We continue with the beliefs of the Seventh Day Adventist in regards to,

The Second Advent

They state:

“Through the Bible we can see the Second Coming is not only a literal event, but a global event. Just as referenced in the section above, “every eye will see Him”—no matter the time zone, continent, etc.

It’s hard to imagine something like this, but with God nothing is impossible. We’re told, “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day…” (Luke 17:22, ESV).”

The Second Advent is definitely a literal event, howbeit invisible to the world except as they begin to see (to perceive through the eyes of their understanding) that the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgement is at hand in the coming clouds (the great time of trouble approaching).

The Lord himself confirmed this when he stated:

“The kingdom of God does not come with [outward] observation (outward manifestation and show, Christ and his glorified Church will be as invisible to men as are Satan and his angels now, because they will be spirit beings.).”

2 Pet. 3:4 tells us that so unperceived will be his presence that scoffers will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning.”

“Nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ (They cannot observe it with the natural eye, nor can they point it out or locate it, although it will be everywhere present amongst men) For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst (–a present, but invisible authority, government, rule of righteousness; It will be amongst mankind, everywhere present, but wholly invisible).” Luke 17:20, 21

We will not go into Luke 17:22 here as the true meaning of this particular text (the same found in Matthew Chapter 24 Verse 27), has been fully covered under our blog post entitled, Our Lord’s Great Prophecy, Parts 44-47.

Now it was likewise stated:

“We will also be able to hear the trumpet calls and victory shouts of the Angels who will accompany Jesus when He returns.”

Where do you get the idea that you will hear trumpet calls? What trumpet calls are these?

If you are referring to the seven trumpets mentioned in Revelation specifically the seventh trumpet you are misled. The seven trumpets are not actual sounding trumpets, blaring out the noise of an actual trumpet, but rather are representative of proclamations or messages proclaimed during each stage of the Church’s history. The seventh trumpet is no more audible (literal) than were the first six. The trumpets show the effects of dispensational truths on surrounding society. Society hears, and is somewhat disturbed, by these messages, but is not reformed by them. Consequently, the Seven Last Plagues are proven necessary to get them to listen.

I believe the reference may be to Matt 24:31, viz.,

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Once again this has been fully covered in our study of Matthew Chapter 24, please see, Our Lord’s Great Prophecy, Parts 61-63.

Suffice to say the text does not support the theory of a worldwide visible event.

As for the angels accompanying our Lord at his return this is probably an idea surmised from text such as the one above as well as ones like that found in 2 Thess 1:7, viz.,

“…and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…”

The “angels” here referred to as well as those mentioned in the previous text are not in reference to actual angels, but rather the saints, the “reapers” those on this side of the vail presently engaged in the harvest work, i.e., the work of separating the wheat from the tares (Matt 13:30,39-41), and later as in the passage above they represent all the saints together following their presentation before the Father and their glorification, after which time they come in judgement “in flaming fire” (trouble) upon the world (the present order of things).

“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints” (Jude 14). Ten represents completion, thus the Church complete, all 144,000.

“When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye [the Church, the sheep of the present age] also appear with him in glory.” (Col. 3:4)

The first order of business will be to destroy the present order of things, the present evil world, thus his coming “in flaming fire”, this will be accomplished primarily by the “Lord’s great army”, the anarchist masses. (A destructive season of lawlessness will ensue that will destroy the “elements“–labor, capitalistic, etc., that go to make up the present social order.)

“But the heavens (the present ecclesiastical powers, both the seen and the unseen) and the earth (society as it now exists, organized under Satan’s control) which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire (a great cataclysm of trouble, anarchy, called “fire,” will mark the termination of the present dispensation) until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Pet 3:7)

After which, that is once the present order has been dissolved, as a consequence of the preceding terrible judgments upon the nations, after men shall have been humbled and made ready to hear and heed the Lord’s counsel, “Then will I restore to the peoples a pure language (the pure word of truth), that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.” (Zep 3:9) Then will the promised times of restitution and restoration of all things begin (Acts 3:19-21).

For more on this issue of our Lord’s return please see our blog post entitled, “Every Eye Shall See Him”, “Signs of Christ’s Presence”, and “I will come again”.

We continue with the subject of the Second Advent in our next post.