That there will be a literal, personal, second coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, has been made clear to every reader of this paper, in the previous articles on this subject. It is left for this article to consider the effect of his coming upon the earth. As we are inhabitants of this earth, whatever is said of the coming of Christ and his work as regards this world will certainly be of interest to us.
It is of this that the Lord wishes us to have knowledge; for he has given us a history of the past, concerning his dealings with this earth, as an illustration of what he will do with it again when he comes.
Noah and Lot.
“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot. . . . Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26, 28–30. As God then dealt with the inhabitants of the earth, so shall he again deal with them. As he then dealt with the earth itself, so in results he will again deal with it. In Noah’s day he saved all that believed on him; and so in that day when he shall come in the clouds, will he save all that trust him. “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:9.
As he cut off the sinners in Noah’s day, so shall he cut off the ungodly at his second coming. “The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a6 (678)cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.” Isa. 24:20–22.
As it was in the days of Lot, so shall it be just before the Lord comes. God sent a message of warning before he sent the destruction, that all who feared his word might escape. See Genesis 18 and 19 and Matt. 24:14. Those who started out and turned back fared no better than those who remained in the city. See Luke 17:29–33.
Not only the inhabitants of the earth will be removed from the earth, but
THE EARTH ITSELF WILL BE REMOVED.
Peter, in speaking of the last-day scoffers, says: “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:5–7. Then follows the description of the burning of the earth, which we will consider further on.
His Eternal Kingdom.
The object of Christ’s second coming is to set up his kingdom here and reign with his saints forever. To this end he taught his disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This prayer can be prayed yet, for we do not yet see the will of Christ done in earth as it is done in heaven. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” 2 Tim. 4:1. Here is clearly stated that his coming is the time when he sets up his kingdom. But his saints are to have a part in this kingdom. “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Dan. 7:27.
With the kingdom is to come the dominion. This was what was given man in the beginning. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,” etc. Gen. 1:26. “Thou hast put all things in subjection, under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.” Heb. 2:8. (See also Ps. 8:4–8.) But how is it since sin came into the world?—“But now we see not yet all things put under him.” And why?—“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it.” Luke 4:5, 6. This kingdom and dominion were first given to man, but he by yielding to Satan yielded also his dominion. When Jesus Christ came in sinful flesh, as man, he had no more right to it than any fallen creature. This is why this offer would be a temptation to Christ when he was in the flesh. “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” But Jesus did not want that kingdom with its sin and the curse of sickness and death resting upon it. It is not his will for his saints to possess a kingdom and dominion where everything is made dark by sin. He has a better kingdom than that for all who believe in him. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” A kingdom of that character must exclude Satan and all his followers. It can not come from the devil, and he can have no part in it.
“And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8. In order to have the first dominion this earth must be restored to its first condition. But to do this it must be recreated. But a recreated earth is a new earth. Yes, and this is just what is promised. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13. The previous verses show that this change will take place in connection with
The Second Advent.
The second advent of Jesus Christ is composed of a series of events that are all more or less connected with the earth, from his first appearing to resurrect his saints, until the destruction of Satan and the ungodly after the thousand years. We will now briefly notice these events in their order as given in the Scriptures, that we may trace each change the earth undergoes from the time the wrath of God begins to be poured out upon it until it is renewed and the kingdom is given to the saints of the Most High.
1. Christ Receiving His Kingdom.—In the parable which Jesus gave concerning himself and his kingdom, as recorded in Luke 19:12, he said, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” By this we are to understand that Jesus is the nobleman, and his going into a far country was when he returned to heaven with his Father, and that before he returns from his Father, he is to receive his kingdom. This is in harmony with the Old Testament prophecy (Dan. 7:13, 14), “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days [the Father], and they [the angels, verse 10] brought him [Christ] near before him [the Father]. And there was given him [Christ] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Just as Christ begins this reign, his voice utters the following decree: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.” Rev. 22:11. The next verse informs us that this takes place shortly before he is coming in glory. What is he to do with this earth and its nations?—“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. 2:8, 9. He does not convert them, but breaks them in pieces with a rod of iron. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image [earthly governments or nations] upon his feet [extremities] that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” “And in the days of these [ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume [not convert] all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:34, 44.
