----The Messiah isComing Again!!

the meaning and relevance of the doctrine ofthe second coming of Christ in modern times

Ebenezer Yaw Blasu

tpAsempa Publishers

Christian Council of GhanaBoxGP919

Accra

~e-~o. e nc,s . Cow. .~k

•• •••• _~.i. I.tiQJii'i1~.ew\9':;"'i.;;"" ..,. .~~

Published 2002 by Asempa PublishersChristian Council of Ghana

Box GP 919, Accra. DEDICATION

With great love and admiration, I dedicate this book tothe glory of God and to my wife Evelyn Ama Blasu to-gether with our four children:

Ebenezer Wogbemase BlasuEleazer Mexoese BlasuEzra Dodzi BlasuEva Eyram Blasu

and to my sister Peace Ama Toklo in appreciation ofthe educational foundation she laid for me.

Copyright © Ebenezer Yaw Blasu, 2002

ISBN 9964-78-268-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be repro-duced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec-tronic or mechanical, including photocopying or record-ing, or by any information storage and retrieval sys-.tern, without permission in writing from the publish-ers.

Printed in Ghana by Sakoa Press Ltd., Accra.

CONTENTS

Page

Preface , vii

Acknowledgements I viu

Introduction 1The Relevance of the themeFaith 1

I'he Messiah is Coming A/gain: Who? 4Messiahship in Religif:m 4

he True Messiah anJi the Truth of hisSecond Coming . 5

lhe Messiah is Coming Again: When? 10A Major Theme-Pro~)lem 10

Precise Time Unkno(Nn to Humanity 12

Appointed Period with Predicted Signs 14

iblical Facts and Firures of the Period 15

igns of the Period in our Generation 17

3. The Messiah is Coming Again: How?Literal, Visible and AudibleComing Privately or Publicly?

A Word of CautionComing Again Once or Twice?

The Rapture

4. The Messiah is Coming Again: Why?Two Advents One Mission

Consummation of Salvation

5. The Messiah is Coming Again: So what?Summing Up

So what?Be ReadyStrive to Stand Firth for Christ

PREFACE

30303337

39

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III January 1997, the leadership of the Bible Study andl'r.tyer Group of Christ Presbyterial) Church, Adentat.irtcd discussing plans for a week-long revival pro-

wamme. Both the date and theme were difficult to set-tll' on because of two reasons:

(il)There was need to address only issues of living theo-Illgicnl concern for many people today - Christian andnou-Christian alike.

474752

(I)) The time for the programme should be convenient1i1l1luchas possible for myself as the resource person

1111 the many people that would be moved by the Holypmt to attend. This took several months.

I thank God that he gave us the theme: "The Messiah isouung again". We discussed this theme in a series ofull topics every night, beginning by considering theIIh·~.lionof who the Messiah is. But before that we

looked at the reason for choosing this theme and theIfllth of the theme's assertion: "The Messiah is coming

,in".I the end of the talks participants felt the need to

III the contents of the subject matter in print to enabletlu-rs to benefit from the thoughts shared at the meet-

IriA •. l'he result is the book you have in hand. It is hopedhfil the contents will move the believer to value his

i'lll'nce in relation to this most important event - theIOlld coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Rev Ebenezer Yaw B1uSI'August ?()() I

67

67

6871

75

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION

Iam greatly indebted to Rev Dr Livingstone Buamahand Rev E. B. Bort y, whose critical comments on thedraft manuscript elped me to avoid being anotherprophet rather tha only express and expound my per-sonal views on pro hecies concerning the subject. Ialsothank brother Cle ent Mante of Christ PresbyterianChurch, Madina, tho was instrumental in the oppor-tunity offered me to give the lectures that have becomethe substance for this book.

I owe great gratitude to Asempa Publishers espe-cially Mrs Sarah Apronti for all their encouragementand assistance in getting this work; to what it is finally.

Finally, Iam verj grateful to Jessrs S. A. Adagbeand Eddy Anong, both of Mepe, or their sponsorshipof the work. (

\

II" Relevance of the theme: The Messiah is coming» .rin

l 111:- choice of this theme is relevant for us today be-H''''l' as human beings with limited strength to copeit" the many life issues that confront us, we tend to

toelll-> attention on those that entail immediate or tern-pOI'.lry consequences. We respond quickly to the thingsHlill .ippeal to our regular senses - taste, feeling, smell,IIl'llrlng and sight. The issues that entail eternal values

consequences tend to go into oblivion or the'ICkground; and these deal with matters of the sixthII~(' - faith. Yet it is an unquestionable fact that If weilK' to ever enter eternal glory then our lifestyle in this

Il'nlporal world -which contributes to our chances ofIIt('ring glorious eternity - cannot but be determined

aith: what we believe and how we respond to thatlief For if we really believe, then that belief must behibited in actions of life, otherwise it will be a deadit" (James 2:26).

IhIh is a powerful centre of control of a believer's life-11'. What a person puts on, or eats; or even where he

at what time depend a lot on his belief system.IH'I\ we were young, we heard of a taboo not to enter

forest near our school to pluck sweet berries. We'made to believe that the forest belonged to dwarfs,

ho could cause an intruder to get missing in the for-t, We were therefore warned not to go into this forest;iwever if by any curiosity we entered it, we were tove one third of the berries we had harvested lIl1dt'l' (1

viii

1

particular silk cotton tree to pacify the dwarfs. One daymy friends and I went to harvest some fruits. We forgot10 I•••IVI' Ih.11 part for the dwarfs, until we got home. As

IC!-1I11 I W.IS not able to go to that forest again, by my-,ill' fir III (omp,my. Why? Because I strongly believedIh.11 I would be lost if I entered it. It did not occur to meIh.11 I'VI'Il without having given the dwarfs' share totlu-rn I h.id already come out of the forest successfully.({,ltI\L'r what I believed as a consequence of breakingthe taboo, put such fear in me that I did not dare to gointo the forest again. My action or response-to this faithand fear then was to discipline my curiosity and desireto harvest sweet berries myself from that forest. I wouldeat the berries if someone went for them, but I wouldnot go for them myself. That is how things went on untilthe forest got destroyed for modern land developmentpurposes.

Beloved, if faith in a mere taboo can ( and as Afri-cans we can all testify that it does) so liscipline a per-son's lifestyle for many years, then I expect that faith inan event about the living God, the Creator of all things(including forests, dwarfs and taboos) should be morepowerful in modelling our lives in this temporal worldinto eternity. And one such inevitable event whichshould model our life for eternal glory, but which moreoften is relegated to the background is the second com-ing of the Messiah. It is a topic that is not often heardfrom the pulpit.It is not often talked about among ( hris-tians; and If and wlu-n discussed it is without muchemphasis Oil its impl« ,IIIOIIS10 hum.uuty lod.ry I lu-re-fore even whoro :md wlu-n it i!-i 1l1l'1I1101\t'd lH'oplereceive the IlH!SSilgl! with ilprtlhy. III Illllt'l \\ onls, thcvseem to be !-i,lyillg: "Why {tllli huw ..,11t1l1l1llliis Il,lIITl

model my life?" Indeed it cannot unless you believe it.And you cannot believe it, unless you hear the truthabout it. Probably you may have to keep hearing it, tobe reminded often. And how can you hear the truthabout it unless you are taught to understand. As theBible has it, faith that makes people call on God for sal-vation into eternal glory comes only by hearing the wordof God (Romans 10:14-16). This theme therefore waschosen because it is one of the acclaimed spectacularinevitable historic events in this world which will sig-nificantly be a curtain drawer to the end of this tempo-ral world and the beginning of a new and eternal world.In other words, the coming again of the Messiah isclosely related to the closure of life in this present world.If so I dare say you cannot remain unconcerned, onlypretending or saying that you know it and that is allthat is needed.

All living and non-living things will be affected. Thesun and moon will be done away with. The mountains,waters and deserts will be melted. Everything that is amatter of creation including you and I will see its end.Then there will be judgement: a process of selectingpeople from the old into the new world. Will you beamong this elected few? The answer to these questionsgreatly depends on whether you believe the truth ofthe claim that the Messiah is corning again, and so or-ganise your life in expectation of the Messiah's secondcoming. Let me ask you therefore: do you believe it istrue that the Messiah is coming again? But you mayalso want to ask: "What is a Messiah, and who is tlu:Messiah?"

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·"---CHAPTER ONE

THE MESSIAH IS COMING AGAIN: WHO? [uvcnate Judaism; the Christians claim that jesus.•.•••.'''~arl!lh,who was crucified in Ier isalem about 2000

,go will return as "the Christ" (hence his namehrist) to establish the Kingdom of God. In the

mnnner, the Hindus await the coming of God him-lIlt' form of Krishna; and the Budhists expect themarion of Gautama Buddha to be the Messiah.

then' many Messiahs or is there only one? If one,then is "the Messiah"? Is he truly coming again, or

ictually come already?

ue Messiah and the Truth of his Second Comingthe foregoing examples it stands to reason that if

had Sl'nt or will send all these different reformersItllncously in the latter days each one of them in-

mankind to God, according to his own philoso-will lead to further fragmentation of th; human

nstcad of its unification. And if this reasoning is" then there can be only a single all-embracing,

""IV"rlml reformer or redeemer in the latter days. c.s.has argued that where other religions put alter-lnims on a common element of faith the Chris-no choice but to consider his/her claim as the

d the true one because it is the only truth. There-'hristian. I have no one else to suggest to you as

W .md only one true Messiah apart from JESUS,u.'ST l W NAZARETH because he is the only one pre-

.1 in the Bible, the only Holy Scripture of Chris-Messiah. If you ask me therefore about theiah, I shall tell you that there is only one Mes-

us Christ and he alone. He is yet to come ngninnot come the second time already. J know rIll

t tOils\... me why I make these assertions. TI,

Messiahship In ReligionThe word "Messiah" is a Hebrew / Aramaic term mean-ing "The Anointed One". It is the same word translatedinto Greek as "Christ" or "The Christ". "Messiah" or"Christ" or "Anointed One" is a description of a spe-cial person appointed by God and granted divine abil-ity to redeem people from being destroyed with thissinful and accursed world and to usher in a gloriousera of universal peace and harmony for mankind(Zechariah. 8:19; Isaiah 9:6). In most of the world's ma-jor religions there is a concept of "Messiah". And in mostcases there is the underlying perception and/ or claimthat the Messiah first appears in transit out nf this lifeand will come again to consummate his redemptiveassignment. For instance, in the Islamic religion, theMessiah is called Mchdi. The prophet Mohammed issaid to have prophesied about a Grand Reformer orMahdi to appear in the latter days who will have a spe-cial spiritual affinity with "Eesa, the prophet of Allahi.e. Jesus and was therefore described as the PromisedMessiah. So towards the end of 1890A.D, Mirza GhulamAhmad of Qadian, India (founder of the AhmadiyaMuslim Jamaat) claimed that God appointed him theMahdi and the promised Messiah and that he was theembodiment of all the reformers or Messiah long-awaited by various religions. If Ahmad's claim is true,then the second coming of the Messiah has actuallyalready occurred, over 100 years ago. Yet the Jews arestill expecting their "Messiah" (not Jesus) to come

4

5

directs that by the testimony of two or three witnessesa fact or truth must be established (Deuteronomy 19:15;Matthew 18:16).

I wish then to appeal to more than two sources 01testimonies which to me affirm the truth that Jesus i""The Messiah". First from Islam: As we said earlier, theHoly Prophet Mohammed is said to have prophesiedabout a Mahdi who will have special spiritual ,,;finitywith Eeesa (Jesus), in order to be the Promised Messiah. And Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed that the second coming of Jesus Christ was not to be taken liter-ally, because it was fulfilled in him (Ahmad). Theseideas suggest strongly that Islamic faith indeed recog-nises Jesus of Nazareth as The Messiah or Christ, except that his second coming will not be in his person,but only his spirit will be embodied in another personcalled the Mahdi. It stands to reason then that the Mahdiis per se not the Messiah, but the carrier of the Messiahspirit or spirit of the real Messiah that is to corne again.In that case the .real Messiah is Jesus. Islam thereforetestifies to Jesus as The Christ.

The second testimony is drawn from the Bible - whatpeople said about Jesus and what he said himself. Forinstance, Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesiedabout 4000 years before Jesus was born about his sec-ond coming (Jude 14), to judge godless people. In asimilar prophecy Malachi referred to the dreadfulnessof his coming (Malachi. 4:5). The writer of the book ofHebrews categorically stated that "so Christ (referringto Jesus of Nazareth) was sacrificed once to take awaysins ... and he will appear a second time... " (Hebrews9: 28a) And in a clearer assertion, the angels at Jesus'ascension consoled men of Galilee that "this same Je-

114, \V hu has been taken to heaven, will corne back inhu /..une way "(Acts 1:11). The testimonies from these

n:c groups of people (Old Testament prophets, firstIHIIIy believers, and even angels) confirm for me notI~,.th.it Jesus is the Messiah, but also that his second

In'lIl1gwill be in his own person and not as the em-111Ilt'ntof his spirit in another person. Furthermore,II:, himself implied in several statements that he is

It' Messiah to corne again (Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27;luhll 14:3;Revelation 22:7,12,20). And he categorically

III lohn on Patmos island that "I am the Alpha and1\1' ( hnega who is, who was, and who is to corne again"

vvl.ition 1:8). Similarly he confirmed to the Samari-n woman at the well: "I who speak to you, I am heIw Messiah)" (John 4:26). Thus when Peter confessed,,"hely to him (Jesus) that "you are the Christ i.e. Mes-ih", he agreed by saying "it was the Holy Spirit whow,IIed this to you" (Matthew 16:16-18). Even evil

puitfl i.e. Satan's demons confessed that Jesus is thehrifit (Luke 4:41). Permit me to add one more point-

I"l~characteristics of the Messiah according to the HolyUihk. The Prophets, the Law, the Psalms and Cospelsprovide adequate information to enable us identify the

1'''Shlhwithout any mistake. However the devil mand to adulterate and provide counterfeits of some (\1

llle..,l' characteristics in those people who have claimediahship titles; for instance teaching on mOI',II.."

