The Appearing of Christ and His Second Coming

The Appearing of Christ

I. What is the Hope of the Body of Christ?

Now that the Lord has come back and is present with us since 70 A.D., and the Lord had fulfilled all his prophecies written in his book, so everything is finished and fulfilled. That is why we call it “Fulfilled” or “Completed” theology.

Some people ask us, “If that is the case, then what is OUR HOPE?” “If the event that was hoped for by the saints in the Bible – called the Second Coming – had already happened, then we don’t no more hope”.

We answer that question by saying: Our hope is the appearing of Christ.

Isn’t the Second Coming of Christ (the parousia) the same as the appearing of Christ (the epiphaneia or manifestation of Christ)?

II. The Appearing Vs. The Second Coming.

1. The second coming and the appearing are two different things.

2. The coming of Christ is this – Christ “descends from heaven” (1 Thess 5:16). Christ from heaven to earth.

3. On the other hand, the appearing or manifestation of Christ is this – Christ does not descend from heaven, but is in heaven. He doesn’t come to us; we come to him – in heaven. We from earth to heaven. This is what Paul says as we shall “appear/manifest with Christ in glory” when he appears/manifests (Col 3:4).

4. Jesus Christ began his appearing when he was manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 1:10; Titus 2:11). Then he was to appear again during his second coming (1 Pet 1:7; 5:4; 1 John 2:28; 3:2).

5. And he is going to appear/manifest again in heaven for members of the Body of Christ (Col 3:4; Titus 2:13).

6. Every man at his own order. (1 Cor 15:23). We shall manifest with him in glory. He is in heaven. When we die, we go to heaven, where Christ is (Col 3:1). So there we will manifest with him. That is the appearing of Christ with the members of his body, the church.

The hope of the Body of Christ is not the second coming but the appearing of Christ.

III. We look for his appearing.

(We don’t wait, we look. The NIV uses “wait” but the KJV uses “look”. Looking is different from waiting.)

Philippians 3: 20-21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

Titus 2: 11 -13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”

Col 3: 1-4 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Prepared by:

Bishop Marthy C. Austria

H.U.G. of Christ Fellowship

Pleroma Bible Training Centre

www.houseundergrace.webs.com