The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

Throughout the preceding lessons it has been shown that God will set up a Kingdom on this earth and that Jesus Christ will return from heaven to reign as king over it.

• “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44)

• “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

• “And when he [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9–11)

• Jesus also told the parable of the nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a Kingdom, and then return (Luke 19:11–27). In this parable Jesus portrayed that he would go to his Father in heaven, but gave assurance that he would return to set up God’s Kingdom on earth.

The Return of Jesus Christ—“Behold, I Come as a Thief”

Both in Zechariah and Revelation we are specifically told that it is at the height of this great conflict in Israel between the northern confederacy of nations, Israel, and all other nations, that Jesus Christ will reveal himself in power against the nations (Zechariah 12:10–11; 13:6). In the account in Revelation of this “battle of that great day of God Almighty” we note that here a warning is given: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:14–16). Thus while this gathering of nations for war in the Middle East is progressing, the faithful servants of Jesus Christ are told that this is the time to expect the return of their Lord. They are given a warning regarding their personal preparedness for this great event, and told, “Blessed is he that watcheth”. There is a need for us to be ever watching for his return, prepared to meet him. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins graphically teaches that some of those who knew that their Lord would return were not ready when the cry went forth, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:1–13). The lesson that Jesus taught from this parable was: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (v13).

Jesus Christ has warned us to watch for his return, and be clothed in the garments of righteousness and good works, lest at his appearing our lack of faithfulness be revealed to our shame (Revelation 16:15). The first step in preparing to meet him is to believe the Gospel and be baptised into his name (Mark 16:15–16; Acts 8:12).

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans