Contrasting Two Appearings | The Institute for Creation Research

Contrasting Two Appearings

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).

One can hardly imagine a more stark contrast than the difference between the first and second appearing of Jesus Christ. Let us contemplate some of the dramatic distinctions between these two advents.

Two millennia ago Christ was born into obscurity. Upon returning, "He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him" (Revelation 1:7). As a young child, "they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11). The Book of Revelation mentions the offering up of royal gold (4:4,10) and priestly incense (8:3) but no myrrh (which was an embalming ointment that had prefigured His death). In His first coming He entered Jerusalem "lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9). He will return riding on a white stallion (Revelation 19:11) and splitting the mount of Olives with an earthquake (Zechariah 14:4). He came once in "the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7), but will return as "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:16). During His first advent Jesus told us, "for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47). But John predicts: "in righteousness He doth judge and make war" (Revelation 19:11). When He first appeared, the prophet said, "there is no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2) but when He comes again it says that "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns" (Revelation 19:12).

The timing of His first appearing was predicted by Daniel, but the day of the Second Appearing "knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven" (Matthew 24:36). We do know, however, that it will be glorious beyond description. DW

The Latest
CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Erectus: The Shocking Truth About the "Ape Man"...
Homo erectus, or "Upright Man," has been upheld as a piece of mankind's "evolutionary history" since its discovery in 1891....

NEWS
Mystery of Moths' Warning Sound
Insects of all types continue to amaze entomologists with their design and physiology. Cleveland Hickman, Jr., et al. stated, “insect ears are...

NEWS
Geneticist Fired for Affirming Humans Once Lived 900 Years?
Geneticist Alexander Kudryavtsev, the head of the Russian Academy of Science’s Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, has been fired, reportedly...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Solar Eclipses
Designed by Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover fun facts...