Eschatology (End Time Prophecy)

Jesus Is Coming Soon

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My articles about the topic of Imminency: Imminent | Imminency | Jesus Is Coming Soon | Imminency | Preterism

There are many passages in the New Testament which seem to state that the second coming of Christ would occur soon. Preterists make much of these passages in developing their view. In addition, many of the writers of the very early church seemed to also believe that it would occur soon (Didache and Clement's letter to the Corinthians). What are we to think of all this?

In my view, Christ's second coming has always been imminent and will always be imminent so it was not incorrect for the early church to believe this. The error is in believing that this will occur within X number of years (but even modern Christians often believe this).

There is a difference between hoping that Christ will come soon (because we desire the experience of the glory of the Lord) and declaring that he will come soon (within X number of years).

There is a passage which some interpret as teaching imminency . . .

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. (1 Corinthians 7:26)

But it is just as likely that Paul has in mind the difficulties resulting from the persecution which had been occurring and was about to begin in earnest.

There is one passage which clearly refutes the idea that the second coming of Christ would occur soon . . .

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. That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

They were troubled because they thought this day was at hand. Paul comforts them by telling them that it was not at hand, that many things had to occur first.

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