Appendix

The Olivet Discourse: The Second Coming

The Second Coming of the Messiah — Answer about the sign of His coming

Regarding the great tribulation, Jesus said, "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matt. 24:22). If left unchecked, mankind would wipe itself out. The Jewish people would be pursued and eliminated in genocide. But the reign of the Antichrist and the wicked will be shortened by God's determination of a final week of seven years. Then the Messiah will return to take control. Jesus promised, "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matt. 24:34). The generation of Jews, living in their land of Israel in this time of the end, will not be eliminated by genocide. They will not pass away. They will call upon Jesus as their Messiah, and He will return to save them and end the rebellion of mankind.

Visible as Lightning

Jesus warned about the final days of tribulation: "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:23-27).

The coming of Jesus will not be hidden, will not be in secret, will not be invisible. If anyone says so, Jesus said, "Do not believe it." It will be unmistakably obvious, like lightning flashing across the sky. When Jesus rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, the disciples visibly watched Him. Scripture records, "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 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' " (Acts 1:9-11). As they saw Him physically depart, so shall they see Him physically return.

Jesus speaks of the great tribulation at the end: "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:25-28). Matthew's account of this is: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matt. 24:30).

The God of Jacob a Refuge to Israel

The psalmist speaks of God's glory over the end-time nations:
"The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah" (Psalm 46:6-11)

His Enemies Destroyed

The Antichrist and the armies of the nations will be overrunning Israel in their war against the Jewish people at the time of Jesus' return. What do they do when they see Jesus returning? Scripture says of the Antichrist, "He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means" (Dan. 8:25).

Revelation says of the returning Messiah, "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God ... And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh" (Rev. 19:15, 19-21).

Jesus said through the prophet Zechariah, "It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zech. 12:9-10).

The Restoration of Israel

Psalm 47 shows the blessing of Israel under their reigning King:
"Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
God has gone up with a shout,
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with understanding.
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
The princes of the people have gathered together,
The people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted." (Psalm 47)

The Olivet Discourse: The Parables