Jesus Appearance (11) - Surprise

The people of the world will be surprised by Jesus appearance.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape (1 Thes 5:2-3).

Just as there is no advance warning of where and when a thief will strike, so there will be no warning of Jesus appearance.

Many Christians claim to know the timing of the Jesus appearance. Jesus warned that there would be no preliminary signs.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matt 24:36).

There is no point in trying to second-guess Jesus. Christians should be ready at all times, so we will not be embarrassed when he comes.

Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matt 24:42-44).

Those who do Jesus will, will be ready whenever he comes.

Jesus Appearance (10) - Last Trumpet

Paul describes the Appearance of Jesus in his first letter to the Thessalonians. He begins by encouraging Christians not to be sad about Christians who have died. Jesus died and rose again to give us hope beyond death. That hope is fulfilled in the Appearance of Jesus.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thes 4:16,17).

God is always in control, so the Last Day begins with a command from heaven. The heavenly archangel will sound his trumpet to announce the end of the age and a time of restitution (Lev 25:9). The heavens will be opened. The spiritual and physical worlds will merge in one new reality. From the perspective of heaven, it will seem like Jesus has gone down to earth. From the perspective of the earth, it will seem that the Christians have gone up. The reality is that the worlds have always been close. The appearance of Jesus brings them together, so we can be with our Lord forever.

Jesus Appearance (9) - Handing over the Kingdom

History climaxes when Jesus hands his Kingdom back to his Father. He does not return to establish his Kingdom. He appears when it is completed.

But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he appears (parousia), those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Cor 15:23-25).

Jesus reigns in heaven until the Holy Spirit, working through the suffering church, has overcome all opposition to the gospel (Psalm 110:1). When his Kingdom has come to fullness and run its course, Jesus will appear to bring in the end of all things. He then hands the Kingdom back to God the Father, so can get his next project underway.

Then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).

Jesus Appearance (8) - Last Judgment

John saw the same events when heaven was opened.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them (Rev 20:11.

When the glory of Jesus is revealed, the earth and sky shrink into insignificance.

The appearance of Jesus leads to the last judgment.

I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done (Rev 20:12-13).

When the last judgment is complete, death is destroyed forever.

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death(Rev 20:14).

Paul described the same event in his letter to the Corinthians.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:28).

When heaven and earth merge, Christians will fulfil their hope and experience the joy of eternal life in the presence of Jesus.

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you (1 Thes 2:19)?

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus appears with all his holy ones (1 Thes 3:13).

Those who have rejected Jesus, will go to eternal destruction.

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he appears to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed (2 Thes 1:9-10).

Jesus Appearance (7) - Earth and Sky

The earth and sky will be totally changed by the second resurrection. With the physical and spiritual dimensions merged, earth will seem much less grand.

We look at the stars in the sky and are filled with wonder. We look at pictures of the earth taken from space and think it is amazing. However, when see the glory of the spiritual realms, the physical world will shrivel into insignificance. Earth and sky will seem to collapse and disappear. Physical things will not have changed, but we will be seeing them in correct perspective for the first time. We think that space is immense, but when we see the spiritual realm, it will suddenly seem small. As we see the glory of the spiritual realm for the first time, earth and space will shrink away.

Some of this is captured this woodenly literal translation of Peter’s prophecy.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The spiritual world will come near with a booming, the orderly arrangement of things will be loosed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be exposed…. That day will bring about the releasing of the spiritual dimensions by fire, and the order of things will liquefy in the heat (2 Pet 3:10,12).

The elements will seem to be dissolving before our eyes. The stars will seem to be rolling up like a scroll. They will not be disappearing, but the beauty and wonder of the spiritual realms is so wonderful, that the earth and sky, as we know them, will fade into insignificance. Such a dramatic event will produce plenty of heat and light.

Jesus Appearance (6) - All Changed

Paul explained to the Corinthians that we would be all changed at the last trumpet.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (1 Cor 15:51-52).

When the angel sounds the last trumpet, we will all be changed. The previous verse describes part of this change.

And just as we have worn the image of the earthly man, so shall we wear the image of the heavenly man (1 Cor 15:49).

We now live with all the constraints of earthly people. We cannot see the spiritual dimension of life, except by the eyes of faith. We will change to be like heavenly people. That will enable us to see the spiritual world as well. In a twinkling of an eye, the spiritual and the physical world will be merged together into one reality. That will change everything.

The Appearance of Jesus is the result of the second resurrection. Everyone who has ever lived on earth will be raised to new life. This resurrection will enable everyone to see both the spiritual world and the physical world. It will seem like all things have come together.
Although they were already there, those who believe will feel like they have been taken up to be with Jesus. Those who do not believe in Jesus will see him in all his glory. As he appears in glory for the first time, it will seem like he has come right down to earth again.

We assume that Jesus can only appear by returning to earth, but this is not correct. When the veil that prevents us from seeing the spiritual dimension of life is removed, he will suddenly appear to everyone. He will not have moved. We will have been changed to see his glory.

Jesus Appearance (5) - Second Resurrection

Human eyes will be opened to see into the spiritual dimension at the second resurrection. Christians often get confused about this topic, but we must understand that there are two resurrections. John described the first resurrection in his gospel and his vision.

