By Alex Polyak
The early church did not miss the second coming. In fact, in one of the most famous prophecies about the event, the Olivet Discourse (Luke 21:5-32), Jesus told his disciples to flee Jerusalem when they saw the city of Jerusalem surrounded by armies (vv. 20-21)—and they did! As a result, the Christians escaped the horrific judgment that followed, in which 1.1 million people were slaughtered and another ninety-seven thousand were taken into slavery.
In a commentary about this event, notable theologian Adam Clarke said:
“It is very remarkable that not a single Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem, though there were many there when Cestius Gallus [Roman general] invaded the city…All who believed in Christ left Jerusalem and fled to Pella and other places beyond the river Jordan; and so they all marvelously escaped the general shipwreck of their country: not one of them perished.”
The church did not miss the second coming!
Redemption
The second coming was about much more than just judgment. Jesus also completed redemption. Notice how Jesus mentions both aspects:
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27).
This refers to the judgment aspect. But notice what Jesus says next:
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (v. 28).
The second coming was about redemption too. The writer of Hebrews echoed this:
“But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself [first coming]…To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation [second coming]” (Heb. 9:27).
These passages show that the second coming was not only about judgment; it was also about redemption/salvation. Jesus completed or consummated the atonement which he had begun back at the cross (during his first coming).
In the Glory of the Father
Many Christians believe the second coming entails Jesus physically returning from heaven; however, that’s not what Jesus said. Jesus said he would come “in the glory of the Father”:
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matt. 16:27-28).
Jesus said he’d come the second time “in the glory of the Father.” In other words, he would come in the same way the Father had come many times before—in judgment and glory and power. Here are a few examples of how the Father had come:
“Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst” (Isa. 19:1).
Note: This cloud coming was a judgment against Egypt. In fact, the next chapter (Isaiah 20) says God used Sargon, the king of Assyria, to carry it out. This cloud coming happened in approximately 700 BC.
“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. ‘I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity…Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place’” (Isa. 13:9–13).
This was a prophecy about a judgment of Babylon (Isa. 13:1) that was fulfilled in 689 BC. As the context shows, God used the Medes to carry it out (13:17).
“And when I [God] extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you and will set darkness on your land…when I make Egypt a desolation” (Ezek. 32:7–8, 15).
This prophecy of the judgment of Egypt was fulfilled in approximately 580 BC.
This is the way God the Father had come—in judgment and glory and power! And this is the way Jesus said he’d come the second time.
Jesus had come the first time as a man, but he came the second time as the King of kings, and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14). In other words, Jesus came in the glory of the Father.
Common Objection
An angel said Jesus would return in the same manner as he ascended to heaven. And Jesus ascended to heaven physically:
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, 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, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11).
Jesus ascended to heaven physically, so that’s how he must return.
Response: It’s true Jesus ascended to heaven physically; but notice what the angel actually said afterwards: “He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight…This same Jesus will so come in like manner.” In other words, Jesus would come in a cloud—which is exactly how he is described as coming in the Olivet Discourse (see Luke 21:27).
And this event happened in AD 70!
To find out more about the topics discussed in this article, please check out my book called The End Is Here: How the New Testament’s Prophecies Were Fulfilled, available NOW on Amazon.