Did you know that the scriptures teach that until Jesus comes a second time, your salvation cannot be complete! Yes, I’m serious!
In this article I will attempt to show you how this is indeed a fact.
Jesus first appearing was to put away sin by his offering up of himself by his death on the cross. And that has happened. Praise God! But there was more for him to do. He must come a second time to complete redemption for all.
Are you still waiting for his coming again after 2000 years have passed since his death and resurrection? Look, if He has not yet come again, then your salvation would not be complete.
It is absurd to think Jesus would wait 2000 years ago before his return to complete your salvation. NO. He said he would come while some of that generation were still alive. (Mat 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:34)
Under the Old Covenant when the Jews saw their high priest enter the sanctuary on their behalf, they waited expectedly for his reappearance. When they saw him emerge alive, that was a welcome sign that he and the sacrifice which he presented had been accepted by God.
In the same way, Jesus’ coming again was proof that his offering was accepted by God.
Of course, even if you don’t believe that Jesus has already come, then rejoice for you have received full salvation because he HAS already come! Now that’s Good News!
But suppose for a moment he didn’t come back in his own generation as he promised (Mat 24:34)? Now that’s what most Christian people believe—still waiting after 2000 years! If that was true, then salvation would not be complete for anyone! Right?
The term “salvation” is Christ’s completed salvation, his finishing of the atonement. Our great high-priest has appeared victorious in the Heavenly places. Salvation is a multifaceted concept, encompassing deliverance from sin, Satan, death, and God’s wrath, ultimately leading to union with God and glorification.
The Jews believed that the end of the age would be the end of the Jewish economy and the close of their civil and ecclesiastical state. The advent of their long awaited Messiah, and the age to come. According to Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for a future time; It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
So the Jews were expecting their Messiah “for a future time, at the end” and it will not be delayed. The first believers just had to wait patiently—it would not be delayed. It is absurd to believe they are still waiting after 2000 years.
God would end the whole Jewish economy of sacrifice and temple worship before the end of the age. That took place in AD 70 when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and plundered Judea killing millions.
The New Testament speaks of our redemption as incomplete until the Second Coming!
For example see Luke 21:27-28: Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
For some time I was very puzzled by what Jesus meant—hadn’t they received salvation by his cross? Then I saw that the word redemption here refers not just to our salvation from sin. Here Jesus in the course of the Olivet Discourse tells the disciples their redemptionis drawing near(Greekengizō—G1451).
Next Romans 8.18. For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us. . . . . . 19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. 23 Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Paul said to his readers back then—not to us—that he and they were eagerly awaiting their adoption the redemption of their bodies. They believed they would see the Lord’s return! They were not wasting their time!
Now see Heb 9:27-28. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Again this author believed that he and his readers were eagerly waiting for him. Were they mistaken?
There are many other scriptures which you can see that say the same as the few I have shown you above:
See Romans 13:11-12, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Hebrews 1:14, Revelation 12:10.
Are you are still waiting for his return soon or in the future? If so, you must accept that God’s work towards your salvation is NOT complete! It is only when you accept that Christ came a second time in the first century that you can be assured that your salvation is complete.
This is wonderful good news for believers—a confirmation of our hope.
Please prove me wrong—I love to be challenged.
Ian Thomson 