On The Second Coming
“…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen him go into heaven.â€
(Acts 1:11)
The Second Coming of Jesus is meant in Acts 1:9-11. The late J. W. Roberts, a recognized Greek scholar within the churches of Christ, said of Acts 1:10,11— “This declaration that the Lord will return is a basic tenet of the Gospel proclamation (Acts 3:21; 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 1:10) (Acts of Apostles, Part 1: Austin, TX: Sweet Publishing, 1967), 15. The respected 19th century scholar, J.W. McGarvey, wrote concerning this passage: “It is a positive announcement of a literal and visible second coming†(Original Commentary On Acts of Apostles. 7th ed. Nashville, Tenn, Gospel Advocate Co 1978), 19.
Unlike many other religions, Christianity is based upon a linear approach to history. That is, we believe that the world had a beginning and shall have an ending (Genesis 1:1; Acts 1:11). We do not believe in superstition, nor circular world-views, such as are found in the Eastern religions (re-incarnation, etc). Furthermore, the second coming of Christ teaches world judgment (Acts 17:31). But, both, the Second Coming of Christ and the judgment of mankind are currently being challenged: Namely, “Thou shalt not be certain about the truth of any one religion; and, Thou shalt not be morally conservative. Sin is often viewed as nothing more than a neurosis caused by socio-economic and psychological factors. And so, some say, the hope of salvation is available only through counseling, psychiatry, and education. Christians know better (Prov. 1:7). May the Second Coming serve to heighten our awareness of his expectations for us.
We await his return (2 Pet. 3:4; Heb. 9:28).
-Robert M. Housby