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.… They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years…This is the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-5).

Most Christians believe that John was describing something that happens at the end of the age. This is a lie of the enemy to rob us of the truth of who we are in Jesus.

The first resurrection is not a future event. It occurs when we were born again to new life by faith in Jesus. Paul taught that those who are baptised into Christ, have not only died with him, but are raised with him (Rom 6:1-10).

Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God….God made you alive with Christ (Col 2:12,13).

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

These two verses are past tense. A Christian are united by faith with Christ in his death and resurrection. We have died with Jesus and been raised to new life in him. The moment we believe, we are born again into this new life. In the spiritual dimension, we have been raised up to sit at the right hand of the Father to reign with Jesus. We do not see this, but John did. Heaven was opened to him and he saw all those who believe sitting on thrones. This is the first resurrection. It is a spiritual resurrection that on affects those who believe in Jesus.

The second resurrection occurs at the end of the Kingdom age.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended (Rev 20:5).

Everyone on earth will be raised to life.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened… The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them... (Rev 20:12-13).

The first resurrection gives new spiritual life to believers. Those outside Christ continue to be spiritually dead. The second resurrection is the general resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked at the end of the age.

John distinguished these two resurrections in his gospel. The first resurrection is for those who believe.

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (John 5:24-25).

This resurrection has already occurred for those who hear Jesus’ words and believe. The second resurrection affects everyone.

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28-29).

The second resurrection touches everyone, whether they have done good or evil. This resurrection changes everyone. One effect of this resurrection is that everyone will be changed, and be able to see clearly into the spiritual world.

Prior to the second resurrection, some Christians are be able discern these things better than others. Elisha opened the eyes of his servant to see the spiritual armies fighting for Israel (2 Kings 6:17). Daniel discovered that geopolitical events are the outworking for a struggle betwen a few big angels (Dan 10). Paul knew that real struggle happens in the spiritual realms (Eph 6:12). John received an amazing revelation of the spiritual realm at the end of his life. We may not see as clearly as John, but every Christian who has shared in the first resurrection should have some insight into what is happening in the spiritual realms. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would gain this insight.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (Eph 1:3,18).

As we walk in the Spirit and grow in faith, our insight into the spiritual should increase, but it will never be complete. John received an amazing revelation, but even he could not fully grasp what his spiritual eyes had seen. He just recorded it carefully for those who would come after him.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away (1 Cor 13:9-10).

When the second resurrection occurs, the perfect will have come. The partial will disappear and everyone will be able to see the spiritual dimension as clearly as we now see the physical world.

The first resurrections enables us to see by faith. The second resurrection is a real event that takes our seeing of the spiritual dimension to a new level. It does not change the universe, but it dramatically changes the way that people see it. The changes that Jesus worked through the cross will be clearly visible to everyone.

Jesus Appearance (4) - Great Gaze

When Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, his disciples stood watching as he disappeared behind the clouds. An angel spoke to them and said,

Why do ye stand gazing into the heaven? This Jesus who was received from you into the heaven, shall so come in the same way as you gazed on him going into heaven (Acts 1:11).

We assume that the angel was saying that Jesus would return in the same way that he departed, by coming down from behind a cloud. This is not quite correct. The angel said that the “gazing” would be the same. The disciples were gazing into the spiritual world, but seeing nothing. The angel promised that Jesus would appear when people are able to gaze into the spiritual realm and see.

The Appearance of Jesus is a real event. It occurs when people are changed so that the can see correctly into both the physical and spiritual worlds.

Jesus Appearance (3) - Great Separation

People who have not been born again will see Jesus clearly and be almost destroyed by the glorious view. Those who are evil will be blown away by his holiness. The only reason that evil has been able to survive is that it has been shielded from the spiritual realm. This might be the reason why Jesus Appearance cannot happen until most of the people on earth have come to faith. As soon as evil begins to emerge again, it is destroyed before the opportunity is lost.

Once the spiritual and the physical realms are opened up and brought together, evil will be blown away.

There will be a great separation.

That is how it will be at the appearance (parousia) of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left (Matt 24:39-41).

From the human perspective, Christians and non-Christians often seem to be working along aside each other. When we all see clearly into the spiritual dimensions of reality, we will suddenly realise that we are actually living in a totally different space. It will seem like we have been pushed apart.

Jesus Appearance (3) - Seated in Heaven

Our view of reality will change dramatically. When we were born again of the spirit we came alive in the spiritual dimension of reality. When we were baptised into Jesus, we died with him and rose to sit with him at the right hand of the father in heaven.

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

All Christians are seated with Jesus and surrounded by his angels, but we do not see it.

If we could see ourselves as the angels see, we would see ourselves sitting in the presence of the Father and surrounded by millions of angels. We are not just sitting there passively, but doing the stuff that God wants done to bring in the Kingdom. In Revelation 19:11-18, John describes an army of people dressed in white robes riding to victory on white horses.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:11-16).

This was not a description of the second coming as is usually claimed.

