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The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ, an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy such as the resurrection of the dead, last judgment and full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the "Reign of God"), including the Messianic Age. Views about the nature of this return vary among Christian denominations. The original Greek of the New Testament uses the term Parousia (παρουσία), the "appearance and subsequent presence with" (in the ancient world referring to official visits by royalty). The Second Coming is also referred to as the Second Advent, from the Latin term "adventus," for "coming." Teachings about the last things comprise Christian eschatology. Along with Christ at His coming will be His Bride, the Church, His Saints from this Dispensation of Grace, having just left from the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Christians use a range of names for this concept of Jesus Christ's coming or return, drawing on a range of Biblical images. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on General Judgment: "In the New Testament the second Parousia, or coming of Christ as Judge of the world, is an oft-repeated doctrine. The Saviour Himself not only foretells the event but graphically portrays its circumstances ( sqq.
[ ]; sqq.
[ ]). The Apostles give a most prominent place to this doctrine in their preaching (,) and writings (, ; ; ; ; ; ). Besides the name Parusia (parousia), or Advent (; ), the second coming is also called Epiphany, epiphaneia, or Appearance (; ; ; ), and Apocalypse (apokalypsis), or Revelation (; ). The time of the second coming is spoken of as "that Day" (), "the day of the Lord" (), "the day of Christ" (), "the day of the Son of Man" (), "the last day" ()."
The phrase second coming is not used in the Bible. It comes from the life of Jesus of Nazareth as being his first coming to earth. Some Christians refer to the Second Coming as the last coming because of scripture referring to him as being the "First and the Last," "The Beginning and End," "The Alpha to Omega."[1] and others do not define it by number, highlighting Christ's coming as an ongoing process.
The Parousia is the term used in the Bible, see Strong's G3952 for details, which includes the Thayer's Lexicon definition: "In the N.T. especially of the advent, i.e. the future, visible, return from heaven of Jesus, the Messiah, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God." According to the Bauer lexicon: "of Christ, and nearly always of his Messianic Advent in glory to judge the world at the end of this age."
In the Bible, the synoptic Gospels contain several examples of Jesus referring to himself as the Son of Man or talking about the climactic role of the Son of Man coming (often in 'glory' or in 'his kingdom'). In Christian mysticism the term, Son of Man, refers to a mind wholly guided by reason, a prerequisite to the more challenging spiritual rebirth as the Son of God and the Kingdom of Heaven is the subsequent earthly experience. Other references relate to Jesus' own impending suffering and execution, and similar persecution of his disciples: , , , , , ; the apocalyptic chapters set on the Mount of Olives called the Olivet discourse (, , ) and The Sheep and the Goats or "Judgement of the Nations" (); and again when he was on trial before the Jewish high priests (); and the "Twelve thrones of judgment" (, ). Most scholars interpret Jesus' use of the title Son of Man as self referential - applying to himself a significant messianic image from the apocalyptic sections of the book of Daniel.[2] refers to a 'human one' who will come on the clouds in 'glory' and in 'his kingdom' and be given dominion to establish the kingdom of God on earth. This is presented as the eschaton and an end of the world: "As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed." (NRSV)
In the Gospel of John Jesus also employs the image of the Son of Man when talking about 'the last day' . Here it is linked with 'being raised up' - the resurrection of the dead. A theme reinforced in where Martha describes Jesus' coming both in terms of resurrection and as an ongoing process, and in where Jesus says "I will come again" so his disciples may live with him in his Father's house.
In the gospels Jesus often referred to the Reign of God being right 'at hand'[3] and 'these things' - including the Son of Man's coming in his kingdom - occurring with immediacy to his listeners. "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" (, , ). Both Matthew and Luke also include the statement, "This generation (γενεά) will not pass away until all these things have taken place" (, )[4]. These admonitions and promises are related to the spiritual rebirth of the individuals to whom he is speaking, but are perplexing to those who believe Jesus refers to himself.
Some Christian theologians (Preterists) see this 'coming of the Son of Man in glory' primarily fulfilled in Jesus' death on the cross. During his ministry Jesus continually linked the 'Son of Man' sayings with his own forthcoming suffering, death and resurrection, which can be understood symbolically as applying equally to the struggles of everyone - following "the way" demonstrated for others in his spiritual journey. Some theologians purport that some or all of the prophecies laid out in the Olivet discourse are then fulfilled within the narrative of Jesus' passion, for example:
They further claim that such an interpretation highlights the Christian claim that the 'glory' and 'dominion' of God is best seen in the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus crucified.[6]
Eastern Orthodox Church theologians believe the Son of Man's glory is seen in the gift of the Holy Spirit to their church members and so does not refer to the second coming. They say this γενεά ("generation" or "age") is the current unrestored age, distinct from the age to come; the age of restoration.[7]
Other theologians point to other Biblical images that better match their idea of "coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory" (), such as the transfiguration witnessed by three of Jesus' disciples, which follows directly after the "there are some standing here..." verse in all three synoptic Gospels, or John of Patmos' heavenly visions described in the book of Revelation.
Some interpret the phrase 'this generation' to mean lifetime or race; or see it applying to a generation of future readers rather than the generation of people Jesus was addressing within the narrative.
Another resolution of the statement is suggested by the belief commonly held in Mormonism that John the Apostle had the nature of his body changed and was allowed to "tarry" on the earth until the coming of Christ and thus at least one person of that generation might still be living even at this day. (See Doctrine and Covenants 8:3,6)
Still others say they are unable to explain this verse in the light of what they see as a delay. C.S. Lewis called this "the most embarrassing verse in the Bible" [8].
