Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Reading)
The Implications of the Second Coming as Accomplished Fact
(Book Installment 20)
The Scope of the Second Coming
Chapter 1 – References to the Second Coming
References to the Second Coming in the Gospel of Luke
Here are some sample references to the Second Coming found in the Gospel Luke wrote for Gentiles. These references speak to the same facets we have found referenced in the Old Testament prophets and the Gospel of Matthew.
This first one makes clear that the coming of the kingdom of God wouldn’t mean the end of life as we know it.
Luke 7:28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
We really should pray the Lord’s prayer little differently, shouldn’t we?
Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
The kingdom is not a spectator sport. We’ve got to get on the field!
Luke 17:20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The next verse is saying more than a mouthful. The Second Coming of Christ was an enormous revelation – and it’s time we stop being blind to it!
Luke 17:30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
Much more to come on this as we proceed through the book – especially in “Implication: God Is One” and “Implication: Life Is One-on-One.”
References to the Second Coming in the Gospel of John
John’s Gospel brings us sayings from Jesus not often found in the other three. Yet we see even among those unique statements the same emphasis on various aspects of the Second Coming. John, like the other biblical writers, it just giving a distinct personal testimony on the very same complex of events. Notice how John picks up on Jesus’ emphasis on the last of the last days.
John 6:39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
“The last day” is the day of the Lord and the day of resurrection. Lots took place! Lots!!
And even though the Second Coming was a day of spiritual cataclysms, it was nonetheless a very personal day for Jesus.
John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
A hint of the meaning here is that those who were faithful to attend church in order to be instructed about the Lord in advance of His Second Coming and experience the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 would find the Holy Spirit permanently present in their individual hearts from that time forward. That was a key feature of the kingdom of God.
Romans 14:17 …the kingdom of God is…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Yes, more to come on this, too – especially in “Implication: Life Is One-on-One.”
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