JESUS' RETURN ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

We have remarked in the previous chapters that Jesus' return is very important to Christians. The reason for this is that the Bible, which comprises the Old Testament (the Torah [its first five books] and other Jewish writings) and the New Testament (the Four Gospels, various letters and accounts of leading early Christians, and the Revelation of St. John), contains many revelations about the End Times. Jesus' second coming figures prominently in the New Testament.

The Old Testament and the New Testament provide various explanations about future events. As we know, while the Old Testament does not mention Jesus by name, it reveals the coming of a savior from David's lineage. Some chapters of the Old Testament mention, to a certain extent, the End Time events. The New Testament, however, is full of revelations concerning Jesus' second coming, the accompanying signs, and the End Times.

The Qur'an reveals that both the Torah and the Gospel have been tampered with over time and that, as a result, they contain false beliefs. While some parts may have remained true to their original form, other parts have been modified, altered, and added to by various people. Given this, we can rely only on their revelations insofar as they are compatible with the Qur'an and the hadiths. As the following examples will demonstrate, there is a great deal of similarity between the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources on Jesus' second coming and the EndTimes. However, the majority of Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah; rather, they persecuted him as they had done in the past to some of the other Prophets sent to them.

God says in the Qur'an that:

We gave Moses the Book and sent a succession of Messengers after him. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the Clear Signs and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. Why then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something that your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant and deny some of them and murder others? (Qur'an, 2:87)

The Jews, who did not acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, are still waiting for the "true" Messiah.

As the Christians consider their holy book (the Bible) to consist of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, they interpret the relevant subjects in light of these two books. When we examine the Bible, we see that Jesus' second coming is a central theme. The revelations here relate the natural phenomena and social events that will take place before and after his return. When we look at the Prophet's (may God bless him and grant him peace) hadiths relating these events, we notice that the signs of the End Times appear to be more imminent than they were in the past. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, Signs of the Last Day, Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2003) Interestingly, almost all of signs heralding the advent of the Last Day have appeared in our time. Therefore, we can say that given the information in the Islamic sources, as well as in the Old and New Testaments, the End Times have arrived.

 

The Messiah, as Promised by the Old Testament

The Messiah promised and explained by the Old Testament is, as the Qur'an states, Jesus. These sources also use the following words to designate this person: King, Lord (master/educator), and Menahem.

When the Old Testament speaks of the Messiah's coming, it also makes quite a few statements about the rule that he will establish. That he will rule nations, be a descendent of David (David too ruled the lands within his reach), and be of similar appearance is central. However, Jesus did not make war in his previous existence; rather, he proclaimed that he was God's Messenger, performed miracles, and conveyed God's revelations. Therefore, we can say that some of the statements in the Old Testament relate to his second coming.

As regards the Messiah, the Old Testament (Torah and other scriptures) provide the following information, some of which are quoted here to clarify the point:

... The Lord will judge the ends of Earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed. (1 Samuel 2:10)

"In the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." (Daniel 2:44)

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold ... I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on Earth. In his law the islands will put their hope." . . . "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you, and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7)

From these narratives, it becomes apparent that the Messiah will overcome all of the regimes that oppose him. At the end of his struggle, he will lead humanity out of its current state, which is described as oppressed, blind, in prison, in the dungeon, and so on, to enlightenment.

His other qualities are described, as follows:

And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, and with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. (Isaiah 11:3-4)

The descriptions of Jesus' rule in his second coming are compatible with the Qur'an's description of Prophets: Jesus will be a just, right-thinking, well-speaking, and wise leader who is loyal only to God. God will deliver peace and happiness to humanity by the hands of a superior leader.

The Old Testament relates the following about the dominance of faith in God's existence and unity:

On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime-a day known to the Lord. When evening comes, there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. The Lord will be king over the whole Earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name. (Zechariah 14:6-9)

After Jesus kills the Dajjal, all ideologies contesting God will disappear. This is clearly stated in the Old Testament, for "the Lord will be king over the whole Earth." Many other analogies also explain the prevailing conditions of those times:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child will put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all of My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, just as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

These accounts are reminiscent of the golden age described in the hadiths. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, The Golden Age, A.S. Noordeen, Kuala Lumpur, 2003.)

 

The New Testament's Account of Jesus' Second Coming

Out of the New Testament's 259 chapters, 210 of them contain 318 references about Jesus' second coming. Clear statements are given below on Jesus' ascent to God's presence and his return to Earth, as follows:

"... I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, [so] that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

"So if anyone tells you: 'There he [the Messiah] is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or: 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:26-27)

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:44)

... The appearing of our teacher Jesus, which God will bring about in His own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

"At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of Earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30)

"Men of Galilee," they [angels] said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven." (Acts 1:11)

"For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for ... the teacher Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him." (Revelation 1:7)

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from [the line of] Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26)

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it [the coming of Jesus] is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33)

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (Matthew 25:31)

As stated earlier, Jesus will inauguate an era of justice, wealth, and virtue upon his second coming. As the New Testament says:

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

This, then, is how you should pray: ... Your kingdom come ... (Matthew 6:9-10)

People will come from the east and the west, and [from] the north and the south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last. (Luke 13:29-30)

Clearly, there are striking similarities between the accounts of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism concerning Jesus' second coming and the global rule of religious morality. This harmony has engendered a great anticipation in all three religions. The era in which we live is probably the one in which the anticipation of this miracle has reached its apex and is also near to be fulfilled. This is a great news that helps the believers retain their high morale.

 

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