Bible Study Seattle

When most Christians think of the second coming, they probably think of a dramatic day where Jesus suddenly appears in the clouds and in short order destroys the bad guys and saves the good. While there is truth in this view, it is our view that the second coming will have at least three major phases: The first stealthy phase where, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed;” Luke 17:20 The second phase is when Joseph [Jesus] reveals himself to his brothers, “Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  Then he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it.  And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified in his presence.” Genesis 45:1-3 The third is at the Day of Atonement, when “Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoils taken from you will be divided among you.  For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city.  Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.  On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south.  And you will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!” Zechariah 14:1-5

Notice that at the revealing of Joseph to his brothers, the Egyptians heard about it. The world will hear about Jesus revealing himself to the Jews. Then they will let the Jews live in the best part of the land. Later, as they multiply, a new king will arise that will try to exterminate the Jews. This will lead to the battle of Armageddon. This will be Israel’s second Red Sea moment, except Jesus will save them rather than Moses. Then, “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

Following the first 500 years ‘evening’ portion of Christ’s millennium follows the 500 years of ‘morning’. This is the glorious phase of Christ’s 1,000 year reign. “But for you who fear My name, the sun [son?] of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.” Malachi 4:2