Jesus’ Second Coming

²³ When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. Matthew 10:23 (NLT)

Matthew 10:23 along with such verses at Matthew 16:28, Matthew 24:36, and Matthew 26:64 deal with the second coming of the Son of Man. “Son of Man” was Jesus’ favorite title for Himself and associated with Daniel 7:13-14 (see also Revelation 1:13). Several interpretations have been suggested by Biblical scholars regarding the interpretation of Matthew 10:23:  (1) Jesus’ resurrection; (2) the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; (3) Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70; or (4) the coming of Jesus at the end of the age. The fourth interpretation makes the most sense considering the larger context of Matthew 10 and the mission to Israel. Many Biblical scholars believe Matthew 10:23 means the mission to Israel must continue alongside the mission to all the nations until Jesus returns at His second coming (Matthew 10:5-6; see also Matthew 28:18-20). In other words, the work of believers will not be completed until Jesus returns and only after Jesus returns will the whole world accept and believe Jesus’ true identity (Matthew 24:14; see also Romans 14:10-12). At Jesus’ second coming, He will come in power, and great glory and every tongue will confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11, (ESV). Then, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign forever and forever with great power, and all peoples, nations, and languages will worship Him (Revelation 11:15; see also Daniel 7:14).

When will Jesus return? Many generations have asked that question. Just before Jesus returned to heaven into the glory cloud after His resurrection (Acts 1:9), Jesus’ disciples asked Him when God’s Kingdom would be restored (Acts 1:6). Jesus told His disciples that God the Father alone has the authority to decide when the Kingdom will be restored and His second coming to earth (Acts 1:6-7; see also Mark 13:32-37; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). God sent Jesus at the right time for His first coming (Galatians 4:4), and God alone will decide Jesus’ second coming to earth (Matthew 24:36). As Jesus returned to heaven in the glory cloud, two angels told Jesus’ disciples who was watching Jesus return to heaven that Jesus will return in the same way as they saw Him go into heaven (see Acts 1:10-11; see also Mark 13:26-27; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16). Until Jesus second coming, God’s people must continue to live by faith and obedience to God the Father and His Son, Jesus through the inward working of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ promised return becomes the prominent theme in the book of Acts, the New Testament letters (Epistles), and particularly the book of Revelation. Revelation is one of the most abused books of the Holy Bible. No New Testament book has caused much confusion and the subject of varied interpretations as Revelation. Mystical and disturbing supernatural characters and bizarre scenes and visions fill the pages of Revelation. Some people love the book of Revelation and concentrate all their reading of Revelation while ignoring the rest of Scripture. On the other hand, others ignore and avoid reading the book of Revelation thinking the book is too mysterious to understand. An understanding of the Holy Scriptures cannot be complete without reading the book of Revelation. In fact, John, the author of Revelation, instructed the early church to read the book of Revelation aloud (see Revelation 1:3). Jesus Christ is the central character of the book of Revelation. Even more, the book of Revelation has seven beatitudes or blesses that come to those who read and obey the book’s teaching.

³ God blesses the one who reads (aloud) the words of this prophecy to the church, and He blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 (NLT)

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:13 (NLT)

¹⁵ “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” Revelation 16:15 (NLT)

⁹ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast (marriage feast) of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Revelation 19:9 (NLT)

⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 (NLT)

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” Revelation 22:7 (NLT)

¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Revelation 22:14 (NLT)

In the book of Revelation, John makes a consistent call for God’s people to endure, persevere, and remain wholeheartedly faithful to God despite persecution and opposition (see e.g., Revelation 3:10; Revelation 13:10; Revelation 14:12). Hope and mercy fill the pages of Revelation. In the book of Revelation, John reveals God’s love and patience for people as God give people repeated opportunities for repentance with each passing judgment, similar to Luke 15 (see e.g. Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22; Revelation 9:20-21; Revelation 16:9, 11). Moreover, the book of Revelation is full of worship, praise, and singing to God (see e.g., Revelation 5:9-14; Revelation 7:10-12; Revelation 19:1-8). The church has derived more than 400 hymns of from the pages of Revelation. Furthermore, of the 404 verses that comprise the 22 chapters of Revelation, 278 verses contain one or more references or allusions to the Old Testament. Although John does not quote the Old Testament, Revelation is full of Old Testament imaginary and references, particularly from Exodus (see e.g., Revelation 15:5-8; Revelation 22:2). Most important, Revelation reveals the startling images of Jesus not as the helpless Lamb but the mighty Warrior, the LORD OF LORDS, and King of glory (see e.g., Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:11-16).

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Senior Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2016).

Metzger, Bruce. Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1993).

Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).