Bring me my bow, of burning gold...

[2ndRateMind]

...Bring me my arrows of desire,
Bring me my spear; Oh clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

So, I'm interested in how the forum expects the Second Coming of the Lord (JC#2) to be manifested.

Will it be in glory untramelled, with no doubt as to His identity, or will He return 'like a thief in the night*', unexpected and unforecasted and relatively anonymous?

Perhaps unusually for me, I am undecided on this matter, and have no particular axe I want to grind.

Best wishes, 2RM

*1 Thessalonians 5:2

[Wootah]

Like a thief in the night speaks to unexpectedness not quietness I believe. I think the second
Coming will be quite loud.

[2ndRateMind]

Like a thief in the night speaks to unexpectedness not quietness I believe. I think the second
Coming will be quite loud.

Yes, I think that's probably right. I suspect Jesus would have a good few things to say to us (and not all bad) about the state of the world, and our various societies. But, if He arrives in a fiery chariot, or if He arrives the way He arrived before, born of a middle class family and growing up in ordinary circumstances, that might have a lot to do with who might actually listen to Him, and why they might listen.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[PinSeeker]

Like a thief in the night speaks to unexpectedness not quietness I believe. I think the second Coming will be quite loud.

Yes, I think that's probably right.

Me, too.

I suspect Jesus would have a good few things to say to us (and not all bad) about the state of the world, and our various societies. But, if He arrives in a fiery chariot, or if He arrives the way He arrived before, born of a middle class family and growing up in ordinary circumstances, that might have a lot to do with who might actually listen to Him, and why they might listen.

Well, He'll come back the same way He left: "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1). It won't be as a baby or in a fiery chariot, and there will be no convincing needed. The only question for me, really, is how will the whole world witness it a once (Isaiah 40:5; Revelation 1:7)? We'll see, I guess...

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by 2ndRateMind]


WHAT IS THE RETURN OF CHRIST?


As one of JWs I don't believe Jesus will return as a human being (Jesus can never reclaim his life as a human and there is absolutely no indication he will be reborn through childbirth). Christ's RETURN (greek: erchomai) as a mighty spirit creature with his angels to judge mankind. He will destroy the wicked, wipe out all human governments, and ensure that only the meek inherit the earth. People will not necessarily see Jesus literally but due to the earth shaking supernatural events and divine manifestations the whole world will fully understand what is happening and why. This event is also refered to in the book of Revelation as armageddon.

MATTHEW

When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him [...] “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. These will depart into everlasting cutting-off- Mat 25: 31-32, 41, 46

NOTE: Christ's "return" is not to be confused with his "presence" (parousia) spoken of in Matther 24 verse 3, which began in 1914.

JW





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[tam]

Peace to you,

Like a thief in the night speaks to unexpectedness not quietness I believe. I think the second Coming will be quite loud.

Yes, I think that's probably right.

Me, too.

Agreed that thief in the night refers to unexpectedness.

His return is accompanied with the following announcement (and so does not appear to be quiet):

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thess 4:16


His return is also VISIBLE:

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him— even those who pierced Him. Rev 1:7

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. Matt 24:30

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:27




Also (as you shared also from Acts 1), the angels told the apostles that Christ would return in the same way that they saw Him go up.

I suspect Jesus would have a good few things to say to us (and not all bad) about the state of the world, and our various societies. But, if He arrives in a fiery chariot, or if He arrives the way He arrived before, born of a middle class family and growing up in ordinary circumstances, that might have a lot to do with who might actually listen to Him, and why they might listen.

Well, He'll come back the same way He left: "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1).

Yes.

Christ does not return as a baby once again (there is no need for that); He returns as He is NOW.




Peace to you all,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[2ndRateMind]

The only question for me, really, is how will the whole world witness it at once (Isaiah 40:5; Revelation 1:7)? We'll see, I guess...

I expect in these days of mass and social media, it would sort itself out.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[2ndRateMind]

Peace to you all,

And to you, too, Tammy.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[JehovahsWitness]

The only question for me, really, is how will the whole world witness it at once (Isaiah 40:5; Revelation 1:7)? We'll see, I guess...

I expect in these days of mass and social media, it would sort itself out.

... but of course the Almighty God creator of the universe will need to take out a page on Facebook to do it....

Too funny!


JW

[2ndRateMind]

The only question for me, really, is how will the whole world witness it at once (Isaiah 40:5; Revelation 1:7)? We'll see, I guess...

I expect in these days of mass and social media, it would sort itself out.

... but of course the Almighty God creator of the universe will need to take out a page on Facebook to do it....

Too funny!


JW

I am glad you think so! But it was not meant entirely as a joke, and many truths are spoken in jest. I have found God's miracles, such as I have experienced, and there have been several, could always be written off as mere coincidence, and their circumstances generally more mundane than fiery chariots, speaking burning bushes, conveniently parted seas, or pillars of smoke and flame by day and night. Seems to me that it is not the impossibility of alternative explanations, but the faith of the pilgrim that makes a miracle out of a coincidence.

Best wishes, 2RM.