Christ Our Coming King

The Promised Return

   Imagine you were those early disciples, on that hill far away, and your Rabbi, your Teacher and Leader, your Messiah - the One you saw executed and have now seen risen from the grave - is getting ready to ascend back to heaven. He is about to leave you, AND leave you in charge. What are you feeling? What are you thinking? No doubt those yet-to-be-Spirit-filled Christ-followers were feeling somewhat uncertain. Unsteady. In-TIMID-ated. Somewhat daunted by the daunting prospect of taking over this Gospel enterprise which had been launched by the very Son of God. No doubt in part they desired greatly to go with Him, wherever He was about to go.

“Where I am going, you cannot come…”, Jesus had said to them (Jn. 8.21, Jn. 13.33). But He had also left them with a promise - multiple mind-boggling yet comforting promises, in fact. “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (Jn. 16.7). “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…And He will be IN you” (Jn. 14.16-17). Christ would be absent bodily, but His Spirit would always be with them, helping them to follow in His steps and build His church.  He had also promised them, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28.20). Through His in-dwelling Spirit, Christ would be more than just with them - He would be IN them, closer than any ordinary companion. And that, forever. But there was more.

“I will come again…” (Jn. 14.3, Jn. 14.18). “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels…coming in His kingdom…” (Mt. 16.27-28). They could look forward to the glorious prospect of a promised reunion! Messiah would be coming back to reign as King, and set everything right.

All too soon, their Savior and Lord ascended into heaven - and as they stood there still gazing, angels themselves showed up and repeated this promise: …“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go…” (Acts 1:11).

Coming back, coming again in glory, in His Kingdom - as King. The prophets had long foretold of this (second) coming. The promised Son of David, first laying down His life as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, and finally coming to reign as King. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land’” (Jer. 23:5). “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore” (Is. 9.7).

One passage of Scripture - Revelation chapter 20 - talks specifically about a period of one thousand years, when Satan is bound and thrown into the abyss, and when Christ will rule as king (Rev. 20.2-6). A millennium (from the Latin words, mille, meaning 1000 and annus, meaning year) - the word is used six times in that passage. After this millennium, Satan will be released for one last battle and will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire forever and ever (Rev. 20.7-10), where he will be joined by all those whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 20.15). Those whose names ARE in the book of life will be brought into a new Jerusalem, part of a new heaven and a new earth, and there they will reign with the Lord forever and ever (Rev. 21.1-2, 27, 22.5).  There is some disagreement among sincere Christians over whether this 1000 year reign is literal or more figurative, whether is precedes the eternal reign of Christ, or perhaps is already in play somehow?  Regardless, the Bible and Jesus make it crystal clear - He IS coming back, and He is coming back as King!

The Rapture of the church

   Revelation portrays two significant events which immediately precede this return, this second coming of Christ.  First, in Rev. 19.6-9, we see the marriage supper of the Lamb. The New Testament repeatedly presents Christ as a bridegroom - and His bride is the church (cf Mt. 9.15, Jn. 3.29, Eph. 5.23,32).  In antiquity a groom would lead a procession to the bride’s house, whence he would escort her back to his home for a wonderful marriage supper. We understand this scene in Revelation as being that time just before Christ returns as King when He comes to gather the church, His bride, and escort her back to a marriage supper in heaven.  Somehow all those who have truly trusted in Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins will be translated and caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air in that moment (1Th. 4.16-17). These will be gathered from the four corners of the earth, all those who have put their faith in Christ as Savior, both those saints who are alive when Christ comes for His bride as well as all those Christ-followers who had died prior to His return (1Th. 4.14-15, Mt. 24.31). This event has come to be called the rapture, which comes from the Latin word, rapturo, meaning “caught up”.

