Second Coming of Christ

The Last Judgment by Jean Cousin the Younger (c. late 16th century)
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The Second Coming of Christ or Parousia is the return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to Earth as expected in most Christian eschatologies. The anticipated event is predicted in biblical Messianic prophecy. These prophecies include the general resurrection of the dead, the last judgment of the living and the dead, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the Reign of God), including the Messianic Age. Views about the nature of Jesus' Second Coming vary among Christian denominations.

The Greek New Testament uses the Greek term parousia (παρουσία) meaning "arrival", "coming", or "presence" 24 times, 17 of them concerning Christ.[1] The Greek word is also common in the Septuagint. In classical Greek texts a substantial number of uses concern important personages[2] however that is partly because extant Greek documents naturally tend to concern important people.[3][4] In the New Testament the word is also used 6 times of common people such as when Paul talks of the arrival of Stephanas,[1Co.16:17] Titus[2Co. 7:6-72] and himself[Phil 1:26] [2:12] as parousia. The remaining 24th use of parousia refers to the "coming of the lawless one"[2Thes 2:9]. The etymology of Greek parousia is related to para "beside" ousia "presence", but since the word is also used of things in Greek the etymology is not as relevant as actual use. However in English Parousia always has a special, Christian, meaning.[5]

The Second Coming is also referred to as the Second Advent, from the Latin term "adventus", for "coming". The study of biblical last days comprise a body of theological knowledge called Christian eschatology.

Contents

Terminology

Christians use a range of names for this concept of Jesus Christ's second coming or return, drawing on a range of biblical images.

The phrase second coming is implied in the Bible by Jesus' saying he was coming again (at John 14:3, especially Darby). Christ's "first coming" is considered to have been his life or incarnation on earth as Jesus of Nazareth during the 1st century. Some Christians refer to the second coming as the last coming because of scriptures referring to him as being the "first and the last", "the beginning and end", "the Alpha and Omega,"[6] and others do not define it by number, highlighting Christ's coming as an ongoing process.

Definitions

Greek icon of Second Coming, c.1700
A series of articles on
Jesus
Major events in Jesus' life from the Gospels

In Thayer's Lexicon, the Greek word parousia is defined as Strong's G3952:

...In the N. T. [New Testament] esp. [especially] of the advent, i.e., the future, visible, return from heaven of Jesus, the Messiah, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God.[1]

And in the Bauer-Danker Lexicon:

...of Christ, and nearly always of his Messianic Advent in glory to judge the world at the end of this age.

And in the Catholic Encyclopedia article on General Judgment:[7]

In the New Testament the second Parousia, or coming of Christ as Judge of the world, is an oft-repeated doctrine. The Saviour Himself not only foretells the event but graphically portrays its circumstances (Matthew 24:27 sqq. [Olivet discourse]; Matthew sqq. [Judgment of the Nations]). The Apostles give a most prominent place to this doctrine in their preaching (Acts 10:42, Acts) and writings (Romans 2:5-16; 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess 1:5; James 5:7). Besides the name Parusia (parousia), or Advent (1 Cor. 15:23, 2 Thes. 2:1-9), the second coming is also called Epiphany, epiphaneia, or Appearance (2 Thes. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1; Titus 2:13) and Apocalypse (apokalypsis), or Revelation (2 Thess. 2:7 1 Pet. 4:13). The time of the second coming is spoken of as "that Day" (2 Tim. 4:8) "the day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2), "the day of Christ" (Phil 1:6), "the day of the Son of Man" (Luke 17:30), and "the last day" (John 6:39-40).

Signs Of Christ's Return

The Bible states...

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)

Many Christians believe....

  1. The coming of Christ will be instantaneous and worldwide[8]. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." ~ Matthew 24:27
  2. The coming of Christ will be visible to all.[9] - "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." Matthew 24:30
  3. The coming of Christ will be audible[10] - "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31
  4. The resurrection of the righteous will occur[11] - "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16
  5. In one single event, the saved who are alive at Christ's coming will be caught up together with the resurrected to meet the Lord in the air.[12] "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Views

Catholic and Orthodox

It is the traditional view of Catholics and Orthodox Christians that the second coming will be a sudden and unmistakable incident, like "a flash of lightning".[Mt 24:27] They hold the general view that Jesus will not spend any time on the earth in ministry or preaching.[13][14] They also agree that the ministry of the antichrist will take place right before the second coming.[13]

Mainline Protestantism

The many denominations of Protestantism have differing views on the exact details of Christ's second coming. Only a handful of Christian organizations claim complete and authoritative interpretation of the typically symbolic and prophetic biblical sources. A common thread is the belief that Jesus will return to judge the world and to establish the kingdom of God (fulfilling the rest of Messianic prophecy).

A short reference to the second coming is contained in the Nicene Creed, a prominent Christian statement of faith: "He [Jesus] shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom shall have no end." An analogous statement is also in the biblical Pauline Creed, in 1 Corinthians 15:23.

Some Lutheran, Anglican and United Methodist liturgies proclaim the Mystery of Faith to be: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again."

Generally, mainline Protestant Christianity does not offer predictions on the date of the second coming, though some may form their own ideas of how and where it will happen.

Seventh Day Adventists

Fundamental Belief # 25 of the Seventh Day Adventist Church states

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour's coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ's coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.) [15]

Swedenborgianism

Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century scientist and theologian described the Second Coming of the Lord as the opening of the inner meaning of the Word. Jesus had predicted that they would see "the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven",[Mt. 24:30] but this was to be a spiritual—not a physical event. In other words, Jesus would indeed come again, but not in the flesh. Rather He would come again in spirit through a revelation of the inner (deeper) meaning of the Bible. In other words, just as the physical sunshine can break through the obscurity of physical clouds, the inner meaning of the Word can also shine through the literal sense of the Bible. Whenever this happens for an individual, there is an experience of the Lord's Second Coming. The Lord (Jesus Christ) has come again through His Word—with "power and great glory".

Latter Day Saints

Notably those of the Latter Day Saint movement have particularly distinct and specific interpretations as to various signs presented in the Book of Revelation; see Second Coming (LDS Church).

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses rarely use the term "second coming", preferring the term "presence" as a translation of parousia.[16] They believe that Jesus' comparison of "the presence of the Son of man" with "the days of Noah" at Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-30 suggests a duration rather than a moment of arrival.[17]

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that biblical chronology points to 1914[18] as the start of Christ's "presence", which continues until Armageddon. Other biblical expressions they correlate with this period include "the time of the end" (Dan 12:4), "the conclusion of the system of things" (Matt 13:40,49; 24:3) and "the last days" (2 Tim 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3).[19][20] Witnesses believe Christ's millennial reign begins after Armageddon.[21]

Western Wisdom Teachings

In the Rosicrucian writings of Max Heindel, also known as Western Wisdom Teachings, there is a distinction to be made between Jesus the man, and the Christ, the true or divine nature.[22] Jesus is considered a high Initiate of the human life wave (which evolves under the cycle of rebirth) and of a singularly pure type of mind, vastly superior to the great majority of the present humanity. He was educated during his youth among the Essenes and thus prepared himself for the greatest honor ever bestowed upon a human being: to deliver his pure, passionless, highly evolved physical body and vital body (already attuned to the high vibrations of the 'Life Spirit'), in the moment of the Baptism, to the Christ being for His ministry in the physical world. Christ is described as the highest Spiritual Being of the life wave called Archangels, and has completed His union with the second aspect of God (Christ the Son):[23] Wisdom (Christ the [Solar] Logos; distinct from "the Word", Logos, of Whom John speaks, "The Only Begotten").[24]

In these esoteric Christian teachings, there is a clear distinction between the Cosmic Christ, or Christ without, and the Christ Within: the Cosmic Christ, the 'Regent of the Earth',[25] aids each individual in the formation of the Christ Within, the Golden Wedding Garment.[26] also called "Soul body", the correct translation of Paul of Tarsus "soma psuchicon" (Greek "soma" [body] and "psuchicon" [psu(y)che—soul], "It is sown a soul body; it is raised a spiritual body…,"[27] distinction of "spirit and soul and body".[28]

According to this tradition, the Christ Within is regarded as the true Saviour who needs to be born within each individual[29] in order to evolve toward the future Sixth Epoch in the Earth's etheric plane, that is, toward the "new heavens and a new earth":[30] the New Galilee.[31] The Second Coming or Advent of the Christ is not in a physical body,[32] but in the new soul body of each individual in the etheric region of the planet[33] where man "shall be caught up IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR."[34] The "day and hour" when this event shall be, as described in the Bible, is not in the human knowledge domain.[35] The esoteric Christian tradition teaches that first there will be a preparatory period as the Sun enters Aquarius by precession: the coming Age of Aquarius.

