In this chapter, we will consider an important event in our Kingdom-future, namely: the second coming of Jesus – Rev. 19:11-16,
“Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His Head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in Blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.
He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
The Second coming vrs. the Rapture
The second coming of Jesus is an event that is different from the rapture that we discussed in chapter five. It will occur to end the Tribulation period.
In the rapture, a physical Jesus is met in the skies by physical believers who physically stay with Him forever.
But in the second coming, Jesus physically comes in warlike fashion with the ‘raptured’ believer’s and His holy Feet lands on the Mountain of Olives in the Holy Land of Israel – Zech. 14:4-9.
Also, in the second coming every eye will see Jesus because it will be spectacular in its own way – Rev. 1:7,
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen”
Matt. 14:27, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be”.
Let us now examine the purpose of the second coming of Jesus.
Four-fold purpose of the second coming
1. Jesus is coming again for the national salvation of the remnant of Israel. These would have survived great troubles and acknowledged Jesus as Messiah – Zech. 12:10-13:1-9.
Scriptures says, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is My people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.” – Zech. 13:9.
In the New Testament, we read: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” – Rom. 11:26-27.
2. Jesus is coming again for the overthrow of the worlds wicked politico-religious, Satan-backed leader i.e. antichrist – 2 Thess. 2:8,
“And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:”
3. Jesus is coming for the judgment of Gentile nations – Matt. 25:31-32.
In this end-time, there will be a worldwide hostility and aggression by Gentile nations and peoples against Jews in the world and Israel as a nation. This has happened before around AD 70.
It is to happen again as it was in the beginning of the church age, led by the antichrist during the end of the Tribulation period – Zech. 13: 8 – 9.
This great worldwide refusal to aid Israel and Jews existed during the time of Jesus as well. But, it will intensify till it climaxes in an epic battle of some Gentile nations against Israel during the Tribulation – Zech. 12:3; 14:2-4, 12-14; Joel 3:1 – 2.
This judgment of Gentile nations will be before Jesus’ “Throne of His glory” at the end of the Great Tribulation – Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21.
Here, nations on earth will be separated into ‘sheep’ and ‘goats’ depending on their practical relationship with the State of Israel, Jesus’ brethren. It is, however, not the final judgment of Rev. 20:11-15.
4. Finally, Jesus is coming again for the establishment of His Millennium Kingdom on earth.
This is a time period of thousand years when Jesus will literally rule on earth, not just as a spiritual King, but as a political King as well.
It would be after the supernatural defeat of the enemies of the nation of Israel in the epic battle of Armageddon – Rev. 20:4; Zech. 14:9-17; Eze. 38, 39. We will examine the Millennium in the next chapter.
