THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The following passages suggest that Jesus taught and the early Church believed that he would return in their lifetime.

Mark 8:38-9:1 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." And He was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Mark 13:26-30 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect [lit. chosen ones, i.e. his followers] from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth, to the farthest end of heaven. Now learn the parable from the fig tree; when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." [Note also that Jesus is responding to a question about when the Jewish Temple would be destroyed as he predicted--this occurred in 70 A.D.]
   
James 5:7-9 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. [Notice how this echoes Jesus' words in Mark 13.]

John 21:20-23 [Peter is just told that he will be crucified for his faith.] Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved [John] following them...Peter therefore seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" Therefore this saying went out among  the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain  until I come, what is that to you?”[John, the oldest of the disciples is thought to have died around the close of the first century in exile on the Isle of Papmos. Note how in this late gospel the author is trying to debunk the idea that Jesus promised to return within his disciples' lifetime.]

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep [i.e. those who died waiting]. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 For after all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire...

Romans 13:10-13 ...love therefore is the fulfillment of the law, and do this, knowing that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we became believers. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand...

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced him [i.e. those responsible for killing Jesus], and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.

Rev 3:11, 22:7, 12 "I am coming quickly."

Rev. 3:22 He who  testifies to these things says, “Yes,  I am coming quickly.” Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9: Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it as from the beginning of creation."...But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. the Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. [This is an attempted explanation for the delay of the parousia (Jesus' Second Coming)].

It should be noted that all but extremely liberal denominations (who see the second coming as a metaphor) believe Jesus' Second Coming will occur some time in the future. Tim Lahaye's "Left Behind" novel series represents popular fundamental and evangelical thinking on the subject.

THE AFTERLIFE AND FINAL JUDGEMENT

When believers die, their spirits go to be with Christ in Heaven (Philippians 1:21-34, 2 Corinthians 5:8). Unbelievers are punished in Hell (Luke 16:22-26). When Jesus returns to earth, all the dead will be resurrected, their spirits joined to their bodies (1 Corinthians 15:12 ff., 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Believers still living at the time of the Second Coming will be given new immortal bodies. Then there will be a final judgment--believers will live with God in "a new heavens and a new earth" while unbelievers will suffer eternal torment along with Satan and his angels in the Lake of Fire (Daniel 12: 2-3, Matt 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Revelation 20:10, 13-15, 14:9-11).

Many evangelical or fundamental Christians believe that before Jesus returns there will be a "rapture" where all living believers will be taken instantly to Heaven before a period of 7 years of tribulation (Mark 13), during which the Anti-Christ will reign, followed by God's wrath being poured out on the earth. After this tribulation period, then God will destroy the Anti-Christ and his minions, and set up his Kingdom. This belief didn't become popular until the 19th Century and can't be found in the New Testament without reading it into certain passages, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Before the 19th Century, the so-called "rapture" of the Church was always thought to occur at Jesus' Second Coming. It was assumed that believers would pass through this period, which is why they are prepared for and warned about it. People who believe Christians will be translated into Heaven before the Tribulation are called "Pre-Tribulationists" and are said to hold the "Pre-Trib" position. Those who believe Christians will go through the Tribulation are called "Post-Tribulationists", holding the "Post-Trib" position. There is also a third, minority view, that Christians will be raptured in the middle of the Tribulation (Mid-Tribulationists, or "Mid-Trib" position).

CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM

Why don't some accept the Gospel? Calvinism (named after the theologian John Calvin) holds that this is God's will. No one deserves salvation, and God is not obligated to save anyone. For His own reasons, he has chosen only some to be saved. God never has to turn anyone down, though, because human beings are so morally corrupt that they would never, of their own accord, repent of their sins or bend their knee to Jesus. Hence, those who God wants to save he has to supernaturally influence to turn to Him. When he does this, his calling is irresistible. Everyone else either goes to Hell by default (since without God's help they could never repent or believe) or may even be foreordained to go there. This belief, that God chooses beforehand where each person will spend eternity, is also called "predestination." It's easy to see how this view developed from Paul's belief in salvation by grace through faith. If you repent and believe of your own free will then it seems that you have done something to merit God's favor--in a way you're saving yourself with God's help. Under this scenario, it seems that if you repent and believe, God has to save you. But this can't be so because nothing we do can save us or make us deserving of salvation--salvation is by grace, which by definition is God's unmerited favor.  Thus, if it's impossible to do anything to merit salvation, then it would seem to follow that the very act of believing must be due to Divine influence. This view was held by Martin Luther is taught in various Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterians. Below are a few passages which seem to support Calvinism.

John 6:37, 39 All the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out...And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

John 6:64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And he was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."

Acts 13:48 ...and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Ephesians 1:4-5, 10 ...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will...also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of his will...

Romans 9:10-22 ...there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac. Although the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand (not because of works, but because of Him who calls) it was said to her, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.' So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?' On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction--and He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory?

Arminianism (named after theologian Arminius) holds that the reason all are not saved is that some freely choose to reject God. God gives the opportunity to be saved all people, but doesn't violate their free will by compelling them to be saved. God does choose beforehand who will be saved but he does so on the basis of foreknowledge; that is God decides who will be saved based on the free will choices he knows we will make. Thus, if anyone ends up in Hell, it is because they've chosen to be there. This view was also held by Erasmus (a Catholic theologian who had a famous debate with Martin Luther over this issue) is held by Methodist, Nazarene, and other Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church. Below are a few passages which seem to support Arminianism.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15 Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey Yahweh your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you today, Yahweh your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey Yahweh your God...But it shall come about, if you will not obey Yahweh your God, to observe to do all His commandments, and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you....

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity; and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving Yahweh your God by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him...

Joshua 24:15 And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.

Matt 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling...

John 3:14-16, 18-21 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life...He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.

John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life."

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son...

1 John 2:2 …and He Himself is the sacrificial offering for our sins; and for ours only, but also for those of the whole world./Revelation 22:17 ...and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.


CHRISTIANITY'S THREE MAIN BRANCHES


CATHOLICISM

PROTESTANTISM


THE ORTHODOX CHURCH (ALSO THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH)


TWO EARLY CRREDS

These two early creeds express beliefs shared, at least officially, by all Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox believers. Orthodox believers disagree with the part of the Nicene Creed inserted by the Roman church which says the Holy Spirit "proceeds" from the Son as well as the Father. This, along with a dispute about the authority of the Pope, caused the formal split between the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) Churches in 1054.

THE APOSTLE'S CREED (2nd Century)

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
   Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
  Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; Born of the Virgin Mary;
  Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead, and buried;
  He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead;
  He ascended into heaven,
  And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
  From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
  The holy catholic Church, The Communion of Saints;
  The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body;
  And the Life everlasting. Amen.

THE NICENE CREED (4th Century)

We believe in one God,
   the Father, the Almighty,
   maker of heaven and earth,
   of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
   the only son of God,
   eternally begotten of the Father,
   God from God, Light from Light,
   true God from true God,
   begotten, not made,
   of one being with the Father.
   Through him all things were made.
   For us and for our salvation
   he came down from heaven:
   by the power of the Holy Spirit
   he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
   and was made man.
   For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
   he suffered death and was buried.
   On the third day he rose again
   in accordance with the Scriptures;
   he ascended into heaven
   and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
   He will come again in glory
   to judge the living and the dead,
   and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
   who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
   With the Father and the Son
   he is worshipped and glorified.
   He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
   We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
   We look for the resurrection of the dead,
   and the life of the world to come. AMEN.