When the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven--This passage both consolatory and doctrinal--consolation designed for a persecuted Church--instruction for the world.
Our subject: the general judgment. We will regard
I. Its certainty. May be argued from moral government.
1. Indicated by reason.
2. Attested by conscience.
3. Proved from Scripture.
II. Its solemnity. Mark the attendant events.
1. The descent of the appointed Judge.
2. The glorious throne He will occupy.
3. The vast concourse of attendants.
4. The time and manner of advent.
5. The resurrection of the sleeping dead.
6. The transformation of the busy living.
7. The destruction of the universe.
III. Its reality. Not fictitious or nominal, but sternly real.
1. Universal citation.
2. Impartial scrutiny.
3. Final separation.
4. Judicial sentence.
5. Eternal execution. (J. Odell.)
Joy and terror in the coming of the Lord
The Lord will come the second time. When, we cannot know. Angels do not know. But this does not detract from its certainty. To us individually His coming is virtually near. It is not long till we go hence, and time for us will be no more. Eternity begins; Christ, the Judge, deciding our state for happiness or misery. Therefore we need not put His coming far away in the future. We are graciously permitted to prepare for it, so that it may be to us an event of joy and not of terror.
I. To unbelievers the Lord’s coming will be an indescribable terror. They rejected Him come to deliver them from sin. Now they must behold Him as their righteous Judge to pronounce upon them the condemnation of their own choosing. This is their condemnation--that they believed not on Him. Mercies slighted will make justice self-approved. Not mercy, then, but the” wrath of the Lamb” will be upon them.
II. To believers His coming will bring inconceivable joy. They have accepted Him in His mission of redeeming love in His first advent. At His coming to judge the world He will receive His own to Himself. Such a relation to Him carries with it a desire for His appearing, when they shall appear with Him in glory. “They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.”
III. Points for remarks.
1. Great is the mercy of God in extending to us present salvation through the mediation of Christ. Great is His mercy also in forewarning us of His coming again as the Judge.
2. Life appears short in view of the event of Christ’s coming and the eternity awaiting us. How important this life is, considered as a preparation.
3. Terrible as must be the coming of Christ to the wicked, to the Christian it is a joyous anticipation. It has always been so. Christ is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the One altogether lovely. To see Him face to face and dwell with Him forever is heaven to the soul. This state may well awaken a desire to see Him. (The Study.)
The coming of Christ with His angels
I. There is a time coming when Christ shall be fully revealed and come all His glory.
1. What is this revelation? The coming of Christ is set forth as an apocalypse and as an epiphany. The former is in the text, and in 1Pe 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:7, and means an unveiling; the latter is in 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, and means a forth-flashing. The former is used because--
(1) Many have never seen Him (Acts 3:21). This does not hinder His spiritual virtue and influence although it does the enjoyment of His bodily presence! (1 Peter 1:8).
(2) His earthly state was obscure, His Godhead peeping through the veil in a miracle or so.
(3) His spiritual glory is seen but in a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Vision is reserved for heaven (John 17:24).
(4) His kingdom is not always clear to the world (Luke 17:20).
(5) His subjects are under a veil (Colossians 3:3; 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:19).
2. That this time is coming is evident from--
(1) The promise of His coming. This ancient promise (Jude 1:14-15) was ever kept afoot in the Church. The scoffers took notice of it (2 Peter 3:4). It has been revived by all the Lord’s messengers. Moses, David, Samuel, Joel, Zechariah, Malachi, and more clearly by Christ (John 14:3). Christ would not flatter us into a fool’s paradise.
(2) His remembrancers in the Church (1 Corinthians 11:26; 2 Timothy 4:1).
(3) Our inward pledge of it. At parting there is a giving of tokens. Christ has gone to make ready for the day of His espousals. To prevent suspicion He left His Spirit to stir up in us expectation of that day (Romans 8:23; Revelation 22:17).
(4) Our constant experience of His love and care. There are frequent messages of love passing between us and Christ, in His word, prayer, sacraments, to show that He does not forget us.
(5) The interest of Christ which is concerned in it.
(a) Partly that the glory of His Person may be seen and fully discovered. His first coming was obscure, in the form of a servant, with a poor retinue, etc.; now He comes as the Lord of all in power and great glory.
(b) That He may possess what He has purchased (1 Peter 1:18-19; John 14:3; Hebrews 3:13).
(c) That He may overthrow the wicked (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:10-11; Philippians 2:10).
(d) That He may require an account of things during His absence (Matthew 25:1-46.).
II. When Christ comes He will bring His mighty angels with Him.
1. Those angels are mighty (Psalms 103:20). One slaughtered many thousands of Sennacherib’s army in a single night. Their greatness is mentioned to show the excellency of our Redeemer who is greater than all.
2. He will bring them--
(1) To show His glory and majesty. The most excellent creatures are at His command (1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 1:4-7).
(2) Because He has a service for them.
(a) To gather the elect (Matthew 24:31). This shall complete their many services on His behalf and ours (Luke 2:18; Luke 2:14; 1Co 11:10; 1 Timothy 5:21; Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10; Hebrews 1:14; Psalms 34:7; Luke 16:22).
(b) To execute His sentence on the wicked (Matthew 13:41-42; Matthew 13:49).
(c) To show that they are part of the army commanded by the Captain of our salvation. (Psalms 68:17). (T. Manton, D. D.)