The Two Advents Of Christ

The Two Advents Series – Lesson 1

1. Introduction

Luke 1:1-4

(1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

(2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

(3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

(4) That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

This passage directs us to

Things we believe

Things we surely believe

Things we most surely believe

Things we know

I want to take the first two texts and use them by way of introduction.

It Is the Truth Regarding Jesus That Inspires All Prophecy

Revelation 19:10

I often use this verse as an introduction for any series of Bible studies regarding the second Coming, or the first Coming of Jesus.

(10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: (now here are the wonderful words) for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

That last phrase translated in the Knox translation, is better than any I found – It is the truth regarding Jesus that Inspires all prophecy. The more I meditate on that, the more blessed it becomes. It is the truth regarding Jesus that is the Inspiration, the impact, of all prophecy.

There is a Scripture in Timothy that says Christ is our Hope. Praise God. My hope is not in a thing. My hope is in a Person. And that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. And it is that Person who Inspires all of the prophetic Scripture. And so, that is the basis on which I want to build.

It Shall Turn To You for A Testimony

There is one other reason for studying prophecy. There are many, but we shall turn to Luke.

Luke 21:10-13

It is verse 13 that I want to apply, and I would like you to make use of it, and remember that it is in Scripture. And while I am thinking about that, there is another Scripture that I am going to make reference to in the book of Peter.

There is a principle here that has become an experience with me, and I think it can become an experience with any Christian who will give himself to knowing what is in the Bible in these days in which we live.

Luke 21:10-13

(10) Then said he (Jesus) unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

(11) And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

(12) But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

Now note this:

(13) And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

I am applying those wonderful words. What is happening in the world can turn to the individual believer for an open door of testimony.

Now, I want to read 1 Peter 3. I think this illustrates what I am trying to say, better than I can say it any other way.

1 Peter 3:15

(15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

You will never do that without a knowledge of the Book. You will never sanctify the Lord God in your heart unless you stay close to the Bible.

and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Do you notice how this is backward to how we think? I used to persecute myself, and I really mean that. Thirty years ago, when I wouldn’t witness to somebody, I’d get under such condemnation that I couldn’t witness. Do you know anything about it? I had that feeling that I had to talk to everybody and open the door. I remember what Brother Marshal used to say: “If you open the door sometimes it’s ajar. But if the Lord opens the door, it’s open.” Do you get the difference? When you do it, it is ajar, but when the Lord does it, it is an open door.

Here Peter says, sanctify the Lord God and be ready to answer, not to those that you go and knock on the door, but to those who ask you. I’ll tell you, it is easier to testify to someone who asks you:

“What’s different about you?”

“How come you aren’t upset?”

“How come you are not all concerned about the price of gasoline?”

“How come it didn’t upset you that bread has gone up in price?”

It shouldn’t upset us. Jesus said, “I’m going to tell you what is going to happen, but see that you be not troubled.” Jesus said, “I’m going to tell you what’s ahead, but don’t be upset. Let not your heart be troubled.”

And so, you appear to a man in the world, and if you have sanctified the Lord God, they know there is a difference. And you won’t have to ask them, they will ask you. You are living in a world that is wide open for Christian testimony. And if you know what is in the Bible regarding the signs of the times, it shall turn to you for a testimony. Isn’t that precious! You won’t have to make it a testimony, it will turn to you. I’ll use one illustration of how this works.

Illustration

I was in Kamloops. The paper had advertised that I was preaching on Bible prophecy. We were going to talk about a coming world tribulation, a coming world government, a coming world leader, a coming world church, a coming world war, and a coming world peace. That was my series; and it was in the newspaper.

I arrived on Sunday. On Monday night I had just arrived at the church, and the phone rang. One of the high school teachers in the town of Kamloops was asking Pastor MacKenzie if this strange preacher would go and speak to his students; and so, on Wednesday at 8:30 in the morning, I had the privilege in Kamloops high school of sitting with 35 grade twelve students in a circular fashion around me. The teacher asked me to talk to the next class; and so, at 12:30 I had another group. I talked to 71 people in Kamloops; to strangers, with a teacher I never saw before, who was not a Christian; and it turned to me for a testimony.

After I talked to those students I thought I’d be on the “hot seat.” I’d wondered how they would treat me, but I’ll never forget as long as I live what happened. I talked for seventy minutes to each class, and after seventy minutes of talking to these students, I thought they would be making fun of what I said out of the Bible. But after speaking, the teacher said, “Have you any questions?” He addressed the students, and this one girl, sitting off to my left, looked me straight in the face and she said, “Sir, have you got peace in your heart?” What a wonderful question! And you know what I had to do. All I had to do was give my personal testimony. It turned to me for a testimony. And if that can happen to me, that can happen to you.

