Second Advent Matters

 

By Graham Wilson

 

Some Christians expressed puzzlement and even anxiety when the year 2000 passed without ushering in the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ

 

The end of the second millennium definitely seemed the appropriate time. Traditionally, the 'creation' week commenced about 6000 years ago. In round figures, this covered 2000 years between creation and Abraham, then 2000 years to Christ followed by a similar duration. In theory therefore the Second Coming would now have introduced the Lord's final 1000 years' reign on earth assumed by many, based on a debatable understanding of Revelation 20.

Consideration of this view encounters a really big problem. Seven years before the Second Advent, related to Daniel's 70^th week (Daniel 9), the Rapture of the Church and the Great Tribulation were said to run their course. This means, in effect, that the Rapture was set to occur during the 1990's. And all agree this did not happen, thus confirming the inherent flaw in this popular dating scheme.

 

In order to seek to counter this position, many assert that the exact date of the Return is unknown (Matthew 24:36). There is therefore some needed space in timing in order to cool the fevered brow! However, advocates of this particular view inevitably insist that the Second Coming is imminent because of events over the past 50 years with regard to Israel and the world generally. The expression~'the signs of the times'--regularly comes into play in any discussion of eschatology.

 

Once again, such an approach barely survives close scrutiny. The nearness of the Return was confidently announced by scholars throughout the whole of the last century! These claims also proliferated in earlier times. Each of them has been demonstrated to be totally false. And why should we now accept yet more prophets who have been manifestly mistaken in the past? Repetition of such failed claims can certainly bring Scripture into disrepute in the eyes of a curious world.

 

Clearly, this awkward state of affairs has not gone unnoticed by quite a number of evangelicals in both the UK and the USA. Is there at heart a defect in our understanding of biblical prophecy? We do know that the Old Testament people of God, as a whole, misinterpreted the Scriptures in respect of the First Advent. Are we also guilty of doing the same with regard to Second Advent matters?

 

Perhaps we are more influenced by the words of creeds and commentators than we are by the straightforward Word of God. Time-frame is always of crucial importance but this is generally ignored today. While Scripture is given for our salvation, learning and guidance, we usually fail to remember it was not specifically addressed to us in the first place. Thus, for example, when the first New Testament readers were informed that certain events were to occur in their lifetime, we unthinkingly assume that these are either to somehow happen in our day or else they will be in the nature of a re-run for us.

 

Naturally, because of this type of outlook, serious mistakes have been repeated over the centuries. Each generation wrongly presumed that the events described specifically related to their time. And of course there is a genuine measure of bewilderment and distress when confident forecasts turn out to be no more than the utterances of false prophets.

 

 The New Testament, in particular, is replete with intimation of happenings which were set to occur during the first century. In fact, 'the signs of the times' focus on the first and not the twenty first century! Thus a sample of the many relevant verses would include Matthew 3:7-10; Mark 8:34-9:1, 13: 28-33, 14:61-63; ! Corinthians 7:29-31; James 5:7-9; 1 Peter 4:7-9; Revelation 1:1-3, 22:10-12. When carefully examined in context and time-frame, these portions highlight what was to take place, not in our future, but in the actual future of those who originally heard or received the words almost 2000 years ago. And today everyone knows the outcome of those incredible events which the New Testament disclosed. These included none other than the passing of the old Mosaic economy and the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ together with the public manifestation of the kingdom of God. The date of AD 70, writ large in history, will never be forgotten, especially for its immense theological significance. In overall terms, this was also the period directly connected with the biblical 'last days' (Hebrews 1:1-2).

 

 And so, where are we today with regard to the vital topic of eschatology? Without doubt, we have no option but to own up to the endless dating errors made over the last two millennia. Let us therefore be the first generation of believers who determines that our approach to these matters will be totally governed by the Word of God, in context, and thus we will not be swayed by changing events which have no vital place in shaping our appreciation of Scripture. Our concern is to see God's Kingdom extended and his will done in all the earth as it is in heaven, as the Lord plainly instructed his followers (Matthew 6:10). We will be prudent to reject all date-setting tendencies and to ever seek to please God by our lives. The matter we can really be certain of is that our own days here on earth are numbered until called to higher service in glory (Colossians 1:27; Philippians 1:21-23).

 

 In conclusion, let us emphasize the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ has already received all power and authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18-20). And together we join wholeheartedly with the apostle Paul in his famous doxology— "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:21).

 

(The author of this article resides at 8 The Rowans, Gullane, East Lothian, EH31 2DU, Scotland).