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Second Coming

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For other uses, see Second Coming (disambiguation).

The Second Coming or Second Advent refers to the Christian and Islamic belief in the return of Jesus Christ to fulfill the rest of the Messianic prophecy, such as the Resurrection of the dead, Last judgement and establishment of the Kingdom of God. Views about the Second Coming vary among different Christian denominations, and have influenced other religions as well. The term Parousia, Greek for "appearance and subsequent presence with" (in the ancient world referring to official visits by royalty) is also used to describe this event. The Second Coming is an important component of Christian eschatology, the theology concerning the final events and ultimate purposes of the world.

Contents

[edit] Biblical sources

Major events in Jesus's life in the Gospels

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The Gospels contain several apparent predictions of Jesus regarding his return at the end of the world. These include the Olivet discourse (Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21), The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46), Luke 17:20-37, Mark 8:34-9:1, Matthew 16:24-28, Luke 9:23-27, Matthew 10:17-42, John 6:39-54, 11:24, 12:48, 14:3 and additional verses such as 2 Peter 3:10-13. Jesus says that the "Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matthew 16:27), and that this will occur in a sudden, non localised fashion "like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other" (Luke 17:24), and that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32). (NIV)

Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. ... How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!" (Mark 13:5-8,17 NIV)

The prophetic language of the Book of Daniel, particularly in the "Judgment" scene of chapter 12, and the Book of Revelation is considered to be fruitful sources of study.

Also some verses from the Gospels are often seen to imply that Jesus would return before the death of those to whom he was talking. Both Matthew and Luke include the statement, "This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place" (Matthew 24:34, Luke 21:32)<ref>Matthew 24:34 & Genea: What The Scholars Say</ref>. Indeed, C.S. Lewis called this "the most embarrassing verse in the Bible" <ref>C.S. Lewis The World’s Last Night and Other Essays</ref>, though many Christians interpret the word generation from this verse in some different manner. Another verse is more explicit: "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom" (Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27). This reference is related to the disciples who saw Him transfigured on the Holy Mount.<ref>This is not an interpretation accepted by all scholars. It is only an attempt to explain in what sense the promise of Jesus at Matthew 16:28 was fulfilled. Otherwise Matthew 16:28 would remain just as "embarrassing" as Matthew 24:34, to use C.S. Lewis' expression</ref> See also Wandering Jew, Preterism. In Revelation John sees a vision of Jesus' coming, and could be considered to be a fulfillment of this prophetic statement. Another possible resolution of the statement is suggested by the belief commonly held in Mormonism that John the Apostle had the nature of his body changed and was allowed to "tarry" on the earth until the coming of Christ and thus at least one person of that generation might still be living even at this day.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on General Judgement:

"In the New Testament the second Parusia, or coming of Christ as Judge of the world, is an oft-repeated doctrine. The Saviour Himself not only foretells the event but graphically portrays its circumstances (Matthew 24:27 sqq.; 25:31 sqq.). The Apostles give a most prominent place to this doctrine in their preaching (Acts 10:42,17:31) and writings (Romans 2:5-16, 14:10; 1 Cor 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Tim 4:1; 2 Thess 1:5; James 5:7). Besides the name Parusia (parousia), or Advent (1 Cor 15:23; 2 Thess 2:1-9), the Second Coming [emphasis added] is also called Epiphany, epiphaneia, or Appearance (2 Thess 2:8; 1 Tim 6:14; 2 Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13), and Apocalypse (apokalypsis), or Revelation (2 Thess 2:7; 1 Peter 4:13). The time of the Second Coming is spoken of as "that Day" (2 Tim 4:8), "the day of the Lord" (1 Thess 5:2), "the day of Christ" (Philemon 1:6), "the day of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:30), "the last day" (John 6:39-40)."

[edit] Mainstream Christianity

The vast majority of those self-identified as Christians (an exception is Full Preterism) look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, across the many denominations, the details of Christ's second coming are somewhat diverse. Few dare to claim complete and authoritative interpretation of the typically symbolic and prophetic biblical sources. What is commonly accepted is that he is to return to judge the world and to establish the Kingdom of God, in other words to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy. A short reference to the Second Coming is contained in the Nicene Creed, the most widespread Christian statement of faith: "He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there shall be no end" (speaking of "one Lord Jesus Christ"). It is also in the earlier Apostle's Creed: "He will come again to judge the living and the dead." It is also in the earlier Pauline Creed, perhaps the earliest Christian creed: 1 Cor 15:23. The Catholic and Anglican and United Methodist liturgy proclaims the Mystery of Faith to be: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again". Generally, mainstream Christianity does not offer predictions on the date of the Second Coming. Some mainstream Christians may also form their own ideas of how and where it will happen, but recognize that such information is not important and is not essential to receiving "salvation".

