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General Eschatology
I. The Second Coming of Christ
While the prophets do not clearly distinguish a twofold coming of Christ, the Lord Himself and
the apostles make it abundantly clear that the first coming will be followed by a second. Jesus
referred to His return more than once towards the end of His public ministry, Matt. 24:30;
25:19,31; 26:64; John 14:3. At the time of His ascension angels pointed to His future return,
Acts 1:11. Moreover, the apostles speak of it in numerous passages, Acts 3:20,21; Phil. 3:20; I
Thess. 4:15,16; II Thess. 1:7,10; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28. Several terms are used to denote this great
event, of which the following are the most important: (1) apocalupsis (unveiling), which points
to the removal of that which now obstructs our vision of Christ, I Cor. 1:7; II Thess. 1:7; I Pet.
1:7,13; 4:13; (2) epiphaneia (appearance, manifestation), a term referring to Christ’s coming
forth out of a hidden background with the rich blessings of salvation, II Thess. 2:8; I Tim. 6:14; II
Tim. 4:1,8; Tit. 2:13; and (3) parousia (lit. presence), which points to the coming that precedes
the presence or results in the presence, Matt. 24:3,27,37; I Cor. 15:23; I Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15;
5:23; II Thess. 2:1-9; Jas. 5:7,8; II Pet. 1:16; 3:4,12; I John 2:28.
A. THE SECOND COMING A SINGLE EVENT.
Present day dispensationalists distinguish between a twofold future coming of Christ, though
they sometimes seek to preserve the unity of the idea of the second coming by speaking of
these as two aspects of that great event. But since these two are in reality represented as two
different events, separated by a period of several years, each having a purpose of its own, they
can hardly be regarded as a single event. The first of these is the parousia or simply “the
coming,” and results in the rapture of the saints, sometimes represented as a secret rapture.
This coming is imminent, that is, it can occur at any moment, since there are no predicted
events which must precede its occurrence. The prevailing opinion is that at this time Christ does
not come down to earth, but remains in the upper air. Those who die in the Lord are raised
from the dead, the living saints are transfigured, and together they are caught up to meet the
Lord in the air. Hence this coming is also called the “coming for His saints,” I Thess. 4:15,16. It is
followed by an interval of seven years, during which the world is evangelized, Matt. 24:14,
Israel is converted, Rom. 11:26, the great tribulation occurs, Matt. 24:21,22, and Antichrist or
the man of sin will be revealed, II Thess. 2:8-10. After these events there is another coming of
the Lord with His saints, I Thess. 3:13, which is called “the revelation” or “the day of the Lord,”
in which He comes down to earth. This coming cannot be called imminent, because it must be
preceded by several predicted events. At this coming Christ judges the living nations, Matt.
25:31-46, and ushers in the millennial kingdom. Thus we have two distinct comings of the Lord,
separated by a period of seven years, of which the one is imminent and the other is not, the