And the two part opening post of current thread titled "a Scriptural Precedent" presents scriptural proof that our Lord is coming back more than one more time.
I would agree that our Lord is coming back more than one time. But only one more time for salvation. Probation is closed forever at this point.
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Heb. 9:28)
The third coming will transpire at the end of the millennium, not for the righteous, but to hold the last judgment of the wicked.
1. Second Coming (pre-millennial)-- All saints, from Adam to the Last righteous Man are "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air -- at the same time the wicked receive "sudden destruction", and shall "not escape". The earth is left 100% void and desolate, save for Satan and his demonic hosts trapped on this wilderness earth for 1000 years, while the saints reign with Christ in the New Jerusalem in heaven for 1000 years, and partake in the judgment of the wicked and of fallen angels.
2. Third Coming (post-millennial)-- Christ, all the saints, and the New Jerusalem descend back to the earth. The New Jerusalem settles on the Mount of Olives after Christ descends upon it with his feet, cleaving it into a great purified plain for the Beloved City to settle down on. Every wicked person that has ever lived is "resurrected"--so that they can now see the verdict of their wicked ways and receive the "second death". After all the nations resurrect, Satan is now loosed from his chain (not being able to tempt people, and being trapped on this planet), and goes out to deceive (or convince) all the nations that just resurrected in the four-corners of the earth, that the New Jerusalem can be besieged and overtaken. The wicked are already lost, but he deceives them into thinking that Beloved City, the New Jerusalem, that came down out of heaven can be taken. After all, might as well make a "shot" for it seeing they are all lost anyway. The Great White Throne Judgment occurs, where all the saints are safe inside the city and the books are opened and every single wicked person sees exactly why they were lost--every mouth confesses and kneels before God. But then they carry out their last act (only proving that even then, they still won't change)--and they surround the New Jerusalem. But then fire comes down out of heaven---and they burn "for ages and ages" (aion to aion)--some burn up quickly, others may take years to burn. Satan will probably burn for centuries. All will burn in length in proportion to the light that they knew and spurned the warnings.
The Lake of Fire will be one seething ocean that covers the breadth of the earth, save the spot where the New Jerusalem rests. It will be like a repeat of Noah and the Flood, but this time, not by water, but by fire.
After the fire has done its thorough job in consuming all the elements. When the flood of waters was at its height upon the earth, it had the appearance of a boundless lake of water. When God finally purifies the earth, it will appear like a boundless lake of fire. As God preserved the ark amid the commotions of the Flood, because it contained eight righteous persons, He will preserve the New Jerusalem, containing the faithful of all ages, from righteous Abel down to the last saint which lived. Although the whole earth, with the exception of that portion where the city rests, will be wrapped in a sea of liquid fire, yet the city is preserved as was the ark, by a miracle of Almighty power. It stands unharmed amid the devouring elements.
The physical reign on earth will not transpire until after the millennium--after the earth has been made new.
The reign during the 1000 years transpires in heaven, before coming down with the New Jerusalem.
That interpretation my friend resolves the so called "mystery" concerning this "2-part" coming. Dispensationalists try to resolve this by having the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation, and the second coming at the end of the tribulation---because they don't know how to harmonize conflicting texts. But what I just described above resolves all of this dilemma in one swipe.
The above interpretation still falls within the category of "Pre-Millennialism". It is a Premillennial belief--yet quite different, not Post-Millennial.
God bless.
Lysimachus