1I••ship of God and working of miracles (Rev. 1(): 1,,1)rimming great wonders and signs (Matthew 2·1:2·1)

herefore let me touch on only those chftrncterilllhtch are unique with Jesus alone as the Mta14slnh

J'lH.' Messiah must have pre-existence .1111.111\

6 7

be divine (John 1:1-2, Micah 5:2).• The Messiah must have a unique birth into this world,without a genealogy (Hebrews 7:3, Psalm 110:4; Isaiah7:14).• The Messiah must be sinless (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter2:22).• The Messiah must work and literally help humanitvto discover a way of regaining its lost glory (Luke 4:18-19).• The Messiah must suffer and die on behalf of hu-manity's sins (Isaiah 53: 5-6; Hebrews 2:10; Acts 26: 23;Luke 24:26; Psalm 22:16; John 20:27; Zechariah 12:10).• The Messiah must resurrect to prove his power overdeath and hence ability to restore eternal life or glory tohumanity (Romans 1:4, Acts 26:22-23); so he must bethe first person to resurrect (Psalm 16:10; Matthew 16:21;Colosians 1:18).• The Messiah must transcend (into the heavens) outof this realm of life for a season to prepare a place forsaved humanity (Romans 1:4; Acts 26:22-23; Psalm 68:18;Acts 1:9).• The Messiah must therefore come literally again andnot re-incarnated, to consummate the redemptive proc-ess (John14:3; Hebrews 9:28).

So far, in the history of the religions of the world onlyone man can be said to possess all these characteris ticswithout dispute - he is the Man Jesus of Nazareth. Heis Jesus the Christ, because only he pre-existed; only hewas uniquely conceived of the Holy Spirit; only he wasand is sinless; only he demonstrated, with exceptionalmiracles, God's plan for man's salvation; only hesuffered and died for sin and sinners; only he raisedhimself from his grave; only he was publicly seen

8

..,lIdlng III heaven and only he promised he will re-111,;1111 literally.

fll k-r, Ihave endeavoured all this time to pointI, ouvmce you that Jesus is the Messiah, because

t unonies ofIslamic prophets, Judaeo-Christian1I1-.! spiritual beings (angels and demons) as well

himself and his first century believers. Ihaven you that he himself promised he will come

lit since the angels said we all shall see him comeIll' ascended, you agree with me that he has

orne because none of us have seen him come.,... nuw Id me ask you again, "Do you believe Jesus theM'''''"II will come again? I guess you do." But if he has

OIlH' then when will he come?

9

CHAPTER TWO

THE MESSIAH IS COMING AGAIN:WHEN?

A Major Theme-ProblemSomeone said, "That Christ is coming again all Chntians have no doubt and are with one accord; but as III

when and how-he will come, there are as many opuiions as there are Christians. From this quotation we II'

alise that the problem with the second advent for manvpeople is not so much with belief in it as with knowingthe time and manner of it. This is probably because:• most of the evidences are not self-conclusive on tlwtime of the second advent and• it is a difficult task to arrange sequentially and chronologically the events that usher in the second advent verconclusively.Thus although many have attempted to help solve theproblems with various theological reasonings and arguments, there is no clear conclusion on an acceptedprecise time and manner of Christ's second coming.Nevertheless some people have dared predict the time.As we noted in chapter I, Mirza Ahmad claimed to bethe Messiah who had come in 1890. Yet the world didnot end as expected. In the early 1970s, Jehovah's Wit-nesses claimed the world would end; but neither didthe Messiah come as a prior event nor did the worldend. They had several other such predictions, none ofwhich has yet been fulfilled.

Does it mean that God does not intend that we knowanything at all about the when of his son's coming? NO!it is not so. For, there are too many Biblical evidences to

10

\ C;od has kept all knowledge about the time ofI'll IllInmg from us. What I believe seems to be

h tllt\l God knows best and gives out only what, In know about him and his son according to

,\linIments of our life at a time. He does reveal",eilll knowledge rather than those which may

_.&i,ll'ditol'or Le injurious to our existence if we know.1,IIKe knowing the exact year, month, week, day,mute and second to precision of the Parousia,

Il'llli some people to consider life useless and even1(l1l' it prematurely. In fact this has already oc-I wIlh the false predictions or expectations of the

ItI'!'oend. During the time of Paul, some people in.,Illl\lca refused to work because Christ was com-

e.' IlH.'ssalonians 3:10). This was why Paul wrote alid letter to warn that those who will not work"Id not eat. In the1972 Jehovah's Witness predictionh(,,\I'l1 of people in Ghana who sold their propertieslply and spent the money lavishly only to regretr, I myself nearly stopped continuing my second-education but for my father's advice. Said he: II AllIh is death. If the world ends while you are at hornhool you will die only once; where that occurs mat-

t'~not. So go back to school, for even if you die at school, bclll've we will meet again in Heaven". Twenty yearsI/\\er, in 1992, a group of people in the U.s.A were rc

lrtl'd on a CNN live telecast to have committed suilh' together because they believed the world was em I

n~. They gathered themselves in a room and sl'l II\I~house ablaze. A similar case was reported about som

mericans who congregated and enjoyed themlcltill lust before the predicted hour when they d r

fill and died. Probably because of liw"" 11

11

precise prediction of Christ's second coming which I

lates very much with the end of the world is not grantt!tIus by God. It is a difficult and a useless exercise to ,I!tempt to precisely determine the hour Christ will COIIII

again. In my opinion therefore we may have to appro, II IIthe question of when Christ comes again in such a w,,),that it should be more positive and beneficial to U1'>. /I.do this, I suggest a three-way-approach. First, we mustface the fact that the precise time is unknown andunknowable to humanity and creation. Second, we mustbe alert and observe;the predicted signs that point III

the period and the time or hour. Thirdly, we must nxognise without doubt that the climax of the period aru Ihence the exact time is more proximal in our generation than before.

PreciseTinn, Unknown to HumanityThe question of when Jesus Christ will come again tothis world has been bothering believers since the Christian Church began after the ascension of Jesus and hissending down of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pente-cost. In fact even before the death of Jesus, the disci-ples tried to find out from him the time of his secondcorning. In all his responses to such questions he nevergave any precise time in terms of years, months, weeks,etc. Rather he spoke more often about the period andspeedy nature of the Occurrence of the event, and heused either parables or likening to some earthly situa-tions to make it easier for the disciples to comprehend.Similarly his Spirit inspired the writers of the Holy Scrip-tures to describe the second advent in the same termsas did Christ himself.

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ome of these descriptions:-

II~11:5;Revelation 3:11- the coming is near,

1:27- the coming is likened to lighten-II'n )SS the sky from east to west (i.e, sudden

UIII\/tin ••" Iy visible).

III - the coming will occur unexpectedly andh)·d (1 Thessalonians 5:22; Revelation16:15).rlllllses simply suggest that the event of the

t'fond coming in terms of awareness will be,pt·ople, sudden and unexpected; in terms ofil will be soon, and in terms of visibility, uni-

IIv displayed and noticeable like lightening in thething about the precise time was given. But whenIpll's still pressed to get more clues about thetunc, Jesus eventually gave an answer which

••••• $Ilit~ that the precise time is a preserve of only God11\(.'1'. No creaturely beings (such as humans and

hili and not even Jesus h.rnself while in human formIh (i.e. speaking more of himself as son of man)now the time. Listen to what he said: "No oneibout that day or hour, not even the angels in

11. nor the son (of man) but the Father only" (Mat-:36).And in Acts 1:7he repeated it saying: "It isyou to know the times or dates the Father has

his own authority." For me, these explanationsit clear thatit will be indeed a futile and senseless

tse for us to spend time worrying about or to findt the exact time of Jesus' second coming. It will not

fit us because we will never know it, no matter howI and diligently we search through scriptures 01

13

read into astronomical events to predict the time. ForQaniel was categorically told many people will wastetheir efforts trying to understand what is hapening(Daniel 12:4). This is why Paul advised the Thesaloniansnot to worry about times and dates (1 Thessalonians5:1). What then shall we make of those dates being pre-dicted by some Christian sects? Will you still believethem? Will you sell your property or refuse to work orcontinue your education because of a predicted date ofChrist's coming? Paul says No (2 Thessalonians 2:3), donot let anyone deceive you because no-one knows theprecise date. But what about the period?

Appointed Period With Predicted SignsAlthough Jesus spoke of only the speedy nature of thesecond corning (that it will be soon) and that only theFather knows the precise hour, he also talked extensivelyabout an appointed PERIOD of time within which theappointed hour will fall. As we argued earlier, in God'sinfinite wisdom knowing about the period would bemore beneficial to us than knowing of the precise hour,since we as humans are limited in using opportunitiesprofitably. For as it is said, "to foreknow is to be fore-warned; to be forewarned is to be forearmed". And fore-knowledge of an event over a period of time may al-low for better preparation before the hour because itcreates room for anticipation, expectation, opportunityfor considering various alternatives without necessar-ily over-reacting. Indeed, as we have explained earlier,a knowledge of the exactitude of the hour, tends to makopeople over-react by even terminating their lives dueto fear of unpreparedness for what the event may en-tail. This is probably why God chose to ~ive us hintsabout a period rather than a precise hour.

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My point here is that God did not only appoint a precise time (or hour) for the appearance of Jesus Christthe second time; but also he has appointed a period inwhich the appointed hour will fall. And if it is an ap-pointed period then it has a beginning, runs through aspan and gets to an end. The relevant question we areasking then is: if we cannot know or predict the precisehour, can we at least know the period so as to be awareof how close our generation is to the end of the period,and hence the possible time of the Messiah's comingagain? If yes where is the beginning and where is theend of that period?

Biblical Facts and Figures of the PeriodIhe above questions have been asked by other peoplebefore. Ezra and Daniel asked it several years even be-fore Jesus' first coming; and St. John, on Patmos island,must also have either asked or thought of it after Jesusascended to heaven. Hence the response of Jesus, "Yes,I am corning soon" (Rev. 22:20). All of them were given.inswers with facts and sometimes figures. The factsMe usually descriptions of events that will occur and sosignify the progress of the period; and the figures areof descriptions of lengths of time either with adjectiveslike "soon" or with numbers in days, weeks, months.ind years. These numbers seem to have both literal andfigurative meanings, and therefore are difficult to useIII arriving at concrete and conclusive predictions. A«.ireful study of these facts and figures from the Bible( ;t.!l1esisto Revelation) suggests that the period for theI'cond coming of Christ has a beginning from the wry

ht!ginning of the creation ot humanity on earth, ,1Il1l

plms throughout the generations of human life, FCII' II

15

major significant fact about the two Advents of Christis the attempt of an enemy called antichrist, to workwith the power of Satan, against the purpose of hisMessiahship and the vision of God to keep humanityalive eternally in glory. Thus at the very beginning whenman was created, this enemy started his work indirectlyby deceiving Man to disobey God (Genesis 3:1-7) in or-der to deprive him of eternal life in glory. Christiansbelieve that Christ is the seed of man (Genesis 3:15) whowould come to crush the head of this enemy. This beliefis a strong basis for my assumption that the period musthave started with the history of Man, and it is supportedby Isaiah's observation that "God makes the end knownfrom the beginning, and from ancient times what is stillyet to come" (Isaiah 46:10). It seems as one unfolds thepages in the Bible, that the period for the Advents ofChrist, having started with man's creation, runs throughthe generations of man with ascending graduation ofintensity and frequency of the signifying events, untoa climax period, in a cyclic and rolling manner. In otherwords, each cycle of the work of the antichrist calls inGod's intervention. Apparently the work of theantichrist calls in God's special intervention at anappointed climax. So it was that from Adam to Noahsin was at such a climax that God dealt temporally withit with a deluge. From Noah to the birth of Jesus wasanother Significant cycle of time when the first adventof Cnrist started to announce the plan of grace to rescuepermanently the world from the oppression of theantichrist, which was at a climax.

My point is that, the predicted signs and time framesof the period, for Christ's coming, like most prophe-cies in the Bible, seem to have both immediate and long-

16

termfulfilments. Some are fulfilled only once and wrthinsome generations only; others later. The immediate (II

partial fulfilments sometimes are experienced within ,I

group of generations; and in each group the signs seemto be fulfilled to some climax being anti-type of theevents of the type-climax itself which is often called" theend times". At the same time, each generational fulfil-ment with the small climax necessarily rolls up the longperiod gradually to the end times which will begin justbefore Christ comes again. And as the end times ap-proach the levels of the recurring events (work of the.uitichrist) will become more and more intensified intheir fulfilment for the latter generations. The intensity

11.\11 rise up to such amazing and unbearable1ll.lgnitudes that unless Christ appears at that time tointerrupt the antichrist, most, if not all, humanity maybe lost forever (Matthew 24:22). So not all the predictedIgns necessarily occur within one generation or set ofencrations. Some generations do not and will not wit-

IW'tS those signs which will be fulfilled only once. Whatnthese signs and how are they being fulfilled? Whereour generation with respect to the climax period?

ns of the Period in our GenerationI.'rolll the argument above we can say that all the directnil indirect oppositions of Satan (the antichrist) since

history of humanity signify the necessary comingr Iht' Christ to redeem humanity from the grips ot theuichrist (l.lohn 3:8b). Generally the antichrist oper,l tcs

hr(Hlgh the human race whom it has enslaved, to disoy l ;od the creator; with the resultthat wickedness .111(\

1\ lx-corne more prevalent with mankind, ,15 .1gr11l1SI

humble, peaceful and loving nature God dl'~I~:l1t~d

17

for Man. So it was that from the time of Adam, sin, \:\i('iedness and violence entered the human race. Addlll

son killed his own brother, of course, at the instig,II II 'I

of the devil (antichrist; Genesis 4:8). So did evil ,1I1(wickedness continue till God intervened ternpor.n iI}by destroying that generation with flood, except Nt I,d,and his family - eight of them (Genesis 6:1-7; 7: I II)After that God promised not to attack the earth wuhwater again: rather he appointed a time when fin' willbe used (Genesis 9:11; 2 Peter 3:7). John the Bapll"pointed out that this fire will be set by the Christ (Milthew 3:11) when he comes again.

All through the generations these spirits of evil an.]wickedness among men have been the main signs 101the period of Christ's corning. In the visions of DanH'1in the revelations of John on Patrnos island and in tluteachings of Jesus during his ministry days on earl"the signs of the period were shown to be events of eviland wickedness resulting from Man's disobedience 10God, as instigated by the antichrist (Satan). Nations wci t'

to fight nations; kingdoms against kingdoms etc. Theft.will be wars and rumours of wars; hatred among men,less godliness and love of worldliness, persecution 01those who try to obey God; pestilence or strange diseases; famine; terrifying occurrences in the skies etc.None of the predicted signs spoke of a good event, untilthe day Christ will come. Rather we are to see evil andwickedness to be on the increase and reach the highestpoint in the climax period (Daniel 12:1). Even when itappears things are improving, destruction will suddenlystrike (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

IH

Iii hbtory has shown so far that this has been till'Ihe 11111 ichrist has already been seriously at work,101II,,,,s2:7-10). And there are evidences that

HW.Igood percentage of these signs are fulfilledftH 'IIIIilIed very fast throughout the generations,IIH ours; and driving us closer to the grand cli-,roil. flow close then is our generation to thelill"IX or end time?\ .Ippointed time, the climax period also has a

".llIl\illt-\ .md an end. For Paul said, "the day will notuil the rebellion occurs and the antichrist is re-I" Cod's temple and has proclaimed himselfThessalonians 2:3-4). And Daniel explains thatIII I)t' a stipulated number of days between the

H' .mtichrist begins the rebellion with its subse-cuvities to the time Christ comes (Dan. 12:11). Itthen that the final climax period to usher in the

lion of the Messiah shall begin with the open andlx-llion of the lawless one.

