The Time of His Appearing

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (II Thessalonians 2:1-2)

We have talked about the manner of His appearing, now let’s consider the time of His appearing.

Will He appear before or after the millennium? This is a disputed point, for there are three different viewpoints, pre-millennial, post-millennial and a-millennial. Pre-millennialists believe Christ will come before the millennium. Post-millennialists believe the world will get better and better , then He will come after the millennium and sit upon His throne. A-millennialism spiritualizes His coming so that it is not even a literal thousand years.

It will help us to discover the truth if we look at the condition of the world when He appears as described in Scripture.

1. WHAT DO THE PROPHETS SAY?
   

   And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

   1. At that time Michael, the great prince, will stand up for thy people (Israel).
   2. It is to be a time of trouble such as there never was before, called the Tribulation Period and it takes place just before to the millennium.
   3. The people are said to be in gross darkness when the Lord arises in His glory.
      

      That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, (Zephaniah 1:15)

      Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.(Isaiah 60:1-3)

   4. The Lord is seen as fighting against the nations, when His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives.
      

      Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:3-4)

   5. He will then become the king of all the earth.
      

      And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.  (Zechariah 14:9)

2. WHAT DO THE APOSTLES SAY?
   1. When the Lord of the vineyard comes He does not find righteousness prevailing, for “He will miserably destroy those wicked men.”
      

      But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. (Matthew 21:37-41)

   2. When the Bridegroom came five of the virgins were found unfit to enter and were shut out.
      

      And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:10-12)

   3. It will be as it was in the days of Noah and of Lot.
      

      And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
      (Luke 17:26-30)

   4. The world was at its worst instead of at its best when the flood came.
   5. If things are to go on improving (spiritually) till Christ comes, what is the meaning of these words, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth” in Luke 18:8?
   6. Before the Son of Man comes with power and great glory men hearts will be failing them for fear of the things that are coming on the earth.
      

      And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:25-28)

3. WHAT DO THE OTHER APOSTLES SAY?
   

   Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  (I Timothy 4:1-2)

   1. Is not this happening now?
   2. We are not to be deceived by doctors or professors.
      

      This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (II Timothy 3:1-6)

   3. This falling away from the faith of the Gospel will be the result of the influence of the scoffers that are to come in the last days.
      

      Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (II Peter 3:3)

   4. Why should we hope that in these last days peaceful times will come, when the Holy Spirit has expressly declared that in the last days perilous times will come?
   5. It is not a question of the failure of the Gospel or the power of the Holy Spirit, but of the fact that wickedness will increase and God will deal with it.
   6. Let us take care that we are well grounded in the Word of God.
      

      But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
      (Jude 17-18)