The Second Advent
According to the Oxford dictionary, the word advent means "the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event." Some Christians celebrate the advent season during Christmas as a special time of religious observance.
The first advent signified the birth of Jesus Christ. He came into this world as a humble baby born of virgin Mary in the town of Bethlehem. The reason for His first advent is to save the helpless human race. "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17, NLT). How is he going to save the world? "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Many people thought He was going to fight the Romans and deliver the Jews from their oppression from Rome. But, Jesus came to deliver them from the problem of sin and eternal death through His death on that cruel cross. His first advent was "spiritual" and more than "earthly." He fulfilled dozens of prophecies concerning Him at His first advent.
The second advent or the second coming is when Jesus Christ will come to this earth to rule and reign. This is the event that will take place roughly seven years after the Rapture of the church, the bride of Christ. The Rapture could happen at any moment. The Rapture of the church will be addressed in a separate article. The focus here is on the second advent.
There are more prophecies concerning the second advent than the first. In the first advent, Jesus came to save the world. In the second advent, He is going to judge the world. The second advent is not about entertaining the people. It is going to be a terrible day of judgment. Paul wrote to Timothy about that judgment day, "I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom" (2 Timothy 4:1).
Jesus Christ is going to come back to setup His kingdom. John the apostle wrote about the second advent and said, "Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!" (Revelation 1:7). People who rejected Jesus Christ and followed after other gods will be terrified to see Him coming back to judge the nations. In the first advent, He came as a lamb. In the second advent, He will come as a lion. "Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?" (Revelation 6:15-17). At the second advent, I do not have any words of comfort for those who rejected Jesus Christ.
After judging the nations, Christ sets up His kingdom on earth, it will be like Paradise on earth. The prophet Isaiah described about that kingdom in Isaiah 11.
"In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD. In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place." (Isaiah 11:6-10).
Dear reader, have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not yours.