Things are happening in the world today that God intended would open the door for us to testify, really without effort. You don’t have to struggle to do it, all you have to do is know the Bible so that you can bear a good testimony to those who ask you – the reason of the hope that is in you.

If you didn’t believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, you wouldn’t have a hope to talk about. This world is like a sinking ship. I usually say, “I’m not in a popularity contest anyway, so if I do lose a few, I can’t help it.” I’m not with the socialists who are trying to better this world and make it a better place in which to live.

I think it is time we Christians awaken to the fact that this world is a sinking ship. There are some people out trying to patch the boat. I’m not trying to patch the boat. The world is a sinking ship, and all I can do is help save some of the crew. I’m trying to save some of the crew that is on the ship. The only One that can save the ship is the Ship Master. And the Ship Master is the Lord Jesus Himself. One of these days He is going to take over the ship. And when He takes over the ship, praise God, it is going to be alright then. But until the Master takes over, I can’t save the ship! The world is in trouble, serious trouble; but praise God I’ve got a message for a few that are on board; a message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Two Major Lines Of Bible Prophecy

When it comes to the subject of the two Advents of Christ, there are two major lines of Bible prophecy – right from Genesis, throughout the Bible.

1. The First Major Line

The first major line of Bible prophecy has to do with the First Advent – the First Coming of Christ.

2. The Second Major Line

The second major line of Bible prophecy has to do with the Second Advent –the Second Coming of Christ.

Terms Defined

We cannot have an intelligent discussion, we cannot have an intelligent class, unless you understand what the teacher means by his terms.

Advent

Note: the word “ADVENT.” What does that word convey to you? I want to tell you what I mean by the word. By the word “Advent” I mean more than simply “Coming.” By the word “Advent,” I mean the Coming of Jesus Christ to this planet - Or, if you like, to this earth. Jesus came to this earth 2,000 years ago; I’m persuaded of that. And I’m persuaded that the same Person is going to come to the same place a second time. I not only believe in a second Coming of Christ, I believe in a second Advent of Christ. I believe that Christ is going to come to this earth again. That is what I mean when I talk about Advent.

Christ

The other word is “CHRIST.” This ties the New Testament in with the Old Testament. It is far better for me to read it here, than to say it.

John 1:41

This is a well-established fact, but a forgotten fact by many Gentiles. Sometimes it disturbs us when we see that the New Testament is so interwoven with the Old Testament. If we would start reading the New Testament in the light of the Old Testament, some things would shine out a little more.

(41) He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted, the Christ.

Here is something I am going to say now, and Lord willing, will say it again: Wherever you find the word “Christ,” in the New Testament, you could read that word “Messiah.” “Messiah” is the Old Testament word for the New Testament word “Christ.” Sometimes it makes me all goose pimples when I start reading the New Testament and wherever I find “Jesus Christ,” I read “Jesus the Messiah.” That ties the New Testament in with the Old Testament in a way that makes it impossible to understand even the New Testament, without the foundation of the Old.

I said, as I gave my introduction at Grace church, and I feel some of these things have to be said over and over again, “There are people today who are trying to build their theology on the New Testament alone, and you just can’t do that.”

Illustration

You can’t have a roof on a house, or on a building, without having some walls. And you couldn’t have that roof so it wouldn’t leak, if underneath those walls was not a foundation. A man doesn’t start by putting a roof on, you start at the foundation. The foundation of the New Testament is the Old Testament. If you are going to understand the New Testament, you have to know the Old Testament. And if you are going to understand the Old Testament, you have to have the New Testament. So don’t get the idea that the New Testament does away with the Old Testament. That’s utterly false.

The Old Testament is as much the Scripture as the New Testament. And all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God. And all Scripture is profitable for Doctrine. If you try and build your doctrine on the New Testament without the Old Testament, you are going to have cracks in the roof. You are going to have some showers coming in on your head that aren’t going to be Heavenly showers either. There are some people today, who are led off in forbidden paths, simply because they do not see the connection of the New Testament with the Old Testament. I’m finding, the more I study the Old Testament, the more I have to study it, in order to interpret the New.

Messiah and Christ. Jesus and Messiah. He was the One who was Promised to come the first time. And He is the One who is going to come the next time. Those two things are all the way through the Scriptures.

