A few years ago I preached in chapel at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on the second coming of Jesus. After surveying briefly Postmillennialism, Amillennialism, and Premillennialism, I walked through some Old Testament texts in Isaiah, Acts 1:6-11, and Revelation 19-20, showing why Christ’s second coming should be viewed as premillennial.
Here is the introduction, followed by a link to the sermon video.
Handel was a man in divine rhapsody. For twenty-five feverish days he was caught up as it were into the presence of God as he completed the most majestic piece of music called “the Messiah.” He allowed no visitors. He left food untouched. He went without sleep. He ranted, often incoherently, at his servants when they interrupted him. He so devoted himself to the task that people thought he was out of his mind. His servants would often peer into the room and see him weeping copiously as he put pen to paper. At the end of it all confided to a servant: “I did think I did see all of heaven open before me, and the great God himself.”
The crown jewel of Handel’s entire oratorio is the Hallelujah Chorus, taken directly from Revelation 11:15 and 19:6, and it has specifically to do with the 2nd coming of Christ.
Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdoms of this world is become the kingdoms of our Lord,
and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever.
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
In the entire NT, word “Hallelujah” is only used 4 times, and they all occur in Rev. 19:1-6 in preparation for the second coming of Jesus.
No fact is more established in Scripture than the 2nd coming. Prophets prophesied it in the OT. Jesus proclaimed it in the Gospels. Angels publicized it in Acts 1:11. The Church preached it in the epistles. Jesus pronounced it three times in Revelation 22:7,12,20 – “Behold, I come quickly.”
In the Old Testament, Jesus the Messiah is born to suffer, born to die, but born to reign when he comes again. The first and second coming are foretold in the OT. All prophecies concerning his first coming were fulfilled. All prophecies concerning his second coming will be fulfilled.
In the New Testament, over 300 verses in speak of the second coming of Christ. Thirteen of the 27 NT books speak explicitly of the second coming. The other 14 speak implicitly of it. Jesus spoke repeatedly about his second coming in his parables, the Olivet Discourse, and the Upper Room before his crucifixion in John 14:2-3 when he told the disciples: “I will come again.”
He came the first time with a star in the east. He is coming the second time as the bright and morning star. He came the first time as a helpless baby; He comes the second time as a conquering king. He came the first time riding a donkey. He comes the second time riding a white horse.
From the Mount of Olives he departed in Acts 1:11, and to the Mount of Olives he will return according to Zech. 14:4.
The key question concerning the second coming of Christ has to do with the timing of his return. Is it premillennial, postmillennial, or amillennial?
Watch the sermon here.
Dr. Allen, great sermon. I love your coments about the atonement in your interviews in some youtube channels. My question about the 2nd coming of Christ is about the well known theme of the rapture, that is extracted from 1 Tess 4:15-18. Is this correct, i mean, before the 2nd coming of Christ is going to be a rapture of the chuch? Is that event included in the premillennial view of the second coming of Christ? Greetings from Dominican Republic
Hello Dr. Allen. I´m willing to read your opinion about the subject i wrote of the heme of the rapture, that is extracted from 1 Tess 4:15-18. I´m a local pastor in Dominican Republic and our church is making a revision of things that as christians we should be clean, not only in escatological therms, but in other terms too like soteriology. I know that your agenda must be a little bit full, but if you could help in this topic it will be a great blessing.
Hello Dr. Allen. I hope youre doing well in this time where the word of God is giving us hope, faith and ligth in this time. I´m still waiting your opinion about the subject i wrote of the theme of the rapture 1 Tess 4:15-18. But, let me do the question in other form: if we think about the second coming of Christ as premillennial, theres a time of tributation for Israel and the church is not going to pass that period? Its this correct? I hope you can help about this. I heard again your preach and you didn´t mention about it, thats why i´m doing this question.