Posted by Drake, Jr. on March 20, 1999 at 23:11:13 {MW9hQZt3yw8IU}:
THE MANNER OF HIS COMING...
Well, folks, with everybody waiting to see the Second Coming, this topic should be quite easy right? After all, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind as to how the Messiah will actually appear since we're all anxiously awaiting him, right?
So what's the answer?
What is the manner of his coming?
This question isn't complex at all. And its no secret what this question is asking. It is simply asking whether or not the Messiah will appear in the FLESH or not.
So does he return in the flesh?
If you haven't answered this question already, and you get "passed by" who fault would that be? What are your beliefs on this topic?
HE COMES IN THE FLESH:
According to
the scriptures, the Messiah comes in the flesh the second time around the same as the first.
Why?
Well think about what he has to do. He has to rule for 1000 years with the 144,000 and then Satan is let loose at which time God's enemies "surround the holy ones."
Sounds like they are doing this on the earth doesn't it?
Think about it. Doesn't it make sense, with such a big event as the millennium and the 1000-year reign that Jesus would be here on the earth for that event.
Doesn't it make just a little bit of sense that the 144,000, the anointed Bride class who are to serve as kings and priests, would be HERE ON THE EARTH to have hands-on influence over goings on down here?
OR...does it make any sense that the Bride Class and Jesus are far away in heaven? Somehow communicating through "holy spirit" to an elder "other sheep" underbody who actually is directing the work?
Is God that poor a planner? Is he that sloppy?
Of course not! Jesus will be here during the thousand year reign right here on Earth. Thus he will have to come in the flesh again. Is that so hard to imagine?
Now is there anything in the Bible that suggests that he wouldn't come in the flesh?
You know, Matthew does say that "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered." Hmmmmmm?
How are these "eagles" going to gather around an invisible body in heaven? Certainly suggests that some select ones would know where the "body" was and would be watching, does it not?
Well if this is about Jesus here on the earth literally as a man in the flesh, that passage makes perfect sense and it indicates that some would know exactly where Jesus would appear.
What about the argument that Jesus was "raised as a life-giving spirit" and thus would not return visibly?
Silly, silly! Wasn't Jesus a spirit before he ever became a man? Of course. So is there any problem with him taking on a body again just before he is also an angel?
Of course not. So that's certainly no argument.
Naturally, though, it's not all that simple. Jesus must come in secret at first even if he does come in the flesh and there are many things that must take place in a certain way.
The Bible explains them all, however. But you must dig for these gems of truth.
Remember the wise and foolish virgins. The entire group of 10 virgins were waiting for the Messiah to arrive, only some had more faith and more trust in the scriptures. They are the wise virgins who prepared ahead and brought extra oil. The foolish virgins did not, being lazy, and living on presumptions.
The result was that only the wise virgins, the ones with the EXTRA OIL got into the kingdom.
So are you an EXTRA OIL Christian? Or are you a "wake me up when it starts raining" Christian?
The bottom line is, though. If you don't have in your mind clearly what to expect. If Jesus is to come as a man, or a spirit. Or whether he is going to only appear to his disciples or is to appear as a 50-foot giant in the clouds to the whole world, then it is possible you are going to miss his suble coming.
The Bible says the "kingdom is not coming with great observableness."
By the way, more than one scripture certainly suggests that the "anti-Christ" would be claiming that Jesus did not come in the flesh. The Bible didn't make any particular distinction as to whether this referred to his first or second coming....
One thing is for sure, though. If you are not expecting the right thing, more than likely you will not see him when he arrives. If you haven't a clear, Biblically based idea as to whether Jesus is coming in the flesh or not, then I'd say you were certainly "sleep" and thus when he knocks, you will miss YOUR CALLING.
So if you don't know whether or not for sure the Messiah is to come in the flesh or not. Don't you think it is time to look into it?
I'd say so!
Drake, Jr.