Theosophy

In January 1946, Theosophist Alice A. Bailey prophesied that Christ (who is regarded by Theosophists as being identical with the being known by Theosophists as the Maitreya) would return "sometime after AD 2025"[36] The followers of the Theosophical guru Benjamin Creme, like Alice A. Bailey, believe the Second Coming will occur when Maitreya makes his presence on Earth publicly known—Crème believes Maitreya has been on Earth since 1977, living in secret. This future "Second Coming" event is called the Emergence or Day of Declaration; this is when, Creme's followers believe, the Maitreya will telepathically overshadow all of humanity when he appears on worldwide television (this event was originally supposed to occur on 21 June 1982).[37] Alice A. Bailey believed and Benjamin Creme believe in the Nestorian/Gnostic doctrine promulgated by C.W. Leadbeater that Maitreya overshadowed the being called by Theosophists the Master Jesus during the Ministry of Jesus.[38]

Judaism

Though Judaism has no single official view of Jesus, it rejects Jesus' status as Jewish Messiah and, therefore, the idea of his Second Coming. Most Jews believe that Jesus failed to fulfill specific Messianic prophecies. They often claim that, among other things, Jesus' death and failure to redeem the world after his first coming are proof that he could not be the Messiah. Rabbi David Wolpe believes that the Second Coming was "grown out of genuine disappointment" and invented by Christians to theologically compensate for Jesus' death and (in the view of Jews) failure to redeem the world.[39]

Islam

Main article: Islamic view of Jesus

Traditonal Muslims believe that Jesus will return at a time close to the end of the world. The Qur'anic verse they allude to as an indicator to Jesus' future return is as follows:[40]

“And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.”[Qur'an 43:61]

According to Islamic tradition which describes this graphically, Jesus' descent will be in the midst of wars fought by the Mahdi (lit. "the rightly guided one"), known in Islamic eschatology as the redeemer of Islam, against the Antichrist (al-Masīkh ad-Dajjāl, "false messiah") and his followers.[41] Jesus will descend at the point of a white arcade, east of Damascus, dressed in yellow robes—his head anointed. He will then join the Mahdi in his war against the Dajjal. Jesus, considered in Islam as a Muslim, will abide by the Islamic teachings. Eventually, Jesus will slay the Dajjal, and then everyone from the people of the book (ahl al-kitāb, referring to Jews and Christians) will believe in him. Thus, there will be one community, that of Islam.[42]

Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 43, Number 656: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).

After the death of the Mahdi, Jesus will assume leadership. This is a time associated in Islamic narrative with universal peace and justice. Islamic texts also allude to the appearance of Ya'juj and Ma'juj (known also as Gog and Magog), ancient tribes which will disperse and cause disturbance on earth. God, in response to Jesus' prayers, will kill them by sending a type of worm in the napes of their necks.[41] Jesus' rule is said to be around forty years, after which he will die. Muslims will then perform the funeral prayer for him and then bury him in the city of Medina in a grave left vacant beside Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Umar (companions of Muhammad and the first and second Muslim caliphs respectively).[40]

Ahmadiyya Islam

The Ahmadi Muslims believe that the promised Mahdi has already arrived in the spirit (and situation) of Jesus, thus fulfilling the second coming in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908)

The Hadith (sayings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad) and Bible indicated that Jesus would return during the latter days. Islamic Hadith commonly depicts that Jesus, upon his second coming, would be an Ummati (Muslim) and a follower of the Prophet Muhammad and that he would rivive the truth of Islam rather than fostering a new religion.[43]

The movement interpret the Second Coming of Jesus prophecised as being that of a person "similar to Jesus" (mathīl-i ʿIsā). Mirza Ghulam Ahmad professed that the prophecy in Muslim and Christian religious texts were traditionally misunderstood to suggest that Jesus of Nazareth himself would return. Ahmadi's consider that the founder of the movement, in both his character and teachings were representative of Jesus, and subsequently, he attained the same spiritual rank of Prophethood as Jesus.

Henceforth, Ahmadis believe this prediction was fulfilled and continued by his movement.[44][45].

