Touchdown Jesus

 

The Day Christ Returns

This post is an excerpt from the book, Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, A Study of HOPE, by Jocelyn Andersen

The battle of Armageddon will bring the Day of Atonement (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble / The Great Tribulation) to a climactic end with the physical and visible return of Jesus Christ –2 John 7, Matthew 24:27-31, Revelation 19:11-21, Isaiah 66:15-16.

   Jesus will return to a world devastated by drought, mass starvation, every natural disaster known to humanity, disease, war, violence, sorcery, slavery, greed, and sensuality –Matthew 24:4-7, Revelation 6:2-8, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, Daniel 7:23-24, Isaiah 47:8-13, Revelation 18:12-13.

   During the 3 ½ years immediately prior to His return, the Jewish people, along with all true followers of Christ, will suffer unspeakable persecution at the hands of the Man of Sin. It will be the most brutal persecution in the history of the world –Matthew 24:9-22, Zephaniah 1:14-15, Joel 2:2-6, Amos 5:18-20, Daniel 7:21-22, 25, Revelation 13:7,15, Revelation 12:5,13.

   The world economy, on the day Christ returns, will be intricately linked to one city. In the Revelation, this city is called Babylon the Great.

   At some point on the day Christ returns, an event will take place that is so catastrophic, shock waves will be felt worldwide. After the Day of the GreatSlaughter when the Towers Fell [September 11, 2001] can we doubt that one event can rock the entire world –Isaiah 30:25?

   By a decree of divine judgment, Babylon The Great, [1] the capital city of the Man of Sin, will be suddenly, violently, and catastrophically, annihilated, just as the prophets foretold –Revelation 18:1-24, Jeremiah 50:46, 51:1-64, Isaiah 14:4-9,19-22.

   Also, on that same day, a great army representing every nation on earth, will advance on Jerusalem –Zechariah 12:3, 14:1-2, Joel 3:2, Revelation 16:16.

   The fighting will be fierce. It will be the bloodiest battle in recorded history. The Bible says the mountains around Jerusalem will be literally soaked in blood –Isaiah 34:3 [1-8], Revelation 14:20, Ezekiel 39:17-20.

   One half of the city of Jerusalem will be captured. Rape and pillage will take place. The Israelis will be losing the battle, when suddenly, at dusk Jerusalem time, an indescribable brilliance will fill the eastern sky as Jesus bursts on the scene followed by the armies of Heaven –Matthew 24:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Isaiah 66:15-16, Zechariah 14:2,5-b.

The Armies of Heaven

The armies of Heaven will consist of angel armies and the Children of the Resurrection (all the resurrected and caught up saints from down through the ages). The angel armies will include the chariots and horses of fire seen by the Prophet Elisha –Revelation 19:14(11-21), Jude 14-15, Colossians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Zechariah 14:5, Isaiah 66:15, 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Kings 2:11.

   There is no way to describe the splendor of this event, but the effect the spectacle will have on the Jewish people will be instantaneous and soul wrenching repentance.

   The prophet writes that an entire nation that will be saved in one day, and the prophecies concerning Israel’s restoration back to her God will see their fulfillment on the day Messiah returns physically to this earth –Romans 11:25-27, Zechariah 12:9-11,13:9[6-9], Isaiah 66:8.

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[1] Interesting fact: Nebuchadnezzar called the capital of his empire “Great Babylon” [Babylon the Great –Daniel 4:30]. 

At his Second Coming, Jesus will not simply come in the air as he did at the Resurrection and the harpazo (rapture). His Second Coming will be to the earth itself. When his feet touch the Mount of Olives, the mountain will split in two, creating an escape route for those trapped in Jerusalem –1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Zechariah 14:3-5[1-7].

   Modern technology makes it possible for every eye to see him when he is revealed from Heaven and returns to the earth along with the armies of Heaven. After September 11, 2001, can we doubt the entire world can watch as an event unfolds? But even without modern technology, anything humans can do, God can do better –Revelation 1:7, Isaiah 40:5, Zechariah 12:10.

   The human (Immanuel/THE God with Us) Christ Jesus—the physical descendent of King David—who was born in the flesh, died in the flesh, and rose in the flesh…will return in the flesh –2 John 7.

If anyone belongs to a group or organization that denies the physical/visible return of the man, Christ Jesus (Matthew 25:31), do not fear them or their threats of excommunication. They are preaching another Jesus, one who has no power to either bestow or withhold Eternal Life. Turn to the real Jesus. The Jesus who was already the Christ [Messiah] at his birth, who was already the Christ at his death, who was already the Christ when he physically rose from the dead, and who is still the only Christ and is physically coming again for those who trust in him. Call on the Almighty to forgive your sins and save you by faith in his Risen Son –Romans 10:9-10, 13.

   If you do this, you will be safe in God’s hands, and no one will be able to pluck you away from him –John 10:27-29.

   Only those who belong to Jesus the only Christ will inherit Eternal Life.

 

Armageddon

   During the battle of Armageddon, heroic fighting will take place through descendants of the tribe of Judah. God knows who they are and intends to honor the tribe from which Christ sprang—especially the House of David –Zechariah 10:6-7, 12:6-8[3-9], 14:14, Isaiah 65:8-9.