(lIming of the lawless one will be in accordanceI/l{' work of Satan displayed in all kinds of coun-

miracles, signs and wonders and every sort ofthil t deceives those who are perishing (2

",-IIIl\lonians 2:7-10). And John was more blunt in say-ou have heard the antichrist is coming, even nowintichrists have corne. This is how we know it isI hour" (1 John 2:18).

lS far back as the first century AD, believers be-In notice or experience the events that will usher inrund coming. The prediction of Jesus himself, th.it

ht·llt'vcrs will be persecuted as one of the signs, W;I'''Ih'd in the lives of many first century Chrisua I

continues in diverse forms today. In Matthew 1.1'

19

Jesus predicted other signs such as- The rise of many false Christs- Wars and rumours of wars- Tribal, national and international conflicts- Godlessness with increasing wickedness, worldlim-

and violence- The enthroning of the "abomination that causes des«

lation" in the temple- Famine, earthquakes, pestilence, tribulation and

changes in the sun, moon and stars.Beloved, can we say the antichrist is no longer worl

. ing in our days after it was noticed in the first centuiCan we say that our generation is not experiencing somof these events? Let us point out a few remarkable on"

(a) False Christs and ProphetsAs we observed earlier, in the end of the 1890s just ow100 years ago, the founder of Ahmadiya MuslimsMirza Ghuma Ahmed - proclaimed himself as theMessiah whom believers in all religions were waitinffor. In fact he continued with many signs and wondersto prove that the promise of Christ's coming again wanot to be taken literally; i.e Christ himself will not come,but that Christ's spirit was embodied in him (Ahmed),so his (Ahmed's) presence in this world was the prom-ised advent of the Messiah. But he lived and died with-out the world ending as should have been the cas •...Moreover, his own followers are yet still expecting himto be reincarnated to be the Mahdi or "embodiedChrist". If this should be true then that will be the 3rdadvent of the Messiah according to his own claims. Yetwe are not told of nor are we expecting any third ad-vent of the Messiah. Mirza Ghuma Ahmed was a false

20

ul jf that appears far fetched, let us quicklymo. In f958 prophet Olumba Olumba Obo of1'1)1 1II der of the Brotherhood of Cross and Star

""Iuttl IiI hI' Ihe Holy Spirit promised by Jesus to es-10d's Kingdom on earth. His followers con-

I iIn ,II- the fulfilment of Messiahship because heIfdled people from all nations and religions to-

"'hlfl' Inlo " brotherhood .irly I980s, about 90 years after Ahmed's claim

1111132 years after Obo's in Nigeria there was allacclaimed Christ in Ghana. Many Ghana-him and his followers on TV screens. And as

I w.is very personally concerned because my, 'WIll- the lady who accommodated this man andIIOWI'rs in her big house at Dzorwulu.The maniplliarly called "Jesus Christ of Dzorwulu". But

n eMly and radical intervention of Presidentlings and his PNDC revolutionary laws. JesusI 01 Dzorwulu would have misled many people

hnll,l. There were families whose marriages weretioually wrecked because of the teachings of this

C'\ his followers were increasing daily because ofracles and wonders he performed. In January 1999

news had it that a [ewish-American called Mullackrested in Jerusalem for causing pandemonium

I he was the Messiah to come again and so had come.md resurrect after three days to stop false worship

th(' ond of 1999. Another fact is that people may notIlly claim to be the Christ; yet there are many so

lied miracle workers today who are drawing crowdshemselves. Unfortunately some so called Christi.",

unning away from their churches to join liltoups. Why? Because of lack of both kIHlWit.,(I

21

1'1

about, and cOmmitted faith in, the true Messiah. III IIImiddle of 1999, startling news went round that ""oIf

the mother of Jesus had appeared in Togo and elscw III I

pleading for people's repentance because her Son \\ ,I

about to return to the earth. Many were those who \'\11

scared due to ignorance. For Christ himself said} oumust not mind those who will say "behold he is IWIt. (if

there"(Matthew 24:23). However, know that such pCI

pIe will come when the Messiah's coming is approdching.

(b) Absence of Godliness; Increasing Worldline')s '"111Violence

This is another sign we cannot deny in our genera tllII I

Paul said that towards the end time godliness will /I

duce while worldliness and violence will increase III

fact even those who will claim to be godly, will in mo..,'cases have their love for God growing cold; and whifthey appear to be godly, they will lack any spiritll,dpower of God working in them. They will desire monoworldly things than the eternal things of the spiritTherefore they will have itching ears, yearning to he,nor see only such things that will satisfy their worldldesires. Hence they will either engage or follow on!such pastors who teach or preach the things they wantto hear or see - things that affect them only today,things that give temporary and immediate solutions totheir problems today, things that are only comfortabI...,denying the scriptures that even as we received gracefrom Christ so also must we suffer with him if we mustinherit the Kingdom with him (Romans 8:17). So manypeople today run helter-skelter, from fellowship toprayer meeting; from prayer meeting to crusade ground

22

1111 IS the proliferation of churches in ourIII'II',ISsome of these new churches are actu-

illC," (If the body of Christ, the majority appearJd It·s of false Christs, or false bodies of Christ.

Irilk .ibout the love of quick money and theU.lI y g.IITICSin the country. Even many so-calledi/IIH·Ill'vethe best way to be rich now is to par-II !l1t'Sl' lottery games. Whereas it may not ap-,h.' surface to be wrong or affect Christian life,

lillIl" study of people engrossed in lotto staking. that it is a subtle way the devil draws your

I {lml faith away from God and puts your sur-i 'YOlII'sclfand the world around you. Ihave seenr. relative bury himself in calculations of lottoIOllling through midnight. He has no time for

fir 1,1I Bible study or prayer, except that on some"mll"y" Ill' goes to church. Yes, he appears godly be-

Ill~gUl'S to church, but Ifear if any spiritual forcehiIll, it may be difficult for him to fight back be-

lit' h.18 never had time to build up himself spir-Iv ill Cod's word and prayer. As for the wicked-

nd violence, who in Ghana will deny that theseh.rvc increased in our days? The so-called ritual

ie·rlngof women; the large-scale robberies involv-'11 youth etc. are issues of great concern. What do

ibout the ethnic cleansing that destroyed manyIII Kosovo and which was stopped only by the in-III IOn of NATO air-raids in May 1999?

mtne, Earthquake and Pestilencemay not appear to be intense in Ghana, but they

xcurring more frequently in many parts of thIiI today. Do you realise that but for whatever rn(ll

23

cies we enjoy from God, every ten years since Itl'i \kind of famine-associated disaster strikes in Ch.urnyou remember the severe drought in 1973 whkl-, Ithe then Head of State, General Acheampong III '1"111

his famous pronouncement, "Am I God to ma ke II I,-d II

("Me ye Nyame na ma ma nsu eta ann'!") \VIiabout the remarkable "Rawlings chain" drouuh: Iii I

bush fires of 1983? I hope you have not forgottcn Ihnl l1993 the fire that swept through many farms III 11-,Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions would h,n I,' Iisulted in famine but for the quick ad hoc intervvntuuof the government and some world bodies. Sh.ill \not recognise the three earth tremors that struck (;klllll

in one year (1997)? When we were young we wen' tIn 1told of one or two earthquakes in Ghana many V('ill

back; and because of their nature, such earthqu.ilwere used as landmarks for dating significant eVl'1I1e.g. births. But in 1997 alone there were three of SIll Itearth tremors within two months. We cannot tal~ III

"the" earthquake any more because earthquakes ,II

becoming common phenomena in places like Indio!Pakistan, Mexico etc. And many lives are lost throughearthquakes. In 1999a significant number of these natural disasters could be recorded: On March 29th, while'the Himalayas suffered a destructive earthquake lasling 40 seconds, the biggest volcano since 1982 eruptedon the Cameroon Mountains. Earlier on 26th January,thousands of lives were lost by earthquake and landslide in Columbia. In September, Turkey lost not lessthan 10,000 people due to earthquake, and in October,Cairo had her share of earth tremors; while volcanoescaused evacuation of many communities in Equador,according to CNN news.

24

fel'tllo strange diseases without cure. Wille AIDS which has not been known in

HI only now - in our generation - as a\I"III!~S to the period for Christ's coming?Wfllch and pray that you may not fall into,'be taken by surprise. Yes some of these

\ very glaring nor very spectacular. But theyIc\ sun'ly fulfilling scripture. They are giv-i\Ill' Messiah's coming, and except youm scripture and watch out as they occur,rtaken by events. Dear friends, no doubt

n{'ration is part of the long peri"d withint will come again. But how near are we to

ioti? Permit me to mention one more sign~•••••n\fll 10 look at our nearness to the climax pe-

I"f' and the Abominationult to calculate our nearness in figures. We can

.1IM1t\I\I ng,lin to our scriptural facts and predictions.bilek as the first century, Christians began to

ind advent was just at hand. As we saw\lull' some people in Thessalonica refuse to\1St' of anxiety. And John heard Jesus him-

'po on the Island of PatrnoS (around AD 95, i.e) vears ago) "Behold I am coming soon" (Rev-

).It appears, however, that as time went onMessiah did not appear, some believers wereI)ithcr in their hope and/or faithfulness as

"""An •. So Paul wrote to the Philippians and Romans~ll'\g them to wake up from sleep and work at theiriih.tion with fear and trembling because the day of thl'

\11 nearer than they believed (Philippinns ? I1.

25

/1111

Romans 13:11). If the day was nearer to till' 11[111over1900 years ago, will it be anything but m\l~d nlus who are now in this generation?

But you will tell me "Osoio gyae w'asml' (IIIleave us alone"): /I After all we have heard of tIH"{' Ii!over and over again. Since our forefathers II h;11lIsaid that Christ would come, yet nothing has hilPIHow can you prove that now it will be?" Fnl.'nc!are not the first to ask such a question. It \\ il:>(\over 1900 years ago. And Peter replied th.it iI ithat God and his prophets are telllng lies; or 111/11\is slow with the coming of Christ. Rather he i...in!tionally holding back the revelation of the antic 1111""hence Christ will not return until all of us have h.ul ('II

opportunity to respond to his call through )eslI'" lL Iifor salvation. He wants everyone to repent and \\ hi:ever believes in Jesus Christ to be marked with tlH'llltof Jesus and sealed with the Holy Spirit as a gll.II.II'11of not perishing, but having eternal life (2 Pcu-i iJohn 3:16). What is more, whenever this qucstu»:asked, you must know that it is itself an evidenu- I"the last days are near. And if you ask that question, 1111you are a witness to yourself that the last days an: IIIWhy? because Peter said that it is only when llu: IIdays are near that scoffers will begin asking such 11111tions. So our generation is not perhaps only within Ililperiod of the second coming, but probably near 1(1Iiihour of the second coming. This is made more anl'lllable when we consider again the role of the antic IIIir.!in the climax period. We learnt earlier that he will inthrone himself in the Temple at Jerusalem after stlljlping the true worship of God; and then he will prod I'IIIIhimself the/God of the world and virtually force e\'l'l \

26

p hinl, ThiS part of scripture was said to\11\11)'III\filled in the year 169 BC when

IIndtl I\ntiochus IV Epiphanies set up in\11:\1III the god Zeus and sacrificed a pig

I) 71l when Rome stopped services in thenp\.' .Intl laid it desolate. But many Bible

t1I.lt the real fulfilment of it will be thehi 1I"ppen in the end time by the anti-

titled by Daniel and confirmed by Mat-It tiP, then we can only conclude that theIplt' will have to be rebuilt, and the wor-

Wli !Il1daism) rejuvenated before the anti-c to interfere. For Jerusalem is believed

1'IItl'l' for global worship of God with Is-,If' (Micah 4:2; Zechariah 8:22-23; H:16-Ml'ssiah comes again. In recent times there

IIl'ill1lln that the Jews have been strugglingtlln' every piece of the land of Jerusalem

III 'kmple stood, from the Palestinians since\I' And some people saw Prime Minister

I onscrvative Jew, as perhaps one of the111I1l'ntsthat presumably have been used byIkllh.' that, even in our generation, there is\ling of some of the steps towards fulfilmentIii t1(1I\.For during his four-year reign (1996-Ik;y was clear on reclaiming and protecting

IMIl:'" of Jerusalem. He resisted international\(1 rdinquish some of the land to Palestine.W(15 to recover the biblically demarcated

MIA.rlt:8 (It the land even where force was needed;ulld settlements for the six million Jews, ma-) of whom were Orthodox Jews. It was vorv

pti\ll' from the Premier's policies and actions thlll

27

he could have extended the resettlement work and re-covery of land to the re-building of the Temple and,hence, possible rejuvenation of Judaism for the Ortho-dox Jews. Thus the Netanyahu legacies help to under-score the fact that one may not easily rule out the possi-bility, in our generation, of conservative Jews who aredetermined and perhaps being moved quietly by Godto contribute not only to rebuild Jerusalem, but also theTemple and its eventual worship of daily sacrifices, atthe right time.

But if and when this Iudaisne worship is eventuallyrejuvenated then the anti-Christ will be provoked andloosened to come and stop it, replacing it with i1l~othersystem of worship which will contradict Judaism so ve-hemently that it could only be described as "horribleabomination". According to Daniel, the antichrist willpromote and supervise this system of "horrible abomi-nations" for a period described as "time, two times andhalf a time", or "three-and-half years", or "1,260 days"(Daniel 12:11-12). Whatever length of time this standsfor, I don't know; but it seems that it is the period whenthe most horrible and never-before wicked activities willOccur so as to necessitate the revelation and interven-tion of the Christ to terminate the works of the anti-christ forever. Therefore, slowly but surely andunknowingly, events in the Middle East might also bebringing the curtain down on the emergence of theclimax period when Jesus Christ will come again. Arewe near that period in our generation? I think so, buthow near we are is left for your own judgement, as youalso follow the scriptural predictions and how they arebeing fulfilled, especially in the Middle East. For al-though we do not know of the exact hour of the coming

28

II/I' Parousia), we also do not know of any hour that thein.il preceeding events cannot commence. What is irnortant is for you to remember that God is intention-

Illy holding back the antichrist to enable you to ben.nned among his family. Once a preacher said thatl I( id' s family is like a Moshie family whose head, called1I1( lianui puts a tribal mark in the face of all his mem-lu-rs for identification and rescue in times of battle. Areou a member of God's family? Do you have the mark

of Christ, our nichama; which is his blood and spirit,before the open battle between Christ and antichrist?the Bible says "When I see the blood, I will pass overyou". During the days of the antichrist, when God wantsto rescue his people from being consumed, he will lookfor the mark - the blood and spirit of Christ. Do youhave him? It is written that he who does not have thespirit of Christ is none of his (Romans 8:9). Do you havehim? Do not worry about the nearness of the time ofthe second advent per se. It will not help you. Let thenearness of the time make you seek the mark of Christbefore the Messiah appears so that whatever time it isthat he comes, you will be ready for him and rejoicewhen you notice him coming. But how or in whatmanner will he come so as to be noticed?

