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==176:2. THE MASTER'S SECOND COMING==

==176:2. THE MASTER'S SECOND COMING==

176:2.1 On several occasions Jesus had made statements which led his hearers to infer that, while he intended presently to leave this world, he would most certainly return to consummate the work of the heavenly kingdom. As the conviction grew on his followers that he was going to leave them, and after he had departed from this world, it was only natural for all believers to lay fast hold upon these promises to return. The doctrine of the second coming of Christ thus became early incorporated into the teachings of the Christians, and almost every subsequent generation of disciples has devoutly believed this truth and has confidently looked forward to his sometime coming.

176:2.1 On several occasions [[Jesus]] had made [[statements]] which led his hearers to [[infer]] that, while he [[intended]] presently to leave this world, he would most certainly return to [[consummate]] the [[work]] of [[the heavenly kingdom]]. As the [[conviction]] grew on his followers that he was going to leave them, and after he had departed from this world, it was only [[natural]] for all [[believers]] to lay fast hold upon these [[promises]] to return. The [[doctrine]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ] thus became early incorporated into the [[teachings]] of the [[Christians]], and almost every subsequent [[generation]] of [[disciples]] has [[devoutly]] [[believed]] this [[truth]] and has [[confidently]] looked forward to his sometime coming.

176:2.2 If they were to part with their Master and Teacher, how much more did these first disciples and the apostles grasp at this promise to return, and they lost no time in associating the predicted destruction of Jerusalem with this promised second coming. And they continued thus to interpret his words notwithstanding that, throughout this evening of instruction on Mount Olivet, the Master took particular pains to prevent just such a mistake.

176:2.2 If they were to part with [[the Master|their Master]] and Teacher, how much more did these [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity first disciples] and [[the apostles]] grasp at this [[promise]] to return, and they lost no [[time]] in [[associating]] the [[predicted]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_Jerusalem#Destruction_of_Jerusalem destruction of Jerusalem] with this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming promised second coming]. And they continued thus to [[interpret]] his [[words]] notwithstanding that, throughout this evening of instruction on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives Mount Olivet], [[the Master]] took particular [[pains]] to [[prevent]] just such a [[mistake]].

176:2.3 In further answer to Peter's question, Jesus said: " Why do you still look for the Son of Man to sit upon the throne of David and expect that the material dreams of the Jews will be fulfilled? Have I not told you all these years that my kingdom is not of this world? The things which you now look down upon are coming to an end, but this will be a new beginning out of which the gospel of the kingdom will go to all the world and this salvation will spread to all peoples. And when the kingdom shall have come to its full fruition, be assured that the Father in heaven will not fail to visit you with an enlarged revelation of truth and an enhanced demonstration of righteousness, even as he has already bestowed upon this world him who became the prince of darkness, and then Adam, who was followed by Melchizedek, and in these days, the Son of Man. And so will my Father continue to manifest his mercy and show forth his love, even to this dark and evil world. So also will I, after my Father has invested me with all power and authority, continue to follow your fortunes and to guide in the affairs of the kingdom by the presence of my spirit, who shall shortly be poured out upon all flesh. Even though I shall thus be present with you in spirit, I also promise that I will sometime return to this world, where I have lived this life in the flesh and achieved the experience of simultaneously revealing God to man and leading man to God. Very soon must I leave you and take up the work the Father has intrusted to my hands, but be of good courage, for I will sometime return. In the meantime, my Spirit of the Truth of a universe shall comfort and guide you.

176:2.3 In further answer to [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]]'s [[question]], [[Jesus]] said: " Why do you still look for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man] to sit upon the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidic_Line throne of David] and [[expect]] that the [[material]] [[dreams]] of the [[Jews]] will be [[fulfilled]]? Have I not told you all these years that [[the Kingdom|my kingdom]] is not of this world? The [[things]] which you now look down upon are coming to an end, but this will be a new beginning out of which the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] will go to all the world and this [[salvation]] will spread to all peoples. And when [[the kingdom]] shall have come to its [[Consummation|full fruition]], be [[assured]] that [[the Father]] in heaven will not fail to [[visit]] you with an enlarged [[revelation]] of [[truth]] and an enhanced [[demonstration]] of [[righteousness]], even as he has already [[bestowed]] upon this world him who became [[Caligastia|the prince of darkness]], and then [[Adam]], who was followed by [[Machiventa|Melchizedek]], and in these days, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man]. And so will [[the Father|my Father]] continue to [[manifest]] his [[mercy]] and show forth his [[love]], even to this [[dark]] and [[evil]] world. So also will I, after [[the Father|my Father]] has invested me with all [[power]] and [[authority]], continue to follow your fortunes and to [[guide]] in the affairs of [[the kingdom]] by the [[presence]] of [[[Spirit of Truth|my spirit]], who shall shortly be poured out upon all [[flesh]]. Even though I shall thus be present with you in [[spirit]], I also [[promise]] that I will sometime return to this world, where I have lived this life in the [[flesh]] and [[achieved]] the [[experience]] of [[simultaneously]] [[revealing]] [[God]] to man and [[leading]] [[man]] to [[God]]. Very soon must I leave you and take up the [[work]] [[the Father]] has intrusted to my hands, but be of [[good]] [[courage]], for I will sometime return. In the meantime, my [[Spirit of Truth|Spirit of the Truth]] of a [[universe]] shall [[comfort]] and [[guide]] you.

176:2.4 " You behold me now in weakness and in the flesh, but when I return, it shall be with power and in the spirit. The eye of flesh beholds the Son of Man in the flesh, but only the eye of the spirit will behold the Son of Man glorified by the Father and appearing on earth in his own name.

176:2.4 " You behold me now in weakness and in the flesh, but when I return, it shall be with power and in the spirit. The eye of flesh beholds the Son of Man in the flesh, but only the eye of the spirit will behold the Son of Man glorified by the Father and appearing on earth in his own name.