How does he begin this breaking to pieces, this consuming, this ruling with a rod of iron?—By pouring out his wrath upon the earth in the seven last plagues. “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Rev. 15:1. This wrath is spoken of in Rev. 14:10 as “the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” The only thing with which wrath can be mixed is mercy. But when these plagues are poured out, Jesus has laid down his priestly robes and the censers of mercy, and put on the kingly robe and taken the scepter of his kingdom, to rule his enemies as with a rod of iron. For a description of these plagues see Revelation 16.
While many have fallen under these terrible plagues, and the earth itself is barren, the devastation is not complete until Christ is seen descending on the cloud, and the armies of heaven following him. “Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Rev. 19:15. See also verses 16–18.
“And then shall that wicked [man of sin, the beast] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thess. 2:8. In Jer. 25:30–33 we learn that they shall be stricken down in death and shall not be buried.
2. Christ’s Coming in the Clouds.—“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:14–17. At this time the living saints of God will be delivered, and changed in a moment, and rise to meet their Lord in the air, and those who now sleep in Jesus will hear his voice and come forth to join the living ones who are translated without seeing death. See 1 Cor. 15:51–53; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. These Jesus takes to the mansions (John 14:1–3) where his Father sits upon the throne until he has prepared this earth for their eternal kingdom. For after the saints are all taken to heaven and the wicked all stricken in7death, Christ continues his iron rule over Satan and his angels.
3. Christ’s Dealings with the Earth during the Thousand Years.—The prophet Jeremiah evidently had a view of the earth just after all the saints were taken from it, and all the wicked lay unburied upon it: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void [an abyss]; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” Jer. 4:23–27. Into this abyss or pit Satan is to be cast and bound a thousand years. See Rev. 20:1–3. He who met Jesus in the wilderness, and took him up to view the kingdoms, and was proud to say, “That is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it,” now sees that it has lost its inhabitants and lies desolate, with its king a prisoner in it. See Isa. 24:21. The host of the high ones is cast down into the prison, with the carcasses of those he has lured to death, to meditate upon his rebellion, and the fearful ruin it has wrought.
THE DESOLATION OF THE EARTH.
4. Christ’s Return at the Close of the Thousand Years.—“The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.” Rev. 20:5, 7. As all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth, so Jesus must again speak to the dead who lived not through that period of time. This is when he comes with all his saints with him, and his feet shall touch the Mount of Olives, and it shall separate and make a great plain for the New Jerusalem and the saints of God. See Zech. 14:5, 6. When the wicked dead shall come forth, then Satan will be loosed. He gathers all the wicked, Gog and Magog, and deceives them in making them believe they can take the city. In the valley, protected by its great mountain walls, are the saints and the beloved city, with Jesus as their King, to witness the end of the great controversy between sin and righteousness. While the saints within the valley are ascribing praise to Him who has redeemed them, the wicked are gathering around this city, and, under their leader, preparing implements of warfare to overthrow the city. How long this preparation will go on before the final attack, inspiration does not tell us. It will be long enough for all to see the goodness and mercy of God in the final destruction of sin.
5. The Closing Event in the Second Advent.—Just before the conflict ends, Jesus appears upon a great throne, and the books containing the life records of that great throng who encompass the camp of the saints, are again opened, and each one hears his sentence in a way that he has no complaint to offer to its justice. The old earth, which has passed through seven thousand years of sin, is about to be renewed. After the wicked come around the city and hear their sentence, fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. See Rev. 20:8–12. Peter describes this fire as follows: “The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works [Satan, sinners, and all the effects of sin] that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
But out of this fire shall come forth a new earth. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Verse 13. This earth renewed is the first dominion, and it shall be given to the saints of the Most High. Dan. 7:27. This is that for which the saints have been praying for nearly six thousand years. Matt. 6:10. This is the kingdom that has no end. Luke 1:33. This is the kingdom in which the saints shall reign, not a thousand years only, but forever. Rev. 22:5. This is the reign that takes place on the earth. Rev. 5:10.
Reader, should not we be intensely interested in the second advent of our Saviour when all these important events are connected with that great event? Should we not carefully study the “sure word of prophecy,” that we may be found in the light, looking for his appearing? May we all be guided by his unerring word, that we may look up in that day and say, “This is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.”