[edit] Esoteric Christian tradition

In the Esoteric Christian tradition, (considered to be heresy among orthodox Christians [1]), Essenian and later Rosicrucian <ref>Illustration: Rosencrucian Gallery</ref>, there is a distinction to be made between Jesus and the Christ <ref>Heindel, Max, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (Part III, Chapter XV: Christ and His Mission), November 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0</ref>. Jesus is considered a high Initiate of the human life wave (which evolves under the cycle of rebirth) and of a singularly pure type of mind, vastly superior to the great majority of the present humanity. He was educated during his youth among the Essenes and thus prepared himself for the greatest honor ever bestowed upon a human being: to deliver his pure, passionless, highly evolved physical body and vital body (already attuned to the high vibrations of the 'life spirit'), in the moment of the Baptism, to the Christ being for His ministry in the physical world. Christ is described as the highest Spiritual Being of the life wave called Archangels, and has completed His union ("the Son") with the second aspect of God.

In this western tradition, there is a clear distinction between the Cosmic Christ, or Christ without, and the Christ Within: the Cosmic Christ, the 'Regent of the Earth' <ref>The Rosicrucian Fellowship, Eastern and Western Spiritual Alternatives</ref>, aids each individual in the formation of the Christ Within, the Golden Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:2,11 KJV), also called "Soul body", the correct translation of Paul of Tarsus "soma psuchicon" (Greek "soma" [body] and "psuchicon" [psu(y)che--soul], "It is sown a soul body; it is raised a spiritual body ...": 1 Cor 15:44; distinction of "spirit and soul and body": 1 Thess 5:23).

According to this tradition, the Christ Within is regarded as the true Saviour who needs to be born within each individual (Galatians 4:19) in order to evolve toward the future Sixth Epoch in the Earth's etheric plane, that is, toward the "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13, 2 Peter 3:7): the New Galilee <ref>Heindel, Max, How Shall We Know Christ at His Coming?, May 1913 (stenographic report of a lecture, Los Angeles), ISBN 0-911274-64-2</ref>. The Second Coming or Advent of the Christ is not in a physical body (1 Cor 15:50, John 18:36), but in the new soul body of each individual in the etheric region of the planet (2 Cor 5:1-3, Greek "politeuma" [commonwealth], "Our commonwealth is in heaven ...": Phil 3:20-21) where man "shall be caught up IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR" (Matthew 24:30, 1 Thess 4:17, Acts 1:10-11, 1 John 3:2). The "day and hour" when this event shall be, as described in the Bible, is not in the human knowledge domain (Matthew 24:36, 24:23-27). The esoteric Christian tradition teaches that first there will be a preparatory period as the Sun enters Aquarius by precession: the coming Age of Aquarius.

[edit] Islam

Main article: Islamic view of Jesus

The mainstream Islamic view of the second coming maintains that Jesus was replaced by a duplicate who looked like Jesus, and that it was the duplicate who was crucified while the real Jesus was lifted up to Heaven by God, where he is waiting to descend<ref>"Islamic View of the Coming/Return of Jesus", by Dr. Ahmad Shafaat, 2003, Islamic Perspectives, [2]</ref> during the “last days” when corruption and perversity are rife on Earth. He will then wage a battle against the false Messiah or Dajjal, break the cross, kill swine and call all humanity to Islam.

