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 22)
The Scope of the Second Coming
Chapter 1 – References to the Second Coming
References to the Second Coming in Paul’s Letters
The following two quotes from the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans help convey the scope of God’s judgment that would attend the Second Coming. That judgment would be as wide as the entire human race and as deep as an individual’s heart.
Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
Romans 2:15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
Romans 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
The transition from the church age to the kingdom age in the late 1st century was a massive increase in the jurisdiction of Jesus Christ…and that’s what Paul is describing above. From His resurrection to the Second Coming, Jesus judged only the church; but from the Second Coming onward He would be judging every thought of every human heart. Notice how this fits with the following distinction Paul made to the believers in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
(Do churches today engage in this sort of housecleaning? No, and this is yet another indication that the 1st-century church was the only true church. Much more to come on this in “Implication: His Church Is Done” and “Implication: His Kingdom Has Come.”)
Further to the expansion of judgment, notice that in the next verses, Paul characterizes the church age as “night” and the kingdom age (that is, the age that would be ushered in with the Second Coming) as “day.”
Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
This contrast of night and day Paul describes is obviously spiritual in nature. What could account for so drastic a change? The revelation of Jesus Christ that the Second Coming promised!
1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Recall from the Isaiah 9:6-7 prophecy that He who was revealed as “Prince of Peace” in his first coming, would be revealed also as “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father” in His second. (I’ll walk you through this step by step in “Implication: God Is One.”) The church age glorified Jesus, but the kingdom age glorifies Him even more. That’s why the church age was not called “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” but the kingdom age is.
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