The exact timing of this rapture and the associated events is mostly uncertain, and that by design. Christ Himself specifically stated that even He didn’t know the exact day or hour - only His Father knew (Mt. 24.36). This return is repeatedly described as being like the coming of a thief in the night. Which means three things - you don’t know when he is coming, but he will come suddenly, and so you better be prepared for his coming (Mt. 24.27).

Having said that, Scripture gives us signs which will let us know that His coming is close at hand. The earth will be in great distress - wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues (Mt. 24.7). Covidemic, anyone? There will also be a time of great persecution for God’s people (Mt. 24.9). Many will fall away and false prophets will arise (Mt. 24.10-11). The good news is that in the midst of all this the Good News of the Kingdom of Christ will finally be preached in the whole world to all the nations (Mt. 24.14). 

Then on the heels of the rapture comes a second significant event. In Rev. 19.11-21 we see a great battle, where the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gather to make war against Christ and the armies of heaven. Christ will of course vanquish these foes and usher in His kingly reign.

Christ’s Return and World Missions

   

The early church was so convinced of the imminence of Christ’s return, they sincerely believed they would see Christ return as King during their lifetime. They longed for His return with eager anticipation - they even talked about trying to hasten His return (1Cor. 1.7, 1Th. 4.15, Jam. 5.8, 1Pet. 4.7, 2Pet. 3.12, 1Jn. 2.18, Rev. 22.20). From the vantage point of 2000 years hence, it is perhaps not unreasonable for some today to question just how imminent Christ’s return really is. For all we know, we could be waiting another 1000 years. And yet, that is entirely not the point. In this season, in this day, as He did at the first, Christ still asks believers to live like He IS coming back soon. Any day now.

Christ is coming back as King. Any day now. He said, be ready. Hang in there and be faithful - and preach the Gospel to all the nations, make disciples of all the nations. And be ready. Be on the alert.  He asks us to live faithfully, as faithful and sensible servants who are all about their Master’s business until such time as He returns (Mt. 24.45-46). While we wait for Him to return we are urged to live soberly and to conduct the Lord’s business - which is helping our neighbors and the nations learn about Him. It’s daytime, business hours - now is the time for working, not for sleeping or frivolous living (1Th. 5.4-7). We are urged to live our lives with an urgency that is informed by both the seriousness and the scope of the task - He is coming back really soon, and only those who have believed the Good News about Him will spend eternity in paradise with Him. 

The whole world needs to hear - and this works on two levels.  People need to hear, because they are lost without Christ and they are running out of time, AND it looks like Christ will in fact NOT return until the Gospel has been preached in all nations. And the church needs to tell them - we are the custodians of this Good News. Now is not the time to be wasting time. It’s harvest time - the fields are white and ready to be harvested, people are ready to believe if only someone will tell them (Mt. 9.37, Jn. 4.35). 

Every farming family knows that when the harvest is ready, it’s all hands on deck. Time to move out. The Lord hasn’t given us a set of pajamas or some cushy bath robe - He’s given us a suit of armor, by which we can build and advance His kingdom not only in our own hearts and families but to all the families of the earth. Now is the time to be loving our neighbors well - with the life-changing Good News about Jesus (Rom. 13.10-11).

And let’s be honest, there ARE these signs, everywhere, increasingly so, aren't there? The earth is teetering on the edge - all these things Christ said would increase are on the rise.  Famines, plagues, earthquakes, persecution - and the Gospel of the Kingdom is spreading. The good news is that the nations are hearing the Good News!  

Now, when A.B. Simpson launched the Alliance, we were in what was the second phase of Protestant world missions - inland missions. William Carey helped to inaugurate the first phase - going out, going to the coastlands. Hudson Taylor helped pioneer the transition to interior/inland missions - but the focus was still very much on borders. The “nations” were understood to be the 200 or so geopolitical entities of the earth - vis a vis the Great Commission, the sense was that the church "simply” needed to get the Gospel into these nations. And so at the turn of the 19th century, every new country opened for the Gospel meant one step closer to the return of Christ - a great cause for celebration (which I believe accounts in part for the fascination with country flags in the Alliance)! This eschatology definitely informed the missiology.

