Chapter 66 The Second Advent
The Second Advent has been a part of several chapters but has not been dealt with as the theme of a chapter. There are many texts in the Bible that focus on or refer to the Second Advent, but my focus here will be mainly on Revelation. My understanding of the Second Advent from Revelation is for the most in line with the Adventist understanding with one important exception – the Armies of Heaven. We have discussed this (chapter 14) but it needs to be highlighted again. Revelation 19:14:
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
What is the meaning of fine linen, white and clean?
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
The 144 000 are the bride of Christ (chapter 15), and they return with Him from heaven at the Second Advent. The armies of heaven cannot be angels (as Adventists believe) because angels will not be wearing the righteous deeds of the saints.
Rev 19 gives us quite a lot of detail of the events that take place at the Second Advent. These events link with other portions of Revelation that also deal with the Second Advent:
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
This is clearly the Second Advent because the heavens open and Christ appears on a white horse. Christ is the Word of God, and His vesture is dipped in His own blood which He shed for our salvation.
Christ has many names: True and Faithful, The Word of God, and an unknown name which only He knows. Christ is Faithful and True. He promised to come again and save us, and here is described how He does. He is also the Word of God which became flesh and dwelt with us (John 1). The secret name probably describes the depths He went to save us, something none of us will experience, that is why it is unknown.
He comes as a victor and to judge. He wears crowns of victory over sin, Satan and death. His eyes are as flaming fire to make war with and to conquer evil and the impenitent.
15 And 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.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
We see more judgement described in verse 15. A sword comes out of His mouth to smite the nations. He rules them with a rod of iron. The grape harvest at the end of Revelation 14 features again: Christ treads the grapes of the fierceness of His Father’s wrath.
Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. Since the Close of Probation, He rules the universe unchallenged.
Preempting the destruction of all the impenitent, great and small, free and bond, an angel invites the raptors to feast on their corpses when they are slain:
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
The last three verses of Rev 19 describe the Battle of Armageddon. The beast and all the kings and the impenitent are gathered together, and Christ slays them. The raptors gorge themselves on their corpses.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The beast and the false prophet are taken live and thrown into the lake of fire. The chronology of this Scripture seems to indicate that the fires of hell are ignited at the Second Advent, before the Millennium, and the papacy and the apparition of Christ (false Christ) are thrown into the fire before the Millennium, and they will burn throughout the Millenium until all the resurrected impenitent at the final judgement are also thrown into the fire, including Satan. Then only will the fire of hell burn out. Whether the beast represents the pope per se, or the Vatican, can be debated. Revelation 18 indicates the destruction of the Vatican before the Second Advent, so the beast is probably the pope.
Be it as it may, Satan will see the beast and the false prophet burning in hell during the Millennium as a constant reminder of his destiny. He will have a thousand years to contemplate his rebellion against God, and his final doom.
I would like to quote one portion of Scripture from 1 Thessalonians that fills in some details of events at the Second Advent that is not given in Revelation because Revelation 19 is focused on the judgement of the impenitent:
1 Thess 4:16 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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We see from this Scripture that at the Second Advent, the righteous dead will rise first, and then the living saints will follow them in ascending into the air to meet Christ. From that point on we will ever be with Jesus.
Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and us, to keep this truth in mind and in our hearts, and comfort one another with this knowledge:
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Let us keep the promise of the Second Advent in our hearts because this will be the climax of our lives (even after death). God bless you, Maranatha.
The Second Advent has been a part of several chapters but has not been dealt with as the theme of a chapter. There are many texts in the Bible that focus on or refer to the Second Advent, but my focus here will be mainly on Revelation. My understanding of the Second Advent from Revelation is for the most in line with the Adventist understanding with one important exception – the Armies of Heaven. We have discussed this (chapter 14) but it needs to be highlighted again. Revelation 19:14:
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
What is the meaning of fine linen, white and clean?
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
The 144 000 are the bride of Christ (chapter 15), and they return with Him from heaven at the Second Advent. The armies of heaven cannot be angels (as Adventists believe) because angels will not be wearing the righteous deeds of the saints.
Rev 19 gives us quite a lot of detail of the events that take place at the Second Advent. These events link with other portions of Revelation that also deal with the Second Advent:
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
This is clearly the Second Advent because the heavens open and Christ appears on a white horse. Christ is the Word of God, and His vesture is dipped in His own blood which He shed for our salvation.
Christ has many names: True and Faithful, The Word of God, and an unknown name which only He knows. Christ is Faithful and True. He promised to come again and save us, and here is described how He does. He is also the Word of God which became flesh and dwelt with us (John 1). The secret name probably describes the depths He went to save us, something none of us will experience, that is why it is unknown.
He comes as a victor and to judge. He wears crowns of victory over sin, Satan and death. His eyes are as flaming fire to make war with and to conquer evil and the impenitent.
15 And 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.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
We see more judgement described in verse 15. A sword comes out of His mouth to smite the nations. He rules them with a rod of iron. The grape harvest at the end of Revelation 14 features again: Christ treads the grapes of the fierceness of His Father’s wrath.
Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. Since the Close of Probation, He rules the universe unchallenged.
Preempting the destruction of all the impenitent, great and small, free and bond, an angel invites the raptors to feast on their corpses when they are slain:
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
The last three verses of Rev 19 describe the Battle of Armageddon. The beast and all the kings and the impenitent are gathered together, and Christ slays them. The raptors gorge themselves on their corpses.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The beast and the false prophet are taken live and thrown into the lake of fire. The chronology of this Scripture seems to indicate that the fires of hell are ignited at the Second Advent, before the Millennium, and the papacy and the apparition of Christ (false Christ) are thrown into the fire before the Millennium, and they will burn throughout the Millenium until all the resurrected impenitent at the final judgement are also thrown into the fire, including Satan. Then only will the fire of hell burn out. Whether the beast represents the pope per se, or the Vatican, can be debated. Revelation 18 indicates the destruction of the Vatican before the Second Advent, so the beast is probably the pope.
Be it as it may, Satan will see the beast and the false prophet burning in hell during the Millennium as a constant reminder of his destiny. He will have a thousand years to contemplate his rebellion against God, and his final doom.
I would like to quote one portion of Scripture from 1 Thessalonians that fills in some details of events at the Second Advent that is not given in Revelation because Revelation 19 is focused on the judgement of the impenitent:
1 Thess 4:16 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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We see from this Scripture that at the Second Advent, the righteous dead will rise first, and then the living saints will follow them in ascending into the air to meet Christ. From that point on we will ever be with Jesus.
Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and us, to keep this truth in mind and in our hearts, and comfort one another with this knowledge:
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Let us keep the promise of the Second Advent in our hearts because this will be the climax of our lives (even after death). God bless you, Maranatha.
Chapter 66 The Second Advent
The Second Advent has been a part of several chapters but has not been dealt with as the theme of a chapter. There are many texts in the Bible that focus on or refer to the Second Advent, but my focus here will be mainly on Revelation. My understanding of the Second Advent from Revelation is for the most in line with the Adventist understanding with one important exception – the Armies of Heaven. We have discussed this (chapter 14) but it needs to be highlighted again. Revelation 19:14:
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
What is the meaning of fine linen, white and clean?
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
The 144 000 are the bride of Christ (chapter 15), and they return with Him from heaven at the Second Advent. The armies of heaven cannot be angels (as Adventists believe) because angels will not be wearing the righteous deeds of the saints.
Rev 19 gives us quite a lot of detail of the events that take place at the Second Advent. These events link with other portions of Revelation that also deal with the Second Advent:
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
This is clearly the Second Advent because the heavens open and Christ appears on a white horse. Christ is the Word of God, and His vesture is dipped in His own blood which He shed for our salvation.
Christ has many names: True and Faithful, The Word of God, and an unknown name which only He knows. Christ is Faithful and True. He promised to come again and save us, and here is described how He does. He is also the Word of God which became flesh and dwelt with us (John 1). The secret name probably describes the depths He went to save us, something none of us will experience, that is why it is unknown.
He comes as a victor and to judge. He wears crowns of victory over sin, Satan and death. His eyes are as flaming fire to make war with and to conquer evil and the impenitent.
15 And 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.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
We see more judgement described in verse 15. A sword comes out of His mouth to smite the nations. He rules them with a rod of iron. The grape harvest at the end of Revelation 14 features again: Christ treads the grapes of the fierceness of His Father’s wrath.
Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. Since the Close of Probation, He rules the universe unchallenged.
Preempting the destruction of all the impenitent, great and small, free and bond, an angel invites the raptors to feast on their corpses when they are slain:
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
The last three verses of Rev 19 describe the Battle of Armageddon. The beast and all the kings and the impenitent are gathered together, and Christ slays them. The raptors gorge themselves on their corpses.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The beast and the false prophet are taken live and thrown into the lake of fire. The chronology of this Scripture seems to indicate that the fires of hell are ignited at the Second Advent, before the Millennium, and the papacy and the apparition of Christ (false Christ) are thrown into the fire before the Millennium, and they will burn throughout the Millenium until all the resurrected impenitent at the final judgement are also thrown into the fire, including Satan. Then only will the fire of hell burn out. Whether the beast represents the pope per se, or the Vatican, can be debated. Revelation 18 indicates the destruction of the Vatican before the Second Advent, so the beast is probably the pope.
Be it as it may, Satan will see the beast and the false prophet burning in hell during the Millennium as a constant reminder of his destiny. He will have a thousand years to contemplate his rebellion against God, and his final doom.
I would like to quote one portion of Scripture from 1 Thessalonians that fills in some details of events at the Second Advent that is not given in Revelation because Revelation 19 is focused on the judgement of the impenitent:
1 Thess 4:16 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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We see from this Scripture that at the Second Advent, the righteous dead will rise first, and then the living saints will follow them in ascending into the air to meet Christ. From that point on we will ever be with Jesus.
Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and us, to keep this truth in mind and in our hearts, and comfort one another with this knowledge:
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Let us keep the promise of the Second Advent in our hearts because this will be the climax of our lives (even after death). God bless you, Maranatha.
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