The doctrine of the second coming of Christ, has it roots away back shortly after the original apostles received the gift of the Holy Ghost in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. The Lord had admonished them that after receiving the Holy Spirit, they were to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8. We can call this Christ’s mandate and worksheet to the apostles for the upcoming years. The order of business should be adhered to for its impact, its outreach, and the execution of the Divine Purpose as it relates to the church that was born only a short time ago by the preaching of the gospel by Peter on the day of Pentecost, which marked the birth of the Apostolic Church. As church history will show, even from that very early dawn of the church, with Jesus gone only a few days before, sentiments concerning his second coming was born among the disciples and soon took hold in their thinking and belief which in turn affected their every-day life.

According to the will of Jesus Christ, after the pouring out of the Holy Ghost, the disciples should begin to bear witness of the resurrected Christ, as expressed by Christ himself. Things did not go as planned by the Lord as the scripture outlined. All of the following account sounds excellent perhaps from a human perspective, but soon we see that it was not exactly according to the Lord’s plan. Soon after Peter preached that first sermon on the day of Pentecost resulting in 3,000 souls coming to Jesus as Savior, we read: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having great favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:42;46;47.

Up to this point, being a witness to Christ in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, seemed to have taken the back seat while the apostles gloried in the new- found bliss and the air of heavenly refreshing that swept over one and all. But why was it important for the disciples to brake bread on a daily basis? Here is another point of interest that we must observe more closely to determine the mindset of the disciples at this particular juncture following the birth of the Church. Pay special attention to the following account of the actions of the newly formed Church of God. "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Acts 4: 34,35.

These were great charitable acts that the church should have adopted and practiced down through the many centuries of church history. But from our perspective and vantage point, we need to look more closely as to why the early disciples did the things they did. We must determine what was their mindset, especially as it pertained to the second coming of Christ. Today, there many groups here in the United States whose major emphasis concerning their doctrine, is the second coming if Christ. But shortly after Christ was raised from the dead and caught up into heaven, several groups popped up heralding the second of Christ. There are accounts of huge groups of people at different times who sold all their possessions, and gathered themselves on the top of high mountains, awaiting the return of Christ. So then: Why did the disciples go from house to house, daily breaking bread and being in great fellowship? Did they feel obligated to do so?

At this particular point in time, judging from our outer vantage point, there must have been a greater inward conviction that motivated the disciples to meet daily from house to house and in the temple breaking bread and having a newfound mode of Christian fellowship. To complicate the issue, beyond what we read and have been told down through centuries of church history, there must have been a greater reason why these masses of people sold all their belongings and brought the monies and all other valuables and laid them at the feet of the apostles. Their actions at that time, seemed to suggest that in their mindset, time was short and there was no need to hold on to worldly wealth and possessions. But where was the original idea born?

I think that we do not have to look far to identify the sentiments that overwhelmed the heart and soul of the disciples. Paul came on the scene and soon had to embark upon the sentiments expressed by Christ in the closing moments of his earthly ministry. The apostle wrote, saying: "And when he had given thanks,he brake it, and said, take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye in remembrance of me. Here is the key to the disciples’ action right after Pentecost! For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come." 1st Corinthians 11:24-26. The actions of the disciples in breaking bread daily from house to house and in the temple, and by disbursing all their wealth and personal belongings so that they all had all things in common, with no man saying ought was his, all of this was a demonstration to the belief within the hearts of the disciples, that Christ would return soon in their own lifetime. Even today, right where we are in our walk with God, the most difficult thing for us to ascertain correctly, is "God’s Timing." Concerning God’s reckoning of time, we can seriously join the Lord is saying: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9. It can be honestly concluded that the actions of the early disciples are based upon their understanding of the words of Christ, when he said; "Behold I come quickly."

What that saying meant to the disciples cannot be ascertained by us from our vantage point. When Saul of Tarsus became the apostle Paul, and being sent to the Gentiles, he encountered a multiplicity of doctrines among both Jews and Gentiles. Being highly trained in the Jews religion, it did not take him long to become proficient in preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Corinthians he wrote: "For I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also took the cup and when he had sipped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, this do ye, as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye di shew the Lord’s death till he come." 1^st Corinthians 11:23-26.

My personal belief is that these words spoken by Christ, shortly before his ascension into heaven, were still fresh in the minds and hearts of the disciples, thus, they were convinced of the obligation to go from house to house daily, breaking bread and having fellowship, for in so doing they were showing forth the Lord’s death until he comes. And they were convinced that Christ would return in their day. Like many preachers today, these newly "minted" disciples gave away all their possessions and placed the money they made from the sales of all they had at the apostle’s feet. The bottom line in their beliefs was that time was short and Christ would soon return so there is no need to hold on to worldly possessions.