[edit] Predictions of the Second Coming

See also: List of messiah claimants and Olivet discourse#Immediacy
  • Pastor William Miller and the Millerite Movement expected the second coming on October 22, 1844. The fact that this failed to happen the way people were expecting was later referred to as the Great Disappointment. However, on the same night when people were looking into the sky, a man in Persia named Bab claimed that he was the Promised One. Millerites then predicted a date of October 22 1845, which was later moved ahead to 1851. Some of his followers went on to create the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses.
  • The interpretation of the Second Coming is important in the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, as these hold that it occurred in 1914, and instead of an apocalyptic Second Coming it is to be interpreted as an unseen presence, and the visible events of the final times will occur at a later date.
  • An alternate examination of the bible and history supporting the Second Coming as a seen presence which, occurred in 1908. Although written by a non-Witness scholar it hinges on the Jehovah's Witness 1914 doctrine. The article is called Armchair Archeology
  • Emanuel Swedenborg and those in the New Church believe Jesus has already made his second advent through the ideas revealed in Swedenborg's theological works. They believe that the Last Judgement was completed in the spiritual world on June 19, 1770 <ref>Swedenborg's True Christian Religion passage number 791 </ref>
  • The followers of Reverend Sun Myung Moon consider Rev. Moon to be the Lord of the Second Advent called by Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday at the age of 15 on a Korean Mountainside.
  • Rudolf Steiner described the physical incarnation of Christ as a unique event, but predicted that Christ would reappear in the etheric, or lowest spiritual, plane beginning in the 1930s. This would manifest in various ways: as a new spiritual approach to community life and between individuals; in more and more individuals discovering fully conscious access to the etheric plane (clairvoyance); and in Christ's appearance to groups of seekers gathered together. See a series of his lectures on the subject.
  • Master Beinsa Douno prediction for the Second Appearance of Christ: "Christ Impulse will gradually penetrate into the human being and will take over guidance during the further development of the humankind. We are still in the beginning of all this now. In the future Christianity – but not the external, official, Christianity, but the mystic, Esoteric Christianity – will become a world religion for the whole humankind. Christ will be placed in the center of the New culture. Remember, that Christ is a manifestation of the Love of God. And He will come as an internal Light in the minds and hearts of the people. This Light will attract everybody around Christ as a great center. The opening of the human minds and hearts and the reception of Christ from within – this will be the Second Appearance of Christ on the Earth. He will preach mainly the great science of Love and the methods how to apply it. He will preach the Path of discipleship, brotherhood and serving. Because this is what the law of evolution requires nowadays." (Master Beinsa Douno, The Master, The Life of the Sixth Race, ISBN 954-744-050-0, [3], 1900-1946, Society Byalo Bratstvo - Bulgaria)
  • Nostradamus predicted that "from the sky will come a great King of Terror" in 1999 <ref>The King of Terror - Part 1</ref>. This was interpreted by some as a prophecy about the second coming of Jesus. When this didn't occur, his followers and those of Edgar Cayce claimed that Jesus was conceived in 1998, born in 1999, and is currently living on Earth as a reincarnated person.
  • The Rastafari movement believes Haile Selassie is the second coming (although he himself did not encourage this belief). He both embodied this when he became Emperor of Ethiopia, but is also expected to return a second time to initiate the apocalyptic day of judgement. Haile Selassie, also called Jah Ras Tafari, is often considered to be alive by Rastafarians.
  • Fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell predicted in 1999 that the Second Coming would probably be within 10 years.<ref>Falwell: Antichrist May Be Alive. Sonja Baristic, Associated Press. January 16 1999.</ref>
  • Televangelist Jack Van Impe has, over the years, predicted many specific years and dates for the second coming of Jesus, but has continued to move his prediction later. Many of these dates have already passed, and he recently pointed to 2012 as a possible date for the second coming. Van Impe no longer claims to know the exact date of the Second Coming, but quotes verses which imply that humankind should know when the second coming is near.

[edit] Claims of the Second Coming

  • Bahá'u'lláh Claimed to be the Return of Christ. Followers of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the fulfillment of the prophecies of the second coming of Jesus, as well as the prophecies of the 5th Buddha Maitreya and many other religious prophecies of a bringer of universal peace, were begun by the Báb in 1844 and then by Bahá'u'lláh. They commonly compare the fulfillment of Christian prophecies to Jesus' fulfillment of Jewish prophecies, where in both cases people were expecting the literal fulfillment of apocalyptic statements. For more analysis of prophecies see Prophecy Fulfilled and Catastrophe, Armageddon and Millennium.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

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[edit] References

[edit] External links

de:Parusie es:Parusía fr:Parousie ia:Parousia it:Parusia he:הביאה השנייה nl:Wederkomst pl:Paruzja pt:Segunda vinda de Cristo ru:Второе пришествие Иисуса Христа fi:Jeesuksen toinen tuleminen

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