29

CHAPTER THREE

THE MESSIAH IS COMING AGAIN:HOW?

Literal, Visible and AudibleThe answer to the question of how the Messiah willcome again helps me personally to refu te the argumen tsof those who think that Jesus Christ has already comethe second time. One such person, as we mentionedearlier was Mirza Ghuma Ahmed, in 1890. He claimedthat the coming again which Jesus Christ promisedshould not be. taken literally. In other words the mancalled Jesus of Nazareth, who walked the pavementsof Jerusalem some 2000 years ago, is not to be the sameman to re-appear in the same body during the secondadvent. Rather his spirit, i.e.the Spirit of Jesus Christ orEesa, was embodied in him (Ahmed) as the personwho is the Christ in the second corning. Hence he con-cluded that the expected mahdi or Messiah had comealready--he being that Messiah. He would have beenright if he had said that Jesus Christ will not come inthe same body that he carried when he walked thestreets of Jerusalem. For truly, Christ must have left thatbody on earth because of the sin of the world that hecarried in it. Paul makes it clear, and also the evidencesafter Jesus' resurrection suggest that he took on a newbody, a spiritual body, which was glorified as heascended to the father. Paul therefore assures us thatthe believers in Christ will surely have another body-a spiritual glorified body - like that of Christ, afterour resurrection, before we shall be able to see him andbe with him (1 Corinthians 15:42-44,SO-54.;1 John 3:2).

30

So, Jesus Christ cannot come with exactly the samebody that he carried to the cross; but his person willsurely come. My point here is that the man or personknown in history as Jesus Christ is the same man orperson who will come again and come literally.

In other words he will come not just as a spirit, but abeing that has a special tangible or per-ceptible glorifiedbody, which all human beings with physical eyes willsee. This is evidenced in scripture. The plain languageof the angels who appeared to the disciples when Jesusascended was that "This same Jesus, who has beentaken from you into heaven, will come back in the sameway you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts l:11b).Two points are emphatic in this text:

First - the same Jesus (not another person) willcome again. So it will be literal, in the person of JesusChrist of Nazareth.

Second - in the same way Jesus was seen going up,he will be seen coming again. How was he seen goingup? Acts 1:9 says, "before their very eyes he was takenup and the clouds hid him from their sight". So Christascended or left this earth in body form; and peoplewith bodily eyes saw him go up. Therefore if Christcomes again he will come the same way: he will bebrought down from heaven and the very cloud that hidhim from the sight of human eyes 2000 years ago willopen up to let his bodily form be perceived comingdown to earth in the skies. The Messiah's coming thenwill be perceptible.

Both Paul and John (the apostles of Jesus) gave vividdescriptions of the coming again of the Messiah. In alltheir descriptions they pointed out that the event willbe glaring and not hidden; it will be both conspicuou

31

,111(1 nudible: for Paul says, "the Lord himself will comedown from heaven, with a loud command, with thevoice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God"(I Thessalonians 4:16). Definitely, I believe at that timeeven the deaf will hear such a loud divine voice andtrumpet sound. It will definitely be such a strange soundthat no one will fail to recognise it. No! the coming againof Christ will be glaringly audible to ears; all ears willhear; even the deaf and dead in Christ will hear. Notonly will the coming of the Christ be heard, it shall alsobe glaringly visible. In John's vision on Pa tmos island,he had a foretaste of the Lord's coming again. His de-scription in Revelation 19:11-15indicates that the eventcould be likened, for our understanding, to a modernpresidential ride of the Head of State. There will be theroyal white horse to carry the Messiah, the Messiahhimself will be dressed majestically in a royal robe witha golden crown and accompanied by various battal-ions of a heavenly army - the royal guards, colour par-ties, despatch riders or motorcades etc. _ all ridingwhite horses. And the colour party shall lift up a ban-ner with a bold inscription announcing and identifyingthe Messiah as "The King of kings and Lord of lords"(Revelation 19:11-16).I believe that the lustre of the col-Ours described here - the shining golden crown, thered robe, the white horses - will be such that thosesuffering from colour blindness will perceive the strangeOCcurrence in the skies when the Messiah is comingagain. Similarly as Paul says, the pitch of the soundsfrom the trumpets will pierce even those who died asChristians so that they will hear and rise up from theirgraves, when the strange sound of the trumpet fills theair, from the military band that will accompany theMessiah.

Coming Privately Or Publicly?Some people ask me, what if just a few people or evensome individual rises up and alarms the whole worldclaiming to have seen the Messiah come down fromheaven? In other words, if the Messiah's coming willbe so literal, visible and audible, does it mean that allhuman beings will notice him at the same time so as toconfirm that he did come eventually? Or will it be onlya few who will see him?

I take this question to be a concern about a possiblePRIVATEcoming of !be Messiah, and if so how one canbe sure the event did occur. In my view, following theline of thought so far and the purpose of this book, be-ing sure of the occurrence of the event should not be ofas much concern as its inevitable, inseparable and ines-capable prevalent situation and consequences at thetime. For it is suggestive from the scriptures that whatall human beings (dead or alive) shall experience fromthe preceding circumstances and immediate conse-quences of the Messiah's coming, as foretold, shall au-tomatically and appropriately confirm the event's oc-currence to and in all people. No one may have to testifyto it as a confirmation to others. Yet some people willdare go about &ving false and alarming testimonies ofhaving seen-the Messiah at one place or the other. Ibelieve it is for this reason that the Messiah himselfwarns us not to believe such alarmists (Mathew 24:23).It is also deductive from this warning that his comingwill generally not be a private affair so that a few peoplewould have to testify to what they saw to others later.No! No one's verbal testimony will be needed to confirmthe event, because it will be open, glaring and thereforPUBLIC. In Revelation 1:7John confirms that when theMessiah comes again all eyes, including even those who

3332

killed him, shall see him. Furthermore, the prophetIsaiah, having the second advent in mind, prophesiedthat God will restore functionality to the body-parts ofthose who fear him but would have been handicappedin one way or the other, to enable them also notice andrespond to the event (Isaiah 35:4-7).

Therefore, that all manner of people -living, dead,blind, deaf, dumb, believers and non-believers _ fromall tribes in the world shall see this great event becauseof its glaring and public nature, as we have describedto be apparent and promised in Scripture, I have nodoubt. And all people shall affirm its occurrence expe-rientially rather than by verbal testimonies from anyearlier detectors.

But as to whether.all people on the earth will activelynotice (i.e. see, hear and respond to) the event at the,same time I am not quite sure, considering some cir-cumstantial and scriptural evidences or reasoning. First,I think that unless any divine intervention proves oth-erwise, the present limitations posed by the geographi-cal shape and distribution of people on the earth mayrender it humanly difficult for people to concurrentlyhave a global vision of the event. Secondly I reasonfrom the scriptures and it seems to me that during thesecond advent the Messiah will make, at least, twoemerging movements from heaven, to be literally in-volved again in some earthly affairs, before the finalclose of this world. These two movements will be fordifferent but contiguous purposes and activities, andto which people will respond differently. The first move-ment will be at the time when the saints or true believ-ers shall be gathered or caught up to meet the Messiahin the air - a process or activity often described as Rap-

ture (1 Thessalonians 4:17;2 Thessalonians 2:1;Mathew4:30-31). The second movement will be at the time

when non-believers or the wicked nations shall be gath-ired at Armageddon for war against the Messiah andhis army (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-19). Whereas bothemergencies shall be glaring, audible, visible and hencepublic activities, it appears only a selected few - thesaints - shall see, hear and participate at the rapturestage of the second advent. For only the saints shall re-spond to the trumpet sounds of the Messiah as theirdead arise from their graves, their handicapped are re-stored to notice and participate in the event (Isaiah 35:4-7), their living are changed into glorious beings in atwinkle of an eye; and only they, among all people onearth, will ascend into the skies. The rest of humanitymay see the Messiah's movement down but ma~' nothear the home-calling trumpet sound - since a divinesound can take place without unbelievers hearing it(john 12:228-30;Acts 22:9) - and so they will definitelynot participate in the rapture.

That only some people - the saints - may hear, seeand respond positively at the rapture stage of the sec-ond advent may further be conjectured from <;:ompara-tive evidences of the first advent. When the Messiahfirst came he was born like any other human baby; buthis birth was made known to only a few shepherds, whodid not only hear the announcement from angels (Luke2:8-18) but also went to see the baby Messiah in amanger. Similarly at the end of the first advent whenthe Messiah resurrected only a few disciples heard tlu:proclamations of the angels (Luke 24:4-8; 1 Corintlu.in15:4-8;Acts 1:3-6) and saw him ascend. In all CilM)S IIIdisciples responded by rejoicing with gr.lllllilln nil

:. 34~t;

ENTRUSTED themselves to him as their LORD andSAVIOUR (Luke 2:19; John 20:24-29). In these eventsof the first advent we see that only a few people tookactive notice first before the rest of humanity got toknow later. Who were these few with that firstopportunity? The shepherd and sheep, probably ashadow or depiction of the mission of the Messiah asthe Great Shepherd and the sheep being the people hecame to save and disciple. In the second instance itwas no longer a shadow, but the first real disciples andmembers of the sheepfold whom the Great Shepherdhad tended. They knew him well; they heard his voicewhen he tended them; so they were most opportuneto hear him (through his angels) and see him ascendinto the skies. The rest of humanity could hear of andsee the resurrection and ascension only through theliving testimony of the disciples later.

In the same way I believe that whereas all mannerof humans will perceive the event of the second advent,the "sheepfold" i.e. true disciples of Jesus who consti-tute the true church of God shall be more opportuneto notice and participate at the rapture stage beforenon-believers do so. For as it seems, there were activi-ties during the event of the first advent which couldtogether be regarded as the stage of "God's mysteryand grace" - the birth, resurrection and ascension.

These events were together a mystery because, thebirth (God becoming Man), resurrection (Man re-gain.ing life) and ascension (Man lifted from earth toheaven) were real but beyond human comprehension.They were also gracious because they demonstratedand affirmed hope in God's promise to regenerate, givenew life to and lift up into glory, faithful humanity,

36

who otherwise did not deserve such favour due to sinor disobedience. Thus the events of "mystery and grace"could mostly appeal to and benefit only those ready torelate with the Messiah in FAITH and OBEDIENCE -the true disciples, or the "sheepfold",

I observe a parallel of this in the event of the secondadvent at the rapture stage. Here there is a eonsumma-tion of the hope in the mystery and grace of God as hechanges the living saints (a kind of new birth), raisesthe dead saints to life (resurrection) and raptures all thesaints up to heaven (ascension). So, like the first advent,only the sheepfold Qrfl~inta,i.e. faithful humanity shallfirst see, hear and pArtieipaw ln thia atage of the seeondadvent. They alone knew Clndtherefore will recognisetheir Master's volee when he gives the loud shoutrtheyalone will understand the home-calling message of theangels in their trumpet sounds; so they alone willrespond joyfully and gratefully - not just trusting them-selves to the Messiah any longer but now being withhim and experiencing his eternal salvation. No, the restof humanity may see but will not participate in the ac-tivities of the Messiah when he moves to earth at therapture stage. They will take active not1e~l.e., see, hearand respond to the Messiah's tlctiviti~~wh~n he movesto earth again at Armageddon time,

A Word of CautionBefore I conclude the discussion on how the Messiahcomes again may I share a word of caution with you onthis idea of the of the Messiah's two appearings duringthe second advent. For there are views that describe thisobservation differently. Dr. J. C. Ryle talks of people whomake a distinction between appearing and coming. J Iv

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himself reserved his comments 1. On the other handPastor Adu Boahen talks of rapture to be the same asparousia and then distinguishes it from REVELATION.In his book "The Rapture of the Church" he explainsthat: "- At the Rapture Christ shall only descend farenough to enable him meet the believers in the air (1Thessalonians 4: 17). But at the Revelation, he fully de-scends upon the earth for his feet to touch the Mount ofOlives (Zechariah 14:4).- At the Rapture Christ will come for the saints whileat the Revelation he comes with the saints (jude 14).- At the Rapture Christ comes quietly and graciouslyto receive his church into glory; but at the Revelationhe comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on themthat do not know God (2 Thessalonians1:8).- The Rapture occurs before the tribulation, but the

Revelai.ion does not OCcur until after the tribulation(Mathew 24: 29-31). This indicates that thr Rapture andRevelation are separate." (Stephen Adu Boahene: TheRapture of the Church, 1997, page 3-4, Universal GospelCentre Publishing House, Ghana).

So you see, there are views that distinguish, an ap-pearing from a coming; a rapture from a revelation;and a quiet from a fiery corning. I have no problemwith making these distinctions because the scripturesappear to suggest so. My concern is, however, that ifnot properly explained these views tend to propose thatthe Messiah will not come only again, but again andagain. That is, there is a "Second Coming" (which isquiet and so private) and yet a 'third coming' (whichis fiery and so pubHc). Such a suggested possibility of.

privacy in the Messiah's coming is a basis for the ques-tions on how the Messiah comes for everyone to be surewhen he did come. Hence the need for me to common ton the question: "Is the Messiah coming again once ortwice?"

"Coming Again" Once or Twice?Irecognise that the problem with the views, which seemto suggest a second and third coming again of the Mes-siah, is technical. It has to do with the original Biblelanguage translation and hermeneutics (how a text isunderstood). Such technical issues are beyond the scopeand purpose of this book. Nevertheless, suffice it toobserve that the concept of a third advent of the Mes-siah is not a basic teaching of Christianity nor even non-Christian religions. Thus Ahmadiyan Moslems stillawait Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, who claimed in 1890 tohave been the fulfillment of the Messiah whom all reli-gions were expecting to come. Yet the Ahmadiyans don'ttalk of a third coming; they simply explain that theirGreat Reformer will be reincarnated. For Christians, thescripture mentions only a second - not a third - com-ing of the Messiah (Hebrews 9:28).