As if to support that theory, we can bring Paul’s mindset into the study. In so doing, we will see that both Paul, Peter, James and other apostles all thought that Christ would return in their day: over time, they changed their mindset by way of getting new revelations as the Holy Spirit continued to open their understanding of the divine plan for the ages. Paul wrote: "Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none. And they that weep as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not. why? For the fashion of this world passeth away." 1^st Corinthians 7:27, 29,30,31.

Paul continued writing with the same mindset for the churches. He exhorted the saints, saying, "Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25. In other words, the day you decide to miss church could be the day the Lord will return. Here again, these saints of God were convinced of the soon return of Christ. And again we read: "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Phil.4;5. What was the mindset of James regarding the coming of Christ? "Be ye also patient: stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" James 5:8. Taking into account the mindset and persuasion of these prominent apostles regarding the second coming of Christ, we can well excuse those in Jerusalem who were breaking bread and having all things common. As we alluded to a while back, these folks in Jerusalem were persuaded that the return of Christ was "just around the corner" and Jesus did say, as often as ye eat this bread and drink this wine, ye do shew forth my death until I come. But God was keeping an eye on the fact that the disciples, seemingly, had forgotten the complete mandate that required that after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, they should become witnesses unto Christ, beginning in Jerusalem, then into Judaea and Samaria and to the uttermost part of the world. It seems that God would have to break up the party spirit, and to that end, the Lord stirred up persecution as the record shows: an event that would set the disciples running to escape the persecution, and in so doing, they preached the gospel in their flight.

The biblical narrative of the event reads thus. "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to the four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." Acts 12:1-5. As we alluded to previously, it took persecution such as this to get the disciples to exit the city of Jerusalem and to be witnesses unto Christ in the cities named by Christ shortly before his ascension, extending to the uttermost part of the earth.

Let us face it! Under normal circumstances, when flowers are blooming, the bills are paid, and our heath gets a good reading from the family doctor, doing those things that God has called us to do, usually, are slowly, and perhaps unwittingly put on the back burner. It should not surprise us that it took persecution to eventually get the disciples to pack up and get out of town. However, the Spirit and anointing of the kingdom of God would not be deterred, so although on the run, the disciples preached the gospel everywhere they went and in the process; souls were added to the kingdom of God in large numbers. Let us look at the second surprise as it pertains to the second coming of Christ. The preaching of the second coming of Christ is an established narrative that is being preached and taught across the vast expanse of Christendom.

The reason for that is because just about every prominent—established church has its own bible school---teaching the doctrine of that church. For instance, as a matter of truth, speaking randomly, we can concoct a good idea of the doctrines that are espoused by the Moody Bible Institute. When we allow ourselves to embrace the doctrine being taught by the "Left behind Group" and the "Any moment Rapture" we are compelled to fall in line with their most popular forms of doctrine. This second surprise concerning the second coming of Christ is likely to be a "doozy" to millions of Christians worldwide. Because the concepts noted in the scriptures that we shall include in this study, we are required to have an open mind. If we close our hands tightly around a certain set of truths, we have managed to close the door against obtaining more truths and even new truths.

Peter was diligent in introducing current truths to the churches as he wrote: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them and be established in the present truth." 2^nd Peter 1.12. Christian growth is based upon the concept of progression or going from truth to truth. What we are about to say will likely shake some of our loved ones. Others will no doubt seek to embrace what we are about to share, having a heart and mind to grow in grace and into all the dimension of maturity that the Holy Spirit would have us attain unto. The following scriptures are part of the foundation of the doctrine of most Pentecostals and Full Gospel saints. They begin with a prominent outline of the human journey in Christ to the very end.

The absolute end for the masses of faithful believers in Christ, can only be determined on two fronts: either the imminent return of Christ in what is called the Rapture, or by physical death. In the early part of the 1970s while settling into building a church in Norfolk, Virginia, I got to know a dear sister who lived in Norfolk just outside the boundary with Chesapeake. I went with her on one of her engagements to speak at a local church in Portsmouth which is also located a stone’s throw from any direction of Norfolk. When she was introduced to speak, she began by saying: Many of you are paid up, packed up and ready to go up: but unpack and get back to work for Rapture has been cancelled: we are not going anywhere, any time soon."

Here is her scriptural proof to underscore her statement, lending credence to what the scripture actually said. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord: And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive (must retain or hold) until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:19-21. Ladies and gentlemen! Don’t take my word for it! Are all things restored unto God? The spoken truth by Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, is emphatic and concise in detailing world events that MUST happen for all to see, before the heavens will release Christ as he descends to an earth that is ready to accept him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

At this juncture, we are compelled to look for added truths to what Peter just said. If there is to be the restitution of all things before Christ returns, it is appropriate for us to surmise that it requires a ministry of the gospel that is adequately designed for the sole purpose of the restitution of all things. But by listening to preachers on the airwaves, and preachers in local Assemblies on Sundays and midweek bible studies on Wednesday nights, no one seems to be preaching and teaching the reality and purpose of the restitution of all things. In fact, it would appear that the mindset of Christians the world over, is that Jesus Christ is the person who will come to a world in chaos, and his task will be to set things in order. However multiple scriptures suggest that before he makes his appearance on earth a second time, from his place on the right hand of the Father, he will bring all things back to the original Divine Order that God intended before the world was.

