International Bible Teaching Ministries
Christ Second Coming
Question 1: Why do many people say that Christ will be coming back after 2000 years?
ANSWER: Man continually and foolishly tries to predict the time of Christ's Second Coming. These predictions seem to increase at the close of each decade (every ten-year period) and more especially at the turn of the century (every one hundred years). It follows then at the conclusion of a thousand, or two thousand, year period that such thinking would be even more common, since this time would also include another decade and another century! Such predictions are sinful, showing a complete disregard for God's Word which clearly records the words of Jesus, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36).
Question 2: Will Jesus literally return with the clouds of heaven or will He return as He came the first time, i.e., through a miraculous birth?
ANSWER: Jesus will literally return with the clouds of heaven! "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11). "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him . . ." (Revelation 1:7).
Question 3: Will the heavens and earth literally be destroyed at His Second Coming? Will we literally meet Him in the air?
ANSWER: Yes! All of these things are to be taken literally! Note that in II Peter, Chapter three, Verses 10-12, where the destruction of the heavens and the earth is foretold, that Peter compared it with what literally occurred when the earth was once destroyed by water. Both are instances of literal destruction!
Those who obey and serve God faithfully in this life will literally meet the Lord in the air at His Second Coming (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is no reason to infer a symbolic interpretation of this passage!
Question 4: Is Christ’s Second Coming to be physical or only spiritual?
ANSWER: Christ will not appear the second time with a physical body as we know it, but we do know that He shall literally appear and we shall physically hear and see His coming (I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 1:7). After the dead are resurrected with new bodies (not with flesh and blood as we know it, but yet visible – I Corinthians 15:35-58), the bodies of those alive at that time will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (I Corinthians 15:51-52) and “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).