Will Jesus physically return to Earth?

[Tyndale]

Will his feet actually touch the ground in the second coming?

1 Thess 1:17 states we will be caught up to meet him in the air, Rev 21 seems to support this idea by describing the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven and the bride of Christ (church) is within, and this is after the old heaven and earth had passed away, also backed up in Matt 24:35.

However there are some who suggest Jesus will physically return to Earth. They support this by quoting Zechariah 14:4 which says, "in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives," and Revelation 11:15 which says, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"

Does Zechariah 14 and Rev 11 describe the second coming?

 

[Stryder06]

From the way you have the options I'd have to say that He will return to the earth but won't touch it, and we will be caught up to meet Him in the air.

 

[bbbbbbb]

If one holds to the belief in the Rapture in which believers will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord prior to (or even after or even in the middle of) the Great Tribulation with the Second Coming being a distinct event in which Christ returns to the earth to reign with his saints, then there is no contradiction.

However, there is a distinct difficulty if one conflates both concepts which are given in the Bible - that is, Christ returning in the air to receive His church and Christ returning to earth to reign with His saints.

 

[RibI]

Will Jesus physically return to Earth?

If someone says He won't, they are calling Him a liar.

 

[Tyndale]

If someone says He won't, they are calling Him a liar.

Can you expand on that please?

 

[RibI]

Can you expand on that please?

There is an endless number of scriptures that speak about Christ's rule here on earth after He returns.

Zech. 14:4 Speaking of Christ's return. " And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,............"

Act. 1:9-11 Says He will return the same way He left. "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

These are just a couple, there are too many to mention.

 

[Celticflower]

I don't know, and I'm not sure it matters one way or the other.

 

[RibI]

I don't know, and I'm not sure it matters one way or the other.

Oh it matters alright.
We must believe the gospel. The gospel is, Jesus' return to set-up His Kingdom, you know the Kingdom of God.
If we don't believe this we reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[Eucharisted]

Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. The angels who appeared to the Apostles said He'd descend just as He ascended.

 

[Celticflower]

Oh it matters alright.
We must believe the gospel. The gospel is, Jesus' return to set-up His Kingdom, you know the Kingdom of God.
If we don't believe this we reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That He is returning is important, but as a believer I don't think it is all that important as to where I will meet Him - in the air or on the earth. Teachings on this are conflicting anyways, which tells me that no one knows for certain the order things will happen after His return. Rapture/no rapture. Before/during/after the tribulation. On earth/in the air.

And I thought the Gospel was the good news that Christ came and died to save us from everlasting death. The rest is just gravy.

 

[Tangible]

I believe we will go up to meet Jesus at his return (kinda like a meet-and-greet), then accompany him back down to earth. So I guess that would be #2.

 

[Tyndale]

I believe we will go up to meet Jesus at his return (kinda like a meet-and-greet), then accompany him back down to earth. So I guess that would be #2.

what scriptures do you use for that?

 

[Tangible]

what scriptures do you use for that?

From: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/endtme-2.pdf

b. The Second Advent of Christ
The New Testament Scriptures teach that Christ will one day visibly return in glory. They refer to His second advent by using several different If, terms: "coming" or "presence" (parousia), "appearance" (epiphaneia; s.v. phaneroo), "revelation" (apokalypsis), and "the day of the Lord" (he hemera tou Kyriou). A study of the texts in which these terms occur reveals that Christ's second advent is one event at the end of history. The Scriptures teach the following concerning Christ's second and final coming:

1. Christ will come visibly and all people will see Him (Acts 1:11; Matt. 24:27, 30; Luke 17:22-24; 21:27, 35; Mark 13:24-26; 14:62; Rev. 1:7).

2. Christ will come in glory surrounded by the host of His angels (Matt. 13:39-43, 49; 16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-14; Titus 2:13; Jude 14, 24; 1 Pet. 4:13; Zech. 14:3).

3. When Christ returns, a bodily resurrection of all the dead will take place.
Believers will be raised to salvation and unbelievers to damnation (John 5:27-29; 6:39-40, 44, 54; Rev. 20:11-15; 1 Cor. 15:12-57; Dan. 12:1-2). All believers, both dead and living, will, be "caught up" to "meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:13-17). Death will be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26, 54-57; Rev. 20:14).

4. When Christ returns, He will judge all people, both the living and the dead
(Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16, 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Jude 14- 15; Rev. 20:11-15). Believers will receive eternal salvation and unbelievers eternal damnation (Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Pet. 1:4-5, 7; 5:4; 1 John 3:2; Heb. 9:28; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:6-10). Satan and the Antichrist will be destroyed (2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 20:10).

5. When Christ returns, "new heavens and a new earth" will be created (2 Pet. 3:10-13). Nowhere, however, do the Scriptures teach that at His return Christ will establish a this-worldly, political kingdom or "millennium."

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Well I voted #1. I wonder if we will see the dead actually being resurrected first?

This form of #726 is only used this 1 time, and the closest I could find to that rendering is in 2 Corin 12:2 concerning Paul knowing a man who was caught away/up to the third heaven. Interesting

http://www.scripture4all.org/

1 thess 4:16 That the Lord himself in a shout-of-command, in voice of a chief-messenger, and in trump of God, shall be descending from heaven and the dead-ones in Christ shall be resurrecting first,
17 thereafter we, the-ones living, the-ones surviving, same time together to them shall be being snatched-away/arpaghsomeqa <726> (5691) in clouds into meeting of the Lord into air, and thus always together to Lord we shall be

1 Corin 12:2 I have been aware of a man in Christ before years fourteen years, whether in body not I am aware, whether out-side of the body not I am aware, the God is aware, being caught-away/arpagenta <726> (5651) the such one till third heaven.

726. harpazo har-pad'-zo from a derivative of 138; to seize (in various applications):--catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

If one holds to the belief in the Rapture in which believers will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord prior to (or even after or even in the middle of) the Great Tribulation with the Second Coming being a distinct event in which Christ returns to the earth to reign with his saints, then there is no contradiction.

However, there is a distinct difficulty if one conflates both concepts which are given in the Bible - that is, Christ returning in the air to receive His church and Christ returning to earth to reign with His saints.

Not for amillennialists such as myself.

 

[Timothew]

From: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/endtme-2.pdf

Nice link

I'm planning on studying the article in depth when I have more time.

Good Job!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Not for amillennialists such as myself.

Sounds pretty close to "Preterism" to me, which view I am of

Interesting discussion on that rather "unique" view on this thread

edit to add: I just bumped that thread up ehehe

http://www.christianforums.com/t3021703/
amillennialism?

 

[RibI]

And I thought the Gospel was the good news that Christ came and died to save us from everlasting death. The rest is just gravy.

Wrong; Jesus came preaching the Gospel of Kingdom of God.
The "Gospel" is the message Jesus came preaching, not a message about Jesus.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Not for amillennialists such as myself.

True, Most Presbyterians are not merely amillenial, but they lack any clearly articulated eschatology. If you would, please tell us your own understanding of the Second Coming.

Thanks.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

True, Most Presbyterians are not merely amillenial, but they lack any clearly articulated eschatology. If you would, please tell us your own understanding of the Second Coming.

Thanks.

Perhaps I can also get him [and others here] to vote on my poll thread over here?

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