While he was still on earth, Jesus clearly taught that he was coming again a second time. The Bible clearly teaches that the world won’t continue forever in its current state.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:1-3
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them inwhite robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:9-11
“It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,” – Jude 14
These verses are only a few of the more than 1500 references to Jesus’ second coming found throughout the Bible. The fact that he plans on returning isn’t guesswork. It isn’t an idea based on one or two verses either. The weight of biblical evidence clearly teaches that Jesus Christ, the Messiah or anointed one is coming back.
Why is Jesus Christ coming back?
So if we accept that the Bible overwhelmingly teaches that Jesus Christ is coming back a second time the question begs, why is he coming back? Why is it necessary? This question is very closely tied to one of the questions I get asked most often. The question goes something like this. “If God is a God of love, why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? Why does it seem like evil people get away with so much?” When we look at the news on any given day it is filled with stories of people who have done incredibly evil, nasty and hateful things to other human beings. We don’t have to look hard to find evidence that this world is evil due to the evil within human beings.
When one has been treated unjustly, what does one want more than anything? Justice. A righting of wrongs. Punishment for those who offended us. A return to peace and security. An acknowledgement of our loss and hopefully a heartfelt expression of remorse for the wrong that was done. The need to fairness and justice is an integral part of being human. Little children display this basic drive whenever they see other children getting something they don’t have. They’ll express their displeasure at being unfairly treated in one way or another in their attempt at getting justice.
Jesus’ Second Coming is About Restoring Justice, Love and Truth
The Bible tells us that human beings are naturally evil (see Romans 3:10-18). Can a salt water well produce fresh water? Not without external help. My wife and I bought a house that has a salt water well. This wasn’t disclosed to us by the real estate agent or by the building inspector when we were in the process of considering the purchase of our current home. We’ve since learned to live with it. There are a few inconveniences to having a salt water well to be sure but there are also a few advantages. One of the biggest being that we never need to add salt to our cooking water since the water is already salty enough.
Now consider my water problem. How can I get my salt water well to produce fresh water? Salt molecules are very tiny so a basic water filter can’t purify the salt from the water. The two most common ways of purifying the water is by distilling it or by using reverse osmosis. Both of these solutions require a system that removes the salt from the water, leaving behind fresh, salt free water.
Human beings are naturally like my salt water well. Instead of salt though, we are all polluted by sin. Left to our own this world will never become good. Television shows like Star Trek and other shows and movies try to project a future where humanity has eradicated crime, poverty, injustice and all nasty social / criminal problems. Is this realistic? Will this ever happen on its own? No. The Bible is clear. Only a total reboot of the earth will deal with our polluted hearts once and for all. This is why Jesus must come back and why the book of Revelation tells us that God will create a new heaven and a new earth. One that is free from all sin, pollution and evil.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books,according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hadeswere thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:11-15
Every one of us will have to be held accountable for how we lived our life. There is ultimately justice meted out by God Almighty. No one who has done evil and not repented of it will go unpunished. The only hope any of us have is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. “This Jesusis the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among menby which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:11-12. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6.
Will you make the decision to accept him as your Lord and Savior? Jesus is coming back soon. Will you be ready?