General Eschatology
References for Further Study:
Berkhof, Reformed Dogmatics, II, pp. 291–308; Hodge, Outlines of Theology, pp. 548–558; Mackintosh, Immortality and the Future, pp. 152–163; Shedd, Doctrine of Endless Punishment, pp. 12–74;
Morris, Is There Salvation After Death?; Hovey, Eschatology, pp. 79– 145.
GENERAL ESCHATOLOGY
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
The New Testament clearly teaches that the first coming of the Lord will be followed by a second. Jesus Himself referred to His return more than once, Matt. 24:30; 25:19, 31; 26:64; John 14:3; angels called attention to it at the time of the ascension, Acts 1:11; and the apostles speak of it in numerous passages of their epistles, Acts 3:20,
21; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:15, 16; 2 Thess. 1:7, 10; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28.
A. Great Events Preceding the Second Coming. Several important events must transpire before the return of the Lord.
1. THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. Several passages of the New Testament point to the fact that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations before the return of the Lord, Matt. 24:14;
Mark 13:10; Rom. 11:25. This does not merely mean that at least one missionary must be sent to each one of the nations. But neither does it mean that the gospel must be preached to every individual of all the nations of the world. The passages referred to simply require that
the nations as nations be thoroughly evangelized, so that the gospel becomes a power in the life of the people, a sign that calls for decision.
2. THE CONVERSION OF ISRAEL. Both the Old and the New Testament speak of a future conversion of Israel, Zech. 12:10; 13:1; 2
Cor. 3:15, 16; Rom. 11:25–29. The passage in Romans 11 seems to connect this with the end of time. Some infer from these passages that Israel as a whole, Israel as a nation, will finally turn to the Lord.
But this interpretation is rather dubious. It is a very striking fact that Jesus did speak of the children of the kingdom as being cast out,
Matt. 8:11, 12, and of the kingdom as being taken away from them, Matt. 21:43, but never speaks of their being restored to their former position. This is not even necessarily implied in Matt. 19:28 and Luke 21:24. It may be thought that Rom. 11:11–32 certainly teaches the conversion of the nation. In view of the connection it is more likely, however, that the expression "all Israel" in verse 26 simply means the full number of the elect out of the ancient covenant people. The whole passage does seem to teach that in the end large numbers of Israel will turn to the Lord.
3. THE COMING OF ANTICHRIST. The Bible predicts the revelation of antichrist, the man of sin, who sets himself up in opposition to Jesus Christ, but will be slain by the breath of the Lord at the time of His return, 2 Thess. 2:3–10. Scripture speaks of antichrists in the plural, 1 John 2:18 ("false Christs," Matt. 24:24), of the spirit of antichrist, 1 John 4:3, and of antichrist in the singular, 1 John 2:22; 2
John 7, also called the man of sin, 2 Thess. 2:3. The explanation for this lies in the fact that the spirit of antichrist, of opposition to Jesus
Christ, was already apparent in the days of the apostles in the efforts of those who were bent on destroying the work of Christ, Apparently, however, this opposition will finally reach its climax in the
appearance of a single individual, who will oppose and exalt himself "against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God."
4. SIGNS AND WONDERS. Several signs are spoken of as harbingers of the end of the world and of the coming of Christ. Scripture speaks
(a) of wars, famines, and earthquakes in divers places, which are called the beginning of travail, to be followed by the rebirth of the universe; (b) of the great tribulation during which some of the righteous will suffer persecution and martyrdom for the sake of Christ; (c) of the coming of false prophets and false Christs, who will lead many astray; and (d) of fearful portents in heaven, when the powers of the heavens will be shaken, Matt. 24:29, 30; Mark 13:24,
25; Luke 21:25, 26.
B. The Second Coming Itself. After the signs just mentioned the Son of Man will be seen coming on the clouds of heaven.
1. THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING. Premillenarians believe that the coming of Christ is imminent, which means that it may now occur at any time. Scripture teaches us, however, that the things mentioned in the preceding must transpire before the Lord's return,
Matt. 24:14; 2 Thess. 2:2, 3; 2 Pet. 3:9. This should be borne in mind in the reading of those passages which speak of the coming of Christ or of the last day as near, Matt. 16:28; 24:34; Heb. 10:25; Jas. 5:9; 1
Pet. 4:5; 1 John 2:18. From God's point of view the coming of the Lord is always near. Moreover, the apostles considered it as near, because Pentecost marked the beginning of the last days, that is, of the last dispensation. Besides, when they speak of the Lord's coming as near, they do not always have in mind the final coming, but may refer to some preliminary coming, such as at the destruction of Jerusalem.
2. THE MANNER OF THE SECOND COMING. The coming of Christ will be: a. A Personal Coming. Many Rationalists and liberal theologians of the present day deny the personal return of Jesus Christ. They give a figurative interpretation to the glowing descriptions of the second coming, and take them to mean that the religious principles of Christ will gradually permeate society. But this does not do justice to such passages as Acts 1:11; 3:20, 21; Matt. 24:44; 1 Cor. 15:23; Phil. 3:20;
Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15–17; 2 Tim. 4:8; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28. b. A Physical Coming. Some maintain that the Lord has already returned. They identify the second coming of Christ with His return in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, John 14:18, 23. But this coming is clearly not the same as the predicted second coming of Christ, for this is still spoken of as future after the pentecostal coming. Moreover, the following passages prove that the second coming will be physical, Acts 1:11; 3:20, 21; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:7. c. A Visible Coming. It may be said that, if the Lord's return will be physical, it will also be visible. And Scripture leaves no doubt on this point, Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:11; Col.
3:4; Tit. 2:13 Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:7. Russellites are mistaken when they claim that the Lord returned invisibly in 1914 and now dwells in the air. d. A Sudden Coming. Though several signs will precede the second coming, yet it will be unexpected and take people by surprise, Matt.
24:37–44; 25:1–12; Mark 13:33–37; 1 Thess. 5:2, 3; Rev. 3:3; 16:15.
This is not contradictory, for the predicted signs are not of such a kind as to designate the exact time.
e. A Glorious and Triumphant Coming. Christ will not return in the body of His humiliation but in glory, Heb. 9:28. The clouds of heaven will be His chariot, Matt. 24:30, the angels His bodyguard, 2 Thess.
1:7, the archangels His heralds, 1 Thess. 4:16, and the saints of God His glorious retinue, 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:10. He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords, triumphant over all the forces of evil,
Rev. 19:11–16.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE SECOND COMING. Christ will return at the end of the world for the purpose of introducing the future age, the eternal state of things, and He will do this by inaugurating and completing two mighty events, namely, the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment, Matt. 13:49, 50; 16:27; 24:3; 25:14–30; Luke
9:26; 19:15, 26, 27; John 5:25–29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:3–16; 1 Cor.
4:5; 15:23; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Thess. 4:13–17; 2 Thess. 1:7– 10; 2:7, 8; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; 2 Pet. 3:10–13; Jude 14, 15; Rev. 20:11–15;
22:12.
Questions for Review:
What great event will precede the second coming of Christ? What does it mean that the gospel must be preached to all nations first?
How should we understand the predicted conversion of Israel? What can be said against the idea that Israel as a nation will be converted?
What does the Bible mean when it speaks of Antichrist? In how far is it possible to speak of Antichrist as present? In what sense is he still future? What signs will precede the second coming of Christ? Is the Lord's return imminent? In how far can it be regarded as near? Who deny the personal coming of Christ and what can be said in favor of it? How do they conceive of the second coming who regard it as a past event? How can it be proved that the second coming will be physical and visible? How can it be sudden when it will be preceded