Both Advents Are Predicted or Prophesied or Presented In the Old Testament

Luke 24:13-16

(13)And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

Two of them. They were going to a village called Emmaus, which from Jerusalem, is about six and a half miles. That is quite a walk isn’t it?

(14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

(15) And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

(16) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

I’m going to show you something here that has blessed me. Their eyes were holden. Now go to verse 31.

Luke 24:31-32

(31) And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

(32) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Luke 24:45

(45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

He opened their eyes, and then He opened the Scriptures, and then He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. Praise God – if the Lord of Glory could do that then, He can do that now. It was the Resurrected Lord. What did the Lord do after His Resurrection? What was His main objective? – To open up the Scriptures.

Here is the Resurrected Lord, and He is with two disciples and He opened the Scriptures and He opened their eyes. He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scripture. Let’s go back to verse 16.

Luke 24:16-25

(16) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

He was with them, but they didn’t know who He was, simply because there was something wrong with eyes.

(17) And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

(18) And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and has not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

(19) And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

(20) And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

(21) But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

(22) Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

(23) And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

(24) And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

(25) Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe

I want you to notice something here that I haven’t emphasized sufficiently through the years. Jesus did not merely say:

“O fools, and slow of heart to believe.”

Jesus said,

“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:”

Each of us has no difficulty believing part of what the prophets have spoken. There isn’t any Bible reader, there isn’t one who doesn’t believe some of it. But Jesus said, “You are fools and you are slow of heart because you do not believe ALL that the prophets have spoken,” so I am trying to govern myself, and teach myself, and learn for myself. Even though I can’t understand it all, by the help of God, I want to believe it all! Isn’t that how you feel? Jesus said “You are fools because you don’t believe all that the prophets have spoken.”

What did the prophets speak about? He went on and He said in verse 26:

Luke 24:26-27

(26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Two things: the sufferings and the Glory. Before I’m finished, I’m sure I can prove to you that the sufferings have to do with His first Coming. And the Glory has to do with His second Coming.

(27) And beginning at Moses

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

and all the prophets,

Acts 3:21

(21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Samuel and all the prophets that follow after have likewise spoken of these days.

And so he began with the greatest prophet of all – Moses, and then Samuel and then Jeremiah, and then Ezekiel, and then Daniel, and then Hosea, right through to Malachi.

Both Advents Were Predicted By The Same Prophets.

The First Advent: The Sufferings of Christ.

The Second Advent: The Glory That Should Follow

Luke 24:27

(27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

What did Jesus do? He took the Old Testament and He expounded two themes. What were the two themes? The two themes from Genesis to Malachi – the first Advent – the sufferings of Christ, and the second Advent, the Glory that should follow.

And so, in the Old Testament you have both Advents from Genesis to Malachi. Both of these subjects are predicted by the same prophets. And we are still talking about the Old Testament prophets.

Now I want to illustrate. First we will use the prophet Daniel.

Daniel 9:26

(26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off

Did you notice after a certain time shall Messiah? When you read that Old Testament word “Messiah,” always let it ring. When you read “Christ” in the New Testament, then go back to the Old Testament and where you find “Messiah,” read “Christ.” So now I can read Daniel and I can read that 26^th verse and I can understand it. Christ shall be cut off. And everybody understands and agrees, Daniel saw the cross in that verse. Christ was crucified; and in His crucifixion He was rejected by earth and rejected by Heaven. He was suspended on a cross that didn’t touch the earth, and didn’t reach Heaven; and there on the cross He was cut off. So Daniel saw the first Coming in that chapter.

Daniel had a vision. Sometimes it bothers people when they see that the chronology is not in the proper order. That is not the problem of the prophets. Sometimes they will write of the second Advent first, then they will write of the first Advent. Then they will write of the first and the second. As far as the prophets are concerned and the Spirit of God is concerned – when God speaks, it is as good as done. And both of these prophesies were made before Christ had ever appeared.

Daniel 7:13-14

(13) I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man

I’d like to remind you – if you are going to interpret the New Testament, you have to remember, the title “Son of man” is an Old Testament expression. Whenever you read “Son of man” in the New Testament it never has to do with the Rapture of the Church. The title “Son of man” has to do with the coming of Christ back to earth; Daniel did not write of the Rapture, Daniel wrote of the second Advent.

He saw: one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

(14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

If you have any doubt that Daniel was talking about the second Advent, well, after reading this, I don’t know how you can!

