The Second Coming Of Christ

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< > Introduction Since the first edition of this book was written in 1954, many significant world events have occurred, which indicate that our Lord's return is near. Mt.24v33. Most Christians agree that we are living in the spiritually perilous last days. 2Tim.3v1. Sadly, most Christians are ignorant about prophetic truth, either because they have received almost no teaching about it, or have been incorrectly taught and misled on the subject. Many are also ignorant about the armoury of spiritual gifts that God has provided for His Church for the extremely dangerous events that precede Christ's return. This ignorance is particularly dangerous in the light of our Lord's many warnings to, “beware,” “watch and pray,” and “take heed.” Jesus warns us that the abounding iniquity of the last days will cause the “agape” love of many Christians to “wax cold.” Mt.24v12. Lk.17v33. 18v1-8. In 1Tim.4v1., Paul also warns us; “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” “Depart,” is “apostesontai,” the future middle of “aphistemi,” “to withdraw, to go away, or fall away, to become apostate.” See Lk.8v13. and Heb.3v12. In 2Thes.2v3., Paul uses the noun “apostasia,” which means “falling away, rebellion, apostasy,” to speak of the rebellion against God and apostasy caused by Antichrist's evil career. The folly of making a fact of judgement a rule for prophetic interpretation. Jehovah's Witnesses, and others, have made Num.14v34. Ez.4v6 and 2Pet.3v8., an excuse for changing the period of 1260 days in Rev.12v6., into a period of 1260 years, this is folly, for it makes a prophetic date meaningless, and has no warrant from Scripture. In Numb.14v34. and Ezek.4v6., the days are literal days, and the years are literal years. In 2Pet.3v8., Peter compares the many years of God's longsuffering with His tremendous judgements at Christ’s return, Peter is certainly not stating a principle of prophetic interpretation. Ezekiel's symbolic act in Ezek.4v4-9., was certainly not a divine principle of prophetic interpretation, those who say that it is, prove their inability to rightly interpret the Scriptures. Ezekiel performed a symbolic act of 430 days (390+40), which represented 430 years of past sin for which God had decreed judgement. Those who twist prophetic facts like this, do it to their own ruin and shame. 2Pet.3v16-18. In Numb.14v34., God states a fact of judgement, not a principle of prophetic interpretation; He decreed that the 40 literal days of unbelief and wandering would receive 40 literal years of judgement, until all those who were over 20 years of age had died in the wilderness. God had to prepare a new generation of believing hearts to conquer Canaan. Num.14v16,28-39. N.B.v29. The unbelief in the hearts of the people was produced by the carnality and idolatry that most Israelites had wilfully practised in Egypt, and which they were still guilty of practising in the wilderness according to Ezek.20v1-17. 23v3,8,19,27.. It was this wickedness that produced their evil heart of unbelief, and stopped them from entering Canaan. Heb.3v12,16-19. The folly of interpreting prophetic fact symbolically. To interpret the vital facts of the prophecy of our Lord in Mt.24., or any prophetic fact, as, “symbolical,” is to make nonsense of prophecy. People interpret prophetic facts symbolically, so that they can twist the facts, and make them mean what they desire. The literal interpretation must always be applied to a Scripture, before any figurative interpretation is attempted. God does use figurative language, symbols, or heavenly cartoons in the prophetic truth that He gives us in His Word, and He gives us great spiritual truth by these means. However, we should interpret prophetic truth, like any other Scriptural truth, the literal being interpreted as literal, and the symbolic as symbolic. When our Lord interpreted Dan.9v24-27. and 12v1-13., He interpreted them literally, as they were intended to be interpreted, and applied them to events concerning Jerusalem, Judea, and the Temple. The apostles had asked for prophetic facts, and the timing of those facts, Jesus gave them the literal facts and literal signs of His coming, not a confusing symbolic conundrum, muddle or maze. To make Mt.24., only apply to the Jews, is as dishonest an exposition as the symbolic interpretation put upon it by the Jehovah's Witnesses, and other false sects. It is a twisting and perversion of the Scriptures, which leaves the Church without any prophetic fact from the lips of Christ. A prophetic delusion is the only possible result from such a method of interpretation. 