\nQuestion:<\/h2>\n
Answer:<\/h2>\n
Revelation 19:11- 20:15<\/strong>
\nI saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”\u00a0 He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/blockquote>\nQuestion:<\/h2>\n
Answer:<\/h2>\n