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Looking for The Blessed Hope - Part 1 - By John McTernan - http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org
(The Coming of the Lord Jesus For His Church) John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. The first mention of the Lord's Second Coming is found in John 14. This caught His disciples by surprise as He just told them He was going away. He assured them of His return, or as it is now known as His Second Coming. Since the Lord rose from the dead, His coming for the church and believers being with Him for eternity has been the hope of the believers: The hope of the Lord's return is not just mere hope, but the Bible calls it the Blessed Hope. It is a special hope that energizes believers and helps them through this life. Living without the Blessed Hope, a believer can grow cold and worldly. Living with the Blessed Hope keeps believers focused on the Lord and spiritually vibrant: Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; The Two Comings of the Lord in the Old Testament Studying the Old Testament, with an understanding of the New Testament, one can clearly see the two comings of the Messiah. The Old Testament does not implicitly say that the Messiah is coming twice, nor does it say how long the gap between His First and Second Comings is. Because the Old Testament does not say there are two advents that does not mean there cannot be two since the New Testament clearly proves there are. It takes spiritual discernment to understand the two comings, and sometimes it even requires dividing a verse to understand the two comings. The Lord Jesus was preaching in a synagogue at Nazareth when He quoted from Isaiah 61:1,2. This is recorded in Luke 4:18,19. He quoted part of the verse and then sat down. He then told the people, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." When comparing Luke with Isaiah, the section that the Lord left out is clear. He ended with "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord," while Isaiah continues with "and the day of vengeance of our God." The reason the Lord stopped when He did is that the rest of the verse pertains to His Second Coming. His First and Second Comings were both contained in Isaiah 61: 1,2, and the Lord showed this divide when He preached. Luke 4:18,19 and Isaiah 61:1,2 follow: Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; This concept of the two comings is found in the Old Testament, and yet not specifically stating there were two comings, carries over into the New Testament and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. The New Testament teaches that the Lord's Second Coming is in two phases. With the first, He returns for His church. With the second, He returns with His church to defend Israel at the battle of Armageddon. In the first phase, He meets His church in the air. 1 Thessalonians 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. This event takes place in the moment the Bible calls the "last trump". This phase is limited to the believers in the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. In the second phase, He returns to defend Israel and destroy the armies of the world gathered at the battle of Armageddon. The unbelievers will be in terror when the Lord returns to judge the nations. Revelation 6:15-17 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 free man, 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? During the second phase, the Lord returns with His church. This event takes place after the church is in heaven with the Lord Jesus at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. At the end of the Marriage Supper, He leaves heaven to judge the earth, and His church returns with Him being described as the armies of heaven: Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. The First Phase of the Second Coming The Book of Revelation precisely lays out the events showing both phases of the Lord's Second Coming. The key to understanding the Book of Revelation is found in chapter 1, verse 19. This verse divides the book into three sections: what John has seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The things which John has seen are found in chapter one, and it is the vision of the Lord Jesus. The things which are can be found in chapters two and three. These are the letters to the seven churches. There is no doubt that the church is "the things which are" because at the end of each letter the Bible states: Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. After the seven letters to the churches, the scene moves to heaven and this is where "the things which shall be hereafter" takes place. All reference to the church in the "which shall be hereafter" are now portrayed in heaven and not on the earth. Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (2) And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. The very first thing that John heard pertaining to the "hereafter" was a voice like a trumpet calling him to heaven. The book of Revelation tells us that the voice of the Lord Jesus is just like a trumpet: Revelation 1:10,11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ... The Bible associates the coming of the Lord Jesus for His church with a trumpet sound. This is what John heard when he was called to heaven, as the voice of the Lord Jesus is just like a trumpet. In times past, the trumpet was used during a battle to give signals to the army. It was also used to announce the presence of royalty. The trumpet blast connected with the rapture of the church comes from the Lord Jesus and not an angel. At the last trumpet sound for the church, the Lord Jesus is going to descend from heaven with a shout, the trumpet of God. This is a trumpet sound by the Lord Himself and not an angel to call His church to heaven, and this call is not for judgment. When studying the Book of Revelation, it is important to understand the trumpet sound to call the church is made by the Lord and not an angel. There are angels blowing trumpets, but it is for judgment. The only trumpet sound connected with the Lord Jesus is found in Revelation 4:1. It is very possible from this verse that the trumpet command He will use to call His church to heaven is "Come up hither". He will call His church just like He called John to heaven: 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thessalonians 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: When John was called to heaven, immediately he was in the spirit and before the throne of God. This is the same language found in 1 Corinthians 15:52, that believers are changed in the "twinkling of an eye". Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. Revelation chapters four and five are about the throne of God and events surrounding the throne. The fifth chapter is very important in understanding the conclusion of the first phase of the Lord's coming. In this chapter, the church is before the throne of God. Their location before the throne is extremely important. It is the raptured believers who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus and not angels: Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; This concept of the church being before the throne is reinforced in Revelation 7: Revelation 7:9,10 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb (14) ... These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7 is a very interesting chapter. At first reading, it is easy to think it is part of the seven seal judgments but it is not. It is like a parenthesis between seals six and seven. This chapter refers back to the time before the judgments began. The previous chapter describes awesome judgments on the earth and ends with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This chapter begins before there are judgments on the earth! Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Chapter seven is directly connected to chapter 5 as they both show the church before the throne and not on earth. This chapter offers another view of the church in heaven. Being a "parenthesis," it is showing that while all the horrible events are taking place on earth, the church is in heaven with the Savior. Remember, the key to this chapter is that it takes place before any of the seals are broken. The great multitude of this chapter were not killed by the seal judgments because it takes place before the judgments began. The believers before the throne are witnessing the events leading up to God's judgments on the earth. They are in heaven with the Lord Jesus before even one judgment is loosed on the earth. This is the most important concept that the church is in heaven with the Jesus before one judgment begins. Obviously, the Lord Jesus came for His church before He begins the judgments upon the earth. In Revelation chapter five, God the Father is on the throne with the book that is sealed with the seven seals of judgment. This is the book that contains all the judgments. He gives this book to Jesus Christ who then opens the seals and the judgments begin: Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne The entire church is before the throne witnessing these events. The believers are with the Lord Jesus before any of the judgments begin, and no verse in Revelation indicates that during the judgments people are added to those before the throne. The church is complete in Revelation chapter five. The first phase of the Lord's Second Coming is nearly complete. The church is in heaven with Him. In Revelation chapter six, the seals are opened and the judgments begin. When the fifth seal is opened John sees a group of people under the altar. These people are distinct from those before the throne. These are the people who died after the church was called to heaven, and they are not placed with the church before the throne, but under the altar. They are dying in huge numbers because they did not submit the antichrist and His forces on earth. These people are given white robes and told to rest until events are fulfilled: Revelation 6:9,10 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled The completion of the fifth seal takes place in Revelation 20. The people who were placed under the altar will be resurrected after the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and even after the Lord returned with His church to defeat the antichrist. Revelation 20 states that these people were killed because they would not worship the antichrist and his image. Their resurrection is called the "first resurrection". In contrast, the second resurrection takes place after the Lord's 1000 year reign on the earth. This second resurrection is for the wicked and eternal damnation: Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. A close examination of Revelation 20:4 reveals the two distinct groups in heaven. The church that was before the throne and the fifth seal saints that were under the altar. This verse mentions thrones and then the plural "they" and "them" who sat on the thrones. The verse adds that judgment was given to these people on their thrones. This verse shows that it is not the Lord Jesus who judges, but He has turned the judgment over to another group of people. The verse then continues with the resurrection of the saints of the fifth seal judgment. It is the people sitting on the thrones who judge this resurrected group and not Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus promised the believers who overcame the Laodicean church that He would grant them to sit with Him on His throne! This is truly an amazing verse that the Lord would share His authority with His church: Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. This sharing of authority then can be seen in Revelation 20:4, when He turns judgment over to His bride the church! It is the church that judges the saints that were placed under the altar. It is amazing to see the trust that the Lord has in His bride. In review, there are two separate and distinct groups of believers in the Lord Jesus in heaven. The first is the church, which is before the throne of God prior to any of the judgments beginning on earth. The second group is formed after the judgments begin. They are listed under the fifth seal judgment and are found under the altar. These people arrive in heaven because they were slain and so are told to be patient until events are fulfilled. Revelation 13 details the circumstances of how the people found under the altar are going to die. The Bible details how the beast/antichrist is going to be given power over all nations. Then the Bible warns, "If any man have an ear, let him hear." Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. (10) He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. What is so telling about this particular warning is that it is NOT given to the church. In Revelation 2 and 3, on seven occasions the Lord specifically warned the churches. The reason the church is not warned in Revelation 13 is that it is before the throne and complete. This specific warning is for those who, when they die, are found under the altar since they are not considered part of the church. In the gospels on several occasions, the Lord also used a phrase about having ears and hearing. On these occasions, He did not say "unto the churches". He did this because the church was not yet in existence at this time. So, both before the church and after the church age, the Lord did not use the phrase "unto the churches". The verses showing this follow: Before the church: Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. The church age: Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. After the church age: Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. The fact that Revelation 13:9 leaves out "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" is strong evidence that the entire church is with the Lord Jesus in heaven and before the throne. It is not on earth. Revelation continues to document the judgments and then comes to the final one which is the destruction of Babylon . This is the world's religious, political and economic system. After all this destruction, the Bible once more focuses on the church in heaven. In chapter 19, the church is referred to as "the bride". This is the third time in Revelation the entire church is recorded to be in heaven. It is found in chapters 5, 7, and now 19. A great multitude of believers are rejoicing in heaven because the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is about to take place. Blessed are all they which are called to the marriage supper. The bride, which is the church, is dressed in clean and white linen: Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (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. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. The end of the Marriage Supper completes the first phase of the Lord's coming, and now events quickly shift into the second phase. This is the Lord Jesus returning with this bride/church to defend Israel at the battle of Armageddon. 
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