Hinduism

Some Hindus have embraced Jesus as an avatar, or incarnation, of God.[46] Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of Autobiography of a Yogi, made an extensive commentary on the Gospels, published in a two-volume set as The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You.[47] The book offers a mystical interpretation of the Second Coming in which it is understood to be an inner experience, something that takes place within the individual heart.

The Hindu religion sees time as cyclical, with four cycles (yugas) that repeat eternally. The current age, or Kali Yuga is the worst age of all, with three parts sin mixed with one part morality. Kali Yuga started around 5000 years ago, and will last for another 427,000 years, after which God will come in the form of Kalki, a man riding on a white horse who will do battle against the wicked and issue in a new Golden Age (Satya Yuga).

Predictions based on the New Testament

Date of the Second Coming Author Notes
1745–present Emanuel Swedenborg Witnessed the Last Judgment in 1757 as one of many events recounted in his works resulting from visions of Jesus Christ returned. He tells of almost daily interaction with Christ over the course of almost 30 years. His return is not in the flesh, but in His Holy Spirit. "Neither shall they say see here or see there, for behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20).[48]
September 15, 1829 George Rapp Founder and leader of the Harmony Society, predicted that on September 15, 1829, the three and one half years of the Sun Woman would end and Christ would begin his reign on earth.[49] Dissension grew when Rapp's predictions went unfulfilled. In March 1832, a third of the group left and some began following a man named Bernhard Müller who claimed to be the Lion of Judah. Nevertheless, most of the group stayed and Rapp continued to lead them until he died on August 7, 1847. His last words to his followers were, "If I did not so fully believe, that the Lord has designated me to place our society before His presence in the land of Canaan, I would consider this my last."[50]
October 22, 1844 William Miller and the Millerite Movement The fact that this failed to happen the way people were expecting was later referred to as the Great Disappointment. Some Millerites continued to set dates; others founded the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Advent Christian Church, which continued to expect the Second Coming but no longer set dates for it (Members of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the event of the Second Coming did take place on 23 May 1844, when the Báb (the Gate), the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh (Glory of God)), declared his mission. Bahá'u'lláh later claimed that he was the return and second coming of Jesus Christ.
1874 Charles Taze Russell The first president of what is now the Watchtower Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's Second Coming, and until his death taught that Christ was invisibly present, and ruling from the heavens from that date prophesied.[51][52][53][54] Russell proclaimed Christ's invisible return in 1874,[55] the resurrection of the saints in 1875,[56] and predicted the end of the "harvest" and a rapture of the saints to heaven for 1878,[57] and the final end of "the day of wrath" in 1914.[58] 1874 was considered the end of 6,000 years of human history and the beginning of judgment by Christ.[59]
1914 Jehovah's Witnesses The "Second Coming" is important in the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, although they do not use this term. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Christ's visible (to humans) return will be at Armageddon. They believe that 1914 A.D. marked the beginning of Christ's invisible presence (Matt. 24:3 gr. "parousia") as the King of God's Kingdom (Psalm 110; Revelation 12:10), and the beginning of the last days of the human ruled system of society. They believe the signs Christ revealed about his return in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 began to occur starting in 1914. In a parallel Biblical account at Revelation 6, they believe the ride of the symbolic four horsemen began in the same year, and that the first rider on the white horse depicts the Christ. He goes forth to complete his conquest of the earth, while the rule by human leaders continues for a short while until they meet their end at Armageddon by the power of the Christ (Revelation 19:11-21).
1917–1930 Sun Myung Moon The followers of Reverend Sun Myung Moon consider Reverend Moon to be the Lord of the Second Advent called by Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday at the age of 15 on a Korean Mountainside. (See Divine Principle)
1930s Rudolf Steiner Steiner described the physical incarnation of Christ as a unique event, but predicted that Christ would reappear in the etheric, or lowest spiritual, plane beginning in the 1930s. This would manifest in various ways: as a new spiritual approach to community life and between individuals; in more and more individuals discovering fully conscious access to the etheric plane (clairvoyance); and in Christ's appearance to groups of seekers gathered together.[60]
1975 Herbert W. Armstrong Armstrong, Pastor-General of the Radio Church of God, and then the Worldwide Church of God, felt the return of Jesus Christ might be in 1975. Of particular note was the book 1975 in Prophecy! written by Armstrong and published by the Radio Church of God in 1956. Though, never explicitly stating a date in the booklet, the title led people to believe the date was the second coming.
June 28, 1981 Bill Maupin Maupin, a pastor of the Lighthouse Gospel Tract Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, wrote a book predicting the date of the Second Coming. His congregation sold all their belongings and went to a hilltop on that day to await the event.
June 21, 1982 Benjamin Creme The followers of the New Age Theosophical guru Benjamin Creme, like Alice A. Bailey, believe the Second Coming will occur when Maitreya (the being Theosophists identify as being Christ) makes his presence on Earth publicly known—Crème believes Maitreya has been on Earth since 1977, living in secret.