2Pet.3v16. 2Thes.2v11,12. Some have, incredibly, gone to Dan.4. for information on Christ’s second coming. This is total nonsense, for Dan.4v14,28-36., tells us that this was concerning Nebuchadnezzar, and was fulfilled in his time. No Scriptures about Christ’s second coming have any links with Dan.4. Jesus directed Christians to Dan.9v20-27. and 12v1-13. for information on His second coming, not to Dan.4.. The only reason that people do not follow Christ's pattern of exposition, is because His lucid exposition of the Scriptures does not fit in with their prophetic delusions. The final period of 3½ years mentioned in Dan.7v25. 9v27. and 12v6,7., exactly matches the prophetic time scale mentioned Rev.11v2,3. 12v6,14. and 13v5.; as the period of 1,260 days or 42 months, or a time, times and a half time. Our Lord intends us to take these lengths of time literally, as all prophetic times were to be taken literally in the past. Gen.15v13-16. Jer.25v12. with Ezra.1v1. and Dan.9v1,2.. In the book of Revelation, where God means years He says years. Rev.20v2-7. Note the other periods of time mentioned in Revelation, the “five months” of Rev.9v5,10., and the thirteen months of Rev.9v15.. If we don't interpret these times literally, we end in utter darkness. Jesus intends us to interpret these dates as literally as the other prophetic dates of Dan.9v20-29. If we take the year for a day theory and apply it to Rev.12v6,14., we are left with a period of 1260 years from Satan being cast out of the heavenly places and the heavens cleansed, to the coming of Christ, which is clearly complete nonsense. Rev.12v13,14. Our Lord's solemnly warns us that we must not misinterpret prophetic truth. Jesus gave solemn warnings in Rev.22v19,20., about the serious consequences of adding to, or taking from, His prophetic truth. He looks upon addition to, and subtraction from, prophetic truth, as serious error, not as a matter of opinion. After reading many books on prophecy, I have come to the conclusion that our Lord's solemn warnings about the consequences of misinterpreting His prophetic truth, have not been taken seriously. We need to remember that Paul handed over Hymenaeus and Alexander for execution for wrong doctrine on prophecy concerning the resurrection and second coming of Christ. Paul said that their wrong doctrine was blasphemy, and ate like a cancer or gangrene; their false doctrine had overthrown the faith of some Christians. 1Tim.1v18-20. 2Tim.2v15-19. James.3v1. Jesus informs us in Mt.24v48-51., that the pretribulation rapture theory will likewise overthrow the faith of some Christians; for they will look upon the seeming delay of their Lord's coming, as a denial of the fact of His coming, and as a result backslide from the faith and join with the worldlings in persecuting and beating those who were once their brothers and sisters in Christ. The perilous last days demand real spiritual preparation. Jesus warns us that we need to watch and pray and seek God for his spiritual armoury and a reserve of oil if we are to spiritually survive those evil times. Mt.24v44 to 25v13. Lk.18v1-8. 21v34-36. Christian leaders who teach that God's spiritual gifts to His Church have been withdrawn, and oppose and forbid their operation in their churches, are denying to Christ's Church the essential spiritual equipment that will enable Christians to survive the evil last days of this age. Jesus pronounced a “woe” upon teachers who take away “the key of knowledge,” and hinder people from having an experience of God and His gifts. Luke.11v52. James.3v1. The gifts of the Spirit give us power for service and confirm the truth of the Gospel; they are the cutting edge of New Testament evangelism. Rom.15v18-21. The Holy Spirit's devotional gifts help to sanctify Christians and build the fruit of the Spirit in them, and are a necessary and vital divine aid to communion with God. 1Cor.14v1-5,12-20,31. N.B. v4,18. Ps.68v18. God is preparing us for the great day of Christ's coming, His gifts build “agape” love in the Church. 1Cor.14v1-5,39,40. Heb.2v4. God is pouring out His Spirit upon all mankind, just as He promised to do before the great and terrible day of our Lord's return. Joel.2v11,28-32. Acts.2v16-21. In Joel.2v11,31., the word for “terrible,” in “the great and terrible day of His coming,” is “yaw-ray,” which means, “to fear, to put in fear, to fill with dread.” In Acts.2v20., "yah-ray,” is translated by the Greek adjective “epiphanes,” (only here in N. T.); and means “conspicuous, manifest, or notable” and comes from the verb “epiphaino,” “to shine upon, to give light, to become visible, to appear.” “Epiphaino” is used in connection with Christ's birth and first coming in Luke.1v79., and of Christ's coming to save us in Titus.2v11. and 3v4.. The noun “epiphaneia,” “a shining forth,” was used by the Greeks of the appearance of a god; it occurs six times in the New Testament, once concerning Christ's first coming in 2Tim.1v10.; and with Christ's second coming in 2Thes.2v8. 