Matthew 24:30

(30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man

I told you that was an Old Testament expression. And here is this expression in the New Testament, but it is quoted directly from the Old Testament.

in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

I don’t think you are going to argue with me. Matthew 24:30 is positively the second Advent, and it is a quotation from Daniel 7:13-14. Therefore, I boldly say that the prophet Daniel, when he wrote his book 600 years before the first coming of Christ, saw both Advents and he wrote of both Advents. My heart rejoices when I find the same truth in the same Book, doesn’t yours?

We have the same principle, both Advents predicted by the same Old Testament prophets. We can find it elsewhere, but these two examples will suffice.

Malachi 3:1

(1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

If you have any doubt about that being the first Advent, read this next verse.

Matthew 11:10

Here is how the New Testament solves the riddles of the Old Testament.

(10) For this is he, (speaking of John the Baptist) of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

And so I have no doubt about it. Malachi saw the coming of John the Baptist and the announcing of the Coming of the Savior. John came to tell the world, Behold, the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world!

So Malachi saw the first Coming.

Malachi 4:5

(5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Compare this with 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

It is rather interesting that chapter 5 begins with a BUT.

(1) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

(2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Malachi wrote of “The Day of the Lord.” Again, you have an Old Testament expression used in the New Testament; and you can’t understand that expression -- “The Day of the Lord,” apart from the Old Testament.

May I say this with emphasis: “The Day of the Lord,” when used in the New Testament, is always used in reference to the second Advent of Jesus Christ. “The Day of the Lord” has not come yet. “The Day of the Lord” is going to come. “The Day of Jehovah” is an Old Testament Day. One of these days, the Lord Jehovah is going to appear and He is going to take over the reigns of government. And when He does, Malachi’s prophesy is going to be fulfilled. So can you see our point? Daniel saw the first Advent and the second Advent. Malachi saw the first Advent, and he saw the second Advent.

Both of these Advents are often in one context.

Malachi 3:1

We have already proven in this verse the first part has to do with the first Coming.

(1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: (first advent) and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

The first messenger is John the Baptist, the second messenger is the Lord Himself. The first part of the verse is the first Advent. The second part of the verse the second Advent. That makes me a strong believer in the second Advent being as real as the first.

I’m reading the way it isn’t so you will see the way it is in the same context. We are staying within the two verses.

Zechariah 9:9

(9) Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having spiritual salvation; lowly, and riding upon a spiritualized ass, and upon a spiritualized colt the foal of an spiritualized ass.

When I read it that way, I make a donkey of myself; because it doesn’t read that way. And the wonderful part of it is: we have the New Testament. Matthew 21 tells us that Jesus came the way they weren’t expecting Him. He literally, actually, bodily, physically, told His disciples “If you will go to the place where two roads meet, you will find a donkey tied, with a little colt that nobody ever rode before. When you go and start untying that donkey and the owner comes and says ‘What are you doing, stealing my donkey? You say ‘the Master has need of him.’”

They took that donkey to Jesus: no one ever sat on that donkey before. I was raised on a farm. I don’t know too much about donkeys, but I do know something about horses. I know, if you never sat on a colt before, if no one ever rode that horse before, you have a bucking horse. Here is a donkey who had never been ridden before and Jesus sat on the donkey and it didn’t buck. Jesus sat on the donkey and it was broke in immediately. Why? The King of all creation took over part of His creation; and even though men didn’t know who He was, the donkey knew, and the donkey took him into Jerusalem. The King of Heaven rode a donkey into Jerusalem. But the disciples, the people, the inhabitants, really didn’t know who He was! By doing it, He fulfilled verse nine. Zechariah 9:9 is the first Advent of Christ, isn’t it?

Zechariah 9:10

(10) And I (Jesus) will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

I love to sing the old hymn that some people think is out-dated.

Jesus shall reign wheree’r the sun

Doth His successive journeys run

His kingdoms reach from shore to shore

‘Till moon shall wax and wane no more.

The hymn-writer was talking about Zechariah 9:10. Verse 9 is the first Coming. Verse 10 is the second Coming.

If you have the first Coming in one verse, and the second Coming in another verse, and they are in the same context, will you not agree with me that the second Advent has to be as real as the first Advent!

Isaiah 9:6

(6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

There isn’t one of us who has not heard this verse at Christmas time. That is the preacher’s Christmas text. Therefore, anybody that I have ever met has interpreted that verse as the first Advent. The child was born, the Son was given 2000 years ago. There is the first Advent of Messiah.