Creme put advertisements in many of the world's major newspapers in early 1982 stating that the Second Coming would occur on Monday, 21 June 1982 (summer solstice in the northern hemisphere), at which time Christ (Maitreya) would announce his Second Coming on worldwide television (this is called the Emergence or Day of Declaration ; this is when, Creme's followers believe, the Maitreya will telepathically overshadow all of humanity when he appears on worldwide television) [61] When this event did not occur, Crème claimed that the "world is not yet ready to receive Maitreya"; his followers continue to believe it will happen "soon".
1994? And 2011 Harold Camping Camping, one of the co-founders of Family Stations, Inc. and Bible teacher, published a book, 1994?, a prediction of Christ's return was likely pointing to 1994 but that the end will be on May 21, 2011. 2011 was also in the book 1994?. Camping wrote "Adam when?" and claimed the Biblical calendar meshes with the secular and is accurate from 11,013 BC–2011 AD.[62]
1999 Through 2009 Jerry Falwell Fundamentalist preacher who predicted in 1999 that the Second Coming would probably be within 10 years.[63]
1999 Nostradamus Predicted that "from the sky will come a great King of Terror" in 1999.[64] This was interpreted by some as a prophecy about the second coming of Jesus. When this did not occur, some of his followers and those of Edgar Cayce claimed that Jesus was conceived in 1998, born in 1999, and is currently living on Earth as a reincarnated person.
September 13, 2007 Paul Sides Predicted that September 13, 2007 marks the end of seven years of "wars and rumors of war" that erupted when The Oslo Accords were annulled. Then he predicts a final seven year "tribulation period" that culminates in a war over the Holy Land that brings back the Messiah.[65]
September 30, 2008 Mark Biltz Pastor of El Shaddai Ministries, predicted September 30, 2008 (Rosh Hashanah) as the potential day of the second coming of Jesus based on four total Lunar Eclipses that occur seven years (Great Tribulation period) after September 30, 2008 in 2014 and 2015 that happen to fall on the two Jewish holidays Pesach and Succot in both 2014 and 2015. Mark believes this to be significant as the four Lunar Eclipses falling on the aforementioned Jewish holidays has happened in the past in 1492, 1948 and 1949 highlighting those years to be significant in Jewish history. In 1492 the Jews were expelled from Spain, in 1948 Israel became a nation, and in 1949 Jerusalem became the capital of Israel. In addition, he attributed these Lunar events to the "signs in the heavens" that the Bible speaks of.[66]
2012 Jack Van Impe Televangelist who has, over the years, predicted many specific years and dates for the second coming of Jesus, but has continued to move his prediction later. Many of these dates have already passed, and he recently pointed to 2012 as a possible date for the second coming. Van Impe no longer claims to know the exact date of the Second Coming, but quotes verses which imply that mankind should know when the second coming is near.
2025 Alice A. Bailey In January 1946, the New Age Theosophical guru prophesied that Christ would return "sometime after AD 2025"[36] (Theosophists identify "Christ" as being identical to a being they call Maitreya) to inaugurate the Age of Aquarius; thus, this event will be, according to Bailey, the New Age equivalent of the Christian concept of the Second Coming.[67]

