Jesus is Coming ... but When?
By C. Eldon McNabb

Every person who is born of the Spirit of God believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. However, believing in Jesus, and believing the words of Jesus seems to be two different things. The same problem exists with believing the report of those with whom He entrusted His word and work.

For instance, in Matt. 11:13, Jesus said, "All the prophets and the law prophesied until John (The Baptist)." Now, how many Christians believe that? Satan has convinced the majority of Christians that some percentage of the Old Testament is prophecy, but the most of it is "history" and "poetry." I choose to believe Jesus.

I take the same stance when confronted with the words of the men who wrote the rest of the New Testament in the name of the Lord Jesus. For instance, Paul said, in 2 Thess. 2:1-8,

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

In verses one and two Paul warned us not to be swayed to believe that Jesus could come at any time, even if someone gave some "demonstration of the Spirit" such as tongues and interpretation, or prophecy. The same goes for a well-articulated sermon or someone's insistence that Paul had taught that in some letter he had sent. It is amazing that today Paul's warning is disregarded by almost all Christians.

In verses three through eight, Paul went on to name three things which we must see happen before Jesus can return. "There (must) come a falling away first." Also a certain "man of sin (must) be revealed," who is "the (second) Son of Perdition." After those two things have had their time, another man must come on the scene, which Paul calls "That Wicked." Of whom Paul said, "whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

I believe these words of Paul. Therefore, I must assume that if I don't know who "That Man of Sin, The Son of Perdition" is, nor who "That Wicked" is, Jesus cannot yet come. Another possibility is, "That Man of Sin, The Son of Perdition" has been revealed and we don't know it yet, because we have been taught, contrary to Paul's warning here, that he does not appear until Jesus comes and takes us away.

It would be prudent at this time to pay special heed to another of Paul's admonitions. "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Rom. 13:11,12)