1Tim.6v14. 2Tim.4v1,8. and Titus.2v13.. Jesus has visited us and shone upon us in his triumphant redeeming humanity. As God the Word He will shine upon this world in the full glory and power of His majestic deity, and, with fierce righteous anger and justice, will cleanse creation of evil men and angels. Is.25v6-9. 34v1-8. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. 66v16. 2Thes.1v7-10. Rev.19v11 to 20v3.6. His second advent will be truly awesome and will produce overwhelming fear among worldly people. Jesus said men will swoon and be lifeless through fear, and will hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and cry for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from God the Father's face and the wrath of the Lamb. Lk.21v26. Rev.6v15-17. Paul warns us that this will be an awesome day even for Christians, for this is the day when the exam results of our lives are made known. Paul speaks in 2Cor.5v11., of “the fear of the Lord,” as the motivating force for godly living in the light of that great day; he tells us how he laboured and acted from honour to be well pleasing to Christ at His judgement throne. 1Cor.1v8. 3v10-17. 2Cor.1v14. 5v9-11. Phil.1v10. 2v13,14. 1Thes.5v2. This will be a truly blessed day for Christians who are walking with the Lord and love His appearing. 2Tim.4v8. Titus.2v13. Abiding in Jesus saves us from shame at His second coming. 1Jn.2v28. It was to be expected that the blessed hope of Christ's glorious return would be a subject of controversy among God's people, for prophecy has always resulted in controversy. Indeed, the Old Testament prophets were so controversial that most of them died for their prophecies. Do we stop preaching or discussing the truth of Christ's second coming because it is controversial? Of course not! All-important truth is controversial. On many occasions God the Father and Christ spoke strongly to God's people, and the false prophets among His people. Mt.23v13-39. Mk.3v5. In this study I have used strong words where I felt that I should do so. I have not done this because I enjoy controversy, but so that those who read this study may be informed and challenged to think about Christ’s second coming. I am concerned that Christians should be brought back to study the Scriptures, instead of accepting man-made theories without question. In Acts.17v10,11. the Bereans were called noble-minded when they received Paul's doctrine with all eagerness of mind; and continually, carefully and exactly searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul taught was true. “Searched” is “anakrinontes,” the present participle of “anakrino,” “to examine, to sift, to make careful and exact research as in legal processes.” Let us imitate them. W. H. Turner. July 14th. 1998. Revised again September 11th. 2003. PREFACE TO THIS FOURTH EDITION. It is certainly high time for Christ’s Church to awake out of sleep. The attempt to broker a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs, warns us that we are approaching the end of the age. Wars and rumours of wars, and catastrophic natural disasters, also inform us that our Lord’s return is near. Paul sums up the attitude that we should have in these last days in Rom.13v11-14. “Besides this knowing the critical hour and strategic season (“ton” 3588, “kairon” 2540, the critical period and strategic time, not “chronos” 5550, ordinary time), that it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (“egeiro” 1453). For now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. v12. The night is far spent, the day is almost here. Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour and weapons (“hopla” 3696) of light. v13. Let us walk (Paul uses "walk." “peripateo” 4043, 33 times) decently, becomingly, properly and honestly (“euschemonos” 2156), as in the day; not in rioting (“komois” 2970, plural "revellings.") and drunkenness (“methais” 3178, plural, "drunkennesses."); not in immorality (“koitais” 2845, plural) and wantonness (“aselgeiais” 766, plural); not in strife (“eris” 2054) and jealousy (“zeloo” 2205). v14. But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for indulging the flesh, to gratify its desires and lusts.” I here quote from my Preface to the Fifth Edition, of my book on, “The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” The world situation has become noticeably much darker, however, the ministry of Jesus through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is a complete answer to the gross evil that is in the world today. Gifts of healing and other mercy gifts, have a mighty and powerful evangelistic appeal, and today are bringing millions of people to accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. The protective and judgement gifts of God that were manifested in the lives of Moses, Elijah, and other prophets, and the New Testament apostles, are going to be indispensable in the last days of this age. The Two Witnesses of Rev.11v1-13., the last great prophets of this age, will manifest these gifts in their ministries, and stand resolute and invincible against the Antichrist and his armies for 1,260 days. They manifest the ultimate in gifts of judgement. The Christian group which is represented by the woman of Rev,12v1,2,6,14-17., experiences mighty gifts of supernatural transport, provision and protection, an army that tries to attack them suffers the same fate as the sons of Korah, the ground opens, and swallows them up. Numb.16v1-35. It is good to know that God has given to His Church the necessary Divine equipment to restrain and bring judgement upon militant godless religious groups, and unbelieving implacable secular authorities. We read in Acts.12v1-25., that after the apostle James was executed by Herod, the earnest prayers of the Christians brought about the miraculous release of Peter, and the death of Herod, God smote Herod, and he was eaten up by worms. We also read in Acts.13v6-12., that the judgement of God on Elymas the sorcerer brought a sense of awe on the people who saw it, and caused many to accept and believe in Jesus. Acts.13v6-12. The God of Moses and Elijah will manifest Himself in great acts of judgement on the irreconcilable wicked, and mighty acts of delivering and defensive power for His Christian Church in the last days of this age. We read in Is.28v21., that God’s acts of judgement are His “strange work” and His “alien task,” a God of love desires to give mercy gifts of love, blessing and healing, but in the last days, the great evil in the world and the oppression of mankind will make God’s judgement gifts both necessary and indispensable. The last days will culminate with the awesome judgement of the great day of God Almighty, when in one day God cleans up, and wipes out evil from the world. Ps.2v1-12. Is.24v19-24. 42v13-21. 63v1-6. Zech.12v8-10.13v8,9. 14v1-15. 2Thes.1v5-11. Rev.6v12-17. 16v20,21. 19v11-21. 20v7-15. 21v1-8. We read in the New King James Version of Isa.26v9. “With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” The Revised Standard Version translates Isa.26v9., “My soul yearns for thee in the night, and my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” Those who earnestly seek God can find that God’s justice and judgements are dispensed in the world through their prayers, and the gifts He has given. We rejoice that when our Lord Jesus returns His judgements will make the world a happy place to live in. This blissful state is recorded in Isa.32v1,16-18. “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. v16. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. v17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. v18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (KJV) In Rev .22v20. Jesus states, "Surely I am coming quickly.” “Surely,” is the strong affirmative “nai,” “Yes indeed! verily. Jesus promises that He will return quickly, “tachu,” 5035, without delay, soon, suddenly, speedily. Let us earnestly pray for that day and cry with all our hearts, like the apostle John, “Come Lord Jesus.” Until that day comes, let us seek our dear Lord Jesus for His precious gifts of both mercy and judgement, for they have been purchased for us through the shedding of His precious blood, and they have a vital part to play in the life of Christ’s Church in these last days. W. H. Turner. April 22nd. 2005. Added to and reformatted. July 18th. 2005 Rev.22v7. “And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.” (ASV) Rev.22v12-14. “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. v13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. v14. Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.” (ASV) See. Titus. 2v13. < >
The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin \| By His Stripes We Are Healed \| The Book Of Revelation \| The Second Coming Of Christ \| The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit \| The Comforter Is Come

