Is Christ Still Coming?

There are many false teachings that you will surely encounter in the social media. There are those several Ophirian cults who believed the Philippines is the land of Ophir located in the east of Israel. And there are also those who belong to the Sacred Name cult movement believing that there is only one Hebrew name for the Father alone. Another religious cult group that you have probably encountered are those who claim to be Christian believers but does not believe in the authority and inspiration of the Bible, the spreading of the gospel, the need to evangelize the lost, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In a discussion with one proponent of this group on a Facebook thread, he believed there was no more Second Coming for Jesus Christ. Their view moves them to believed that everything has already taken place. There is nothing to expect in the future but ad infinitum ad nauseam. In relation to this, he firmly held that those who pierced the side of Jesus in Revelation 1:7 refer to the Roman soldiers (plural). He even argued,  

“Where can I find in our GENERATION the Roman soldiers [plural] that PIERCED Jesus. (emphasis’ his, brackets mine) 

However, when I pointed out the word “those” does not refer to the Roman soldiers (plural) since in John 19:34, there was only one (singular) Roman soldier involved in piercing the side of Jesus among the rest of the soldiers that were there. After learning about his inconsistent interpretation, he then change his statement without even admitting his mistake saying. His revised exolanation now states, 

“My point is Christ second coming is the soldier (plural) who pierced Jesus will witness His return. (brackets’ mine)

Noticed how easy for him to changed his plural soldiers to singular soldier. I then proceed to asked him, “How many Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side? Was it many Roman soldiers based on your misinterpretation of Revelation 1:7 or one based on John’s testimony in John 19:34?” How can our friend who does not believed in Christ’s Second Coming reconcile his two statements?  

What’s the Big Deal Over the “Soldiers”?

Their Revelation 1:7 interpretation is a big deal for them since they believed “those (plural) who pierced him in this passage” refer to the Roman soldiers (plural) who pierced the side of Jesus. If their interpretation is correct then this means Jesus already came back during the first century because the Roman soldiers (plural) were there to witness His Second Coming based from Revelation 1:7 saying, 

“… he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those (plural) who pierced him…”  

However, a careful study will show the inconsistencies of their interpretation. Their problem is how to reconcile this passage in Revelation 1:7 revealed by John himself with his own previous writing in John 19:34 since there was only one Roman soldier involved in piercing Jesus’ side among the rest of the Roman soldiers who were there. The passage says, 

“But one (singular) of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” 

Since it is very obvious that there is only one Roman soldier among the rest of the Roman soldiers involved in piercing His side then the phrase “those (plural) who pierced him” in Revelation 1:7 will surely not fit the testimony of John with regards to the Roman soldier (singular) who pierced Him in John 19:34. It is therefore plausible to interpret that “those (plural) who pierced him” could refer to the generation of Jews that are represented on that Day of His Second Coming in the future. Truly, the apostle John revealed about this in Revelations 1:7 when he writes “every eye will see” Jesus’ Second Coming, even those (plural) who pierced him.   

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those (plural) who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. – Revelation 1:7

Scholars Agree

It is highly probable that the second clause refers to the world of Gentiles when it says “every eye will see him” during His Second Coming. While “those (plural) who pierced him” could possibly include the generation of Jews who are responsible in piercing the Messiah, along with those who doesn’t believe Him even up to this day. The respected scholar Dr. Adam Clarke concurs, 

“This relates to his coming to execute judgment on the enemies of his religion; perhaps to his coming to destroy Jerusalem, as he was to be particularly manifested to them that pierced him, which must mean the incredulous and rebellious Jews.” 

Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, a professor of New Testament exegesis also agrees saying, 

“The expression here refers not to the Jews only, but to all who reject the Son of Man; those who ‘in any age have identified themselves with the Spirit of the Savior’s murderers.’”  

One will also notice that even the prophecy in the book of Zechariah concurs that those (plural) who pierced him will look on the Messiah saying,

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom They (plural) have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10

If this is the case, then these falsely misled believers’ view on this passage actually crumble like a house of cards. And besides, if they do not believed in the authority and inspiration of the Bible then where are they getting their doctrines and practices? I wonder. I would rather believed the authority of the Scripture when it says,

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Revelations 22:12

Yes, Jesus is coming soon! This is why there is a need to bring the gospel to every nation and make disciples of the lost people.