The Second Coming
by BJ Rudge
The apostle Paul's major teaching on the Lord's return is found in his two epistles to the church at Thessalonica. As we read these two epistles, it appears that the Thessalonian believers had three main misconceptions about the return of Christ. First, some thought that those who had died before Christ's return would suffer some type of disadvantage in comparison to those who were still alive when the Lord returned (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Second, it was being taught in the church that Christ had already returned (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Finally, the apparent imminence of Christ's return was causing believers in Thessalonica to quit working and live undisciplined lives (2 Thessalonians 3:11).
As Paul addresses these misconceptions about Christ's return, he gives his readers some excellent information concerning the Lord's coming. First, Paul teaches that those who have died in Christ will rise first, then those who are still alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Second, Paul describes the coming Day of the Lord as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3), which will not occur until the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12). Third, Paul encourages the believers that the day of the Lord will not overtake them like a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Finally, Paul claims that one's understanding of the Lord's return should comfort and motivate believers to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 5:6-11). Common Threads in Paul's Epistles Utilizing all of Paul's thirteen epistles helps in our theological and doctrinal conclusions as each epistle is like a piece of a puzzle. Alone it does not give a complete picture. However, when each epistle is considered in relation to other epistles (pieces of the puzzle), then one is given a much clearer picture of God's truth as it is revealed by the apostle Paul.
As we evaluate Paul's teaching about the Lord's return, we can see common threads that run throughout his epistles, informing us about the nature and purpose of the Second Coming. Following are some of the comments about the Lord's return made in Paul's other epistles. In his first epistle to the Corinthians Paul stresses that when Christ comes all those who belong to Him will be made alive (15:22,23). In Philippians 3:20 Paul asserts that believers are to wait eagerly for the Lord's return. Paul writes in Colossians 3:4 that when Christ returns (is revealed) believers will also be revealed with Him in glory. Paul asserts in Second Timothy 4:8 that believers are to long for the return of Jesus Christ. Paul says in his pastoral epistle to Titus that believers are to look for the blessed hope of Christ as He returns in glory (2:13).
Now that we have discussed some of the contributions that are made by Paul's individual epistles about the Lord's return, let us look at his teaching as a whole while we examine some common threads about the Second Coming that run throughout the Pauline epistles. We will begin by examining the three terms that Paul uses to describe the return of the Lord. First, the apostle Paul uses the term parousia which means presence, coming, or arrival. "The word (parousia) was used in a semitechnical sense of the visit of persons of high rank, especially of kings and emperors visiting a province." Paul uses this term in First Thessalonians 4:15 to designate that at the Lord's return those who are dead in Christ will be caught up in the air, along with those believers who are alive, to meet the Lord.
Second, Paul describes the return of the Lord as an apocalypse, which means unveiling or disclosure. Paul uses this term in First Corinthians 1:7 and in Second Thessalonians 1:6-7. Although Christ presently reigns at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20), His lordship and sovereignty will not be made a reality to believers until His return.
Finally, Paul uses the term epiphaneia to describe the return of Jesus Christ. This term, which means manifestation or appearing, is used several times by Paul (2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13). The epiphaneia (appearance) of Christ will bring about judgment in the world, and the destruction of the man of lawlessness.
By considering all of Paul's teaching about the Lord's return, we can draw the following conclusions:
First, the Second Coming will consist of a personal, visible return of Jesus Christ. Paul makes it clear in his epistles that Jesus will return in His glorified physical body, which will make His return visible to all (Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:16). This view by Paul of a physical and visible return by Christ is consistent with other Scripture (Acts 1:11; 1 John 3:2).
Second, the return of Jesus Christ will be a sudden event. Paul claims that "the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they (unbelievers) are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:2b-3). This acknowledgement that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, like a thief, is consistent with other Scripture (Matthew 24:42-44; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15). Although Christ's return will be sudden, the response by believers and nonbelievers will be different. For the nonbeliever, the day of the Lord will be an unexpected event, while for the believer the day will not be unexpected as to overtake them like a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
Third, Paul teaches that believers should eagerly long for the return of Christ (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim, 4:8; Titus 2:13). How does one eagerly long for the return of Christ? According to Paul, one does this by living a life of obedience before God. This is why Paul declares to the Thessalonians that they are sons of the light and not sons of the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).
Fourth, although the Lord's return will be sudden there will be signs, or certain events, that will occur prior to the Lord's return. At Thessalonica, people were infiltrating the church by teaching that the Lord had already returned. In light of this, Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that the day of the Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Of course, these events (signs) are not designed to predict the actual day of the Lord's return. We know from the teachings of Jesus that no one, not even the Son of Man, knows the day or the hour (Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:32-33). However, Paul acknowledges that certain phenomena will occur prior to the day of the Lord (see Matthew 24:32-33).
Fifth, the return of the Lord will bring about different consequences for believers and nonbelievers. The Lord's return for believers will be a time of joy, as they will be revealed with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). In contrast, the Lord's return for the nonbeliever will be a time of destruction (1 Thessalonians 5:3), wrath
(1 Thessalonians 5:9), and judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:12).
Finally, Paul emphasizes that deception and wickedness will be prevalent prior to the Second Coming of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9-12). Since deception and wickedness precede this event, Paul admonishes the Thessalonian believers to be alert and sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6), standing firm and holding to the teachings which they were taught (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