   On the day Christ returns, the enemies of God will be destroyed in a variety of ways. Yeshua and his heavenly armies will wreak supernatural havoc. Angel armies will battle Satan and his spiritual forces. On the ground, cavalry troops will be prominent (some believe this indicates fuel shortage). God will literally blind the horses of the enemy and confuse the attacking armies so badly, they will turn on each other and begin destroying themselves –Isaiah 66:15-16, 11:4, Revelation 19:15, Zechariah 12:4, 14:13, Revelation 9:16, 14:20, 19:18.

   It will be a gruesome battle, and the fighting may last through the night (Jesus will return at dusk Jerusalem time). In any case, the battle will be over by dawn, with Jesus the indisputable victor –Isaiah 17:14, Zechariah 14:7.

   Will there be a nuclear explosion on the day Christ returns? Some believe so. It is thought the following verses describe the effects of a nuclear bomb on the human body and environment: Zechariah 14:12-15, Isaiah 24:20 [17-23, 34:4].

   Further evidence of a nuclear event is indicated in passages that describe what appears to be contamination that requires special handling for seven-plus months after the battle –Ezekiel 39:14 [1-22].

   A massive influx of birds will accomplish part of the clean-up. This will not be a natural gathering of scavenger birds. Instead, it will be a supernatural gathering called by Christ himself –Revelation 19:17-18, 21, Matthew 24:28, Luke 17:37, Ezekiel 39:4.

   When the slaughter is almost over, the Man of Sin and his False Prophet will be captured and thrown alive into the Lake of Fire that will form at the destruction of Babylon the Great (next chapter). Then, what is left of his army will be wiped out. Finally, Satan will be captured and imprisoned in the bottomless pit for 1000 years –Revelation 19:20-21, 20:1-2.

   Is the thousand years a literal space of time lasting exactly 1000 years, or do the 1000 years represent a long, limited but unspecified, period of time? It does not matter. The Bible says 1000 years is as one day to the Lord, and one day is as 1000 years. What is important to understand, is that once Christ returns, his reign will be forever, but the scriptures show that his Kingdom does have stages. The first 1000 years of his reign is a physical kingdom inhabited by mortals. It has both a beginning (when Jesus wins the battle of Armageddon) and an end (the final rebellion and fiery purge—chapter 15). 

   We read of the 1000 years in the book of Revelation, which is written in three kinds of language, literal, figurative, and symbolic. The literal passages are self-explanatory, but do not be discouraged by the figurative and symbolic passages. The figurative passages are explained within the context itself, and the keys to interpreting the symbolic passages are found elsewhere within the scriptures.

   The Bible is a complete book. The Word of God defines itself. That is why the Bible should be read not only daily, but systematically.

   What is meant by systematically?

   Read the Bible in such a way that the entire volume is read and re-read on a regular ongoing basis. This is the only way to gain an in-depth working knowledge of its contents. If you do not already have a systematic reading method, try reading the Bible, prayerfully, every day, always picking up today where you left off yesterday. This writer has been doing that for more than forty years.

   Using this method, over time, a generalized base of Bible knowledge is gained that no other method of Bible study can give. With the help of the Holy Spirit, an ability is developed to match up companion verses or passages found in different parts of the Bible, passages that go together or describe [possibly from different perspectives] the same conversation, prophecy, or event. 

   The imagery contained within the Bible becomes less confusing as this discipline is practiced. Piecemeal understanding becomes more complete as we become acquainted with the Word of God in its entirety.

   The ability to rightly discern the Scriptures takes time. This cannot be rushed and must be prayerfully developed –2 Timothy 2:15. There are no short-cuts to knowing the Word of God and no substitute for consistent and systematic daily Bible reading.

 

Note on the Book of Revelation

   The orientation of the Book of Revelation is future. It was a future prophecy when John wrote it and, as of the date of this writing, it is still future. It deals with the time of the Great Tribulation in which approximately 75-80% of the [global] human population will die within just 3 ½ to seven years. In all recorded history, this has never happened.

   As of this writing, the Revelation is composed entirely of prophecy—not flashbacks of previous events. It is a description of progressive events, and, although there is much overlapping of events, it is written in chronological order –Revelation 1:1-13, Matthew 24:21-22.

The first chapter calls The Revelation a prophecy. Chapters one through three contain prophecies for seven of the churches in existence at the time John received the Revelation. Virtually all scholars agree the messages to the seven representative churches are also meant for latter-day congregations as well. In chapter four, we see the out-called in Heaven and it is never seen on earth again until Jesus returns with it [as his Bride] at the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation Chapter five calls the time that follows the removal of the out-called from the earth, THE Great Tribulation (though most English translations leave out the word "the," it is present in the Greek).

Chapter Review

1.      What does Isaiah 30:25 say happened on the Day of the Great Slaughter?

2.      Who does 2 John 7 say is a deceiver and an antichrist?

3.      What does Revelation 19:20-21 say will happen to the Man of Sin and the False Prophet when Jesus returns?

Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, A Study of HOPE.