The Second Coming

E-Lecture #11

The Second Coming: Why, When, Where,...How?

God’s promise to send the messiah to Israel and the world was fulfilled through the birth and mission of Jesus (Lk.1:31-33,Jn.3:16). It was God’s hope that Jesus would be received by the Jews and, as a result, he would restore the long lost ideal of God - the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Due to the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, the original plan of God remained unfulfilled. The disciples who followed Jesus truly believed that the Kingdom would come in their lifetime. They did not see it. After Jesus resurrected, he appeared to them several times. Among their concerns was the question: “Will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus responded that it was God’s responsibility to set the time for the establishment of His Kingdom. Their responsibility was to prepare themselves for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that they would be empowered to evangelize the world for his return. In the Revelation to John of Patmos, Jesus closed by saying; “Surely I am coming soon.” (Rev.22: 20).

Why should there be a Second Coming of the Messiah (Son of Man)? Who exactly will come? How will it take place? When and Where? And, what are the meanings of certain enigmatic statements of Jesus pertaining to the Second Coming? We will tackle all these in our present series.

On the foundation of the Bible, we will be presenting the Divine Principle perspective {the message of the Completed Testament Age revealed to Rev. Moon by Jesus, and his (Rev. Moon’s) findings confirmed by God. We humbly request of our readers to seriously pray about these contents}.

Why a Second Coming?

The Old Testament prophecies of the victorious Messiah (e,g. Is. 9:6-7; Chp.11; Ps.45) point to the acceptance, marriage, coronation, kingship, and sovereignty of the son of God resulting in eternal peace and the Kingdom of Heaven. This was confirmed by God in the latest prophecy prior to the birth of Jesus (Lk.1:31-33). Because Jesus was rejected and cut off physically, the above fulfillment did not occur, and the Kingdom of God was not able to be materialized. Therefore, a Second Coming, in the flesh, on earth, is necessary to realize the Kingdom of God substantially. The returning Lord must come to transform the evil satanic world into the good sovereignty centered on God. In other words, he must come to restore the original world of God's ideal. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus established this appeal; “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven….” (Matt.6:10). (RSV)

Who Will Come?

In the traditional understanding of the Second Coming, it is common knowledge that Jesus is expected to come down from heaven. Jesus specifically said: “Surely I come soon.” (Rev.22:20).

Jesus spoke in many instances (in the first person) of his return. In the presence of his disciples he laid out the all important condition by which he will come to them (Jn. 14:21). He further beseeched them repeatedly to: “abide in me” (15;4-11). When asked why he “would not appear to the world,” his response was that “he would only appear to those who love him, those who keep his words” (Jn.14:22-24). Based on this condition, Jesus returned many times after his resurrection to be with his disciples, for various reasons. And, throughout the ages of the church, including present-day Christianity, he has appeared to many faithful and sincere Christians (I, myself have had several personal visitations from him in which he has shown me essential details concerning the Second Coming - some matters I will share at the end of this series).

The many visitations of Jesus (e.g. Acts 23:11, et al) to those who love him, took place on the spiritual plane (Acts 1:11), because he inhabits the spirit world (Paradise) in a spiritual body (1Peter 3:18). Jesus and the Holy Spirit work to enlighten, encourage and empower those who sincerely love God and His Will.

However, the main event to conclude the providence of God - to consummate human history and to transform the nations of the earth into the Kingdom of God is the special coming of the Son of Man (the Lord of the Second Advent). Thus, Jesus spoke in the third person (e.g. Luke 17:22-37, Matt.24:36-51). He it is who is born on the earth as a male child (Rev.12:5), who will inherit the spirit and power of Jesus (2:26-28) to fulfill the will of God. Jesus will work in one accord with him (3:12, 13).

