SECOND COMING OF OUR MOSHIACH

PART 1

TERMS USED

Our Moshiach’s second coming is described by verbs such as “come,” “descend,” “appear,” and “is revealed” with our Moshiach as the subject. For example, “I will come again” (John 14:3), “Our Moshiach Himself will descend” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), “when he appears” (1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:2), “the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:30), and “when King Yeshua is revealed from heaven” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). It is also described by a variety of nouns, principally by “coming,” but also by “appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13), “revealing,” or “revelation” (1 Corinthians 1:7). These different verbs and nouns point to the same event but highlight different aspects of it, especially the manifestation of YHVH’s glory in our Moshiach when he comes. The time of this event is repeatedly referred to as “the Day” (Romans 13:12; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 10:25), “the day of Moshiach” (Philippians 1:10; Philippians 2:16), “the day of Adonai” (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2), “the day of King Yeshua” (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14), “the day of Yeshua Moshiach” (Philippians 1:6), and “the day of our Saviour Yeshua Moshiach” (1 Corinthians 1:8). When such expressions are used, there is often some reference to the judgment that will happen when Moshiach returns. His day is “the day of judgment” (1 John 4:17) or “the day of wrath” (Romans 2:5). However, for the people of YHVH, it is the “day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

In many parts of the New Testament, the writers describe how the second coming of our Moshiach was an essential element in the preaching of the gospel during the apostolic age. The origin of the Second Coming is found in the teachings of Yeshua before his death. Speaking of himself as the Son of Man, Yeshua said: “The day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:30) he will come “in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). This language is derived from the Old Testament, especially from Daniel’s vision in which “one like a son of man” is brought “with the clouds of heaven” to receive everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13-14). In the Old Testament, a cloud or clouds regularly represented the divine presence of YHVH (Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11). The mention of clouds in connection with the Son of Man indicates that the glory of YHVH will be with him when he returns. Yeshua’ last reference to his second coming came at his trial before the Jewish authorities when the high priest asked him whether or not Yeshua was “the Moshiach, the Son of the Blessed.” Yeshua replied, “I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62). After the Gospels, the rest of the New Testament also describes how Yeshua’ second coming will eventually take place. The book of Acts begins with the angels’ assurance after Yeshua’ Ascension that “this Yeshua, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The apostles’ messages in the book of Acts also make repeated references to Yeshua as “the one ordained by YHVH to be judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31). Writing to his converts in Thessalonica a few weeks after they first heard and believed the gospel, the apostle Paul reminds them how they had “turned to YHVH from idols, to serve a living and true YHVH, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Yeshua who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). In this passage, Yeshua’ expected deliverance of his people from end-time judgment is put on the same plane as his historical resurrection. The believer’s way of life involves both serving YHVH and waiting for Moshiach’s return. This idea of waiting for Moshiach is repeated several times in this short letter. A few years later Paul uses similar language when writing to his converts in Corinth (Acts 18:1-18): “You are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our King Yeshua Moshiach” (1 Corinthians 1:7). And in what may have been his last letter he speaks of “the crown of righteousness” that Adonai will award him “on that Day, and not only to me,” he adds, “but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). To love Yeshua’ appearing and to wait for him are two different ways of expressing the same attitude. The writer to the Hebrews encourages his readers with the assurance that in a little while “the coming one shall come and shall not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37). James says, “the coming of our Adonai is at hand” (James 5:8). Peter speaks of the time “when the chief Shepherd is manifested” (1 Peter 5:4). The Revelation to John ends with the risen Saviour’s promise, “Surely I am coming soon,” and the church’s response, “Amen. Come, Adonai Yeshua!” (Revelation 22:20).

THE SECOND COMING AND THE RESURRECTION

In 1 Thessalonians, which was written about twenty years after the death and resurrection of Moshiach, his coming again is presented to encourage people whose faith filled believing friends had died. Paul had been compelled to leave Thessalonica before he had time to give his converts there as much teaching as they required. When some of the members of the church there died after his departure, their friends wondered if they would suffer some serious disadvantage at the Second Coming, in contrast to those who would still be alive to greet the returning Adonai. No, says Paul, “those who have fallen asleep” will suffer no disadvantage. On the contrary, the first thing to happen when “Adonai himself will descend from heaven” is that “the dead in our Moshiach will rise.” After that, the people who are alive during Moshiach’s return will join them and be forever “with our Saviour” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). More information on the subject is given in 1 Corinthians, which was written about five years later. In this book, the resurrection of believers is the full harvest that was inaugurated by the resurrection of Moshiach: “Moshiach the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Moshiach” (1 Corinthians 15:23). In addition, not only will each believer who has died be raised in a “spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44) but also those who are still alive will be “changed” and they will have bodies suitable for eternal life. For dead and living believers alike, Paul proclaimed that “as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). To the same effect, Paul writes in Philippians 3:20-21 that from heaven “we await a Saviour, Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” A deeper unveiling of what this will involve is made in Romans 8:18-23, where the resurrection of the people who believe in Yeshua causes the liberation and glorious renewal of all creation.

THE SECOND COMING AND JUDGMENT

The association of judgment with the Second Coming comes from Yeshua’ teaching in the Gospels. This idea is also echoed in the New Testament epistles. Paul, in particular, put the subject on a personal level. He did not allow people to judge fellow believers: “Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before Adonai comes” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Adonai will conduct an investigation that will bring to light the hidden motives of the heart. Paul knew that even his own work would be assessed on “the day of Moshiach” (Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:19). In other books, Paul urges his converts to bear in mind that they, with himself, must appear before the divine tribunal, which is called “the judgment seat of YHVH” (Romans 14:10-12), “the judgment seat of Moshiach” (2 Corinthians 5:10). It seems clear that this judgment is to take place at the second coming of Moshiach, who will then “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). Because Paul was writing to believers, he tended to concentrate on the judgment or assessment that the believers would experience when Moshiach returned. However, he also made it plain that Moshiach’s coming would bring judgment to those who opposed the believer’s faith (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). This is made very clear in Acts 17:31, where Paul told the Athenians that YHVH “has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.