Alice A. Bailey stated that St. Germain is the manager of the executive council of the Christ (Like C.W. Leadbeater, Alice A. Bailey refers to St. Germain as the Master Rakoczi or the Master R. in her books.).[68] ; thus, according to Alice A. Bailey, St. Germain's primary task is to prepare the way for the Second Coming.
Unknown Master Beinsa Douno Predicted the Second Appearance of Christ as: "Christ Impulse will gradually penetrate into the human being and will take over guidance during the further development of the humankind (sic). We are still in the beginning of all this now." (Master Beinsa Douno, The Master, The Life of the Sixth Race, ISBN 954-744-050-0, [3], 1900—1946, Society Byalo Bratstvo - Bulgaria)
Unknown Rastafari movement The movement believes Haile Selassie is the second coming (although he himself did not encourage this belief). He embodied this when he became Emperor of Ethiopia, but is also expected to return a second time to initiate the apocalyptic day of judgment. Haile Selassie, also called Jah Ras Tafari, is often considered to be alive by members of the Rastafari movement.[69]
By 2057 Frank J. Tipler In 1994, general relativity theory expert physicist Frank J. Tipler published a book called The Physics of Immortality in which he claimed to scientifically prove the existence of God as a consequence of what he calls the Omega Point Theory. In 2007, he published a sequel to "The Physics of Immortality" called The Physics of Christianity which applies the principles of the Omega Point Theory to the Christian religion. In this 2007 book, he asserts in the first chapter that the Second Coming of Christ will occur within 50 years, i.e., by 2057, and will be coincident with what futurist Ray Kurzweil calls the Singularity (which Kurzweil himself predicts will occur by 2045).[70]

Claimants of Christ's Second Coming

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement

Contemporary American politics

See also: Dispensationalism

The rise of fundamentalist Christianity as a political force in the United States has allegedly had an influence upon political decisions on the global stage. The majority of fundamentalist Christians in America subscribe to dispensationalist theology and biblical literalism, which predicts that at the Second Coming Jesus Christ will commence his reign over a re-established Jewish nation in the Middle East. The belief that the Jews must be returned to the Biblical lands of Judaea and Samaria before the world can end has, according to some, "driven up American support for an aggressive Israeli approach to its neighbours in the Holy Land."[74]

See also

  • Adventist
  • Second Coming
  • Unfulfilled religious prophecies
  • Baha'u'llah
  • Bible prophecy
  • Christian Eschatology
  • Christianity and Islam
  • Kalki
  • List of people who have claimed to be Jesus
  • Moshiach