John was trying to describe a spiritual reality, outside the scope of human seeing. He was explaining to the suffering church appears how it appears to those who can see into the spiritual world, during the great Gospel Advance that brings in the Kingdom.

The golden crown and the white horses remind us that Jesus is a king above all other kings. He does not fight with physical weapons, but bring justice through the proclamation of the gospel. His robe is dipped in blood to remind us of his suffering. The armies following are also dressed in white robes, representing their suffering for the sake of righteousness.

John was attempting to give us a true perspective on reality. A church that is being severely persecuted and is being decimated by political powers looks very different in the spiritual dimension. To Christians involved in the struggle, the suffering feels intolerable and the gospel seems to be going backwards. In the spiritual realm, these Christians are a mighty army following Jesus to build his Kingdom. Pushing this marvellous passage to the end of the age robs those who suffer for Jesus and the kingdom of a great promise of hope.

John received a special gift at the end of his life and was a given a glimpse into the spiritual dimension of life. (Adam and Eve could probably see like this before the fall, as they were aware of God walking in the garden.) When the last trumpet sounds, we will all be able to see as John could see during his vision.

When our eyes are opened to full reality, we will actually see where we have been since we were born again. We will see ourselves sitting at the right hand of Jesus and surround by millions of angels. This is where we have always been, but apart from a few like John, most of us have been unable to see it. It will feel like we have been caught up into a different world, but we will just be seeing for the first time, where we have always been.

Jesus Appearance (2) - Spiritual Interjection

The Appearance of Jesus is a massive interjection of the spiritual dimension into our physical world. It is difficult to describe in human words, so we should be careful when interpreting the bible passages that describe it. The popular view that Jesus will come down from space like a bungee jumper on a skyhook is misleading. The idea that Christians will shoot into the sky like a crowd of human skyrockets fails to understand the reality that we live in.

We tend think of heaven and earth as two different places, with heaven way up there and earth way down here, and a huge gap in between. This gap is real, but the assumption that these two worlds are far apart is misleading. We live in a multi-dimensional universe in which the spiritual dimensions exist in parallel to the four-dimensional physical world. Angels can move between the spiritual and physical dimensions, but humans only see the physical side of existence.

At the ascension, Jesus appeared to go up into the air and behind a cloud. He was not shooting for a far distant planet, like an interstellar rocket. Rather, he moved back into the spiritual realm from which he had come. Because the eyes of the disciples were calibrated to see the physical world, he was seemed to go into the sky and disappear. If they could have seen into the spiritual world, they would have realised that he had simply moved across the spiritual divide into a different realm.

Jesus appears when our seeing changes. The spiritual realms are currently hidden from the people on earth. They will be be opened up for everyone to see. Paul referred to the “epiphaneia” of Jesus’ “parousia” (2 Thes 2:8). “Epiphaneia” means “manifestation. Paul was explaining that the spiritual dimensions will be blown open and be visible to everyone on earth.

The limits of our human seeing make the physical world appear bright and real. The spiritual dimension seems distant and dim to us, as it must be perceived by faith. When our seeing is changed, the physical world will fade into obscurity. As the spiritual world will come into clearer focus, we will be stunned by its glory.
Jesus does not come back to earth. The spiritual world is opened up and joined with the physical world and everyone sees the result.

Before Jesus was born as a baby, he existed with the Father and the Spirit in the spiritual realm.

He was with God in the beginning (John 1:2).

He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness (Phil 2:7).

After his resurrection, he returned to the spiritual realm from which he had come (Acts 2:32-33; Phil 2:9).

He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the spiritual realms (Eph 1:20).

When our spiritual eyes are opened to see clearly, the spiritual dimensions of life will suddenly be real. It will seem like he has come down to us. The truth is that he has always been close; just hidden from our eyes. He has always been there, but when the curtain is opened, everyone will see the indescribable glory of his presence. When we begin to see reality clearly, Jesus will suddenly be very close. Everyone on earth will see Jesus seated on the throne at the right hand of the Father. He has always been there, but from our human perspective, it will seem like he has returned.

Jesus will appear on the stage. He has always been there, but when the curtain is pulled back, everyone will see him.

►Jesus Appearance (1) - Parousia

The short season that marks the end of the Kingdom age will be cut short when Jesus appears on the stage. This event is often referred to as the “second coming”, but this phrase is not used in the scriptures, so I will not use it. The Greek word is “parousia”, which means “appearance” or “arrival”. It is a much stronger word than “erchomai,” the usual Greek word for “come”, which The epochal event that marks the end of history is the Appearance of Jesus (parousia).

The Bibles says that his appearance will light up the sky from one end to the other. Those who believe him will be share his glory with him. The elements will melt and the heavens and earth will seem to pass away.

The first half of Matthew 24 refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, but Jesus inserted a brief description of his Appearance by way of contrast.

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the appearance (parousia) of the Son of Man (Matt 24:27).

No one will miss this event. His appearance will light up the entire world like the lightening lights up the sky. Jesus will be visible to everyone on the earth.

A good analogy would be a rock star waiting in the wings while the atmosphere builds. His entrance onto the stage in a climax of sound and light would be called an appearance.