In Matthew 24, Jesus taught his disciples about the events leading up to his second coming and also a description of that very event. A short time later, those same disciples (ex – Judas) saw him ascend into heaven with a declaration that he would return in the same way. With the church then being established through this apostolic witness, you can imagine that the hope of this return taught by the apostles would be of great intrigue to new believers in Jesus. You can also imagine how easy it would be for early Christians to consider various dilemmas associated with Christ’s return and open a door for confusion and false teaching.
In the New Testament letters, we find that these very dilemmas and provocations from false teachers provide even more context for us to understand the nature of the second coming of Christ. They enable us correct misunderstanding in our own time. We find this most specifically in the letters of Paul, Peter and John.
Misconception 1. There is a disadvantage to dying prior to the return of Christ.
In a section spanning from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, Paul is assuring the Thessalonian church that their brothers and sisters in Christ who have already died are not disadvantaged by dying before Christ’s return. 1Th 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. Paul goes on to assure these believers by speaking specifically about the second coming of Christ. He assures them that because of the resurrection of Christ, there will be a resurrection for Christians who have died. In verse 15 Paul specifically declares that those who are left alive until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are dead but will be resurrected with them in the air with the dead even rising first. The context of the dilemma about Jesus return clearly sets out the principle that at the second coming of Christ there will be great eternal advantage for both those who have died and those who are still alive. In the early part of chapter 5 Paul also emphasizes (within the same context of the second coming question) that those who are not believers will be surprised by a sudden judgment that they are not prepared for.
Misconception 2. Our persecutors get away with injustice toward us.
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul starts by assuring the Thessalonians that the current persecution they are going through will not be in vain. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5-12, Paul assures this church that the worthiness of their suffering is absolutely assured in the fact that those who afflict them will be brought to eternal justice, “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God” and do not obey the gospel of Christ (vs 7-8). If we think that evil is winning and injustice is being left unpunished in the world, a right view of the second coming means that this is not true and we can continue to count the cost of the gospel knowing there is greater reward in eternity.
Misconception 3. Jesus is taking too long. Did we miss him?
In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Paul tells the church not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. While in his first letter to this church they were worried about their dead brothers and sisters missing out on Christ’s return, it now seems that false teachers are telling them that they have missed out on Christ’s return. He then goes on to teach the church that Jesus has indeed not yet returned. He tells them that before he does return there will be continued lawlessness and even a great exponent of lawlessness that will first be revealed. They need not worry that they have missed the second coming.
In his first letter, the Apostle John says much the same thing. 1John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. John, in the same way as Paul (and Jesus in Matthew 24), tells his readers that false Christs are around and leading up to a great exponent of a false Christ. This helps them know that they are in the last hour. They are living toward the second coming of Christ. They therefore need to be ready. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. Believers are not like the antichrists, we are like Jesus, and at his return we will be like he is – 1 John 3:5.
Misconception 4: The world just goes on, Christ is not coming at all.
Peter was writing to a group of churches and warned them of the harassment of scoffers who will taunt them about the second coming of Christ. These scoffers would suggest that the operation of this world will continue in the present just as in the past. In 2 Peter 3:3-13 he tells the church these scoffers easily forget that God has previously judged this world through the great flood of Noah and would one day bring final judgment with the same universal and sudden wrath upon the world. Just because Jesus has not yet come and the time has gone beyond your expectation does not mean he is dragging his feet or that he is not coming at all. Peter then makes the very famous statement that Christians often recite, “with the Lord, one day is as 1000 years and 1000 years is as a day.” The Lord has not forgotten his church and his patience is working so that all of his elect will see the full fruition of repentance. The warning for us is to therefore be ready for the suddenness of his return which is the same type of suddenness as a thief in the night.
These statements in Paul, Peter and John’s writings are just a few of the great testimonies of about Jesus’ return in the New Testament. As we see the context of each of their statements we learn to put away our misconceptions about Jesus’ return and long for the day in which he will judge this world and put all things right. To know the answers to these misconceptions is to live our lives in anticipation of his return. Correcting these misconceptions removes indifference from our life and replaces it with intentional, persevering preparation.