The Coming Lord must redeem the faithful, confront the world (the nations of the earth) and establish the physical and spiritual conditions for the Kingdom of God. He must work on the earth, in the flesh.
The *Divine Principle* (teachings of the True Parent - Rev. Moon) explains that the return of Jesus (Rev.22:20), and the “coming of the Son of Man” (the Lord of the Second Advent) - Lk.17:26-30, will be parallel to the advent of John the Baptist as the returning Elijah. (see Matt. 11:14; Lk.1:17).
As a result, Jesus revealed through John of Patmos that the Coming Lord will be born as a male child (Rev.12:5). He comes anointed with the messianic mission to rule the nations, and is given a new name (3:12; 19:12). He is the first after Jesus, to overcome Satan and the world. *(Artist: Charles Anderson)*
Centering on him, the redemption of the prepared (7:4,9) and the realization of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished (12: 10).
From the standpoint that the Lord of the Second Coming will conduct his mission on the earth, it now becomes evident why Jesus would say that he “comes as a thief in the night,” and beseeches us to “watch and pray.” (Rev.3:3, Mk.13:32-37).
Likewise, Jesus said, the Lord will be misunderstood and persecuted, and that the period of his mission will parallel that of Noah and Lot. (Lk.17:26-36). “ The Son of Man,” he said, “must first suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (vs. 25).
**Meaning of "Clouds"**
What then is the meaning of the “Son of Man coming *on, in and with* the clouds of heaven?” (Matt.24:30; Mk.13:26; Rev.1:7 - this expression has its root in Daniel 7:13).
Though some may apply a literal meaning to the above expression and are expecting Jesus on literal clouds, the Bible uses the phrase as a metaphor to mean “coming with a host or multitude.” (See Heb.12:1; Is.60:8; Ezk.38:9; Joel 2:11; Rev.7:9,13-14; 14:4; 17:14 and 19:14). This signifies that the Lord will appear with the host of saints and angels from heaven and with those who are prepared to receive and follow him on earth. (Rev.14:4, 17:14). The word "clouds" is used symbolizing "dirty water which is purified and cleansed" through evaporation by the sun's heat, being able to rise above the Earth. In contrast, "the waters" of the world (stagnated water)symbolize sinful, fallen people (e.g., Rev.17:1b).
In the advent of Jesus, 2,000 years ago, we see a similar occurence: the host of angels (Lk.2:13-14) came to glorify his birth and, a great multitude of believers accompanied him into Jerusalem as the Messiah (19:37-38). These acts fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 7:13, "... one like the Son of Man coming with *the clouds* of heaven...."
**The Comforter**
In John (Chps. 14-17), Jesus said that God will send to us “another Comforter/Counselor” - the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, who will: **reveal *all* truths, judge the world of sin, establish righteousness, and will bear witness to him (Jesus)**- (15:26; 16:8-14). This is in essence, the mission of the Coming Lord who comes in the fullness of the Holy Spirit to subjugate the evil world and establish the substantial Kingdom of God on earth (the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was not to fulfill the above, but to baptize and empower the disciples –Acts 1:5,8).
How Will Christ Return ? In our previous issue, we explained that Jesus will return in spirit, only to those who love him (Acts1:11; Jn.14: 21-24). And, that he has been doing so throughout two millennia by manifesting to some. The Second Coming of Christ is however, special.

When Will Christ Return?

Speculations abound throughout the two millennia of Christianity as to “when the Lord will return.” The early disciples of Jesus believed it would be in their lifetime, based on certain words of Jesus. (Lk.9:27). Paul himself also believed Jesus’ return was imminent. (1Cor.7:29).

Jesus told his disciples that he himself did not know the time when the “Son of Man” would return, only God knew. (Matt.24:36). He however, instructed his disciples on how to discern the signs of the last days (vs.32).

Undoubtedly, there has been a prolongation of time since the destruction of Jerusalem, in 70 A.D. (prophesied by Jesus- vs. 2) that has led to our present era. The Divine Principle (God’s revelation to the True Parents) informs us, that God’s providence embraces dispensational time periods in which man is required to fulfill certain spiritual and physical conditions of faith, for the birth of the messiah. On this basis, Jesus was born about 2,000 years after the foundation of Abraham/Isaac/Jacob, and after the subsequent victories of the chosen people. (Heb.11; 12:1).

The history of Christianity after the death of Jesus, initiated the New Testament era dispensation to restore the failure of not receiving Jesus as the Messiah, and also for preparing the birth of the Lord of the Second Coming (see diagram on Pg. 1). In parallel with the Old Testament providential timetable, the successful results of faithful Christians, created the foundation for the birth of the returning Lord. The period of 400 years after Luther’s reformation in 1517 (internal), and the concluding success of the allied forces in World War I, in 1918 (external), became the consummating conditions for the Messiah to be born on earth.

The prophet Amos (3:7), tells us that; “Surely, God does nothing without revealing His secrets to His servants, the prophets.” From this standpoint, those who are truly faithful, desiring to seek diligently of God, will be able to know the time and place of the coming Lord.

There are three essential landmark dates in the life-course of the Messiah: 1) his birth (Rev.12:5). 2), commencement of his public ministry (Lk.17:24), and 3), “the day of his revealing” (vs.30) - his official proclamation to the world of his messiahship. Jesus’ warning to his disciples, and to us, is to “watch and pray” lest the Lord comes upon us “as a thief in the night.”