See also Prester John, Wandering Jew, Preterism, New Covenant.
In Jesus' Ascension is linked to him coming again: So when the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards the sky, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go to heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
In and John the Baptist says a powerful one coming after him (generally interpreted to be Jesus, but see also Paraclete) "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NIV)
In and , , Jesus says not to fear those who can kill the body but not the soul, but to fear the one who can toss the body and the soul into Gehenna and that he came to bring not peace, but a sword and to set the earth on fire.
The apocalyptic book of Revelation includes images of the last judgment and the victory of the Kingdom of God, including the Messianic Age, and ends with the prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus" . See also Maranatha.
To most Christian theologians (particularly non-preterists) these verses highlight aspects of the Eschaton that have not yet happened or not yet been fully realized. Drawing on the images from Acts, these Christians expect Jesus' coming to fulfill some or all of these criteria:
The vast majority of those self-identified as Christians (an exception is Full Preterism) look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and do not consider it symbolic of the individual's spiritual rebirth. However, across the many denominations, the details of Christ's second coming are somewhat diverse. Few dare to claim complete and authoritative interpretation of the typically symbolic and prophetic biblical sources. What is commonly accepted is that he is to return to judge the world and to establish the Kingdom of God, in other words to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy. A short reference to the Second Coming is contained in the Nicene Creed, the most widespread Christian statement of faith: "He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there shall be no end" (speaking of "one Lord Jesus Christ"). It is also in the earlier Apostle's Creed: "He will come again to judge the living and the dead." It is also in the earlier Pauline Creed, perhaps the earliest Christian creed: . The Roman Catholic and Anglican and United Methodist liturgy proclaims the Mystery of Faith to be: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again". Generally, mainstream Christianity does not offer predictions on the date of the Second Coming. Some mainstream Christians may also form their own ideas of how and where it will happen, but recognize that such information is not important and is not essential to receiving "salvation".
The mainstream Islamic view of the second coming maintains that Jesus was replaced by a duplicate who looked like Jesus, and that it was the duplicate who was crucified while Jesus was lifted up to Heaven by God, where he is waiting to descend[9] during the “last days” when corruption and perversity are rife on Earth. He will then wage a battle against the false Messiah or Dajjal or Anti-Christ, break the cross, kill swine and call all humanity to Islam.
In the Esoteric Christian tradition, claimed by its adherents to originate with the Essenes and later among the Rosicrucians, there is a distinction to be made between Jesus the man, and the Christ or true nature. [10]. Jesus is considered a high Initiate of the human life wave (which evolves under the cycle of rebirth) and of a singularly pure type of mind, vastly superior to the great majority of the present humanity. He was educated during his youth among the Essenes and thus prepared himself for the greatest honor ever bestowed upon a human being: to deliver his pure, passionless, highly evolved physical body and vital body (already attuned to the high vibrations of the 'life spirit'), in the moment of the Baptism, to the Christ being for His ministry in the physical world. Christ is described as the highest Spiritual Being of the life wave called Archangels, and has completed His union ("the Son") with the second aspect of God.
In this western tradition, there is a clear distinction between the Cosmic Christ, or Christ without, and the Christ Within: the Cosmic Christ, the 'Regent of the Earth' [11], aids each individual in the formation of the Christ Within, the Golden Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:2,11 KJV), also called "Soul body", the correct translation of Paul of Tarsus "soma psuchicon" (Greek "soma" [body] and "psuchicon" [psu(y)che--soul], "It is sown a soul body; it is raised a spiritual body ...": 1 Cor 15:44; distinction of "spirit and soul and body": 1 Thess 5:23).
According to this tradition, the Christ Within is regarded as the true Saviour who needs to be born within each individual (Galatians 4:19) in order to evolve toward the future Sixth Epoch in the Earth's etheric plane, that is, toward the "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13, 2 Peter 3:7): the New Galilee [12]. The Second Coming or Advent of the Christ is not in a physical body (1 Cor 15:50, John 18:36), but in the new soul body of each individual in the etheric region of the planet (2 Cor 5:1-3, Greek "politeuma" [commonwealth], "Our commonwealth is in heaven ...": Phil 3:20-21) where man "shall be caught up IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR" (Matthew 24:30, 1 Thess 4:17, Acts 1:10-11, 1 John 3:2). The "day and hour" when this event shall be, as described in the Bible, is not in the human knowledge domain (Matthew 24:36, 24:23-27). The esoteric Christian tradition teaches that first there will be a preparatory period as the Sun enters Aquarius by precession: the coming Age of Aquarius.
The rise of fundamentalist Christianity as a political force in the United States, especially within the Republican Party, has allegedly had an influence upon political decisions on the global stage. The majority of fundamentalist Christians in America subscribe to dispensationalist theology and biblical literalism, which predicts that at the second coming Jesus Christ will commence his reign over a re-established Jewish nation in the Middle East. The belief that the Jews must be returned to the Biblical lands of Judaea and Samaria before the world can end has, according to some, driven up American support for an aggressive Israeli approach to its neighbours in the Holy Land. [15] These views have been propagated by Christian Zionist preachers such as Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, Pat Robertson and Hal Lindsey. However, the majority of the Christian world both within and outside of America, including the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, rejects dispensationalism as a valid belief system.
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