Christ’s Personal Second Coming
"I WILL come again," said Jesus to his disciples, as recorded in John 14:3. THIS did not mean that he would come by his providence, or by his Spirit, or by death; it meant that Jesus himself, personally, would come again. THAT Christ's second coming is not the pouring out of his Holy Spirit is evident from what Jesus said in promising the Spirit: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." John 16:7. So far, then, as the bestowment of the Holy Spirit's being Christ's coming again, Christ's absence was necessary to the coming of that Spirit. THAT Christ's second coming is not at death is also shown (1) by the fact that the manner of that coming is against such a view; (2) that this would make many comings, even one every second, and often simultaneously in various parts of the world, whereas the apostle says he will "appear the second time;" and (3) that this view would make Christ come in the form of an enemy which he came to destroy; for death is an enemy. See 1 Cor. 15:26; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8. Death is, therefore, not the second coming of Christ. His absence meant death to Lazarus; his coming meant life. John 11:32, 43, 44. And the disciples of Jesus understood that if one of their number lived to the time of Christ's coming, he would not die. John 21:22, 23. THE second coming of Christ is a personal coming. Said the heavenly messengers to the eager, sorrowing, and amazed disciples who witnessed his ascension into heaven, amid a cloud of angels: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come IN LIKE MANNER as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. It will, therefore, be a visible, personal coming. The same truth is stated by the apostle Paul: "For the Lord himself [not another] shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise." 1 Thess. 4:16. His coming is, therefore, personal and visible. "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." It will be the same Jesus who came to this earth in his lowliness, who was born in a manger, who suffered being tempted, who ministered to all man's wants and necessities, who died for our sins, Jesus the friend of sinners, who is coming again. He is coming to give life to those who sleep in him, coming to gather to his eternal kingdom all who trust in him. Reader, are you ready to meet him?