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

That is the second Advent. When He came the first time, He took my sins on His Shoulder. More than that, He took my sins on His Shoulders (plural). But when He comes the next time, He is going to take the government on His Shoulder (singular). He took both shoulders to carry the lambs. He took the lambs on His shoulders (plural), but He only needs one shoulder to carry the government. He pays twice as much attention, He gives twice as much strength to save you, as He does to govern the world. Isn’t that precious!

In one verse you have both Advents. One context, both Advents. Both advents therefore must have the same kind of fulfillment. The first:

Isaiah 7:14

(14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

That is certainly the first Advent.

When you come to Matthew’s Gospel, it is the first Advent.

Matthew 1:18-23

(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

(21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

This tells you about the virgin birth. It was literally fulfilled. It was actually fulfilled.

Micah 5:2

(2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Matthew 2:1

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

How were the predictions fulfilled? We have already looked at Zechariah 9:9. The prophesy said this would happen. When Jesus came the first time, He came according to the schedule. He came according to the Book. And when He comes the next time, He is going to come the way He came the first time.

What do I mean when I say the “first time”? I mean, when He came the first time, He literally fulfilled prophesy. And when He comes the next time; because the prophesies are in the same context of the same text, of the same prophets of the same Book, both written at the same time; praise God, I’ve got my feet on solid ground, and I believe what I read is going to happen. It is going to happen just like He said, and that means more to me all the time as I read the prophets.

Micah 4:1-8

(1) But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

(2) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his path: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

(3) And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(4) But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

(5) For all people will walk every one in the name of his god and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

(6) In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

(7) And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

(8) And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, ever the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:1-5

(1) Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

(2) For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

(3) Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

(4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

(5) And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Revelation 1:7

(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wait because of him. Even so, Amen.

Acts 1:10-11

(10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

(11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Isaiah 9:6

(6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

Never think of the first Coming of Christ apart from yourself. My mother preached a sermon that I can never forget. I forgot most of them, but there is one I never forget. She almost got beside herself when she quoted Gal. 2:20.

Galatians 2:20

(20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,

This is where she got happy.

Who loved me, and gave himself for me.

It was my mother I heard say it, and I have been saying it ever since. My mother said on this occasion: “I am convinced that Jesus had me so much in mind, that had I been the only sinner in the world He would have died anyway; for He loved me and He gave Himself for me.”

Isaiah said “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” The first Advent was all for you. And it was all for me. Every aspect, every detail was for us. Hallelujah. When He comes the next time the government shall be upon His shoulder and His Name shall be Wonderful. Now keep it in its context.

Have you ever noticed that there is one word that you can’t explain? The word you can’t explain is the word wonderful. I think of a young fellow who comes home with his girlfriend the first time. He tries to explain her to his mother after he has taken her home. Mom says, “What’s she like?” “Ohhhh she is wonderful.” “Well son, what did you mean when you said wonderful?” “Well, I really don’t know, she’s just wonderful.”

A young fellow has been waiting to get a new car and he gets it. How does he describe it? He said, “It’s just wonderful!” “Wonderful” is a word that you just can’t describe. I’d like to see your definition of wonderful. I guess wonderful just means wonderful. It is so full of wonder, I haven’t words to describe it. I haven’t heard anybody say the government in Ottawa is wonderful. I hear a few people in British Columbia, and they don’t say that Mr. Baird is wonderful. I get to Saskatchewan and nobody says the government is wonderful. Describing the government, that is one word they don’t use.

And so, if you keep it in its context, the government shall be upon his shoulder, and everybody is going to say it is wonderful. It is going to be wonderful when the Governor takes over the government. Do you know why? He is going to be the Prince of Peace. Isn’t that a wonderful expression? The world is crying out, millions are longing for peace. His Name shall be Wonderful, Prince of Peace.

The world wants peace and it can’t have it apart from the Prince of Peace. One of these days He is going to bring Peace. He is going to bring it in Righteousness.

The second Advent is only possible because of the first Advent. There couldn’t be a second if there hadn’t been a first. The first Advent makes sure the second. Where do I get that? I get it from John’s Gospel.

John 14:1-3

(1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

(2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I ask you this question: Did He go?

(3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

The pledge and Promise of His coming is based on the fact of His going. If He didn’t go away, He’s not going to come again. But because we believe He came and went, we have a sure confidence He’s going to come; because He based the Promise of His Coming on His Going.

I have a sure confidence my Lord is Coming again.