Simeon Western
The Olivet Discourse Part 6
In our last article, we considered the second half of the tribulation which will be marked as a time of unprecedented judgments and Satanic deception. In this final article of the series, we now come to the climax and crowning point of the Olivet Discourse – the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation period. These verses pulsate with the spirit of triumph and victory! Based on Mark’s account (Mark 13:24-27), we will note three prominent features of the Second Advent:
The Signs Announcing the Coming (Vs. 24-25; Also, Isaiah 13:9-11): There will be supernatural, cosmic signs in the heavens that will precede the coming of Christ. The whole world will know that something supernatural is occurring. At key times in Biblical history, God demonstrates His Almighty Power to remind mankind that He exists! These signs will act as a prelude to the return of Christ who by this time is about to break through the sky. There will be:
- The Sun and Moon darkening (Vs. 24). Imagine how dark the world will be without the light of the sun or moon. The moon reflects the light of the sun so the moon not giving its light will be a natural consequence of the darkening of the sun. This will result in the whole earth being enveloped in thick darkness.
- The Stars falling (Vs. 25a). Against the dark backdrop of a darkened sun, the starts will begin to fall. Imagine being on earth at that time! All of a sudden, the sun and the moon are darkened. This causes you to turn your gaze heavenward to scan the skies to try and work out what is happening. Then to your amazement, you see star after star shooting across the night sky. The literal rendering of the grammar is “shall be falling” giving the picture of star after star falling in quick succession.
- The Heavens shaking (Vs. 25b). There will be vast convulsions in the heavenly world. In Acts 16:26 the verb ‘shaken’ is used to describe the effect of an earthquake.
Joel’s prophecy describes the same event in a dramatic way: “The sun and moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3:15-16)
The Son Descending at the Coming (Vs. 26): As you read this verse, try and keep the picture in your mind described in the two previous verses. The sun and moon have been darkened, stars are falling and the heavens are shaking as if a mighty earthquake is taking place in the heavenly realm. Then Jesus Christ breaks into that darkened scene surrounded by clouds of indescribable glory. What a picture! Christ will descend with “great power and glory”. This “means not only that the returning one possesses power and glory but that He comes accompanied by a visible display of great power and glory, exercising divine authority and clothed with heavenly glory.” (Hiebert) Note the description of this event by two other Bible writers:
- Daniel 7:13-14 “I say in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
- Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
As New Testament believers in this age of grace, our primary focus at this hour is awaiting the first phase of the Second Coming – the pre-tribulation rapture rather than the Second Advent which takes place at the end of the tribulation period. However, the truth of the Second Coming should still fill us with joy as we will be returning with Christ at that event. By the way, if the church is seen coming with Christ from heaven at the Second Coming that means she must have got to heaven somehow before the Second Advent takes place! This presents no problem to those who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture. The reason the bride is already in heaven at the time of the Second Coming is because she was raptured before the 7-year tribulation began. Always remember; at the Rapture Christ comes for his bride whereas at the Second Coming He comes with His bride.
The Seraphs Gathering after the Coming (Vs. 27): The angels will play an interesting and important role at the Second Advent in the re-gathering of elect Israel. Upon Christ’s arrival, angels will be sent out to gather the “elect” from the uttermost parts of the earth. The term “elect” is used here in reference to elect Israel. I remember one of my Bible college lecturers teaching us the important principle that “words travel in meaning according to context.” In other words, we need to allow the context of a particular passage to inform our understanding of individual words, such as the word ‘elect’ in this case. This is so important in the study of the Olivet Discourse as some have wrongly attempted to import the church at this point since the saved elsewhere in the New Testament are sometimes referred to as the elect (e.g., 1. Peter 1:2). This is a grave mistake since the Olivet Discourse is clearly dealing with God’s prophetic program for Israel, not the church. J. Dwight Pentecost explains it well; “Since this whole discourse has been devoted to the prophetic program for Israel, the reference to “his elect” (Matt. 24:31) cannot refer to the church. During the tribulation Israel will be scattered out of the land by military invasions. The Israelites will flee and find refuge among the Gentile nations. God will supernaturally bring the people of Israel back to the land through the instrumentality of angels.” The phrase “from the four wings” suggests there will be Jews alive in all parts of the world at this time. To further impress upon the reader the worldwide scope of this regathering, Christ also describes it as taking place “from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven”. The phrase is “apparently a reference to the fact that the visible extremes of earth and sky meet at the horizon; it thus seems to denote space in all directions. There will not be a spot on the face of the globe where any of the elect will be overlooked.” (Hiebert)
The Second Coming of Christ should encourage every depressed and discouraged believer. No matter how dark the picture is in the world, we need to remember that there is coming a day when Christ Jesus will come in power and great glory to setup the Millennial reign. By the time you read this article, the election will be over in Australia and another government elected. Remember, we won’t see government as it ought to be until Christ sets up His Millennial reign! What a glorious future awaits us as believers – up to heaven with Christ at the rapture; down to earth with Christ at the Second Coming to rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years and then on into the endless ages of a glorious eternity. Even so come Lord Jesus!
To watch or listen to a four-part sermon series on the Olivet Discourse as well as other expository preaching, visit www.baptistexpositor.com