The Doctrine of the End Times - The Second Coming of Christ (2024)

Review

Turn to Revelation 19:1-5.

Last week, we saw that while the Tribulation judgments are falling, the world will be going through a process of change. Revelation chapters 17 and 18 tell us about this. Revelation 17 indicates the religious changes while Revelation 18 indicates the political and economic changes that will happen during the Tribulation.

As these changes occur, Satan will be consolidating power and worship around himself and the antichrist, but the world’s religious, political, and economic systems will be falling apart. It will be obvious that man cannot save himself no matter how hard he tries. He needs a Savior.

It will be at that moment, when all of man’s efforts have failed, that Christ will return at the Second Coming.

Introduction

Read Revelation 19:1-3.

Next slide here: timeline of the end times

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The second coming of Christ (Revelation 19):

Read Revelation 19:1-5.

This multitude in heaven is rejoicing over the destruction of Babylon in all its forms...Though the general reference may be to all people in heaven, the allusion seems to be to the martyred dead of the great tribulation.

God is praised for having judged the great prostitute and having avenged the blood of His servants shed by her hand....Thus is answered the appeal of the martyred saints in 6:10 for God’s righteous judgment on those who shed their blood. John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, pages 281-282

Application: God always keeps good records. He will bring justice and judgment on the evil. He will reward the good. He will keep His word.

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The announcement of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-8):

Read Revelation 19:6-8.

“…the great multitude now announces a major feature of the Lord’s reign upon earth - His marriage to His bride.” John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 283

Where is this event going to take place? Many writers assume it will be in Heaven because that is where the church will be with Christ during the tribulation, but the Scripture is not clear. Some argue that it may happen on earth after the second coming. It really doesn’t matter where it will happen. What matters is that you don’t want to miss it! Your ticket is secured if you know Christ as savior today.

What is this event, anyway? According to many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are down south, it simply means more fried chicken. But its much more than that.

Though marriage customs varied in the ancient world, usually there were three major aspects:

(1) The marriage contract was often consummated by the parents when the future spouses were still children. The payment of a suitable dowry was often a feature of the contract. When consummated, the contract meant that the couple was legally married.

(2) When a couple had reached a suitable age, the second step in the wedding took place. This was a ceremony in which the bridegroom, accompanied by his friends, would go to the bride's house to escort her to his home. This is the background of the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

(3) Then the bridegroom would bring his bride to his home, and the marriage supper, to which guests were invited, would take place. It was such a wedding feast that Christ attended at Cana (John 2:1-11). [This third aspect is the one described here in Revelation.]

The marriage symbolism is beautifully fulfilled in the relationship of Christ to His church. The wedding contract is consummated at the time the church is redeemed. Every true Christian is joined to Christ in a legal marriage. When Christ comes for His church at the rapture, the second phase of the wedding is fulfilled: the Bridegroom goes to receive His bride. The third phase then follows, the wedding feast. Here it is significant to note that the bride is already the wife of the Lamb, for the bridegroom has already come for His bride… Therefore, the wedding feast and not the wedding union is being announced here. John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 284

Don’t miss the importance of this picture. God chose to use the marriage relationship to help us understand how intimate and close our relationship should be with Christ today, because it will be close and intimate in glory when we are with Him!

In God’s perspective, from the moment I was saved, I was legally bound to Christ and He is coming to take me home with Him someday at the Rapture.

>>>Application: I cannot lose my salvation!<<<

Christ has the marriage contract drawn up. It’s signed, sealed, and delivered in heaven, and one day, He is coming to claim me and everyone else who is part of His Bride! How can you possibly lose your salvation if you have a marriage contract with Christ?

While I wait for Him, I should do everything I can to know Christ better, to prepare myself for Him, and to please Him so that I am not ashamed when He comes for me.

1 John 2:28 KJV 1900

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

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The revelation of the King of Kings (Revelation 19:11-16):

“For the second time in Revelation, John sees heaven open. This passage contains one of the most graphic pictures of the second coming of Christ to be found anywhere in Scripture. ...Christ here is coming to the earth with the specific purpose of bringing divine judgment and establishing His righteous rule.” John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 287

Additional passages that describe this event:

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Zechariah 14:1-4

Matthew 24:27-31

The Bible makes it clear that Christ's second coming will be a glorious event that all the world will see, both believers and unbelievers. It is compared to lightning that shines from the east to the west, in other words, illuminating the whole heaven. The second coming will be preceded by phenomena in the heavens that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24 and that are vividly revealed in Revelation. The climax to all these events will be the return of Christ Himself in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and accompanied by the saints.

According to Zechariah, when Christ returns He will come to the Mount of Olives, the point from which He ascended into heaven in Acts 1. His return will be dramatic, with the mountain splitting in half in evidence of His power and authority. The Mount of Olives today has two high points, and what seems to be a natural division between them will be transformed into a great valley stretching toward the east from Jerusalem and extending down to Jericho at the Jordan River. John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 288

In John's vision he sees a person who can be no other than the Lord Jesus Christ on a white horse. In contrast to the pseudo ruler of the world (6:2), Christ is presented here as the true ruler....

Added to the drama of heaven opening is the symbolism of a rider on a white horse, drawn from the custom of conquerors riding on a white horse as a sign of victory or triumph. The rider on the white horse in Revelation 6 is described as one who "came out conquering, and to conquer." Now the true King of kings and Lord of lords is going to triumph over those who blasphemously assumed control over the world. John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, pages 288-289

When Christ returns, the Antichrist will lead the armies of the world in a great battle against Christ and will be utterly defeated (Revelation 19:17-21). This is called the battle of Armageddon. It seems that the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be the first ones thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

“In many respects, Christ's second coming is not only the high point of Revelation, but the high point of all history. Here is the manifestation of the Son of God in glory, the demonstration of the sovereignty of God, and the beginning of the end of human rebellion.” John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 287

The Word of God makes plain that God so loved the world that He gave His Son, and that all who avail themselves of the grace of God are immeasurably blessed in time and eternity. On the other hand, the same Word of God states plainly that those who spurn God's mercy must experience His judgment without mercy. How foolish it is to rest in the portions of the Word of God that speak of the love of God and reject the portions that deal with His righteous judgment. The present age reveals the grace of God and suspended judgment. The age to come, while continuing to be a revelation of the grace of God, will give conclusive evidence that God brings every evil work into judgment and that those who spurn His grace must experience His wrath. John Walvoord, Commentary on Revelation, page 294