The Second Coming of Christ (Part II)

Lesson Content

2. The Harvest: Jesus Christ will appear in the cloud to gather the Tribulation martyrs (Matt.24:30,31; Rev.7:9-17; 14:14-16). This is called the Harvest. After the secret coming of Jesus, that is, after the manchild is caught up to the throne, there will be war in Heaven. Michael and his angels will fight with the dragon (Satan) and his angels, defeat them and cast them on to the earth (Rev.12:7-10). Then the dragon will give his seat and power and great authority to the beast, that is, the Antichrist (Rev.13:1-4). The Antichrist will reign on the earth for seven years. For the first three and a half years, there will be tribulation for the woman, that is, the Church that is left behind (Rev.12:13-17). The Antichrist will persecute them and many will die as martyrs, refusing to deny the Lord Jesus and to take the mark of the beast (Rev.13:7-17). At the end of the first three and a half years, Jesus will appear seated upon the cloud, having on His head a golden crown and in His hand a sharp sickle. He will then send for th His angels and gather together all those who died as martyrs in this period (Rev.14:14-16; Matt.24:30,31).

3. The Public Advent: There is a great tribulation for the Jews, during the second three and a half years of the reign of the Antichrist. This i s referred to as “Jacob’s trouble” in Jeremiah 30:7. Due to the persecution of the Antichrist, the Jews will wait for the advent of their Messiah (Redeemer) with lamentation, tears and longing. At the end of the second three and a half years of tribulation, Jesus will come down with His saints to the view of all, upon the same mount of Olives, from where He had ascended up to heaven, to mete out punishment upon the wicked and to reign on this earth for a thousand years (Acts 1:9-12; Zech.12:10-14; 14:3-5; II Thess.1:7-10; Rev.19:17-21). The Battle of Armageddon: The Antichrist will then gather together his armies to fight against the Lord and His saints, in a place called Armageddon, in the land of Israel. The Lord will consume him with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming (Rev.16:12-16; II Thess.2:8; Zech.14:1-4; Rev. 19:14-21). Then the Antichrist (the beast) and the false prophet will be taken and cast into the Lake of fire (Rev.19:20). Satan will be kept bound in th e bottomless pit for a thousand years and Christ will begin His Millennial reign on earth with His saints (Rev.20:1-4).

Moral

We do not know the hour in which our Lord will come to gather His Bride. Therefore, we must watch and be ready to meet Him.