Introduction

Since the first edition of this book was written in 1954, many significant world events have occurred, which indicate that our Lord's return is near. Mt.24v33. Most Christians agree that we are living in the spiritually perilous last days. 2Tim.3v1. Sadly, most Christians are ignorant about prophetic truth, either because they have received almost no teaching about it, or have been incorrectly taught and misled on the subject. Many are also ignorant about the armoury of spiritual gifts that God has provided for His Church for the extremely dangerous events that precede Christ's return. This ignorance is particularly dangerous in the light of our Lord's many warnings to, “beware,” “watch and pray,” and “take heed.” Jesus warns us that the abounding iniquity of the last days will cause the “agape” love of many Christians to “wax cold.” Mt.24v12. Lk.17v33. 18v1-8. In 1Tim.4v1., Paul also warns us; “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” “Depart,” is “apostesontai,” the future middle of “aphistemi,” “to withdraw, to go away, or fall away, to become apostate.” See Lk.8v13. and Heb.3v12. In 2Thes.2v3., Paul uses the noun “apostasia,” which means “falling away, rebellion, apostasy,” to speak of the rebellion against God and apostasy caused by Antichrist's evil career.

The folly of making a fact of judgement a rule for prophetic interpretation.
Jehovah's Witnesses, and others, have made Num.14v34. Ez.4v6 and 2Pet.3v8., an excuse for changing the period of 1260 days in Rev.12v6., into a period of 1260 years, this is folly, for it makes a prophetic date meaningless, and has no warrant from Scripture. In Numb.14v34. and Ezek.4v6., the days are literal days, and the years are literal years. In 2Pet.3v8., Peter compares the many years of God's longsuffering with His tremendous judgements at Christ’s return, Peter is certainly not stating a principle of prophetic interpretation. Ezekiel's symbolic act in Ezek.4v4-9., was certainly not a divine principle of prophetic interpretation, those who say that it is, prove their inability to rightly interpret the Scriptures. Ezekiel performed a symbolic act of 430 days (390+40), which represented 430 years of past sin for which God had decreed judgement. Those who twist prophetic facts like this, do it to their own ruin and shame. 2Pet.3v16-18.

In Numb.14v34., God states a fact of judgement, not a principle of prophetic interpretation; He decreed that the 40 literal days of unbelief and wandering would receive 40 literal years of judgement, until all those who were over 20 years of age had died in the wilderness. God had to prepare a new generation of believing hearts to conquer Canaan. Num.14v16,28-39. N.B.v29. The unbelief in the hearts of the people was produced by the carnality and idolatry that most Israelites had wilfully practised in Egypt, and which they were still guilty of practising in the wilderness according to Ezek.20v1-17. 23v3,8,19,27.. It was this wickedness that produced their evil heart of unbelief, and stopped them from entering Canaan. Heb.3v12,16-19.

The folly of interpreting prophetic fact symbolically.
To interpret the vital facts of the prophecy of our Lord in Mt.24., or any prophetic fact, as, “symbolical,” is to make nonsense of prophecy. People interpret prophetic facts symbolically, so that they can twist the facts, and make them mean what they desire. The literal interpretation must always be applied to a Scripture, before any figurative interpretation is attempted. God does use figurative language, symbols, or heavenly cartoons in the prophetic truth that He gives us in His Word, and He gives us great spiritual truth by these means. However, we should interpret prophetic truth, like any other Scriptural truth, the literal being interpreted as literal, and the symbolic as symbolic. When our Lord interpreted Dan.9v24-27. and 12v1-13., He interpreted them literally, as they were intended to be interpreted, and applied them to events concerning Jerusalem, Judea, and the Temple. The apostles had asked for prophetic facts, and the timing of those facts, Jesus gave them the literal facts and literal signs of His coming, not a confusing symbolic conundrum, muddle or maze. To make Mt.24., only apply to the Jews, is as dishonest an exposition as the symbolic interpretation put upon it by the Jehovah's Witnesses, and other false sects. It is a twisting and perversion of the Scriptures, which leaves the Church without any prophetic fact from the lips of Christ. A prophetic delusion is the only possible result from such a method of interpretation. 2Pet.3v16. 2Thes.2v11,12.

