Christ's Coming to Be Literal
Questions Answered by Bible Texts
1. How literal was Christ's going away from this earth after His first advent? "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight." Acts 1:9. 2. How closely did the disciples watch Him while He was going away? "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" Verses 10, 11. 3. What promise was given to the disciples as they were thus gazing so intently at their ascending Lord? "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." Verse 11. 4. What other text shows that "this same Jesus" will come literally and personally? "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself 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 first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:15-18. 5. How bright will the glory of the coming of Christ be? "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16:27. "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Matt. 25:31. "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:26, 27. 6. What are some of the texts that speak definitely of the people seeing the Lord when He comes? "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matt. 24:30. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen." Rev. 1:7.