The Second Coming in 2 Timothy
Four dimensions of Christ’s return found in 2 Timothy are, the judgment, the resurrection, the appearing of Christ, and the eternal kingdom. “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.”
The Coming of the Lord was Imminent
One of the most important issues involved in a study of the Lord’s return is that of time. The above English rendering dilutes the force of the original language.
Here, it expresses a simple future. In the original, the writer speaks more precisely regarding time. He uses the world “mellontos” which means “about to be.”
In other words, the text more literally reads, that Christ was “about to” come within their lifetime.This fits perfectly with statements made both by Christ and his apostles concerning the nearness of his return.
The Lord promised that the first century generation would yet be alive when he returned. “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled,”(Matt. 24:34)
Imminent Coming Consistently Taught by the Apostles
Secondly, the apostles likewise spoke of an imminent return of Christ. They used terms indicating near proximity in their day not ours.
The commonly used words of the apostles were “at hand, (Rom. 13:11-12, Phil. 4:5; 1 Peter 4:17, James 5:7-8; Rev. 1:1, 3. Other terms were “in a very little while,” (Heb. 10:37), and shortly to come to pass,(Rev. 1:1; 22:6, 10). This language of imminence has so baffled commentators and scholars that many of them claimed that Christ and his apostles were mistaken.
God does not lie. He cannot. (Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18) The problem demonstrates man’s failure and unwillingness to properly exegete (interpret) Bible prophecy.
The many failures of futurist predictions such as Edgar Whisenant’s ” 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988,” should give considerably pause to all future date setters. According to the Lord and the apostles, the dates are pointing in the wrong direction.
Imminence Applies to All Particulars of Christ’s Return
The matter of imminence governs each aspect of end time prophecy. The statement of 2 Timothy 4:1, addresses the judgment, resurrection of the dead, the appearing or Parousia (presence) of Christ and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom.
Since these matter were “about to” occur, “at hand,” imminent and “shortly to come to pass” in the first century they demand that we look back in history rather than with speculative eyes in the future.
William Bell is the author of The Re-Examination, A Study of the Lord’s Second Coming. He also speaks regularly in Bible prophecy seminars, workshops and teleconferences. For more info visit: http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com
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