From the conclusion above, it is evident that we are living in the time of the Second Advent: “the great and terrible day of the Lord.” The question now is: “What should be our right response?”

Where Will Christ Return?

In the advent of Jesus as the Messiah in the New Testament age, he had great expectation of being received by the chosen people, and of realizing the Kingdom of God on Earth. However,. Because the Jews did not believe in him and rejected him instead, he painfully told them that: “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that would bring forth the fruits of it.” (Matt.21:43)

Rejecting the Messiah and having him killed, does not bring blessing to Israel, rather, such travesty incurs a curse upon the nation, and disqualifies it from ownership of being the birthplace of the second coming Lord.

Where then will the Second Coming take place? In the Old Testament, God said He will call “...a bird of prey from the east, a man to fulfill all His purpose.” (Is. 46:9-11). In Ezekiel, the glory of God comes from the east (43:2). And, in Revelation 7:2, the angel of God is seen rising from the east with the seal of the Living God (emphases added). At the birth of Jesus, it was the eastern star that showed the way to where he was born.

The conclusion; a nation of the east will be the one to give birth to the coming Lord. Most qualified among the eastern nations is Korea. Its rich history of deep spiritual values, tempered in a strong family-centered culture; its fresh and vibrant spirit of fervent Christianity, the result of a messianic faith come full circle, and its historical suffering course of being constantly invaded by foreign powers (without itself ever invading others) are rich testaments to its special placement in God’s providence. Its former capital, Pyongyang, was known as the “Jerusalem of the East.” Today, Korea, divided North and South, has become a micro-representation of a world in conflict between Communism and Democracy, atheism and theism. From a prophetic standpoint in its Chung Gam Nok book of prophecies, Korea has received revelations from Heaven that it will give birth to the coming Messiah.

In Jesus’ instructions to where the Son of Man will come, he said: “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered.” (Matt.24:28). This, in essence means: “where the Lord comes, there the saints will gather to receive him.”

Known as the “Land of the Morning Calm,” God has nurtured Korea to bring forth the Lord of the Second Coming. The testimonies of Christian missionaries to Korea tell of the deep seriousness of a devout people committed to God and Christ.

(Summary and conclusion)

In summarizing the previous four parts of our series, we have come to understand that due to Jesus’ rejection and crucifixion the Kingdom of God could not be realized in a concrete and substantial manner on earth. Therefore, Jesus said he would come again. The question of how Christ will come is answered from the standpoint that he will return “in spirit and power working with the Lord of the Second Coming” who is specially prepared and sent by God.

A noteworthy biblical parallel is reflected in the coming of John the Baptist as Elijah. (Mal.4:5; Lk.1:17; Matt.11:14). John could be considered as “the second coming of Elijah.”

Though the principle of “a spiritual return in and through a living person on earth is not one which is clearly understood in traditional Christianity, nevertheless, the Bible upholds this principle. (Rev.2:26-28; 3:12b; Jn.14:12.

In parallel with Jesus’ birth at the end of the 2,000 years after Abraham, and 400 years after the reformer Malachi; the returning Lord, in accordance with Heaven’s timetable, will be born at the end of the approximately 2,000 years after Jesus and 400 years after Luther’s reformation began, in 1517. This historical landmark of the Lord’s birth also coincides with the victorious conclusion of the Allied forces in World War I, ending in the treaty of Versailles, in 1919.

After meticulous biblical analysis, which points to a nation of the east, we have concluded that Korea, a nation of prophetic messianic revelations and fervent Christian zeal of faith will be the nation of God’s choice for the birth of the Messiah.

Comprehending that the coming Lord will be born on the earth, in the flesh, we are confronted to understand why Jesus said the Lord will return “on/in/with the clouds of heaven” and, in contrast, that “he comes as a thief in the night.”

Although euphoric sensationalism may appear to win over believers in the former expression, “clouds of Heaven” in its metaphoric use means “the multitude of prepared saints.” (e.g. Heb.12:1). In the latter case, the Lord comes “as a thief in the night” because the world, at large, will be spiritually asleep, unable to recognize him but ready to persecute the righteous one of heaven. (Lk.17:25; 18:8).

Who then is the returning Lord? God, Jesus, and the returning Lord himself are qualified to officially render a correct response. Considering that the time of the last days is upon us, earnest prayers to Heaven will reap earnest answers.

Rev. Moon, who has proclaimed his mission from God as the “True Parent of mankind” has repeatedly testified concerning his messiahship.

E-Lecture #11