Some have, incredibly, gone to Dan.4. for information on Christ’s second coming. This is total nonsense, for Dan.4v14,28-36., tells us that this was concerning Nebuchadnezzar, and was fulfilled in his time. No Scriptures about Christ’s second coming have any links with Dan.4. Jesus directed Christians to Dan.9v20-27. and 12v1-13. for information on His second coming, not to Dan.4.. The only reason that people do not follow Christ's pattern of exposition, is because His lucid exposition of the Scriptures does not fit in with their prophetic delusions. The final period of 3½ years mentioned in Dan.7v25. 9v27. and 12v6,7., exactly matches the prophetic time scale mentioned Rev.11v2,3. 12v6,14. and 13v5.; as the period of 1,260 days or 42 months, or a time, times and a half time. Our Lord intends us to take these lengths of time literally, as all prophetic times were to be taken literally in the past. Gen.15v13-16. Jer.25v12. with Ezra.1v1. and Dan.9v1,2..

In the book of Revelation, where God means years He says years. Rev.20v2-7. Note the other periods of time mentioned in Revelation, the “five months” of Rev.9v5,10., and the thirteen months of Rev.9v15.. If we don't interpret these times literally, we end in utter darkness. Jesus intends us to interpret these dates as literally as the other prophetic dates of Dan.9v20-29. If we take the year for a day theory and apply it to Rev.12v6,14., we are left with a period of 1260 years from Satan being cast out of the heavenly places and the heavens cleansed, to the coming of Christ, which is clearly complete nonsense. Rev.12v13,14.

Our Lord's solemnly warns us that we must not misinterpret prophetic truth.
Jesus gave solemn warnings in Rev.22v19,20., about the serious consequences of adding to, or taking from, His prophetic truth. He looks upon addition to, and subtraction from, prophetic truth, as serious error, not as a matter of opinion. After reading many books on prophecy, I have come to the conclusion that our Lord's solemn warnings about the consequences of misinterpreting His prophetic truth, have not been taken seriously. We need to remember that Paul handed over Hymenaeus and Alexander for execution for wrong doctrine on prophecy concerning the resurrection and second coming of Christ. Paul said that their wrong doctrine was blasphemy, and ate like a cancer or gangrene; their false doctrine had overthrown the faith of some Christians. 1Tim.1v18-20. 2Tim.2v15-19. James.3v1. Jesus informs us in Mt.24v48-51., that the pretribulation rapture theory will likewise overthrow the faith of some Christians; for they will look upon the seeming delay of their Lord's coming, as a denial of the fact of His coming, and as a result backslide from the faith and join with the worldlings in persecuting and beating those who were once their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The perilous last days demand real spiritual preparation. Jesus warns us that we need to watch and pray and seek God for his spiritual armoury and a reserve of oil if we are to spiritually survive those evil times. Mt.24v44 to 25v13. Lk.18v1-8. 21v34-36. Christian leaders who teach that God's spiritual gifts to His Church have been withdrawn, and oppose and forbid their operation in their churches, are denying to Christ's Church the essential spiritual equipment that will enable Christians to survive the evil last days of this age. Jesus pronounced a “woe” upon teachers who take away “the key of knowledge,” and hinder people from having an experience of God and His gifts. Luke.11v52. James.3v1. The gifts of the Spirit give us power for service and confirm the truth of the Gospel; they are the cutting edge of New Testament evangelism. Rom.15v18-21. The Holy Spirit's devotional gifts help to sanctify Christians and build the fruit of the Spirit in them, and are a necessary and vital divine aid to communion with God. 1Cor.14v1-5,12-20,31. N.B. v4,18. Ps.68v18. God is preparing us for the great day of Christ's coming, His gifts build “agape” love in the Church. 1Cor.14v1-5,39,40. Heb.2v4. God is pouring out His Spirit upon all mankind, just as He promised to do before the great and terrible day of our Lord's return. Joel.2v11,28-32. Acts.2v16-21.