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Strong's G3952". Blueletterbible.org. http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/strongs.pl?strongs=3952. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  2. ↑ See 337 uses of parousia in the Perseus database
  3. ↑ See Liddle Scott entry
  4. ↑ παρουσ-ία , h(, (πάρειμι) A. presence, of persons, δεσπότου, etc., A.Pers. 169, etc. ; ἀνδρῶν π., = ἄνδρες οἱ παρόντες, E.Alc.606 ; πόλις μείζων τῆς ἡμετέρας π., = ἡμῶν τῶν παρόντων, Th.6.86 ; παρουσίαν μὲν οἶσθα . . φίλων, ὡς οὔτις ἡμῖν ἐστιν, i.e. that we have no friends present to assist us, S.El.948 ; of things, “κακῶν” E.Hec.227, Ar.Th.1049 ; “ἀγαθῶν” Pl.Grg.497e : abs., παρουσίαν ἔχειν, = παρεῖναι, S.Aj.540 ; “τὰ τῆς τύχης . . κοινὰς [ἔχει] τὰς παρουσίας” D.Prooem.39 ; “αὐτὸ τὸ ἀγαθὸν [αἴτιον] τῇ π. τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῦ ἀγαθὰ εἶναι” Arist.EE1217b5, cf. Pl.Phd. 100d, etc. 2. arrival, ἡμῶν κοινόπουν π. S.El.1104, cf. E.Alc.209, Th.1.128 ; “εἰς Ἰταλίαν” D.H.1.45 ; esp. visit of a royal or official personage, βασιλέως, etc., PTeb.48.14 (ii B. C.), IPE12.32A85 (Olbia, iii B.C.), etc.; of a god, IG42(1).122.34(Epid.). 3. occasion, v.l. in S. El.1251. 4. π. τισὶ ποιεῖσθαι entertain them on their official visits, OGI139.9 (Philae, ii B.C.). 5. in NT, the Advent, Ev. [Matt. 24:27], al. 6. Astrol., situation of a planet at a point on the zodiac, “ἤτοι κατὰ παρουσίαν ἢ κατὰ συμμαρτυρίαν” Vett. Val.49.26. II. substance, property, “ὡς . . ἔχομεν παρουσίας” Pl.Com.177, cf. Men.471 ; “π. χρημάτων” Crates Com.16. 2. contribution in money, Sch. Luc. Phal.1.3 (pl.).
  5. ↑ "Merriam Webster.com". Merriam Webster.com. 2007-04-25. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parousia. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  6. ↑ "We have come to know the threefold coming of the Lord. His first coming was in the flesh and in weakness, this intermediary coming is in the spirit and in power, and the last coming will be in glory and majesty."—St Bernard of Clairvaux Sermon 5 on Advent 1
  7. ↑ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: General Judgment (Last Judgment)". Newadvent.org. 1910-10-01. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08552a.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  8. ↑ The Secret Rapture by Joe Crews
  9. ↑ "Caught Up" – When?
  10. ↑ Anything But Secret
  11. ↑ Eugene Prewitt - Audioverse
  12. ↑ Secret Rapture Truth
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 ""Jesus is Coming Soon"". Orthodoxphotos.com. http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/readings/sign/coming.shtml. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  14. ↑ "Catholics: Catholic views on End Times?, end time prophecy, end time prophecies". En.allexperts.com. 2006-10-05. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Catholics-955/Catholic-views-End-Times.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  15. ↑ Seventh Day Adventists Fundamental Beliefs
  16. ↑ "Appendix 5B Christ's Presence (Parousia)", New World Translation - Large Reference Edition, ©Watch Tower 1984 (orig 1950)
  17. ↑ "Presence", Insight on the Scriptures - Volume 2, ©1988 Watch Tower, page 677
  18. ↑ "1900 onward—Skirts Splattered With Blood", Awake!, November 8, 1989, ©Watch Tower, page 22
  19. ↑ "Keep Jehovah's Day Close in Mind", The Watchtower, September 1, 1997, page 21
  20. ↑ "‘No Peace for the Wicked Ones’", The Watchtower, July 1, 1987, page 13
  21. ↑ "There Is a Future for the Dead", The Watchtower, April 1, 1968, page 200
  22. ↑ Heindel, Max, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (Part III, Chapter XV: Christ and His Mission), November 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0
  23. ↑ cf. Matthew 16:16
  24. ↑ The Rosicrucian Fellowship, Jesus and Christ-Jesus
  25. ↑ The Rosicrucian Fellowship, Eastern and Western Spiritual Alternatives
  26. ↑ Matthew 22:2-11
  27. ↑ 1Cor 15:44
  28. ↑ 1Thess 5:23
  29. ↑ Galatians 4:19
  30. ↑ 2Pet 3:13, 3:7
  31. ↑ Heindel, Max, How Shall We Know Christ at His Coming?, May 1913 (stenographic report of a lecture, Los Angeles), ISBN 0-911274-64-2
  32. ↑ 1Cor 15:50, John 18:36
  33. ↑ 2Cor 5:1-3, Greek "politeuma" [commonwealth], "Our commonwealth is in heaven ...": Philippians 3:20-21
  34. ↑ Matthew 24:30, 1Thess 4:17, Acts 1:10-11, 1John 3:2
  35. ↑ Matthew 24:23-27
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Bailey, Alice A. The Externalisation of the Hierarchy New York:1957 Lucis Publishing Co. Page 530
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission Amsterdam:1986 Share International Foundtion
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Leadbeater, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925--Theosophical Publishing House Page 278
  39. ↑ "Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus". Beliefnet.com. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/28/story_2892_2.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Isa", Encyclopedia of Islam
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Sonn (2004) p. 209
  42. ↑ Sahih Muslim, kitabul Fitan : http://www.iiu.edu.my/deed/hadith/muslim/041_smt.html#021_b41.
  43. ↑ Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab Al-Malahim, Book 37, Number 4310