In Christian teaching the classical scriptures thatspeak on the Second Advent often use the Greek wordparousia (coming). When properly rendered parousia.in Greek thought, connotes an event of activities eel-ebrating the arrival or presence of a Great King to hi~subjects. In his book, The Rapture Questioll A II"U 'I 'I'l'l I.author Robert Van Kampen explains: "The Greek noun ,Parousla, refers to Christ's coming as an event, nut IIan activity. It is not a verb, referring to His 111l1\'cnH.'1

from one place to another". Seeing no SlIpplll t 101'Ii \1I. J C Ryle:" Prophecy" 1991 Ed; page 10 (Christian Focus Publications.UK)

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coming again in Jesus' own discourse in Mathew 2-1,Kampen concluded that "we see only a single Parousiaof Christ that would include different activities ... "1

I consider Bob Kampen's view as in line with thefundamental understanding of Christians on the sub-ject. And it agrees largely with my observation in ourprevious chapter: that the second advent may have tobe seen as an event or process which itself is part of thefinal cycle of events that have been unfolding in a cy-clic:and rolling manner, since Man' 5 history in an im-perfect temporal world, towards an eternal perfectworld, according to God's purpose and working. Thiscompares well also with the first advent.

It is generally known that the first advent was anevent associated with many other sub-events or activi-ties. Some, such as the [ohannine preparations and an-nunciation, led up to the birth (incarnation and involve-ment in earthly matters literally). Others resulted fromand were reasons for the birth, such as his ministry,death, resurrection and ascension. So also is the secondadvent: an event with associated sub-events or activi-ties either leading up to or resulting from a second lit-eral appearing and involvement in earthly matters, sincethe first about 2000 years ago. Although views are notconclusive, the major sub-events in a contiguous asso-ciation with the second appearing include:

Beginning troubles and the great tribulation of theantichrist against the believers (Matthew 24:410,21-24; Revelation 6:1-9).Terrifying changes in the sun, moon and stars towarn the world of a coming wrath of God (Mat-

thew 24:29; Revelation 6:12-17).Oisplay of God's glory in the sky as a sign of Mes-siah's appearing sooner (Matthew 24:27-30;Isaiah

35:2)Oescent or emergence (parousia) of the Messiah forthe saints (Matthew 24:30).Trumpet sounding to call saints home (1

Corinthians 15:52).Rapture of the saints; first resurrection (Mathew24:13,31; Revelation 7:9-14).Probably concurrent events in heaven and on earth:e.g. Bema Seat judgement and Lamb's Wedding inheaven, while the Wrath of God appears againstnon-believers; Salvation of Israel on earth (Mathew24:14,37-39; Revelation 8:1-7; 19:5-9).Oescent or emergence of the Messiah with Saintsto fight at Armageddon; Antichrist thrown into hell(Revelation 16:16; 19:1;21).

Satan imprisoned; Millennial Kingdom - probablyin heaven as earth enjoys great Sabbath. (Revelation20:1-5;Isaiah 24:21-22;Jeremiah4:23-26.Second Resurrection; Battle of Gog; Satan in hell;new world begins (Revelation20:7-15i21:1;John5:29).

From these associated sub-events we see that the Mes-siah shall emerge from heaven into the spheres of theearth and thuS be involved in earthly matters twice; firstat the rapture and then at the Armageddon battle. Thetwo appearings are separated by a time of other on-going events, especially the wrath of God (which is afterand contiguOUS to the antichrist's tribulation onearth) against non-believers. Despite being separatevents, only the emergence at the rapture stage maybe technically considered as the "Second coming"

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1. Robert Van Kampen: Tile Rapture Question Answered, 3'd Ed., 1<}<}8pages 95-98 (Fleming H. Revell Publications U.s.A)

For since the end of the first coming, this will be thetime of literally appearing and getting involved inmatters on earth again. Strictly speaking then this is theParousia - coming again. And one activity that theMessiah will perform at this time is the Rapturing ofthe saints. The Rapture (of saints) is therefore not thesame as the parousia (of the Messiah). It seems that asa reason for and result of the parousia (coming again)the Messiah will be engaged in other activities, apartfrom rapturing the saints, some in heaven and otherson earth probably concurrently; until after the wrath ofGod on earth he brings along the raptured saints fromheaven to fight the battle of Armageddon. And this iswhat some refer to as" revelation". It is technically nota "coming again" as understood for Parousia; rather itis an activity of the Messiah after and within the era ofhaving already "come again".

I believe therefore that there is only one parousia _one coming again of the Messiah after the first adventabout two millennia ago. And when used in a broadsense it is an event (which is central to other end-timeevents) which occurs over a period of time contiguouslyinto timelessness.

The RaptureTaken as an event the parol/sin or second advent of theMessiah shall be associated with other end-time occur-rences, which are generally literal, glaring, visible, au-dible and therefore public. Therefore all eyes-will seehim come, but only true believers i.e. the True Churchwill be fortunate to see, hear and participate in the rap-ture activity at the rapture stage of the event. Non-be-lievers will not participate in it even if they see it be-

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,·.Hlsethey most likely would not have been expvcunIt.nor hear the sudden trumpet call, since a divine M 1\ 1111 I

in take place without unbelievers hearing it (Acts 27 I

[ohn 12:28-30). At best the non-Christians would onlobserve that something stranger than fiction has hap

-ned, after their fellows, friends, spouses, children etc.n- no longer found on earth dead or alive. Thus for

them, noticing this stage of the second advent will be apost-dated affair; it would have happened before theynotice it through its results. They will then recogniseth,lt the Messiah came for his people from the earth,nd that the Rapture has occurred. Too late!

But why would it be that only true Christians will bemore advantaged to notice and participate in the Rap-ture? 1see the answer to this question in the testimonyif Ilyoung Catholic student. He said:

"Pastor, after your teaching on the Rapture, 1 justouldn't have the nerves to go ahead and fornicate withly girl friend when she finally agreed for the first time

III sleep with me (1 had been making the attempt fortwo years). Anytime I made the attempt your voice ech-

d in my ears: 'The Messiah is coming again'; and for'Mof not being raptured, 1let go of the girl". 1learn fromhis testimony that it is foreknowledge, fear for conse-lUl'nces and hence preparedness in holiness which willut Christians in the advantaged position to first per--ive and participate in the Rapture. For, John said thatvt'ryone who hopes to see the Messiah when he comes

"in must be prepared, by living a pure life (1 John). And since true Christians are those who endeav-

ur to live pure lives, the Rapture experience will onlyJoyful fulfilment of their hope to see, be like and be

ith the Messiah. The non-Christians on the contrar

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will be overtaken by events for lack of knowledge, be-lief and purity of life. They will not notice it becausenothing about the event would have been in their minds.For they would have been pre-occupied with earthlytemporal issues at the expense of eternal spiritual in-terests. Luke describes them as people who will be "eat-ing, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting andbuilding", when the Messiah appears suddenly (Luke13:26-36). In fact the rapture will be so sudden that un-less one was already expecting it one may definitelynot notice it (Luke 12:40;Revelation16:1S). At that timeno one will tell you whether you are a true Christian ornot. For the evidence will be crystal dear as true Chris-tians will be raptured to meet their Messiah in the airand the rest of humanity (both non-believers and falseChristians) will be left behind. At that time a man andwife will be in bed, one of them will be raptured, leav-ing the other; dead bodies may be lying in a communalgrave, some will rise up but the rest will not. What agreat separation there will be! True Christians will beseparated from the rest of human beings and taken upto be with the Messiah, for, "wherever the carcass isthere vultures will gather" (Matthew 24:28).

Whether you believe it or not; whether you expect itor not, the Messiah is coming again. His coming willnot be hidden but open; it will not be secret but glaring.So not only one person nor a few persons will perceiveit; all manner of people - living or dead, believersand non-believers will see it. Those who will not seewill hear, those who cannot see nor hear, can touch him.However everybody will notice the second stage caUedthe Revelation. The Revelation of the Lord will takeplace at the end of the tribulation. The tribulation is a

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·riod of terrible torments and hardships th.it II"Vt

-ver been before caused by the anti-christ agamst tllf'hurch.

It will be a time of testing to sift the true from nomiIMIbelievers in the church. It will be cut short for the.ike and by the rapture of the true believers (saints)

before its full time is completed with the wrath of God.I'he wrath of God will be a period to bring retributionupon the world for their sinfulness (Isaiah 34:2;Ephesians 5:6), and to prepare Israel to receive Jesus ofNazareth as the Messiah (Jeremiah 30:7;Zechariah 13:8-9). This suggests that the raptured church would be com-posed mainly of Gentile Christians and only very fewJewish believers in Christ, thus fulfilling the scripturalprediction that the last to know of God's gracious sal-vation - Gentiles (Romans 1:16), shall become the firstto experience the glorious salvation (Matthew 20:16).It gives also the warning that only the Jews will havespecial dispensation to be refined and saved by thepangs of the tribulation. No Gentiles, living or dead,will have the same opportunity to repent again, no! TheGentiles are to be the first to enter the Kingdom becauseof the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and they shoulddo this at the Rapture; the Jews will be the last to enter,and they will do it during the tribulation, when the sur-viving one-third of their population at the time shalleventually recognise Jesus as the Messiah. As Paul says,"So all Israel shall be saved" (Romansll:26). Yes, it isto save this remnant of Israel from being destroyed bythe anti-Christ, that the Messiah will be revealed, un-announced. This time also he will emerge from the skiesin the same manner as we described of him at the Rapture, except that now, the raptured saints will also b

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among the troops accOmpanying him. Therefore (Iiipeople living or dead at the time will notice the Revel.1tion just as all true Christians noticed the Rapture. Bulat the Revelation the people will mourn and cry rath{"than rejoice. Why? Because of the purpose of the Messiah's cOming.

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CHAPTER FOUR,

E MESSIAH IS COMING AGAIN:WHY?

o Advents One Missiontill' Messiah is coming again, it means that he mustve come once already! Yes!There is no doubt that Je-Christ had once sojourned this earth. A non-biblical

lobal evidence is the fact that most people in the worldxtay plan their calendar and seasons with reference tohe first appearance of Jesus in this world as a man. But

what was the purpose of his first appearance? He toldhIShearers in Galilee, his hometown, at the very begin-rung of his ministry that he was appointed by God "topreach good news to the poor; proclaim freedom forthe prisoners; give sight to the blind; release the op-pressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favour"(Luke 4: 18-19). In short, he came "to seek and save thelost" (Luke 19:10) as was implied in the name givenhim before his birth - JESUS or "Jehovah saves". Butsave who from what? He came to save "his people" i.e.the people created through him into this world (Mat-thew 1:21, John 3:17) from sin. Sin is the disobedienceor opposition' to God hy humanity since the creation ofour world. It was introduced to humanity by the anti-christ (Satan) through deception and temptation. It re-sulted in the current world of ours, thereby interferingwith the original plan of God for the earth and its in-habitants to enjoy both eternity and glory. To be morespecific, sin brought a great separation between ourworld and God; and the separation is experienced inthe form of varied sufferings and hardships in life until

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physical life is terminated in a process called deathwhere body and soul separate (Romans 6:23). In shortsin denied our world, and especially humanity, of God'sgift of eternal living in glory - what was sometimesdescribed as paradise. But because of the nature ofGod as love (1John 4:16) itwas difficult for him to remainunconcerned about our plight and fate, especially whenhe had foreknown that we would have such a plighteven before he created us. For implicit in the doctrineof creation is the doctrine of redemption. Therefore inhis wisdom and goodness he acted according to hisalready existing plan to rescue the cursed sinful worldby removing the sin that brought the problem. But sinis removed only through the shedding of sinless or pureblood (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Was sent then, being Godhimself incarnate, to be the special and only being onearth whose blood was pure enough for the spiritualexpiation or atonement for the sin of the world. Theresult of this ritual is the removal of the sin and hencethe curse on the world, thereby making possible andexperiential the returning of the lost paradise i.e.eternity and glory back to the world - in fact a newworld system will be established where sin and its effectwill no longer exist (Revelation 21:1-4,27). This is calledsalvation of the world; a victory over sin and death. Sinwas atoned for by his blood; and the power of deathwas shattered by the resurrection of Jesus from death.But both sin and death will operate in the temporalworld until the appointed time for the final end whenthe Messiah comes again. The purpose of Jesus' firstappearance in our world was then to save it from sinand eternal damnation (death). As he himself put it: "ForGod did not send his Son into the world to condemn

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the world; but to save the world through him. Who-ver believes in him is not condemned but whoever docsnot believe stands condemned already" (John 3:17, 18).What then? Did he not accomplish this task of savingthe world during his first sojourn on the earth? Is thatthe reason why he wants to return - to finish that task?

Our immediate response would be "no"; he is notcoming for that; but in the long run," yes". "No!" be-cause the objective of the first coming was to both dealwith sin and its damnation on the world once and forall, and to announce the graciouS opportunity providedby God through him Gesus) as the only way by whichthe world can be restored to eternity and glory. But es-sentially, sin is removed when blood is shed (Hebrews9:22) and so death, the result of sin is overpowered ev-ermore when the life that was blown down by deatheventually resurrected (2 Timothy 1:10).Therefore themoment Jesus was crucified on the cross and his bloodgushed out, the pre-historic plan of God to save or re-deem creation was instantly fulfilled. This is why Jesushimself declared just at the time when the blood cameout on the cross: "it is finished", and the Bible said "withthat he bowed his head and gave up the spirit" (John19:30).It is clear then that Jesus did accomplish the taskor mission of his first coming._ He did crush the power of sin and sting of death inessence; he did fulfil the very first prophecy of his ad-vent to "crush the head of the antichrist (Serpent/Sa-

tan)" (Genesis 3:15c)._ He did pronounce the way open for whosoever be-lieves (that sin and death were dealt with; and a wa.,yprovided to return to eternal glory), to benefit from this

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grace of GOd;he Jesus himself then, being the way andthe only wayUohn 14:6). So Jesus is not cOming againto finish the task of salvation in terms of atoning for sinand limiting the power of death. He will no longer besacrificed to shed more blood for anyone's sin (Hebrews6:4-6, 10:10).

. However, Wecan safely say the second cOming is alsoto accomplish the mission of the first one in the sensethat both cOmings carry the same ultimate mission_the salvation of the created world. The purpose of thefirst cOming Was to essentially prepare and present oroffer the means to salvation. Having done that he de-parted for a season because of two reasons. First hisdeparture allowed the created world itself to freely re-spond to this gracious offer through faith as it chooses,knoWing the consequences of accepting or rejecting theoffer .lready from the preaching of Christ. Essentially,it appears that humanity, being the peak of creation hasthe 'singular responsibility of making the choice on be-half of the rest of creation (Romans 8:19-23). As Paulputs it, "Creation waits in eager expectation for the sonsof God to be revealed when it will be liberated from itsbondage to decay and brought into the glorious free-dom of the children of God" (Romans 8:19-23).Depend-ing on the choice made by humanity to this'gift he willexperience either of two options in the new world or-der forever. Those who accept the gift will experience aWorld of eternal bliss (glory) while those who reject thegift will experience a World of eternal damnation (John3:16-18;5:28-29). The second reasclh why Jesus left thisWorld for a season Was to enable him conduct investi-gative judgement a-ccording to the responses human-ity gives to the offer he made. Through this jUdgement

so

he would know those who are his (2 Timothy 2: 19)ahead of his second coming especially at the Rapture.My point so far is that I perceive that in the foreknow!edge and master plan of God for redeeming creation,three historic phases can be identified as far as the Mes-siah's involvement is concerned:-

Phase 1: The first coming of the Messiah to prepareand present God's gracious means of salvation (to thesinful and accursed world).