But then Donald McGavran and Cameron Townsend ushered in a third phase in the mid-20th century, where we began to focus on more socio-economic borders within nations, such as language and caste, where we realized that the Gospel needs to penetrate into dozens and even hundreds of different languages and classes of people within every country.  “Pan ta ethne” (“all the nations” in the Greek) literally means, all ethnicities. Every tribe AND tongue will (is intended to) be represented around the throne in heaven. I wonder if perhaps those early disciples who were convinced that Christ would return in their lifetime had any inkling as to just how many ethnic peoples still had yet to be reached with the Good News? There were and still are many many peoples who have yet to hear about Jesus. Hundreds, thousands even. They have gone centuries without a hint of the Gospel in their tribe or village. And how will they hear unless someone tells them? “Who will go for us?”, asks the Lord. The task is as urgent today as it was for the early church. Even as Christ’s return draws ever nearer.

My personal understanding of Christ our Coming King

   There are mind-numbing multiple interpretations as to when and how all these things will take place. Sincere, intelligent believers lined up all over the place, at odds even with one another. Amillennial. Postmillennial. Promillennial. Premillennial. Pretrib. Midtrib. Posttrib. My marked preference is to try to keep my ball out of the weeds and focus on the essentials. Here’s what I see in Scripture:

Jesus is coming back. Of this, there can be no doubt. He said He would. The angels said He would. His disciples said He would. It’s only a question of when, not if.  But His return is more than just a jovial reunion. He is coming back as King. The King of kings. And as Judge. Final judgment. For some, there will be great reward. For others, there will be great mourning (Mt. 24.30, Rev. 1.7). All the nations of the earth will see Him - somehow, at some point. At some point, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and King (Phil. 2.10).

I see that as the end draws near, there will be these "labor pains", signs that Christ is getting ready to return. Signs in the sky, in the sun and the stars. Signs on the earth, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and plagues and famines, perplexity and dismay (Lk. 21.10-11, 25). I see the Gospel going forth and being preached to all the nations (Mt. 24.14). Many people will name the name of Christ, increasingly so as the end draws near - but not all will truly trust in Him as their Savior and Lord. Some will think they are Christians because they did some ritual or some great thing. I see that some - many - sadly will fall away. And I see hatred. Hatred of Christians - “you will be hated by all because of My Name,” Jesus said (Mt. 10.22). Parents and brothers and relatives and friends - turning against one another (Lk. 21.16). God’s people will need great perseverance to endure great persecution (Mt. 24.13, Lk. 21.19, Lk. 21.36). Perseverance, faith which endures to the end, of course, is the defining characteristic of all born-again believers in Christ (Rom. 2.7, Rom. 5.3, Heb. 10.36, Jam. 1.3, 2Pet. 1.6).

I see that the Church needs to never forget that we have a mission. We are the light of the world, a city on a hill.  We have been entrusted with the Good News. While we wait in eager anticipation for the return of our King, we must be about His business.  Spreading the Good News of the Kingdom. Making disciples of all the nations.

But still, many will not be ready for His return, in spite of the signs, in spite of repeated warnings. “I am coming quickly…” (Rev. 2.15, 3.11), “like a thief…” (Rev. 3.3, 16.15). The time is short, and the Lord is near, Paul said (1Cor. 7.29, Phil. 4.5). Jesus said, “You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at a time when you do not expect” (Lk. 12.40). “Be watching and be on the alert” (Mk. 13.33).

In Acts 1, right before Jesus leaves, the disciples ask, “Is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  

His response is basically, this other stuff is not what you need to be focused on. Focus on being about My business, telling people about Me - that’s why I am leaving and giving you My Spirit.  This then is our response.  May the Lord give us the grace and unity to be about His business until He comes.  Even so, come quickly, King Jesus...