The manner of the Second Coming is described in Matthew
24:30 as being with the clouds of heaven, according to Acts
1:9-11, He will return in the same manner as He left. It
must be noted that the angels did not prophesy that Jesus
would return to the same place, but rather in the same
manner in which He had left. Jesus left in the clouds and,
according to Matthew 24:30, He will return in the clouds.
When He returns, Messiah will be followed by armies
(Revelation 19:14). However, Isaiah 63:1-6 made it clear
that although the armies of saints and angels will return
with Him, they will not participate in the fighting. Messiah
will fight this battle by Himself.
After describing Jesus in His role as Judge and the armies
that return with Him, John next describes Jesus in His
office of King (Revelation 19:15-16). After judging the
nations as righteous Judge, He is to rule as King, with a
rod of iron. These nations will gather and attempt to
destroy the Jews in order to abolish God’s rule over them
(Palm 2:1-6). However, they will partake of the wrath of God
at the Second Coming and He will rule over them. Hence,
Jesus will indeed be the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Because of the massive destruction of all the armies of the
nations, another invitation is issued. This one invites the
birds of the heavens to the great supper of God (Revelation
19:17-18). The birds will eat the unburied carcasses of many
who participated in “the war of the great day of God, the
Almighty.” This feast for the birds is also described in
Ezekiel 39:17-20 extending the invitation to the animals of
the field. Ezekiel closely connects these events with the
final redemption of Israel (Ezekiel 39:21-29). Only then
will the Gentile nations realize that God did not cast off
His people forever. Israel’s judgment and dispersion was due
to sin, primarily the sin of the rejection of theMessiahship
of Jesus. Therefore, for a time, God hid His face and
allowed the nations to come and cause havoc and destruction.
However, later, Israel will confess her national sin and
seek His face in their affliction (Hosea 5:15). They will
seek rescue from the nations that have so sorely afflicted
them. The nations will recognize at the Second Coming that
God is still Israel’s God and He will avenge their
affliction of Israel. In gathering all the armies of the
world against Israel, they will actually be gathering
against Israel’s Messiah (Revelation 19:19). Another passage
giving a description of the Second Coming is Habakkuk
3:1-19. This prayer of Habakkuk (v 1) is a prophetic one,
for it records in vision what can only be the Second Coming.
The prayer opens with the pleading of the remnant (v 2) to
save them physically and spiritually. In answer to the
remnant’s request, God is viewed as coming from Edom with
all His shining glory (vv 3-4). At His coming, He will begin
to render judgment against the gathered nations by various
means (vv 5-7). Having seen this vision of the marching
armies and the Second Coming, Habakkuk trembles with the
knowledge of what must yet befall his people Israel where so
many will be killed (vv 16-17). However, he takes comfort in
the fact that his personal salvation rests in the Lord Who,
at the Second Advent, will make all things right (vv 18-19).