Phase II:The withdrawal of the Messiah from the cre-ated world to allow the latter to respond freely to thegrace offered it; while the Messiah by investigativejudgements, selects those who choose him, and so pre-pares the system of the new woad in readiness for them(John 14:2).

Phase III: The second coming of the Messiah to usherin eternal experiential systems for all creation accord-ing to either of the two possible responses to the .offerof gracious salvation - i.e. to make people experi-ence eternally the consequences of their choices. Thisis called consummation of eternal life in glory or dam-nation, as the case may be. This is the end of the meansthat he prepared and launched in the first coming.

The first phase was fully accomplished and phase IIis highly in progress and, as has been discussed, is al-most near completion. Therefore the third phase - thesecond coming of Christ - will soon occur. He will notlaunch a salvation plan, again. He will not preach re-pentance again. He will not die on the cross to bear oursin again (Hebrews 9:28). No! He will not have mercyagain. He will not intercede or mE:\9iatefor anyone again.But what will he do this second time? He will effect thfull experience of eternity - in glory for those who ac-cept the offer (Hebrews 9:28); and hell for those who

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reject the offer. He will not raise people from glory toglory; they will be in ultimate glory; he will end themeans or process of becoming saved; he will makepeople experience having been saved in full. He willremove the veil that makes us know only in part (1COrinthians 13:12)so that Wecan experience the realityof eternity.

This is what Paul meant when he said that oursalvation. i.e. the full eXperience of eternity in glorv isnearer now than when We first believed (Romans13:l1b). So Christ is cOming again the second time. Forwhat? To conSUmmate the process of salvation whichhe launched in his first cOming. But what does it meanto say that Christ is coming again to consummatesalvation? In other words what are Some of the specificthings in~olved in the constunmation of salvation? Whatexactly is Christ COmingto do in 'order to fulfil this pur-pose? What are the actions to be taken in the secondadvent to be the consummation of salvation?

II

Consummation of SalvationSill.ce the whole plan of salvation is being carried outin a process, it should be understood that consumma_tion of salvation is part of the main process; it is there-fore baSically a process. It involves a series of eventsover a period of time culminating finally into ,timeless-ness. It is not an instantaneous incidence. When Jesuscomes again he will do lots of things but they all formpart of the process for the salvation of the total person.And he will do these many things according to the settimes, ordained byGod. HOWever,r wiUnot attempt toarrange the events or actions that Jesus will take in anysequential or chronological order, nor do I desire to

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ite in-depth studies and attempts by Bible scholars torrange the events of the end times in some sequence,ver has any conclusive point among them beenached. Views are as diversified as the attempts. I think

that we should be concerned right now more withknowing what actions Christ will take when he comesgain than try to arrange the actions in some order.

Nevertheless, it is logical "from the evidences inscripture that when Christ comes again he will be pre-occupied with two major activities.(A) Firstly, he will separate and recompense humanityfor, and according to, their responses to God's offer ofsalvation through Christ during the first coming (Rev-elation 22:11,12).(B) Secondly, he will terminate this temporal worldwhile, at the same time, he ushers in eternity in bothheaven and hell.

The Separation and Recompensation (Luke14:14).In this activity, four things will happen:• Rapture - he will welcome his people in the air

(both living and dead).• Judgement of saints - he will judge his people, de-

claring them just and uncondemned.• Rewarding - he will reward his people according to

what they did on earth.• Destruction of the wicked - he will destroy the liv-

ing wicked to join their dead counterparts until thesecond resurrection.Let us explore each event under this divine activityof separating and recompensing the world by theMessiah.

(i) The Great Welcome (Rapture)To Imderstand the purpOse of the Parousia(second

cOming), We have to recau the Work of the Messiah inhis first advent.

During his first sojourn on earth Jesus Promised thedisciples that he would leave them for a while to goand prepare a place for them; after that he would COmeback and take them unto himself to stay With ~~.nwher-ever he would be croha 14:3). So itis not everyone whomJesus would Come to take; he is cOming to take only"his people"; this time "his people" refers to those whobeJieveQ.iUlll'9 aCC~ted him as God's gracious gift ofsalvatiofl~~~ that those who rejected the giftwould not be laken by Jesus. This is what the Bible re-fers to as the separation of humanity; the sorting outof people into two main groups _ those for Christ re-ferred to as sheep or Wheat and those not for Christ re-ferred to as goats or chaff (Matthew 25:32). It is Christwho Will separate humanity, and this he Will do whenhe comes again (Matthew 25:31), at the Rapture.

The process of the separation involves the rising ofthe righteous dead as spiritual immortal beings at theSOunding of the last trumpet (I ThessalOnians 4:16);thenthe liVing righteous Will also change into spiritual im-mortal beings in a twinkling of an eye and also rise tojoin' up with the resurrected ones; together they Willmeet the Messiah in the air, and will be with him for-eVer even as he promised during his first cOming (1TheSSalonians 4:17, 1 COrinthians IS:50-52). For therighteous therefore, tbere Win be no more SOlTOwnordeath (Revelation 21:4). Whlle the righteous people Willbe raptured this way, the Wicked dead Will remaJn intheir graves and the living wicked will suffer many

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hardships and some eventually will die. This is calledthe great tribulation (Revelation 15 and 16). Both willremain in the grave until the second resurrection, afterthe millennium (Revelation 20:4,5). Which of the twogroups do you belong to?' Will you be taken or leftbehind when the Messiah comes again? But what willthe Messiah do to those saints in the Rapture?

(ii) He will Judge his People (2 Timothy 4:1)Because of their belief in, and acceptance of, Christ'sspirit, true Christians will be identified as belonging toChrist (Romans 8:9; Romans 14:8;2 Timothy 2:19) andso their sins have been cleansed by Christ's blood. Thismakes them pass the investigative judgement and sothey will not be condemned to death again (Romans8:1). In fact that is the reason why they will ever, bepart of the first resurrection, in the first place. For oncea person participates in the first resurrection it is alreadya guarantee that only eternal glory awaits him/her afterthe millennium (Revelation 20:6).However, in order thatChristians will be justly recompensed for acts or worksof. faith done in the body, we must all appear before thejudgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive whatis due him for the things he has done while in the body,whether good or bad" (2Corinthians 5:10).In doing thisboth the names and deeds of the people shall be readout from records kept in heaven, for verification(Revelation 20:12). So the people of Christ will be wel-comed in the air; but as' 'they live on with the Messiahhe will judge them not for condemnation but to verifyand justly determine what reward each is to receive.

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(iii) Christ will Reward his People (Luke 14:14)When the verificalive judgement is done then reWardswill be distributed accOrding to the results of the judge-ment. Reward giVing is one of the things Christ will dowhen he comes again. This is Why he said, "Behold ICome soon and my reward is With me, and I will give toeveryone according to what he has donp". Like what?Spiritual service, enduring suffering and labour of life.Whatever the rewards will be, We cannot now leU; butWeknow that they will be better than any Precious giftone can ever think of in this World. For Paul says noeyes have seen nor has any ear heard nor any mindconceived a picture of the good things that the Lordhas kept in stor< for those who honour him (ICorinthians 2:9; 2 COrinthians 3:8). Again, We do notknow what rewards there will be, but We know thatthey will be given according to how We also gave toGod or for God's sake while in the body (Luke 6:38).

If you gave your life, lime and property SParingly toGod or for God's sake, you will also be rewarded spar-ingly; for it is with the measure you measured thatyou will be measured. How areyou giVingnow to CluistOrfor God's work? Can you say like Paul, "Iha"" fOUghtthe gOOd Eight; I have completed the journey; now isleft aWaiting my reward" (2 Tunothy 4:7)1Paul Was sureof his reward; he Was sure it will be of full measure.What about you?

Beloved, the first major Pl"e-Occupation of ChristWhen he comes again will be to take his people to wherehe will be. In doing so he will separate them from non.believers through the Rapture; then he will jUdge themby verifying their deeds with flre and he will give themreward. according to how they hIId given 10 him ear.iier. What is the next thirig he will do?

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')Terminate the Temporal World and Usher in Eternitysaid earlier that the climax of events which willede the second coming of Christ include the work

the antichrist by which there will be aggravation ofil,with curses of God and tribulation for people whofuse to receive the mark (666) or worship (i.e. obey

instructions of )the antichrist. This is to'be the finalgn announcing the revelation of Christ in order tout an end to the power of the antichrist and his fol-wers and then clear the way for the emergence of aew world in which Satanic power will no longerperate. Therefore, apart from welcoming his people

unto himself, Christ will also actively terminate thetemporal world and its ruler and usher in the rule of

od in eternity. This activity will involve the followinglandmarks that cover a period of a thousand years, oftencalled the millennium.Pre-millennium - suffering and death of the

wicked living (the lastseven plagues).

binding of Satan for 1000years. Investigativejudgement of Satan'sfollowers by the saints.thewicked dead resurrectedand Satan loosed;the battle of Gog andMagog;banishment of Satan andthe wicked into hellforever;emergence of the

The millennium

Post Millennium

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new world. Kingdom ofglory for believersforever.

Once again, let us look a little lltore closely into theeVents of this second Pre-ocCUpation of the MeSSiahwhen he Comesagain.

Pre-Millennium ActivitiesWhile the righteous people - both liVing and dead_are raptured, the Wicked dead Will retnain in thei,graves. At the same time the Wicked liVing Will remaiJIin their old body and tnarvel at the events. Not onlyWill they marvel, but the Contrast between their life andthat of Christ and believers Willdawn on them resultingin extraordinary pain of a loss and fear of destruction.JesUs hirnseJt said that when the Wickedsee the MeSsiahCOmingthey WillmoUn, (Matthew 24:30)becaUse ofhim(Revelation1:7). Terror WiUfaU on them because of thetribulation. They Willwish to cry, bot tears WiUnot flow;they WiUseek death to end their lives but Will not lmdit. So shaU they caUon rocks and mountains to fall onthem so as to escape the tetror of the MeSSiah (Revela_tion 6:15-16). Some tnay even seek the Word of God toCOmfort the"" but Will not find it (2 COrinthians 13:8;Daniel 9:24) becaUse Prophecy Will cease; vision Wiijcease; there Will be hunger for God's Word(Amos8:11);Which WiU not be aVailable; insted Wickedness andblasphemy WiUincrease and the hearts of the WickedWiUbe hardened to rePentance(Revelation 16:11).

The Millennium ActivitiesThis is • Significant Period between the first and sec-ond resllrrections. It is said to cover a tUne sPan de-

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'bed as "a thousand years" after the tribulation pl'd. During this period the earth will be laid desolateause Christ will gather all the living wicked and

ut them up in apit orprison (Isaiah24:21-22,Jeremiah:23-26).Their master Satanhimself will be kept boundIso in an abyss on the earth so as not to interfere withhe wicked people (Revelation 20:2-3). It will be a pe-od for sober reflection for both Satan and the wickedople. It is also the time that Satan and wicked people

will be judged. The millennium is a great Sabbath foroth the earth and God's people; and in fact for eventan and the wicked people. All will be at rest.Since the time of creating Man the earth and its in-

habitants have been groaning under the curse of sin andthe oppression of Satan while God has been activelyworking and effecting plans to redeem it. The millen-ium period then, will be a Sabbath of rest and realease;or thus says the prophet concerning the land, "as longs she lay desolate she kept Sabbath" ( 2 Chronicles:21). Also Hebrews 4:9 makes it clear that "theremaineth therefore a rest (i.e. keeping Sabbath) to theople of God". This precedes the new earth. During

the millennium the people of God, who would haven raptured earlier, shall rest from earthly works, but

hall immediately begin heavenly assignments. Theywill be royal priests who will, together with their ChiefPriest and King (the Messiah), judge Satan, the demonsmd all the wicked people shut up in the pit (Revelation0:6;1Corithians 15:24-25; 1 Corinthians 6:2,3). So it is

during the millennium that the fate of the wicked shallfinally declared through verificative judgement, by

hrist and the raptured believers. They will completethis assignment by the end of the "thousand years" pe-

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riod which is also regarded a sabbath day for the eartll(Hebrews. 4:9). Herein lies another difficulty, cont>versyand danger in attempting to date the nearness 0our generation to the cOming of the Messiah. What i,the controversy?

There is a school of thought that as the first sabbath(the seventh day) follOWed six days of God's creationactiVity,so the last sabbath (the millennium period) maypossibly also follow six millennia of human actiVity onearth. This thought is based on a literalistic appropch toConsidering Genesis 2:1-3, that "God rested on ttle sev-enth day" after six days of creation; and 2 Peter 3:8,that "a day and thousand yean; are but one thing in thesight of God". The argtl1nent is then advanced that if aday be like 1,000years before God, then the 6,000 yearspresumed for human actiVity on earth is like six days ofGod's actiVity; and hence the next seventh 1,000 yearsof rest for Man Could be like the seventh day rest forGod.ln that caSe since Man's actiVity has entered thesixth millennium in OUrgeneration WeCannot butfhinkthat OUrgeneration is much closer to the Parousia,whichmustPl"eCede the millennium sabbath. I find many prob..lems aSSOCiatedWith this school of thought and ap-proach to eSchatolOgical dating. Basically, as I have ex-plained elsewhere, most eSchatolOgical descriptions oftime have either or both literal and! or figurative mea-nings. It is not easy to identify which is which till afterthe events they allUde to have come to pass. Thus topeg it literally that 1,000 years is equivalent to one daydefinitely challenges the chronological determinationof certain other bibliCal eVents vis-.-Vis the known his-tork facts they allUde to. Secondly, SUcha literaJl.~c ap-Proach presupposes that Godresled immediately after

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ixth day of creation; hence the millennium sabbatht immediately follow the sixth millennium of hu-

n activity on earth. But we have considered earliert the millennium sabbath shall follow the tribulationod, within which time the anti-christ shall establish"Awful Horror" in the Jerusalem Temple. Since nei-r the temple nor tribulation has yet been started it isicult to suppose that the millenium sabbath shall

mediately occur in our generation which is suppos-Iywitnessing the end of the sixth millennium of hu-n activity on earth. Moreover there is no report ofsaints, who will be engaged in heavenly assessment

uring the millennium, having been already raptureda prior event to the millennium Sabbath. This is myinion on the matter. What do you think of it? Whileu struggle it out let me complete the argument of the

teralists so that you can meditate on the full Jiscoursegether, In a further effort to prove that our generationclose to the Messiah's coming, the literalists explaintwithin the supposed six millenia of human history

n earth there have been two spectacular events, eachcurring at the peak of a cycle of 2,000 years. There

was the deluge 2,000 years afterAdam was created, dur-ng which 'the historic flood destroyed all property andlife on the earth save Noah, his family of eight and some

lected animals (Genesis 7:6-8). About 2;000 years afterthe deluge there was the spectacle of God being incar-nated in the flesh, the Man Jesus, to dwell among hu-mans (first advent), and whose activities were observedby people at the time to have "turned the whole worldupside down" (Acts 16:20-21). Now since the advent ofthe God-Man (lesus Christ) into our world it is aboutnother 2000 years ending in our generation. Accord-

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ingly it is proposed that the probability of anotherworld-stunning event in our generation cannot be ruledout easily. And why not if that be the second advent (ofJesus Christ) especially the rapture which will precedethe millennium Sabbath? Again much as I have no prob-lem with the historic events in the argument, the basicproblem with the accuracy and conclusions of datinghuman history on earth poses a difficulty in conclud-ing on the regularity and length of the intervals at whichthey Occurred. Moreover it is not certain whether thephenomenon of a spectacular world event in every 2000years is so divinely ordained that supposing ourgeneration is the peak of another 2,000 year cyclethen aspectacular world event (like the parousia)mustdefinitely Occur without fail.