So, as to recap, the heavens must retain, or hold Jesus Christ, seated on the right hand of the Father: for him to reign until his enemies be made his footstool. Based upon these truths, you will never hear me say, "Christ could come any moment, even before I am through writing this newsletter." Back in England, the U.K. in 1965, the Lord instructed me not to repeat everything I heard. He said I should not be a "copycat preacher." I should always check the source of my information, and if the source is wrong, throw out the whole thing, for all of it is wrong." Quite often, when I am sitting with other ministers listening to the preacher bringing the sermon, I can be seen making notes with my bible open. It is not that I disrespect the preacher, or do not have the proper interest in the spoken word. Whenever I hear a powerful thought, even something I never heard before, I have to quickly make note of it for future use. I live with an open mind to ever be ready to receive today, tomorrow, and every day of the daily bread that God serves to his people.

Here is what I think will be the biggest surprise to Christians the world over. Because of what the word said, and because the truth conveyed in the scripture for the most part, is not even being mentioned, yet it impacts the entire concept of the second coming of Christ in no uncertain terms. Thus, we read: "And as it was appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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 (or not to deal with sin) unto salvation." Hebrews 9: 27,28. Notice carefully that the word did not say it was appointed unto men once to die. It said: and as it is appointed unto men once to die, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."

In other words, since it was appointed unto men once to die, so Christ suffered once to bear the sins of many, thus fulfilling the requirement of "dying once." Let us repeat the text as it is written. Not what we hear in local churches as they invite sinners to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. In the case of local churches, when the preacher begins the altar call after the sermon, he/she reminds the sinner that it was appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment. But that is not how the bible said it. Let us look at it once more! And as it is appointed unto men once to die (we cannot leave it there for the sentence is incomplete.) As it is appointed unto men once to die, or since it was appointed unto men once to die, so Christ was once offered to be the sins of many. Case closed—end of story!

It is as if Christ entered the public hall where guilty sinners were sitting, all waiting to be called before the court of justice. But Christ walked in and took his seat among the guilty parties, when the names began to be called Jesus himself responded one by one, until all the guilty persons were redeemed from their guilt. Paul wrote, saying, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1st Timothy 2:3-6. Here, we see God’s will to save all men expressed in plain language, but to be revealed in due time.

(God prepares a message and also a people to receive the message.) It is evident that omitting a single word, or putting it in the wrong place, changes the truth or sentence that was intended in the first place. When Jesus came to earth, he brought a message and ministry of life, and life for ever more. In fact, he brought abundant life and never paid respect to death. Yes, he said to some that they would die in their sins, but his message was always about living. And he demonstrated his message in permanent visible acts. We are told that his second coming is to those who look for him. This must be a shocker to the millions of people who are getting ready to take part in his second coming. By listening to one preacher after another, it seems that their assigned task is to get each congregation ready to go up in the Rapture which they say, could happen any moment, even while the preacher if still preaching the sermon. But what is missing in all of these deliveries, is the fact that Christ will appear the second time, only to those who are looking for him. And this coming is not for a trip up to heaven. The purpose of this second appearing is to bring to "full salvation" those who eagerly await him. What do we mean "full salvation"?

As far as salvation goes among "Pentecostals and "Evangelicals" upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit followed by speaking in tongues, receiving gifts and prophesying, they are convinced that they have received all that God has for them. But in reality, could this be only a foretaste of glory divine? Let us go back to the very beginning at Pentecost! Paul obligated himself to say more about the coming of the Holy Ghost, including the true reason for the coming of that promise, and its relevance to our salvation in ensuing years of spiritual growth. Paul wrote: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (how do we define this spirit of promise?) Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13,14.

The term "earnest of our redemption" means a token down payment, or the first installment. As a down payment, it means that one party becomes obligated to follow through and complete the full contract between at least two parties. In other words, when God gave to us the gift of the Holy Ghost (as the first installment, or token money) he obligated himself to us, to return in the future to complete the transaction of our full redemption. The good news is that God obligated himself to us, to complete the process, and Paul called it, (the redemption of the purchased possession) That is why we are told: "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30. We have the first fruit of the Spirit, but along with the creation, we are waiting for the adoption (the redemption of our body, which is our metamorphosis. Much like going from a caterpillar to a butterfly. This change has begun when we first received the Holy Spirit, and will be finished in Christ, upon his return. In the meantime, along with a groaning creation, we are in a state of great "Expectancy" sharing all the pains of creation, but as it were, we are on tiptoe eagerly awaiting that glorious transaction

To be continued in the next issue!