The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age

There is scarcely a more passionately debated topic within Christianity than Eschatology (the study of future events). John MacArthur admits this in his book The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age. MacArthur comes across as one who is convinced of the value of what he has to say but is nonetheless irritated by the persistent irrelevant chatter that too often surrounds the topic. As a result he does expose the folly of the half-baked future snoopers who are consumed with making the UN the one world religion as they sit in their lawn chairs waiting for the rapture. In addition, MacArthur takes aim at preterism, the view that the prophecies of Matthew 24 were all fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. He also distinguishes between partial preterism and hyper preterism. The main difference between the two here is the denial of a bodily future return of Christ and a literal bodily resurrection of the dead (this is denied by hyper preterists not partial preterists). The book is not an active assault on preterism (of any form) however, it is a passive engagement of these systems through a promotion of a literal premillennial return of Jesus Christ. The book is in large part an expositional teaching through Matthew 24-25, also referred to as the Olivet Discourse. Along the way MacArthur maintains three helpful features that make this book a helpful and worthwhile read: -1- Clear: MacArthur has come to be known as the guy who can take a complex passage or concept and easily explain it. You cannot help but understand the Second Coming better after reading this book. -2- Consistent Hermeneutic: the book is also a study in hermeneutics. The author regularly pulls you aside to confirm why he concludes what he concludes. Over and over again he says things like, "if the simple sense makes the most sense seek no other sense." For example in discussing the oft debated passage of Matthew 24.34 referring to "this generation" MacArthur interacts with the Preterist view that this generation was those whom Jesus was speaking to: "But if verse 34 is to be understood with such wooden literalness, the rest of the Olivet Discourse must be spiritualized to otherwise interpreted figuratively in order to explain how Christ's prophecies could all have been fulfilled by A.D. 70 without His returning bodily to earth" (p.80). -3- Ethical Eschatology: Too often people (particularly futurists) get so caught up in charts and graphs that the real issue gets lost. The reality of the Second Coming is that it should radically change the way we live now. The author regularly revisits this need. In good homiletical fashion MacArthur finds regular application necessary in this book. The final chapter is even a concise call to be ready, How to Prepare for Christ's Return. As is the case with MacArthur's preaching this book is an edifying tool. The reading level is not difficult even considering the subject. I would recommend it both to folks

This is another great work of expository teaching by Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church and the president of Grace to You radio ministry. In this book, Dr. MacArthur examines the Olivet Discourse (in particular, Matthew 24), which focuses in on the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Tribulation, and the coming of the Son of Man. Using the other passages of the Bible to explain and elucidate the Matthew passage. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and wonderfully informative read. Dr. MacArthur eschews the all too often taken path of trying to suggest that the events are right around the corner, and instead explains why it is important that Christ returns and how to view the imminence of the return. Now, as you would expect with Dr. MacArthur, he does take an unapologetic premillenial, pretribulation, dispensational view of the text - but, he does examine the preterist view of 24:32-35, and shows how it is out of step with their view of the rest of the passage. Yes, I must say I really enjoyed this non-sensation, highly informative look at the Olivet Discourse. If you want to read a truly mind-expanding view of that passage, then I would highly recommend that you get this book. I give it my highest recommendations!

If you've ever wondered about eschatology, MacArthur's got a very simple book here. Written on the level of those who've never dealt with anything dealing with the end times, he gives a very sobering and balanced view (representing the premillennial, pretribulational rapture). He decries 'newspaper theology' and goes to great lengths to steer believers away from the kooks and loonies like Jack Van Impe, the Lalondes, Hal Lindsey, John Hagee and others. He encourages believers to work as though Christ could appear at any moment to take them away, yet at the same time work as if He is afar off, redeeming our time while here on earth.The book also serves as MacArthur's volley on full preterism (a heretical view which teaches that ALL prophecy has been fulfiled, including the second coming of Christ), with a few smacks and jabs at partial preterism (which teaches that MOST prophecy was fulfilled at 70 A.D. and we still await the second coming of Christ), since both use the same hermeneutical system.

MacArthur's book is an excellent defender of premillenialism, and a primer on the pretribulation rapture view. The fallacies of the preterist position become obvious from the careful exposition of scripture.In this reviewer's opinion, however, MacArthur does not provide sufficient scriptural evidence for claiming that the 70th Week of Daniel is synonymous with a 7-year "Tribulation Period", nor does he successfully support from scripture the assertion that the Tribulation Period is a time of God's judgment. These are two fundamental points that the Pre-Wrath view has called into question, and which continue to fuel the supposition that pre-tribulationism has some major flaws regarding the timing of the rapture.Also of interest is the text devoted to imminency. The claim for imminence has been a third component of the Pre-Wrath attack, and MacArthur does provide a good explanation of imminence. However, he avoids the question of "When did Christ's return become imminent?" Since there are specific prophecies which we have seen fulfilled, it can be argued that Christ's return was not imminent until those certain prophecies were fulfilled. For example, Christ Himself prophesied that the Holy Spirit must come. Therefore, His return was not imminent immediately upon His ascension. The same might be said for the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. Since scripture specifically states that God has fixed the time of Christ's coming by His own authority (Acts 1:7), Christ's return is not at "any moment". It will occur at the appointed time, which arguably could be any moment *from our perspective*. This, therefore, is the crux of the problem with imminence: *our perspective* is irrelevant. We must simply, and obediently, be prepared.Also missing (unless I missed it!) is the classic Rev. 3:10 argument. But then, this is not a "rapture" book as much as it is a premillenial book.Excellent material, as usual, from one of our generation's greatest expositors.

Well let's just say that this book along with many other credible authors of the end times philosophy are right on the ball. Right on the money. This book is clear, easy to read, and well worth the time. It began with WWI's end where the major powers wanted to form globalization (which will later be used by the AntiChrist), to the return of the Jewish state (and yes Israel belongs to the Jews, not the Muslims), to the antiChristian movements and the "liberal" Christian movements (both aiming at taking away the truth of the Bible), to what is happening right now in Iraq and with Iraq's liberation will bring forth the physical construction of Babylon (and yes S. H. has already started building of Babylon so its only time now). And about that question toward "this generation won't pass..." was talking about not the generation of Jesus's time, but the generation of the Israelits during the end time. Any intelligent reader and believer of the Bible would see this.I would also highly suggest you reading anything by Mark Hitchcock who is a wonderful Christian and prophet teacher.