These difficulties notwithstanding there is no doubtthat the two events mentioned had occurred in humanhistory and they were indeed, spectacular enough tostun the world. No doubt God was behind each one.And as we observed earlier, he must have used them astemporal interventions in dealing with sin which is theresult of the anti-christ 's work on earth. And if Godbeing God, regards the level of sin in our generation asat another peak enough to warrant another intervention

.- possibly the final- dealing with it by sending Christto destroy the works of the devil (Ijohn 3:8) can youafford to doubt it? What do you say? You may agreewith me that with all the clouds of uncertainty it isdangerous to be conclusive on a date relating to theMessiah's second corning. Oh yes! However, don't youthink it is more dangerous, for want of certainty, to beskeptical? I think so, for you might throwaway the babytogether with the bath-water. Youmay stand the greater

62

danger of eventually disbelieving even the p()!1~ibililof the event ever occurring at all let alone in vowgeneration.

But remember what I have said over and over againwe may not know the hour when he will come, but wealso do not know for sure a generation in which he willnot come. Remember God is God, and his ways andthoughts are not ours (Isaiah 55:8). Who can challengehim if in his all-knowing wisdom, whether all signspredicted to precede the second advent have been ful-filled or not, he finds our generation the appropriatetime to send back the Christ? Will an attitude of

adiness not be safer just because any hoar can be thehour? It does not matter your attitude; the Messiah willorne and may come in your generation. To do what?o judge the wicked and Satan during the millennium,ft% ta~g.his own unto himself during the Rapture.

te/ttf{I:iliITennium Christ and his saints will descendom heaven. Then Satan and his demons as well as the

wicked people will be realeased (Revelation 20:7-8). Atthe same time the wicked dead will resurrect into im-

ortal beings. This is called the second resurrection(Revelation 20:5). Then Satan, having not repented dur-:ng the millennium, will go again to blaspheme Godnd deceive the people to do the same (Revelation 20:8). The wicked people will also follow him again,

howing that it will still be impossible for them to re-nt, even after 1,000 years of suffering in a pit andber reflection. In other words, if you do not repent of)ur sins before Christ comes again you cannot repent

n, even if you wish to do so. Now is the time of; now Christ is interceding for you, now you canrdoned for every confessed sin. So confess now

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[

or never. Repent now or never!! Believe now or never;accept Christ now and so be one of his saints to partici-pate in the first resurrection during the rapture. Other-wise you will suffer the damnable fate of the wicked.

You cannot change for the better then. You shall be-come more wicked and hate God and the saints so muchso that you and all the wicked and Satan will gather inbattle against Christ and his saints. This is the final bat-tle between Christ and Satan; it is called the battle ofArmageddon (Revelation 20:7-9). As the battle of Ar-mageddon proceeds, fire will come from heaven to de-vour Satan and the wicked people, who by this timehave received immortal bodies. So while the fire devoursthem they never will get burnt or die. No! They, like thesaints can no longer die because death would have beendestroyed (1 Corinthians 15:54). Both Satan and thewicked shall then forever be pushed into an abodewhere the fire continues to bum and they will be tor-mented forever and ever (Revelation 20:10);yet will notdie. What a pity! They will be separated from real life-God- forever. This is the second death.

But before being pushed into the everlasting infernoas an abode for Satan and the wicked, the fire that willcome from God in heaven will also cleanse the entireearth by melting away all remnants of the old earthwhich may be inimical to the saints. The last enemy tobe so destroyed will be death.

As Isaiah puts it: "the heavens will vanish like smoke,the earth will wear out like' 'garment, and its inhabit-ants die like flies" (Isaiah 51:6, 1 Corinthians15:'26, 54).A new earth will then emerge to replace the ·old andbecome the new abode of the saints forever (Isaiah 51:6,

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Revelation 21:1). This will then be the paradise! wh'Chwas originally meant for them, but which was lost wi lenSatan introduced sin in the-first paradise. Life Oil ,"inew earth will be glorious - sinless, full of joy nudreal satisfaction (Revelation 21:22-27). The intcndt'lleasy communication between heaven and earth and between God and his people which was lost in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8-9) will be restored. God willonce more be literally present with his people so muchso that heaven and earth would appear to be just oneplace with God himSelf being the centre and source ofits existence and light. As John describes it, "Now thedwelling of God is with men and he will live with themand be their God" (Revelation 21:3b). Therefore therewill be no more pains, crying, sorrows, nor death, be-cause all the former things would have passed awaywith the old earth (Revelation 21:4). Praise be to ourGod! He has promised and will do it; in fact he hasalready done it (Revelation 21:6), only waiting to be re-vealed soon. Glory Haleluya! Amen.

Yes the Messiah will come again - why? Because heis coming to consummate the salvation process helauncned during his first coming. In doing this he willtake two major actions; he will>• First _ separate those who are his and hoping f(1)]him, from the wicked people in a mysterious proc.es~called Rapture. The raptured saints will be judged t(determine the measure of reward they deserve: 'tU\<then the rewards will be distributed to them: some tl

high positions etc.• Secondly _ terminate the old temporal world anusher in a new eternal world by judging, and puni

s1

ing Satan and his wicked followers ih everlasting fu

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flIi nace, after a "1000" years; melting away the old earth

with fire, and finally bringing down the new heavenand earth.

But if Christ is cOming again, he is cOmingliterally inthe air and he will come SOOnto take the saints to heavenwhile the wicked will be punished in hell. So What?How does this affect you now? Wha.tmust you do? Weshall consider What we should da in the next chapter.

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CHAPTER FIVE

THE MESSIAH IS COMING AGAIN:SO WHAT?

Summing UpWe concluded our discussions on the second coming ofChrist in the previous chapter. But what have we learn tso far?- The theme is relevant in rekindling our faith to urge

us to live in expectation of his corning,Although there are many acclaimed Messiahs, thereis only one true Messiah - Jesus Christ. He prom-ised about 2000 years ago to return and so will comeagain.The second advent of Christ will be in an hour thatno creaturely being can predict; but the prophesiedsigns of the period are being fulfilled so fast and insuch full measure that we believe our generationmay possibly be nearer the hour than before.When Christ comes again it will be open and literal;visible and audible. Many if not all including the deadwill notice it . But while the righteous will rejoice,the wicked will be surprised, alarmed and terrified.There are three main purposes for the second com

ing of Christ:-.• to rapture his people out of the earth to heaven and

reward them for things done in their bodies;• to terminate the power of Satan and his agents - sin

and death, after a millennium of desolation of theearth and the battle of Armageddon;

• to usher in eternity by calling forth a new heavenand new earth where the raptured saints shall dWl'11

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forever in (heaven), while Satan and the wicked shalldwell forever in hell.So you have learnt these great truths about the ~_

ond coming of Christ. I'm sure you believe them too.So what? What is the use of the lessons to you? Whatwill you do with them hereafter. In fact do you reallyhave to do anyt,hing because you now believe the morethat Jesus Christ - the Messiah - is corning again?Our topic in this chapter is:

Yes! The Messiah is Coming Again - So What?If you ask me whether you have to do anything withthese lessons my answer will be "Yes!" You have eve-rything and all things to do that must make you sure ofyour fate in relation to the Rapture and Revelation ofChrist. This is because you must remember that whenwe introduced the theme I emphasised that we chosethe theme because it has a direct repercussion on yourlife today in temporality and for your life tomorrow ineternity. What you do today, how you conduct your lifetoday, depends on what you believe or fear about to-morrow. If you have really been convinced and there-fore believed, from the previous chapters, that JesusChrist of Nazareth will come again as the Messiah; ifyou did and still do believe that he will come soon, qui-etly and graciously for the saints, then later all thewicked will notice him; if you did and do believe thatwhen he comes he will separate people into two: thesaints and the wicked - the saints he will lead intoheaven, to live eternally in bliss (glory); the wicked hewill later punish into hell to live eternally in torment offire; if you believe all these, I wonder how you cannotsee the need for you to do something. For to foreknow

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is to be forewarned and to be forewarned is It) Iforearmed to defend your life. No, you must be [okluif you feel you have nothing to do, after reading Ih Ifar.For if you have really understood the lessons so fill

I guess you should have realised by now that thultimate purpose of Christ's coming again will be tomake you live or have life eternally; but there are twooptions for this eternity: heaven or hell i.e., glory ortorment; joy or suffering forever and ever, in timelessness. No end! You should have understood by now thatyou have only one chance - i.e. one life in this currenttemporal world - to choose one option for eternity;and what you choose yourself is what you will receive;because what you sow is exactly what you reap ( Job4:8). If you choose to believe you will not be condemned;if you choose not to believe you stand condemned al-ready (john ~:18). But what you _probably do not knowor think of seriously is that ~u cannot refuse to makea choice. The truth is that ei .h person will by all meanssee himself or herself in one of these two places; thereis no third or mid-option. There are only two and youwill be in one otthem whether you like it or not; whetheryou make a choice or not. In other words you have b~engiven the chance to actively make a choice of one of theoptions in this life. If however you are passive in decid-ing, by that action alone you have already made achoice, the choice of hell. For Christ said the conduct ofyour life must be either hot or cold depicting your beliefor disbelief respectively; don't be lukewarm or else vouwill be thrown out (Revelation 3:15-16). If there are onlv"hot" and "cold" options; and if the "hot" is the optionsuggested by Christ, then he will spit out those who "••••lukewarm. To where? Of course to join the "cold"

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lIil

you see, your refusal to take advantage of theopportunity at your disposal now to make an activepositive choice for heaven will definitely andautomatically be your choice for hell.

So if you refuse to do something with the lessons,they will do something for you. They will choose hellfor you. This is why I feel that if you really believe inthe second coming of Christ and all that it means to yourlife tomorrow, then you must do something, and do itnow.

Maybe it is because you don't know what you cando. Therefore you are saying Yes, the Lord is comingagain, but what? What does that have to do with me?Once I know it and believe it, it is enough. What else doI have to do? But consider this: When Moses finishedreminding the people of Israel about the command-ments that God handed over to him, he made it clearthat it was like placing before them good and bad; bless-ings and curses or life and death; to serve God or rejecthim; and he gave them the opportunity to make a freechoice (Deuteronomy 30:19). Similarly Joshua also gavea personal advice that it would be better if the Israel-ites chose God, blessing, life and service to God; buteven if they refused, he and his household would servethe Lord (Joshua 24:15). Permit me to be a Joshua foryou today. By God's grace I have placed before you thetruths about the second coming of Christ. I concludedwith the implications of this event: It is imminent, itwill settle you in either heaven or hell; and that youhave one and only one chance - l.e, whilst you havelife in this temporal world; in death there will be nochance to make a choice of which of the two placesshould be your abode in eternity. Like Joshua permit

7(1

me to advise you, if you are finding it difficult to knowwhat to do. My advice is that since you are still 'alivenow, this is the time, and probably the best opportunityto determine your etemal abode. Choose heaven; andthat means, live your life in expectation of Christ's com-ing to take you to his heavenly home. Therefore if youask: "The Messiah is coming again - so what?" myanswer is "So you must live in expectation of his com-ing". I believe this is the same approach of Peter afterwriting on the second coming of Christ and its conse-quences or signs in 2 Peter 3:10. Then in v.n he asked:"since everything will be so destroyed what kind ofpeople ought you to be? You ought to live holy, godlylives in expectation of his coming"· But what does itmean to live holy and godly lives? It involves, in a nut-shell, a Christian attitude or conduct of life, which'assures you of a good standing when the Messiah comesagain. With your permission may I suggest some of theseChristian attitudes you should have. First hold yourselfin hopeful readiness by being bom again (MattheW

24:44).

Be ReadySuppose'a friend.residefit abroad, writes to inform youof his intention to come in a short time, without a spe-cific date to take you along with him. He also said tha twhen he comes he will not spend much time in Ghana;he will hurriedly retum abroad. Suppose you agree togo with him, what should you do now? Sit down andlook into the air, and be happy because of his goodnews? I think if you do so your happiness may eventu-ally turn into sadness. Why? Because your friend maycome and leave you if you are not ready for him. ficin~

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!Ii

..--

dication of approval by and from the country YOll 1'\'plied or requested to visit, that you will be welconwdinto that country under specified conditions. Heaven IS

, country with the strictest immigration laws. Cencr-"ny no immigrants enter heaven from other countriesl.xcept its own citizens. In other words only citizens ofheaven can go out and come into the country. If anyforeigner wishes to enter, let alone go to abide there,he/she must first find a means of becoming a citizen ofheaven genuinely. On this earth, citizenship can be ei-ther by birth or naturalisation. For heaven, citizenshipis only by birth. Thus if you are born physically on thisearth and you wish to go with Jesus to heaven when hecomes, then you must be born again i.e. have a newbirth in accoraance with the law of heaven. The law ofheaven requires that human beings from the earthshould be born again to become citizens of heavenwhilst yet on earth by receiving the spirit of Christ. Foronly Christ came from heaven onto earth, born by thepower of the Holy Spirit; so that in a similar way, hisSpirit can empower the birth ( i.e. a miraculous innertransformation) of a human being on earth to be a citi-zen of heaven. He was the head of heaven's citizens onearth. But to receive the Spirit of Christ requires thatyou first have your sins washed in and with the bloodof Christ. This is done by believing in his substitution,sacrificial and atoning death on the cross. This shouldbe symbolically celebrated in baptism where the wash-ing of water signifies your faithful acceptance of hav-ing been washed by the blood of Christ. The process ofbeing born as a citizen of heaven on earth therefore

involves:_ recognising that sin has alienated you from heaven;

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I ready in this sense would involve basically travel prepa-rations:- you will have to acquire _or renew your passport.- you will have to fulfil other immigration require-

ments like checking your health, collecting visas etc.The visa once issued indicates that all vital inforrna-.tion on you is put onto a computer in the country ofyour destination.

