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CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE THE RETURN OF THE SON OF MAN
The belief in the literal Second Coming of Jesus is nothing new in Church History. Nonetheless, many modern Post- and Amillinialists assert that the reformers were not looking for the soon return of Christ or the rapture of the saints. On this page we prove otherwise. Edward Irving has been credited with opening a new door of expectation, for the appearance of Jesus and the Rapture of the Saints. However, we have discovered this is not correct. Reformation believers had long been looking for that wonderful event. When Scripture was made available the truth of the Second Coming became evident. Irving was among many others who thrilled for Christ's return. At length Irving did not rekindle interest in the imminent Second Coming. He rather distorted the identity of the antichrist for future generations. Irving also fell into the snare of DATE SETTING while predicting the Lord's return. In Irving's day and before, Evangelicals watched for the imminent appearing of Christ while formal and dead Church-men were watching for payday. Here are two major sources from before 1830 when Edward Irving ministered. These documents demonstrate our forefathers faith for the Second Coming. First, excerpts from the Wesley Hymns are considered. Secondly, some of the highly influential and respected Geneva Bible is cited. Notice, in our next page, "GOD'S COMING WRATH" we consider the timing of the rapture.
Looking for Jesus to return is not a modern innovation! The Works of John Wesley ,Volume 7 True believers have seen -- The Saviour of men, As his head, he on Calvary bowed; We shall see him again -- When, with all his bright train, He descends on the luminous cloud. We remember the word -- of our crucified Lord, When he went to prepare us a place: 'I will come in that day --And transport you away, And admit to a sight of my face.' With earnest desire -- After thee we aspire, And long thy appearing to see; Till our souls thou receive -- In they presence to live, And be perfectly happy in thee. Come, Lord, from the skies, And command us to rise Ready made for the mansions above -- With our Head to ascend, And eternity spend -- In a rapture of heavenly love. Page 661, Hymn 476 There we shall meet again -- When all our toils are o'er, And death, and grief, and pain, And parting are no more; We shall with all our brethren rise, And grasp thee in the flaming skies. O happy, happy day -- That calls thy exiles home! Page 716, Hymn 522
The Second Coming In The Geneva Bible Here is the Protestant Bible used in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds. The Pilgrims brought The Geneva Bible to Plymouth Rock. Our selections have been edited to facilitate the modern reader. My added comments are written in green, the Bible text is red, and the Geneva notes appear in blue.Geneva Bible Text: I Cor. 15: 51 (a) Behold, I shew you a (b) secret thing, We shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,, 52 In (c) a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible hath put on incorruption, and this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Geneva Notes a. He goes further, declaring that it shall come to pass that they which shall be found alive in the latter day, shall not descend into that corruption of the grave, but shall be renewed with a sudden change, which change is very requisite: and that the certain enjoying of the benefit and victory of Christ, is deferred unto that latter time. b. A thing that has been hid and never known hitherto and, therefore, worthy that you give good ear unto it. c. He shows to us that the time shall be very short.
Geneva Bible Text I Thes. 4: 14 For if we believe that Jesus is dead, and is risen, even so them which sleep in Jesus, will God (d) bring with him. 15 (e) For this say we unto you by the word of the Lord, that (f) we which live, and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which sleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the Archangel, and 17 Then shall we which live and remain, be (g) caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore, comfort yourselves one another with these words. Geneva Notes d. Will call their bodies out of their graves, and join their souls to them again. e. The manner of the resurrection shall be thus. The bodies of the dead shall be as it were raised out of sleep at the sound of the trumpet of God. Christ himself shall descend from heaven. The Saints which shall then be found alive, together with the dead which shall rise, shall be taken up into the clouds to meet the Lord, and shall be in perpetual glory with him. f.He speaks of these thing, as though he should be one of them whom the Lord shall find alive at his coming, because that time is uncertain and therefore every one of us ought to be in such a readiness, as if the Lord were coming at every moment.
g. Suddenly and in the twinkling of an eye. Geneva Bible Text Luke 21: 24 And they shall fall on the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot of the Gentiles, #until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Verse 24 tells of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This destruction starts the age of the Gentiles, which continues until Jesus Comes. #When the Church age reaches its conclusion, verse 25 commences and the time of Christ's coming arrives.) 25 ( h.) Then there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth trouble among the nations with perplexity: the sea and the waters shall roar. 26 (i.) And men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which shall come on the world: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man come in the cloud, with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth near. 29.(j.) And he spake to them a parable, Behold, the fig tree, and all trees, Geneva Notes h. When the times are expired, appointed for the Salvation of the Gentiles, and punishment of the Jews: And so he (Luke) passeth from the destruction of Jerusalem, (in 70 AD) to the history of the Latter judgment. i. After diverse tempests, (The Centuries-Long Tribulation of the Godly) the Lord will at the length plainly appear to deliver his Church. (The Rapture!) j. We must be sober and watchful both day and night for the Lord's coming that we be not taken unawares. ("Unawares" is borrowed from verse 34, warning of surprise and judgment. The Geneva's commentators clearly understood a long troubling time for good men, their catching away and then a surprising tribulation-judgment on wicked men, at Jesus' Appearing.)
Other Witnesses In the 1300's, John Wycliffe was looking for Christ's appearing and coming kingdom. John Wycliffe said, "The day of doom cometh full fast." In the Lantern of Light, (a Lollard tract of the early 1400s) we see that Wycliffe's followers expected a physical resurrection at Christ's return. The anticipated change would happen at the "day of doom". This "day of doom" cannot be speaking of the general resurrection of the wicked and final judgment of Revelation 20:11. That resurrection will not be one of glory as described below. Rather, the "day of doom" is speaking of the happenings described in Revelation 20:1-6. These include: The Lollard wrote, "That body that is sown in corruption shall raise without corruption in this chosen church at the day of doom and this bridal gift is called immortality." That body that is sewn unworthy (valueless) shall raise in glory and this bridal gift is called clerte (honor). That body that is sown in infirmity or unstableness shall rise in virtue and this is called agility or swiftness. That body that is sown beastial (low intelligence) shall rise spiritual and this bridal gift is call subtitle." (Quick undressing) After our physical improvements are catalogued the author goes on to review some spiritual virtues that will also accompany the resurrection. It becomes evident that these pre-Reformation Protestants looked for the literal coming of Jesus and the physical catching away of the saints. _____________
--------------------------------------------------------- Walter J. Johnson, Inc. has published a black letter facsimile of an old tract called, GENERAL SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMENT, London, (c. 1625). In this tract the Second Coming of Christ is put forward in a style that is so modern it might have been written today. The signs that foretoken the soon coming of Christ were current events in 1625 and so are different than today. One fact remains common between believers then and now and that is a strong expectancy for Jesus to soon appear! During the 1640s there was an English civil war between men of faith and greed. Selfish men wanted to rule and control the lives and souls of the populace. Among the freedom seekers were the Independents. These formed a "people's army" and for a time won some freedom. Maurice Ashley describes the Independents as people with "... faith in...the immediacy of the Second Coming of Christ." Remember, only the dead of spirit fail to look for the coming of Jesus. Anyone able to read a little Scripture will easily see that Jesus is coming again. Those with unbelieving hearts have all graduated from 'Luciferian University' and by becoming wise have shown themselves fools. Any "sod buster" from "Bo-hunk" has more wisdom in his little toe than the Modernist Doctors of Doubt. Cast off that spirit of unbelief and get ready. Jesus is Coming Soon! ___________________
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