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 35)
The Scope of the Second Coming
Chapter 3 – Themes of the Second Coming
Having spent the first chapter surveying a representative sample of references to the Second Coming in both the Old and New Testaments, and the second chapter identifying a number of significant contrasts found in the various aspects of the Second Coming , we will now spend this third chapter identifying and contextualizing the major themes of the Second Coming. These three chapters will leave us with an appreciation for the full scope of the Second Coming, which will frame the rest of the book.
As you have already seen in the references and the dichotomies, there is a lot to the Second Coming – far more than just “Jesus coming back.” The issues of personal relationship with God, life after death, family cohesion, societal relations – and much more – are all governed by what happened in that great event. By recognizing its various themes, we position ourselves to address the event’s implications. When I say “themes,” I could have just as well said its subjects, dimensions, aspects, components, or motifs. The point is simply to identify its most obvious parts of the whole.
The Last Days
You’ve seen the phrase “last days” repeatedly in the writings of the prophets (Old Testament) and the apostles (New Testament). And you’ve seen it in various forms, including: “the latter days,” “the last” of the last days, “the last day,” “the last hour,” and so on. These days were set in motion on the first Pentecost feast after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and recorded by Luke in the book of Acts.
On this Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is being poured out on the assembled believers in Jerusalem, creating a miraculous spectacle for the Jewish pilgrims in town to participate in the festivities. To some, it appeared not so much a miracle but rather simple drunkenness. The apostle Peter clarified that this scene was altogether righteous. It was centuries-old prophecy being fulfilled.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.
Acts 2:15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
Acts 2:16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Acts 2:18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
Acts 2:20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
Acts 2:21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
(to be continued tomorrow)
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