- you probably mayhave to get at least one set ofclothes appropriate for the weather abroad.You just must get yourself ready between the time

your friend's news came and when he will finally comehimself. And you must start the preparation immedi-ately because you do not know how soon is his" soon".So it is with the second coming of Christ. I have alreadyadvised you to choose heaven i.e.rto go and stay with-Christ when he comes again.J believe you h...ve takenmy advice. If so then you must go further from merelyaccepting the advice with joy, to act on it, if your joyshould not turn to sadness. You must hold yourself inreadiness for Christ. You must acquire your passportand visa, without which you cannot travel into the heav-enly country. You must acquire the appropriate cover-cloth to cope with the weather there. But what is thepassport to heaven? What is the visa to heaven? Andwhat is the clothing to wear? A passport is a documentthat identifies you as belonging to a certain nation, andenables you to enjoy the right of being presented byyour Head of State to immigration authorities of theother country or consulates of your own country in an-other country (where you intend to visit) to protect youand assist you with any needs that may make your traveland sojourn in that country satisfactory. A visa is an in-

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- believing in the sacrificial death of Christ for sin;- repenting, confessing and accepting the washing of

your sin by the blood of Christ;- inviting the spirit of Christ to effect the citizenship

transformation, by renewing your mind to be con-cerned about heavenliness;

- a retentiori of the Spirit of Christ in you as a guarantee of your heavenly citizenship by obeying him.The moment this happens your name is registered

in ·the census book in heaven, that big register calledthe Book of Life. Once you become born-again angelscarry the message immediately for your name to be reg-istered in heaven so that you can be identified as nointruder at the frontier when you finally arrive. Thisregistration of your name indicates a grant of your visa;but just as visas are normally stamped in the passport,so your visa will be stamped on you as a new-bornperson. The stamped visa is the presence of Christ'sspirit in you. And just as a visa guarantees acceptancein the country of immigration so also and even morethan that the Holy Spirit guarantees both yourmembership of Christ's heavenly family (Romans 8:9)and hope for being allowed entry into heaven (glory)eventually (Colossians 1:27). This then is both yourpassport and visa - new birth and indwelling of theHoly Spirit - respectively without which you justcannot enter heaven (Iohn 3:3-5). Therefore if you re-ally desire to go to heaven with Jesus when he comesagain, you must be ready for him; you must be sureyou have your passport and visa; you must be bornagain, and you must be spirit-filled always. Butyou alsoneed to have the right clothing to suit the weatherconditions in heaven. However don't worry about that.

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Christ himself will provide it by changing your earth Ibody into a spiritual body the day he comes to take you.In a moment he will change your earthly clothing witha spiritual one fitting for your new abode in heaven (1Corinthians15:35,42-53).

Remember that though we do not know the exacthour tha; Christ will come again for his people, we alsodo not know of any hour during which the precedingevents cannot commence. Therefore act now. Nowmay be your time. If you have not yet experienced thenew birth; if you have not at any time invited the Spiritof Christ to come into you, to change you, dwell in youand to have your name computerised in heaven, thenseek your new birthright here and now so that you cango to heaven when Christ comes again. Believe Jesusdied for your sins; confess and accept the forgivenessof Jesus; be determined not to go back to the confessedsins. Ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life accord-ing to his promise and command (Romans 3:20); askthe Holy Spirit to write your name in the Book of Life;believe that this request has just been met. So thank Je-sus! for giving you new birth. Why don't you pausehere and do just that now! God bless you. But supposeChrist decides to wait a few more moments after yournew birth, what must you be doing?

Strive to Stand Firm for Christ up to the End (1 John2:28)After you are sure of your new birth, if Christ does notcome for you immediately, and for as long as he tarri••.•,you must strive to stand firm in your new state, desp! tall oppositions and temptations that may come YOtway, till the day he comes. Remember Ih"l bNWI1{'n III

day that the Lord impresses the mystery of the Raptureon you and the day that it will dawn, you are in a pro-bation period during which God the President ofHeaven will examine your records to decide on youracceptance into his country. Fortunately Christ, who willcome for you at the Rapture time" is at the moment inheaven interceding and mediating, as an advocate orlawyer presenting your case in a way to end up in yourfavour. If so you cannot disappoint him or yourself bybeing negligent in your conduct. Every reasonable pro-bationer strives to present his/her best against all oddsduring the period in order to win recommendation forand the eventual confirmation of appointment. You arenot an exception. You are on probation, and althoughbecause of Christ's advocacy, your probation cannotend in the termination of your appointment (for heaven-going) you cannot afford to live anyhow. For such neg-ligence may put you to shame and cost you the rewardi.e. position or crown after entering heaven (1John 2:28).So you must stand firmly to the end. But in striving tostand firm what specifically do you do? Permit me toenumerate a few things here:

(a) Live Obedient and Blameless Lives (1Thessalonians5:23,1 John 3:2 & 3,1 Timothy 6:14)

YourDefensive ActionThe main characteristic difference between the citizensof heaven and those of the earth is the question of right-eousness and sin respectively.

Heaven is a country of purity, cleanliness, righteous-ness and obedience. In fact the first condition for enter-ing heaven is obedience. And the nature of the place isa decree in itself against the entrance of any impurity

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any form of disobedience. In other words by virtuef the holiness or purity and cleanliness in heaven nonholy or disobedient being can enter it even if the fron--rs were thrown open (Revelation 21:25-27). Satan

nows this truth; and so being your enemy, will try toislead, deceive or even sometimes subtly compel youconduct yourself-in disobedience to God. His inten-

on is and has always been how to get a point to accusend blame you in the presence of God in an attempt to

vent your entrance into heaven Gob 1:6-12).His planto make your new robe, sewn potentially for you at

he new birth, to become dirty, blemished and impure.erefore you must watch out and endeavour to con-

tantly defend and protect your passport and visa and-wash your robe in the only solvent that removes sin

tains - the blood of Jesus (Revelation 22:14).Because of the enemy, you must always be on guard

nd defend your new status as a citizen of heaven. ThisaIls, practically, for a form of spiritual breathing. In

breathing we expire stale air out of the lungs, and in-pire fresh air into the lungs. To get your robe clean,

pure and without blemish, expire the dirt of sin out ofit by recognising and confessing the sin. If you are trulyborn again, the Holy Spirit, who is the stamp for theheavenly visa in you, will constantly investigate yourthoughts and actions and prick your conscience aboutwhen and where sin has stained or is about to stainyour robe. Once you become so aware, act spontane-ously to breathe out i.e. confess the sin. Agree that youwere wrong; feel sorry for the wrong and ask forgivenessfor the wrong. I tell you Christ will not only forgive putalso cleanse you from all other abominations (Ijohn1:8,9).

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But when you breathe out sin, you must breathe inthe word of God, which is the food of the Holy Spiritthat keeps watch over your conduct. Recall into memoryscriptural verses or texts that can encourage you aboutthe struggle you'are in with Satan. You could read, medi-tate or sing it out in a song. In this way you feed yourbrain with heavenliness (2 Corinthians 4:18) and thisempowers you to feel alive with a good standing withGod, at least in that hour should Christ arrive then.For Jesus explained that God's word is spirit that puri-fies and returns life to a believing sinner (john 6:23).But since prevention is better than cure, it is still betterfor you to be alert (Matthew 24:34-36). This is what Je-sus meant when he taught that an eye that causes youto sin must be pulled out; and if you go to heaven withone eye it must be better than keep both eyes and landin hell (Matthew 5:30). You have to exercise spiritualdiscipline and self control i.e. do things to enable youto be insulated against the temptations and trials orsnares that can lead to backsliding. Some specific thingsto do in spiritual discipline include:- Never doubting your salvation.- Recognising your new status in Christ always(Ephesians 2:8; 6:17, James 1:8).- Strengthening yourself always through prayer, fast-ing, and feeding regularly on the word of God (lPeter2:2, Deuteronomy17:19).- Seeking to be filled regularly with the Holy Spirit(Zechariah 4:6; Acts 4:31, Ephesians 5:18).- Maintaining fellowship with fellow Christians in thechurch (Psalm 19:63; Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 27:17).- Striving to stay in holiness and in purity all the time(Ephesians 5:27, Hebrews12:14) without which you can-

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not see God. Flee the evil desires of youth (2 Timothy:22).Shunning the world and worldliness i.e. avoid en-

toying and partaking in amusements of unbelievers suchs forms of dressing, music, celebrations etc. Be heav-nlyminded (lJohn2:15-16; Colossians 3:1-2;James 4:4),nd tame your tongue Games 3:1-12). Avoid godless

talks or else you become more and more godless (2Timothy 2:16).

(b) Work With Diligence to Please the LordYour Offensive-Action

Let me remind you once more that having acquired citi-zenship through new birth with the spirit of Christ, theanti-Christ sees you as an enemy just like he sees Christ,your Family Head. And your life henceforth will be thatof a Christian soldier (always engaged in spiritual bat-tle against Satan and his demons, using spiritualweapons, 2 Timothy 2-3, Ephesians 6:10-20). However,the battle has been won already in principle for you byyour Family Head - Jesus Christ (john 16:33) whotherefore guides and protects you during your strug-gles, along the path of his victory until you escape ordefeat the fiery darts of the enemy (Psalm 34:7, 2Chronicles 32:8). So you do not only have to fight adefensive battle to protect your new status as a citizenof heaven and the holy garment thus put on you, butyou also must offend the enemy in doing things thatglorify your Family Head and Captain - Christ - SQ

as to please him. Every soldier disciplines himself notonly because he wants to preserve or maintain his mili-tary fitness, but more so to use that fitness in opera-tions that please his commanding officer (2Timothy 2:4).

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So it is with you; having learnt to be self-controlled anddisciplined in order to defend or maintain your newstatus in Christ, you must-go further to use the strength.derived from this status to work diligently so as to pleaseChrist. In this way you offend the enemy by doing thegood works for which you were born-again (Ephesians2:10),but which the enemy wished you did not do. Whatare these works and how do you db them? Permit meto suggest a few; you will get to know more as you strivehard to stand firm with the basic defensive and offensive weapons that we have discussed. Suffice it here toknow of and do the following:Be a faithful and fruitful steward: an ambassador of Christon earth (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Because of your new status as a citizen of heaven,you become more of an alien on earth. Thus you live onearth but you are no longer of the earth. Your lifetimehere is like the sojourn of a stranger just passing throughon his/her way back home. Your work during that pe-riod on earth is therefore that of an ambassador of theheavenly Kingdom of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Butevery' ambassador is only a representative or stewardof his country, entrusted with the concerns of that coun-try. And it is required of him/her, being of such a highlyrecognised and trusted position, to be faithful in attend-ing to 'matters from or of his/he! country. And he mustdo it so effectively as to bring expected results for whichthe mission has'been set in that country. He must be incontact with home to be updated with the latest devel-opments. So being an ambassador of Christ on earthyou can work diligently to please Christ by being a faith-ful and fruitful steward of the heavenly concerns' en-trusted to you (2 Corinthians 4:1-2, Luke 19:13). You

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nll~t be in contact with the heavenly events throughniblt' study, prayer, church services etc. Armed with suchuthority from your government, you must make yourII III try attractive to foreign investors. In some way, you

'\1'(' .m ambassador of Christ on earth; you must makeheaven attractive to others: '

Witness to save soulsCod is concerned about the salvation of all through

'hrist, using you (2 Corinthians 5:19-21, JohnIS;8)., Be generous to all

1Ielp the poor and needy; and do good to even yourenemies, using the resources God has given youl'.g., money, time, wisdom, strength etc. (Luke 6:27-35;Romans 12:20).

Render ServiceBe not idle but find the area in which you are gifted

to render service in the church, community etc.(Ephesians 2:10 Matthew 5:16).

One more point. If you are prepared to fight on as ahristian soldier, then you must

(c) Have a Settled Faith and Wait Patientlyon' t forge~at your enemy will never give up as long

as you remain a citizen of heaven sojourning on earth,waiting for Christ to come and lead you home. Hewished you never got to that celestial home. He wishedyou would join him to stand against those in the celes-tial country. Therefore the more he sees your defensive,and offensive efforts to keep standing firm the more hedevises the finest way of weakening and nullifying youreffort. One such way is to make you doubt and so aban-don the hope of ever going to a heavenly country; or

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make you believe that Christ will not come for you afterall; or that Christ will come but not now, not in yourlifetime, so that there is no need to worry. He may dothis by either causing or utilising unfortunate circum-stances on you e.g. sickness, poverty, or any kind ofunjust suffering (lPeter 2:20). He may make you un-necessarily sceptical and critical, finding no solid basiswhy you should believe the "nonsense" idea of Christ<coming again. And as we saw earlier he may let yourfriends act as scoffers who will make mockery of youfor believing in an event that has been spoken of sev-eral times and yet which never happens (1 Peter 3:3).

You must learn to remain firm in all these by settlingit down in your heart that what you believed aboutChrist and his second coming to be the truth, the wholetruth and nothing but the truth (Isaiah 50:7). And donot count the unjust sufferings as any evil or cause formurmuring. For they will rather help you if you endureto become more steadfast in your faith (1 Peter 5:10).When your faith is made steadfast you can waitpatiently (1 Corinthians1:7) and expect joyfully thatChrist will surely come no matter how long or short ittakes (Titus 2:13);and when he comes you will be heavenlbound. God bless you.• Jesus Christ will come again soon and very soon.• He will come to rapture the saints first, leaving the

wicked to suffer from the antichrist, before "1,000"years of sabbath (about 1,000 years) of rebellion?

• Although some Jews will have the opportunity to besaved during the tribulation period, no Gentiles willbe saved if they did not partake in the first resurrec-tion and Rapture.

• To qualify for the Rapture you must respond posi-

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lively to the salvation offer in Jesus now in this lifebefore you die, which death can occur any time.Ihose not raptured will suffer eternally in hell even-Iually. It is advisable to choose eternal life in heaven.

Bill if you must go to heaven then you must first ac-quire citizenship of heaven. How?(.,) Get ready now - by being born again, and beingfilled with the Holy Spirit.(b) Strive to stand firm in your new birth to the end by• living an obedient and holy life;• working diligently to please the Lord;• having a settled faith and waiting patiently for him.For everyone who is waiting for him, the Messiah gave.\ final admonition: "Watch and Pray ... " (Matthew24:36-51).

So Watch and Pray because you don't know the hour.May the Lord who wants you to be with him in heavenhelp prepare you now before he comes again to takeyou home and pray that he takes me along too. See youthere! Amen.

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