PROPHECY
CHRIST VERSUS CHRISTIANITY
Surprising Truths From the Olivet Prophecy: Combating Confusion About Jesus’ Second Coming
The Bible says Jesus will return. But many are confused about how He will return. He predicted this and told us what we need to know about the second coming.
T
he second coming of Jesus Christ is a topic that has been interpreted in many ways. Though the biblical teaching is straightforward, confusion still abounds about the nature of Christ’s return. There have been many different interpretations and teachings about it—some radically different from others. Here is just a sampling: • There have been people who have appeared at various times and places claiming to be the returned Jesus Christ. (More on this below.) • Some teach that Jesus’ return is spiritual and allegorical—not literal. • In the evangelical world, many believe in two future comings of Christ—one a temporary return to “rapture” Christians and a second to destroy the Antichrist and judge the world. • Some teach that Christ’s return will be short and temporary. He comes, judges and then returns to heaven with His saints. • Another church teaches that Jesus’ coming occurred in the early 20th century and that He will return in an invisible manner again in the future.
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DISCERN
• One religious organization currently claims
that Jesus will return as a flesh-and-blood man to its property in the midwestern United States. • Throughout the centuries, and continuing today, individuals have predicted Jesus would return on specific dates. There is a natural desire to figure out when He will come, but all previous dates have proven wrong. Some have learned to stop setting dates, while others continue moving the date further into the future (usually blaming their failed prediction on a calculation error). We could go on and on—but the point is that there is a wide range of ideas on the topic. Some of those teachings directly contradict each other. But this shouldn’t be a surprise. Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, predicted this confusion.
“False christs” in the end time
Right after discussing the beginning of the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21), Jesus transitioned to His return to earth. He began with a warning:
September/October 2020