In Joel.2v11,31., the word for “terrible,” in “the great and terrible day of His coming,” is “yaw-ray,” which means, “to fear, to put in fear, to fill with dread.” In Acts.2v20., "yah-ray,” is translated by the Greek adjective “epiphanes,” (only here in N. T.); and means “conspicuous, manifest, or notable” and comes from the verb “epiphaino,” “to shine upon, to give light, to become visible, to appear.” “Epiphaino” is used in connection with Christ's birth and first coming in Luke.1v79., and of Christ's coming to save us in Titus.2v11. and 3v4.. The noun “epiphaneia,” “a shining forth,” was used by the Greeks of the appearance of a god; it occurs six times in the New Testament, once concerning Christ's first coming in 2Tim.1v10.; and with Christ's second coming in 2Thes.2v8. 1Tim.6v14. 2Tim.4v1,8. and Titus.2v13.. Jesus has visited us and shone upon us in his triumphant redeeming humanity. As God the Word He will shine upon this world in the full glory and power of His majestic deity, and, with fierce righteous anger and justice, will cleanse creation of evil men and angels. Is.25v6-9. 34v1-8. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. 66v16. 2Thes.1v7-10. Rev.19v11 to 20v3.6. His second advent will be truly awesome and will produce overwhelming fear among worldly people. Jesus said men will swoon and be lifeless through fear, and will hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and cry for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from God the Father's face and the wrath of the Lamb. Lk.21v26. Rev.6v15-17. Paul warns us that this will be an awesome day even for Christians, for this is the day when the exam results of our lives are made known. Paul speaks in 2Cor.5v11., of “the fear of the Lord,” as the motivating force for godly living in the light of that great day; he tells us how he laboured and acted from honour to be well pleasing to Christ at His judgement throne. 1Cor.1v8. 3v10-17. 2Cor.1v14. 5v9-11. Phil.1v10. 2v13,14. 1Thes.5v2. This will be a truly blessed day for Christians who are walking with the Lord and love His appearing. 2Tim.4v8. Titus.2v13. Abiding in Jesus saves us from shame at His second coming. 1Jn.2v28.

It was to be expected that the blessed hope of Christ's glorious return would be a subject of controversy among God's people, for prophecy has always resulted in controversy. Indeed, the Old Testament prophets were so controversial that most of them died for their prophecies. Do we stop preaching or discussing the truth of Christ's second coming because it is controversial? Of course not! All-important truth is controversial. On many occasions God the Father and Christ spoke strongly to God's people, and the false prophets among His people. Mt.23v13-39. Mk.3v5. In this study I have used strong words where I felt that I should do so. I have not done this because I enjoy controversy, but so that those who read this study may be informed and challenged to think about Christ’s second coming. I am concerned that Christians should be brought back to study the Scriptures, instead of accepting man-made theories without question. In Acts.17v10,11. the Bereans were called noble-minded when they received Paul's doctrine with all eagerness of mind; and continually, carefully and exactly searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul taught was true. “Searched” is “anakrinontes,” the present participle of “anakrino,” “to examine, to sift, to make careful and exact research as in legal processes.” Let us imitate them.
W. H. Turner. July 14th. 1998. Revised again September 11th. 2003.

PREFACE TO THIS FOURTH EDITION.
It is certainly high time for Christ’s Church to awake out of sleep.
The attempt to broker a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs, warns us that we are approaching the end of the age. Wars and rumours of wars, and catastrophic natural disasters, also inform us that our Lord’s return is near.

