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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE SECOND
COMING 1Th 3:13; Rev 19:11-16 (5/22/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I.
EXPOSITION OF 1Th 3:13 A.
Paul finishes his benediction/prayer
with verse 13. In this benediction/prayer (1Th 3:11-13), Paul asks God to
direct his way to Thessalonica (11), for the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth
in love and ministry for one another (12), and that they would be
established, blameless, and holy at the coming of the Lord (13). B.
Paul asks that they would be
“established” which is the Greek word stêrízō and means to support
or make firm. Paul’s desire is that God would make their hearts firm and
grounded in the knowledge of the Word. That knowledge is to enable them to
live a holy (hagiōsúnê
- holiness, dedication) and blameless (ámemptos - without fault
before God and man) life
before God. C.
They were to live holy and blameless
lives up until the “coming” (parousía
- “lit. “being alongside, coming, or arrival) of the Lord Jesus. Parousía was used for both the
Rapture (1Th 2:19; 4:15) and the Second Coming (2Th 2:8). To which event does
1Th 3:13 refer? Through inductive Bible study, it appears to be the Rapture. 1.
“At His Coming,” His “saints”
will accompany Him (tōn hagiōn - lit. “holy ones).
“Holy ones” can allude to angels (Deu 33:2; Mat 16:27) or believers (1Co 1:2;
6:1-3). 2.
However, Paul only used tōn hagiōn with reference to
believers and 1Th 3:13 would be no exception. 3.
Still if the “saints” refer to
believers, how could believers be waiting for Christ and at the same time
come with Christ? 4.
“Saints” would refer to the
saints (believers) who have fallen asleep (1Th 4:13), who will rise first (1Th
4:15), and who will return with the Lord at the Rapture (1Th 4:14). 5.
The holy ones accompanying Christ at His coming are probably the
souls of the saints who have departed this life and gone to be with Christ,
whose bodies will be resurrected when He comes (1Th 4:16). That is, they are
Christians rather than angels. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) D.
Even though 1Th 3:13 refers to
the Rapture and not the Second Coming, we will at this point address the
“Doctrine of the Second Coming” since we will more appropriately address the
Rapture in 1Th 4:16-17. E.
The scheme of the
eschatological themes at the end of each chapter in 1 Thessalonians are: 1.
The Doctrine of the Imminent
Return of Christ (1Th 1:10) 2.
The Doctrine of the
Tribulation (1Th 2:19-20) 3.
The Doctrine of the Second
Coming (1Th 3:13) 4.
The Doctrine of the Rapture
(1Th 4:16-17) 5.
The Doctrine of the Day of the
Lord (1Th 5:2) II.
CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE
SECOND COMING A.
1st Coming of Christ (Joh 1:1,
14) B.
Cross (Gal 4:4) C.
Church Age (Rom 11:25) D.
Rapture (1Th 4:13-17) E.
Tribulation (Mat 24:21) F.
2nd Coming of Christ (Rev 19:11-16) G.
Battle Of Armageddon (Rev
16:13-16) H.
The Millennium (Rev 20:1-7) I.
Great White Throne Judgment
(Rev 20:11) J.
Lake Of Fire (Rev 20:13) K.
New Heaven And New Earth (Rev
21:1-4) III.
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF
SECOND COMING A.
General mention of His Second
Coming 1.
The Second Coming is a major
theme in the Old and New Testament and is as major a doctrine as the Christ’s
First Advent. 2.
Books: Genesis, Numbers,
Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos,
Micah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. 3.
Reference: “Promise of Christ’s
Return in O.T. Chart” - LaHaye’s Prophecy Study Bible B.
Specific mention of His Second
Coming 1.
In Isaiah (Isa 26:21; 66:15) 2.
In Daniel (Dan 7:13-14) 3.
In Micah (Mic 1:3) 4.
In Zechariah (Zec 2:10) 5.
In Malachi (Mal 3:2; 4:1) IV.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND
COMING A.
Christ will return in power and
glory (Mat 24:30; Luk 21:27; Rev 19:12). B.
Christ will return in the
clouds (“on” Mat 26:64; “in” Mar 13:26; “with” Mar
14:62; Act 1:9-11; Rev 1:7). C.
Christ will return with an
angelic host and the saints (“angels” - Mat 16:27; “believers”
-Rev 19:14 cp. 19:7-8; “holy ones” - Zec 14:5; Jude 14). D.
Christ will return like a thief in the night (Luk 12:39-40;
Mt 24:43-44; Rev 16:15). E.
Christ will return ready for battle and judgment
(Rev 19:11). F.
Christ will return visibly to the earth (Zec 14:4;
Rev 1:7). V.
PURPOSE OF THE SECOND COMING A.
To reveal the person and glory
of Christ (Zec 14:5; Col 3:4; 2Th 1:10). B.
To rescue and restore Israel (Joe
2:32; Zec 8:7; Rom 11:25-26 cp. Isa 59:20). C.
To bring defeat to Satan and
his program (2Th 2:8; Rev 19:19-21; 20:1-2). D.
To bring wrath and judgment
upon ungodly nations (Psa 2; Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3; Mat 25:32) E.
To usher in the promised
Millennium (Dan 7:13-14; Mat 25:31; 2Ti 4:1). VI.
RAMIFICATIONS OF THE SECOND
COMING A.
It admonishes the believer to
watch and wait for the Lord (Mat 24:42-44; 1Th 1:10; Tit 2:13). B.
It admonishes the believer to
labor for the Lord (Luk 19:13; 1Th 1:3). C.
It admonishes the believer to
live holy (Tit 2:11-14; 2Pe 3:11). D.
It admonishes the believer to
witness (Luk 9:26). E.
It admonishes the believer to not
be troubled (Joh 14:1-3; Jam 5:7-8). |
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