A non-apocalyptic analysis of the Biblical verses about the last days. When, how, why and where the messiah will come

2. What will happen in the last days?

4. Biblical language is often metaphorical “ In the belly of a whale” “ In a right pickle”

5. Creation Last Days Formation Growth Completion Attempts to Restore the World “ God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people… I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.’” Genesis 6:13 God Satan Noah

6. Creation Last Days Formation Growth Completion Attempts to Restore the World “ The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 God Satan Noah Jesus

7. Creation Last Days Formation Growth Completion Attempts to Restore the World God Satan Noah Jesus Second Coming

8. 1.1 Earth destroyed, new Earth created The heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. II Peter 3:12-13 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation 21:1

10. 1.3 Satan’s sovereignty replaced by God’s sovereignty Old Earth Satan’s dominion New Earth God’s dominion

11. 2.1 Judgment by fire “ Fire…was hurled down upon the earth. The earth was burned up…” II Peter 3:12 The earth remains forever . Ecclesiastes 1:4

13. 3.1 Meeting the Lord in the air “ We shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” I Thessalonians 4:17

14. Heaven Earth Good Near to God Evil Far from God Through the Messiah fallen people are ‘Lifted up’ Matthew 6:9 Colossians 3:2 3.2 Meeting the Lord in the air

15. Meaning of the “Last Days” End of Satan’s dominion and beginning of God’s dominion End of evil history and beginning of good history A time of dramatic change and hope

16. Last Days – turning point of history Evil Goodness End of Evil Eternity Messiah

17. How will Christ return?

18. The second coming of Elijah Elijah (circa 864 BC) Goes to Heaven in a ‘Fiery Chariot’ ‘ Second Coming’ as John the Baptist (Working with John, who inherits his mission) Luke 1:17 Matthew 11:13-14 Matthew 17:10-13

19. In what manner will Christ return? Born on earth? Come on the clouds?

20. Born on earth? Expectations about the first coming Born on earth? JESUS But you, O Bethlehem . . . from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel . . . Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has given birth. (The ‘First Coming’) Micah 5:2

21. Expectations about the first coming Born on earth? JESUS Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

22. Come on the Clouds? Expectations about the first coming Come on the clouds? JESUS I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. Daniel 7:13

23. Expectations about the first coming Born on earth? Come on the clouds? JESUS Jesus – born on Earth There is no idea in Judaism that the messiah should come twice

24. Born on earth? In what manner will Christ return? Born on Earth? Second Coming She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Revelation 12:5

25. Come on the Clouds? In what manner will Christ return? Come on the clouds? Second Coming Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of man. And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30

26. In what manner will Christ return? Come on the clouds? Second Coming The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command . . . and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

27. What do clouds represent? Metaphorical Biblical language: Clouds = crowd Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . Hebrews 12:1

28. What does water represent? Metaphorical Biblical language: Water = fallen people And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. Revelation 17:15

29. Who are the clouds? Metaphorical Biblical language: Clouds = water vapour = pure people Heb. 12:1 “clouds” = resurrected believers Rev. 17:15 “water” = fallen people

30. Why will the messiah be born on earth as a man again? God’s will is eternal, unchanging and absolute Adam and Eve were supposed to fulfil the Three Blessings but fell Jesus came as the Second Adam restore Adam’s failure, destroy evil and establish the Kingdom of Heaven by fulfiling the Three Blessings The messiah will come as the Third Adam to complete Jesus’s work of establishing God’s Kingdom by fulfiling the Three Blessings

33. Where will Christ return?

34. Will Christ return to the same Israel? “ Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” Matthew 21:33-34 The messiah will be born in a Christian nation “ God is able from these very stones to raise up children to Abraham.” Matthew 3:9

35. The last four hundred years Germany Martin Luther 1517 Karl Marx 1848 Britain America Korea Russia China Travels WEST Travels EAST Free market Liberal Democracy Protestantism Communism Totalitarianism State control