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This is an e-mail that I received recently. This is a particularly dangerous view, as it could lead a person to accept a false Christ. Let there be no doubt - Jesus himself will return as himself, visibly and as our King of Kings. When that day comes - no other religion will remain. No corrupt government will continue. Jesus returns as our judge. If you haven't been judged, then Jesus hasn't returned.

I wrote back personally, but thought it might be helpful here, too. This "Jesus has already returned" view is held by extreme preterists (could still be Christians, but taking a whole lot of liberties with God's Word), Jehovah Witnesses (not Christians - they deny that Jesus is God and believe his death was only to pay for Adam's sins) and others. I'm not sure what theology this man ascribes to, other than what he says here. I've changed nothing from his letter other than removing his name.

Lee,

From your website I see that you are concerned about the return of Jesus. Jesus has already returned. Such a return happens through another human being as Jesus said here:

Matthew (From the KJV):

Mark (From the KJV):

Dear Mr. H,

I'm afraid I must disagree.

Act 1:9 And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 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.

The Bible says that Jesus rose up in to the sky and went into the clouds. When he returns, he will come in the same way. The text is clear, and the rest of the Bible verifies it. He went into the clouds in full view, and he will return in full view. His leaving wasn't spiritual - and his return won't be spiritual. We're not looking for his return in ANOTHER human, but as "this same Jesus."

Rev 1:7 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.

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:23 Then if any man (including you, I'm afraid) shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; (or has already returned invisibly - or in the form of another human) believe [it] not.

Mat 24:27 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. (another way of saying that "every eye" will see him)

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,(again, in agreement with Zech 12) and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

When Jesus returns to earth, it will be with power and great glory. He is not coming as the sacrificial lamb this time, but as the lion of Judah, as the King. Yes, Jesus comes as a thief, but to snatch the believers:

1Th 4:17 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

If you have not been caught up into the clouds, then either you are not a believer, or Jesus has not returned. When Jesus DOES return, physically, visibly, this is what will happen:

Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; (Has this happened?)and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Even if you do not take "Jerusalem" literally - if you see it as the church - when did this possibly happen? Has half the church gone into captivity, with our women ravished?

Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Zec 14:5 And ye shall flee the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee. When Jesus comes, he brings his saints and/or angels with him. Where are the saints and/or angels, if he has returned? Notice it also says "the LORD my God." This is GOD returning - not just some "Christ consciousness" coming to us in some human form. This is Jesus himself, who is God - visibly returning the same way he left - and returning to the same place he left from.
Zec 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the light shall not be clear, [nor] dark:
Zec 14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, [that] at evening time it shall be light. My nights are still dark. Are yours?
Zec 14:8 And it shall be in that day, [that] living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mar 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Regardless of whether you interpret this as all believers or the converted Jews, there has been no gathering yet.

Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see (Who was he talking to here? Not believers, who could conceivably see him with "eyes of discernment", but those who were about to crucify him) the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Jhn 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.
Jhn 14:3 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.
If you have not received your heavenly mansion, then either you are not a believer, or Jesus has not returned.

Mr. H, I don't write these things to show you up, but simply to show that the Bible does not agree with your position. There are many people who wind up believing things that are contrary to God's Word because they've been victims of churches that pick and choose from the Bible and then tell you what it REALLY means. If that has happened in your case - whether it's Jehovah Witnesses, extreme preterism or something else - I just recommend that you let God teach you Himself for awhile.

Set aside the commentaries, the pastors' views, the teachings of your church, friends, etc., and just start reading the Bible by itself. Pray for God to teach you the truth, and He will. I'm not against people teaching each other - where would we be without that? But, if you've been deceived, God will show you the truth. He WANTS to show you the truth. He says, "If anyone lacks wisdom, he has only to ask." Notice that it says ANYONE - not just the elect - not just the 144,000 - can ask God for wisdom, and God will grant it. Ask Him to help you understand His word, and then just dig in. If I were you, I'd start at the beginning and just keep going. Some motivated people have read the entire Bible in six weeks.

Don't worry about the Bible version controversies this time through - just pick one you'll actually read. Even the Jehovah Witness Bible contains enough truth to understand, if you'll read it without them telling you what it means.

It was no coincidence that you wound up on my web site - if for no other reason than for God to bring you to my attention so that I might pray for you. You can trust that I will. I wish you the riches of God's truth!

Sincerely,

Lee