  44. ↑ “A Prophet Like Unto Moses”, The Promised Mehdi and Messiha, by Dr. Aziz Ahmad Chaudhry, Islam International Publications Limited
  45. ↑ The Four Questions Answered, by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, AAIIL 1996
  46. ↑ "Krishna and Jesus Christ". Harekrishnatemple.com. http://www.harekrishnatemple.com/bhakta/chapter27.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  47. ↑ Yogananda, Paramahansa. The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You. Self-Realization Fellowship, 2004. ISBN 978-0876125557
  48. ↑ "Angelic Wisdom Concerning the Divine Providence". Smallcanonsearch.com. http://www.smallcanonsearch.com/read.php?book=dp&section=135. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  49. ↑ Frederic J. Baumgartner, Longing for the End: A History of Millennialism in Western Civilization (1999) p.166
  50. ↑ William E. Wilson, The Angel and the Serpent: The Story of New Harmony (Indiana University Press, 1984) p.11
  51. ↑ "Charles Taze Russell—FREE Charles Taze Russell Information | Encyclopedia.com: Find Charles Taze Russell Research". Encyclopedia.com. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404705638.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  52. ↑ "The writer, among many others now interested, was sound asleep, in profound ignorance of the cry, etc., until 1876, when being awakened he trimmed his lamp (for it is still very early in the morning.) It showed him clearly that the Bridegroom had come and that he is living "in the days of the Son of Man."C.T. Russell (April 1880). "From and To The Wedding". Zion's Watch Tower: 2. http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/Z1880APR.asp. 
  53. ↑ Russell explained how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ from N.H. Barbour in "Harvest Gatherings and Siftings" in the July 15, 1906 Watch Tower, Reprints page 3822.
  54. ↑ The Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World by N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell (1877). Text available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/3worlds.pdf Scan of book in PDF format
  55. ↑ The Three Worlds, p. 175.
  56. ↑ The Three Worlds, pp. 104–108.
  57. ↑ See pages 68, 89–93, 124, 125–126, 143 of The Three Worlds.
  58. ↑ The year 1914 was seen as the final end of the "day of wrath": ."..the 'times of the Gentiles,' reach from B.C. 606 to A.D. 1914, or forty years beyond 1874. And the time of trouble, conquest of the nations, and events connected with the day of wrath, have only ample time, during the balance of this forty years, for their fulfillment." The Three Worlds, p. 189.
  59. ↑ In 1935, the idea that the 6,000 years ran out in 1874 was moved forward 100 years."The Second Hand in the Timepiece of God" (PDF). The Golden Age: 412–413. March 27, 1935. http://www.a2z.org/wtarchive/docs/1935_Calendar_Golden_Age.pdf. 
  60. ↑ "Reappearance/Christ: Lecture I: The Event of the Appearance of Christ in the Etheric World". Wn.rsarchive.org. http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReapChrist/19100125p01.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  61. ↑ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission Amsterdam:1986 Share International Foundation
  62. ↑ Harold Camping (1992). "1994?". Vantage Press, Inc.. ISBN 0533103681. 
  63. ↑ Falwell: Antichrist May Be Alive. Sonja Baristic, Associated Press. January 16, 1999.
  64. ↑ "The King of Terror - Part 1". Paranormal.about.com. 1999-07-04. http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa070599.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  65. ↑ "September 13". Sabbathcovenant.com. 2003-07-03. http://www.sabbathcovenant.com/september_13.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  66. ↑ El Shaddai Ministries/wrs (2008-05-02). "El Shaddai Ministries - Stipulating Eclipse Comments". Elshaddaiministries.us. http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/stipulation.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  67. ↑ Bailey, Alice A. The Reappearance of the Christ New York:1948 Lucis Publishing Co.
  68. ↑ Bailey, Alice A. The Externalisation of the Hierarchy New York:1957—Lucis Press (Compilation of earlier revelations by Alice A. Bailey) Page 508
  69. ↑ "Rastafari Movement". Religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu. 2006-09-07. http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rast.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  70. ↑ Website of Dr. Frank J. Tipler--Content of the first chapter of The Physics of Christianity is downloadable from Dr. Tipler's website:
  71. ↑ "Last Judgment passage number 45". Smallcanonsearch.com. http://www.smallcanonsearch.com/read.php?book=lj&section=45. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  72. ↑ [1]
  73. ↑ Stephen Lambden. "Catastrophe, Armageddon and Millennium: some aspects of the Bábí-Baha'i exegesis of apocalyptic symbolism". Bahai-library.com. http://bahai-library.com/bsr/bsr09/9B3_lambden_armageddon.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  74. ↑ Baker, Gerard. "'Israel right or wrong' is not a grown-up debate." The Times (of London.) 30 March 2007. Web: 10 Dec 2009. [2]

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