Paul sums up the attitude that we should have in these last days in Rom.13v11-14.
“Besides this knowing the critical hour and strategic season (“ton” 3588, “kairon” 2540, the critical period and strategic time, not “chronos” 5550, ordinary time), that it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (“egeiro” 1453). For now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. v12. The night is far spent, the day is almost here. Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour and weapons (“hopla” 3696) of light. v13. Let us walk (Paul uses "walk." “peripateo” 4043, 33 times) decently, becomingly, properly and honestly (“euschemonos” 2156), as in the day; not in rioting (“komois” 2970, plural "revellings.") and drunkenness (“methais” 3178, plural, "drunkennesses."); not in immorality (“koitais” 2845, plural) and wantonness (“aselgeiais” 766, plural); not in strife (“eris” 2054) and jealousy (“zeloo” 2205). v14. But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for indulging the flesh, to gratify its desires and lusts.”

I here quote from my Preface to the Fifth Edition, of my book on, “The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
The world situation has become noticeably much darker, however, the ministry of Jesus through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is a complete answer to the gross evil that is in the world today. Gifts of healing and other mercy gifts, have a mighty and powerful evangelistic appeal, and today are bringing millions of people to accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

The protective and judgement gifts of God that were manifested in the lives of Moses, Elijah, and other prophets, and the New Testament apostles, are going to be indispensable in the last days of this age. The Two Witnesses of Rev.11v1-13., the last great prophets of this age, will manifest these gifts in their ministries, and stand resolute and invincible against the Antichrist and his armies for 1,260 days. They manifest the ultimate in gifts of judgement. The Christian group which is represented by the woman of Rev,12v1,2,6,14-17., experiences mighty gifts of supernatural transport, provision and protection, an army that tries to attack them suffers the same fate as the sons of Korah, the ground opens, and swallows them up. Numb.16v1-35.

It is good to know that God has given to His Church the necessary Divine equipment to restrain and bring judgement upon militant godless religious groups, and unbelieving implacable secular authorities. We read in Acts.12v1-25., that after the apostle James was executed by Herod, the earnest prayers of the Christians brought about the miraculous release of Peter, and the death of Herod, God smote Herod, and he was eaten up by worms. We also read in Acts.13v6-12., that the judgement of God on Elymas the sorcerer brought a sense of awe on the people who saw it, and caused many to accept and believe in Jesus. Acts.13v6-12. The God of Moses and Elijah will manifest Himself in great acts of judgement on the irreconcilable wicked, and mighty acts of delivering and defensive power for His Christian Church in the last days of this age.

We read in Is.28v21., that God’s acts of judgement are His “strange work” and His “alien task,” a God of love desires to give mercy gifts of love, blessing and healing, but in the last days, the great evil in the world and the oppression of mankind will make God’s judgement gifts both necessary and indispensable. The last days will culminate with the awesome judgement of the great day of God Almighty, when in one day God cleans up, and wipes out evil from the world. Ps.2v1-12. Is.24v19-24. 42v13-21. 63v1-6. Zech.12v8-10.13v8,9. 14v1-15. 2Thes.1v5-11. Rev.6v12-17. 16v20,21. 19v11-21. 20v7-15. 21v1-8.

We read in the New King James Version of Isa.26v9. “With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” The Revised Standard Version translates Isa.26v9., “My soul yearns for thee in the night, and my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” Those who earnestly seek God can find that God’s justice and judgements are dispensed in the world through their prayers, and the gifts He has given.

We rejoice that when our Lord Jesus returns His judgements will make the world a happy place to live in. This blissful state is recorded in Isa.32v1,16-18. “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. v16. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. v17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. v18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (KJV)

In Rev .22v20. Jesus states, "Surely I am coming quickly.” “Surely,” is the strong affirmative “nai,” “Yes indeed! verily. Jesus promises that He will return quickly, “tachu,” 5035, without delay, soon, suddenly, speedily. Let us earnestly pray for that day and cry with all our hearts, like the apostle John, “Come Lord Jesus.” Until that day comes, let us seek our dear Lord Jesus for His precious gifts of both mercy and judgement, for they have been purchased for us through the shedding of His precious blood, and they have a vital part to play in the life of Christ’s Church in these last days.
W. H. Turner. April 22nd. 2005. Added to and reformatted. July 18th. 2005

Rev.22v7. “And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.” (ASV)
Rev.22v12-14. “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. v13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. v14. Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.” (ASV) See. Titus. 2v13.

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