The Second Coming of Christ: Where Do You Stand?

Years ago when I was taking a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, my eight professors in this field agreed on several philosophical assumptions. They agreed that homo sapiens evolved out of primeval life organisms over the course of millions of years. They agreed that Darwin wrote the Bible of evolutionary biology in his book On the Origin of Species. They agreed, when I asked each one, that there is no God, no Christ, and no Second Coming.

This was difficult for me to hear as a new Christian. I believed that the Holy Bible possesses far greater wisdom for human living than the Origin of Species does. I experienced Jesus Christ as a Person dear to my heart. And I had faith in the New Testament proclamation, including Jesus' own testimony, that Christ would return at the end of human history to judge the living and the dead (John 5:28-29).

It was even difficult for me to sort out the facts of scientific findings in zoology, embryology, molecular biology, and genetics from the philosophy of scientific materialism, a perspective that says the Earth and the Cosmos will keep evolving forever, even if the human species becomes extinct.

The problem with this secular philosophy is that with no meaningful end to human history, there is no meaning along the way. Contrast this bleak perspective to the biblical witness that Jesus Christ will return to earth and gather those whom he redeemed on the cross. This will be a "royal visit," his "appearing" and "coming" (Greek: parousia).

We can't comprehend the full glory of Christ's return to this world, but Christians know it will bring us greater concreteness to the Holy Spirit's power and the Father's love than we are already experiencing. The Savior's second advent will be personal and physical (Mt 24:44; Acts 1:11; Col 3:4; Heb 9:28). And visible to all people (Mark 8:38; 2 Thess 1:10; Rev 1:7). 

Whereas demons trembled with fear at Jesus' first coming, Christians will tremble with joy at his second coming. In fact, the great watershed between those persons who love Christ's appearing and those who despise it will be whether they bow before Him in loving surrender or cringe in His presence with hateful rejection. 

Either way, Jesus comes to end history as we presently know it, one that is filled with tragedy and adversity. He will raise the dead and judge the world. He will usher in a transfigured Heaven/Earth suited for everlasting life in resurrected bodies like Jesus has. 

Yes, we will be the same persons who lived on Earth, whether in ancient civilizations or in the modern world. For it is the same God who created us in His image who will fill us with His glory. We'll be well-equipped for new personal adventures in Christ, brimming with excitement, new chapters written beyond the reach of sin, pain, and death.

We Christians can view our own eventual death as an appointment for intimacy with God and others that will never end—as real as this world, but infinitely more cherished.

And what of those who would scoff at the Second Coming with a superiority complex born of modern scientific materialism? Their heads will bow in silent deference to the King of Glory whom they must obey, even though they reject Him.