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

In the last post we commented on three aspects of Jesus’ ascension. The third was that the angels present promised that Jesus would come again “in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.” This is an obvious reference to the essential doctrine of the Second Coming.

Yes, the Second Coming is an essential doctrine. There are numerous ideas of how and when that will happen, but that Jesus is coming again is essential. Why?

Because God’s plan of salvation is bigger than saving individuals for Heaven (though He did do that!), God’s big picture plan of salvation includes not only gathering His people for Heaven, but Jesus coming again to judge the world and the lost in the world (Revelation 20). At that time Jesus Christ will end the rebellion on earth, put an end to sin, and consign those who have rejected Him to eternal punishment. This grand event that takes place when Jesus comes again is not a secondary issue. It is essential.

Sadly, the Body of Christ tends to get hung up about particulars (when and how) about which the Bible is not crystal clear. It is fine to study the Bible to understand all that it says about the Second Coming. It is a serious mistake to come to hard and fast conclusions and make dogmatic statements about what the the Bible does not say.

Let us know what the Bible says about the Second Coming. Let us live our lives ready at all times for the Second Coming. And let us not get side-tracked by speculations about what the Bible does not say!