‘Where do you get this idea of a ‘second coming’ from? Was it because Jesus did not succeed the first time that he’s got to have another go? It doesn’t say anything in the Bible about the Messiah coming twice.’ This was the response of a Jewish man I was speaking to when I said that there would be no peace in the world until Jesus comes back again.
Maybe he had been reading a book by Rabbi Kaplan, ‘The Real Messiah?’ which states: ‘
The main task of the Messiah was to bring the world back to God and to abolish all war, suffering and injustice from the world. Clearly, Jesus did not accomplish this. In order to get around this failure on the part of Jesus, Christians invented the doctrine of the ‘Second Coming’. All the prophecies that Jesus did not fulfil the first time are supposed to be taken care of the second time around. However the Jewish Bible offers absolutely no evidence to support the Christian doctrine of a ‘Second Coming.’
Rabbi Kaplan – The Real Messiah?
Actually the Jewish Bible (Tenach / Old Testament) does support the idea of the Messiah coming in two different ways. This is reflected in rabbinic writings which speak of Messiah ben (son of) Joseph who suffers and is humiliated as Joseph was at the hands of his brothers and Messiah ben David who reigns and is exalted as King David was. In his book ‘The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah’ David Baron, an Orthodox Jew who came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, wrote:
‘The doctrine or theory of two Messiahs – a Messiah ben Joseph who should suffer and die and a Messiah ben David who shall reign in power – can be traced back to the third or fourth century AD and very probably originated in the perplexity of the Talmudists at the apparently irreconcilable pictures of a suffering and yet a glorious Messiah, which they found in the scriptures. Instead of finding a solution in two comings of the one person they explained the scriptures as referring to two different persons.’
David Baron – The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah
The prophecies in the Tenach concerning the Messiah and the end of days do appear to be saying contradictory things. For example the Prophet Isaiah alone presents the following difficulties. Chapter 2 speaks of Messiah reigning with power from Jerusalem, all nations going to hear the word of the Lord and as a result living in peace together. Chapter 53 speaks of Messiah being despised and rejected of men, having our iniquities laid on him, when he is cut off from the land of the living, executed with transgressors, buried and yet living to see the ‘travail of his soul.’ Chapter 11 speaks of the future condition on the earth associated with the end of days when the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, returning to conditions of paradise with even the animals being vegetarian and not devouring each other. Chapter 24 speaks of the future condition also associated with the end of days in which the earth is devastated, cities are destroyed and people scorched with few survivors.
A similar pattern can be found in other prophecies of the Messiah. In rabbinic writings we find another attempt to explain the apparent contradiction between verses which speak of the Messiah coming in glory or in humiliation:
‘Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi noted the apparent contradiction in the following two verses. It is written: ‘… and behold one like a son of man (Moshiach / Messiah) comes with the clouds of heaven’ (Daniel 7.13). But it also says: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king shall come to you, righteous and saviour is he, a pauper and riding on an ass’ (Zechariah 9.9). The verses may be reconciled: If they are worthy, Moshiach will appear with the clouds. If not, he will be a pauper and ride on an ass.’ (Talmud – Sukkoth 52a).
In other words how the Messiah appears depends on the spiritual condition of the generation when he comes.
A better explanation of this contradiction is to recognise that these verses do not speak of two different Messiahs or of the condition of the people who are alive at the time of the Messiah, but of one Messiah who comes on two different occasions with two different purposes. This points to Jesus as the Messiah who has already come to fulfil the prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and who will come again to fulfil the prophecy of the Reigning King (Isaiah 2.1-4).
Far from failing when He came the first time, Jesus succeeded 100% in fulfilling the clear and specific prophecies of the Suffering Servant.
- He came by virgin birth (prophesied by Isaiah 7.14, fulfilled in Matthew 1.18-25)
- to be born in Bethlehem (prophesied by Micah 5.2, fulfilled in Matthew 2.1-12).
- He performed miracles (prophesied in Isaiah 61.1, fulfilled in Matthew 9.35)
- and taught in parables (prophesied in Psalm 78.2, fulfilled in Matthew 13.34).
- He was put to death by crucifixion (prophesied in Psalm 22.16 and Zechariah 12.10, fulfilled in Luke 23.33),
- buried in a rich man’s tomb (prophesied in Isaiah 53.9 fulfilled in Matthew 27.57-60)
- and rising again from the dead (prophesied in Psalm 16.10-11, fulfilled in Luke 24.5-6).
- He would die as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53.6, 1 Corinthians 15.3-5)
- and this message would be preached to people all over the world (Isaiah 45.22-23, Matthew 28.18-20).
- His sacrificial death for the sins of the world would take place before the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 (Daniel 9.26, Luke 19.41-44).
The prophecies which are unfulfilled now will be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus as the New Testament makes clear. It is logical to believe that Jesus will succeed 100% in accomplishing all of the following events which will take place at His second coming.
This event will be preceded by a time of unparalleled trouble
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time.
Daniel 12.1
New Testament parallel:
For then there will be great tribulation such as has never been since the beginning of the world until this time, no nor ever shall be.
Matthew 24.21
The focal point of this time of trouble will be Jerusalem
And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.
Zechariah 12.3
New Testament parallel:
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then know that its desolation is near. … Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 21.20-24
The world will come under the power of the beast in the last days
The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces … He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law; Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
Daniel 7.23-25
New Testament parallel:
And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns and on his head a blasphemous name … And all the world marvelled and worshipped the beast … And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for forty two months … And it was granted him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation.
Revelation 13
All nations will be gathered for the final battle
Assemble and come all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause your mighty ones to come down there, O Lord. Let the nations be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat’ [Hebrew word means ‘The Lord judges’].
Joel 3.11-16
New Testament parallel:
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to battle of that great day of God Almighty. … And they gathered them together in the place called in Hebrew Armageddon.
Revelation 16.14-16
Messiah will come in the clouds of heaven
I was watching in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven!
Daniel 7.13
New Testament parallel:
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24.30
Messiah will be visible as one who has been pierced
And I will pour on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on me whom they pierced and mourn for him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for him as one grieves for a first born.
Zechariah 12.10
New Testament parallel:
Behold he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even they who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him.
Revelation 1.7
Messiah will come to the Mount of Olives
Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as he fights in the day of battle. And his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which faces Jerusalem on the east.
Zechariah 14.2-3
New Testament parallel:
“Men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet.
Acts 1.11-12
Messiah will come with the saints
Thus the Lord my God will come and all the saints with you.
Zechariah 14.5
New Testament parallel:
Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints [‘Saints’ in the Bible means all who are saved believers in the Lord].
Jude 1.14
The wicked will flee from the coming of the Lord
In that day a man will cast away his idols … to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the crags of the rugged rocks from the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.
Isaiah 2.20-21
New Testament parallel:
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.”
Revelation 6.15-6
The Lord will establish righteousness and peace on the earth
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 2.2-4
New Testament parallel:
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years … so that he should deceive the nations no more … Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Messiah and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20.1-6 (extracts)
Israel will be saved and blessed of the Lord in the midst of the nations
In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless saying, “Blessed is Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel my inheritance.
Isaiah 19.24-25
New Testament parallel:
And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come out of Zion and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Romans 11.26-7
Following the Millennial reign of Messiah on earth, God will create new heavens and a new earth
For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me,’ says the Lord so shall your descendants and your name remain.
Isaiah 66.22
New Testament parallel:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. … And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God.”
Revelation 21.1-4 (extracts)