First let’s establish the primacy of the Word/Bible by remembering that Jesus said the “word cannot be broken”.
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
In Scripture we can see that Jesus came to earth. He was Crucified, rose and then ascended to Heaven., but He said he would come back.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
In scripture there is only one reference where He comes to people after He ascends, Acts 3:19-21.
If we don’t agree that “it is finished” then we are still waiting for Him to Come a second time in a way that is not recorded in scripture.
Either we accept it and agree with Jesus statement from the Cross “It is finished” or we don’t agree with it.
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Is He coming back to everyone of not? The Bible says every eye will see Him.
Re 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
But it also says He will only come back to those who look for Him.
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
These verses seem to be contradicting each other.
But they don’t.
- The bible gives us an example of His coming in the clouds in Isaiah 19:1.
Isa 19:1 ¶ The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
Isa 19:2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
Isa 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
This is not a physical appearance but is a reference to the Lord’s judgment being accomplished, as He sets one person against another. This is what scripture calls the Day of the Lord.
When seen in the light of Revelation 1:9 it becomes clear that the statements referring to “Jesus coming in the clouds” is a reference not to Jesus physical appearance, but to His judgment being accomplished.
Every eye will see His coming in this fashion. Every person is subject to Jesus judgment. Every person will see/perceive Jesus judgment upon sin because all people reap what they sow, Gal 6:7.
2. There is also a reference to support His Coming only to those who look for Him, Acts 3:19-21.
Ac 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Ac 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Ac 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
When He appears “only to those who look for Him” He does so only after the “Restitution/Restoration of all things.
Jesus also told us that John the Baptist came to restore all things (Matt 17:11) preaching repentance.
Mt 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Compliance with John the Baptists message of repentance (from Unbelief) brings about the restoration which is the Second Coming.
Mr 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The reference to a restoration happens when an individual repents from unbelief.
With reference to “His coming only to the people who look for Him” He appears to them when they repent from unbelief.
Individual repentance from unbelief brings about the restoration/Jesus second coming.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 ¶ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
When the disciples asked when this restoration would happen Jesus told them what would happen but not when it would happen. This is because the restoration/Second Coming happens on an individual basis when a person chooses to repent of unbelief. Jesus could not give the disciples a date for everyone being restored, however after they asked the question in Acts 1:6 He told them what would happen to them afterwards.
Ac 1:6 ¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
When the kingdom is restored the Holy Spirit will give a person power to be a witness for Jesus.
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In Acts 1:7 Jesus says that He will not tell them when the “restoration” will happen.
Ac 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
The restoration of the kingdom happens on an individual basis only when an individual repents of unbelief , as Peter said in Acts 2:21.
Jesus would not tell them a specific date because it happens when each individual repents from unbelief.
God took a portion of Himself in Daniel 2:45 and wrapped it in flesh (Heb 10:5). The portion of God wrapped in flesh (Jesus) was crucified and ascended. Then He returns to His people through His Spirit, 2 Cor 3:6,8,17 and 18.
God prepared a Body for His Son and sent Him into the world to bring about our salvation, Heb 10:5.
Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Then Jesus prayed that He would again be glorified with the same Glory that He had with the Father before He came into the world, John 17:5.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Joh 14:18 ¶ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Then He said He would come to believers after His crucifixion.
The references to the word “Spirit” in 2 Cor :3 give further insight into How God manifests Himself to people after the crucifixion of Jesus.
2Co 3:6 ¶ who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor?
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(RSV)
The First man was Adam. The Second was Jesus and He became a life giving Spirit, 1 Cor 15:45-
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. KJV
1Co 15:45 so also it hath been written, `The first man Adam became a living creature,’ the last Adam is for a life-giving spirit, (YLT)
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Cor 15:45 is pasted above in two versions because the Greek language of the New Testament the verse suggests that Adam became a “Living creature”, the verse does not suggest the Jesus “Became” a spirit but that He “Is” Spirit.
God manifests Himself to His people and they see the Second Coming of Christ as they are immersed into the Holy Spirit.
Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.