The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1957-06-27
5 erm oneiie
The Second Coming of Christ
l TheSSalonians Alb 5:11

The Scriptures stress the re-
turn of Jesus Christ. 1t will be in
two phases - for His saints and
with His saints.
Hebrews 9:26-28a, "a, 28b
describe the first coming of
Christ, His present work, and His
second coming. We read: =.
now once in the end Of the ages
hath He appeared to put away
sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
And as it is appointed unto men
once to, die, but after this the
judgment: SO Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many
- Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands,
which are the figures of the
true; but into heaven itself, now.
to appear in the presence of God
for U.S. 8. :. unto them that
look for Him shall He appear
the second time without sin unto
salvation"
The second coming of Christ,
especially in its first phase, is
referred to as ''the blessed hope"
1t is the Christians hope. Christ
ians are encouraged to lock for
His coming Oversees 1919. Such
a hope eases the sorrow over the
death of Christian loved ones.
1t gives courage in times of per
secution and testing (Roman5
8:18). 1t causes the Christians
life to be more fruitful (Colos-
slams 1:5 and 81. 1t is an anchor
for the soul (Hebrews 6:19).
Such a hope leads to perfection,
a perfect fellowship between
God and the worshipper Gle
brews 7:19). In First Peter 1:3
it is referred to as an energizing
(lively) hope. 1t is an incentive
to live more godly life and
to be more faithful in serving
the Lord. This hope tends to
make and keep one morally
clean and right q John 3:3).
The first phase of Christs
second coming is described in
First Thessalonians 4:l6, II. The
bodies of all believers Of all ages
shall be caught up into the
clouds "to meet Christ in the
air"
In | Thessalonians 5:1-3 we
see that the rapture of the
Church and the events which fol-
low are going to take place sud
denly, unexpectedly, concerning
time. 1t is going to take place
when people are self-satisfied
and seemingly secure (the one
who knows and believes the
Word of God recognizes the signs
of the times-he knows that
there will be no peace nor sec
urity without the Lord Jesus
Christi.
Because this will come to pass,
and because we do not know the
exact time, it behooves one to
make preparations for the second
coming of Christ (5:4-1D. Chris
tions, or processing Christians,
will not be excused on the
grounds of ignorance. For such,
there is no reason to be ignor-
ant. They know (or should
know what the Scriptures teach.
Therefore, we. are to be awake
Con the alert) and on guard
(verse g.. We are to be sober,
not given to careless and riotous
living, calm, collected, cir
cumspect. "Alert wakefulness
and calm assurance will prevent
their being surprised and con-
fused by the Lords coming"
While the Christian is waiting
for the fulfillment of that blessed
hope, he must continue in a
spiritual warfare. His weapons
for defense (verse s. are faith
(trust in God), love (for God and
men) and hope. Using such
weapons wisely will insure vic
tory over the enemy of the soul.
Remember Christ "died for us,
that +. we should live together
with Him" (verse 10Y.
Row r, Wikander