The Second Advent

PERSONAL AND VISIBLE

The second advent of Christ will be personal and visible. This proposition is sustained by a large amount of testimony from the highest authority. SEADV 3.1

1. The Son of God himself, when addressing his disciples upon the subject of his second advent, pointed forward to the generation that should witness the signs of that event in the sun, moon, and stars, and said, “They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30. See also Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; John 14:3. SEADV 3.2

2. Holy angels at his ascension made a most definite and decisive declaration relative to his personal and visible second advent. When Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, his disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven to catch the last glimpse of their Lord as he was taken up from them. And as a cloud was receiving him from their sight, “behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 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.” Acts 1:10, 11. The doctrine of the personal and visible appearing of our divine Lord here rests upon the veracity of the two holy ones in white, who testified that the same Jesus would return again from heaven, in like manner as he ascended up to heaven. And in agreement with these words of assurance are those of the Revelation: “Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him.” Revelation 1:7. SEADV 3.3

3. Paul testifies to the personal and visible second advent of Christ in language not to be misunderstood. “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. See also Titus 2:3; 1 John 3:4. SEADV 3.4