Christ's Second Presence
How

• Is Christ Visible or Invisible?
• How Jesus appeared to his disciples at the 1st advent.
• How Jesus appears at his 2nd advent - "In Like Manner"

Is Christ Visible or Invisible?

Our lord is no longer a human being. He gave his perfect human life as a ransom for men...and did not take that human life back.

I Tim. 2:6  "The man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all..."

I Cor. 15:21,22  "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

II Cor. 5:16  "Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."

I Cor. 15:50  "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..."

Christ was raised from the dead a life-giving spirit being. His resurrected body is glorious, perfect, not the scarred and disfigured human body he laid down in death.

Christ is now highly exalted to the divine nature. Divine nature is a spirit body we have not yet seen.

I Cor. 15:14  "The last Adam was made a quickening [life-giving] spirit."

I Jn. 3:2   "...It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

Heb. 1:3  His glorious spiritual body is "the express image of the Father's person."

I Tim. 6:15,16  Jesus' divine nature will not be seen, just as God is not seen by man. "No man hath seen God at any time;" he is the King immortal, invisible, whom no man hath seen nor can [ever] see.

Phil. 2:9 God "hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." [The Father's name only excepted-I Cor. 15:27]

Since Christ is no longer a human being, we should not expect him to come again as a human being as at the first advent. His second coming is to be in a different manner as well as for a different purpose.

How Jesus appeared to his disciples at the 1st advent.

Jesus' object in appearing to his disciples after his resurrection was to convince them of his resurrection so that they might be witnesses of his resurrection. He appeared in a way natural men could grasp and appreciate by assuming various bodies of flesh as a garment, so that they could handle him and see him ascend. This was needful for them as natural men not yet spirit begotten.

How did they recognize him?

Jn. 20:16  By his tone of voice to Mary.  
Lk. 24:30  By the familiar act of blessing and breaking bread.
Jn. 21:4-7 By the miraculous draught of fishes.
Jn. 20:27  By a body with crucifixion wounds to Thomas.

Nothing in reason or in Scripture demands that Christ shall at his second advent appear in various bodies of flesh and bones. That such a procedure is not essential is evident from the success of Satan's kingdom, which operates through human beings as agents. Christ's presence and righteous authority will be recognized in both the punishments and the blessings that will flow to mankind from his reign.

How Jesus appears at his 2nd advent - "In Like Manner"

Acts 1:11  "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven."

This does not say that those who saw him go will see him come, nor that any one else will see him come. What it does say is that the manner of his coming will be like the manner of his going.

What was the manner of his going? Was it with great splendor, great demonstration, trumpet sound and voices and a great shout rending the air, and the Lord's person shining in supernatural glory and brightness? If so, we should expect his coming again to be "in like manner."

On the other hand, was it not as quietly and secretly as possible? None saw him go, or knew of the fact except his faithful followers. And in this manner will he return...quietly, secretly, so far as the world is concerned, and unknown except to his followers.

Click below for more information on:

  "The Manner of Our Lord's Return and Appearing."

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