The Second Advent of Christ is for the completion of the work of His First Advent. He came then, to seek and to save that which was lost‑fallen man, in bondage to sin and estranged from God. He died on the Cross, a Ransom for all, and by that death secured the power to recall every member of the human race from the death state, into which they pass of necessity in consequence of sin. The task of awakening those dead ones and bringing them back to perfection and everlasting life is reserved for His Second Advent.

When Jesus left His disciples He promised them that He would come again. On the Mount of Olives He had a long conversation with them in which He outlined the signs which would indicate the time of His return, and He exhorted them, and those that should follow after them, to be ever watchful and expectant. Throughout all ages since then there have always been the watchers, waiting and longing for His coming.

Although Jesus promised that He would be with His disciples in spirit throughout the Age ("Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world") it is clear that when He spoke of His return He referred to a personal coming, a departure from the Heavenly courts and the presence of His Father, and coming to this world which was the scene of His earthly life. It is equally clear that he does not return in the flesh, as a man, in the fashion of His First Advent, for He is a man no longer. He returns a spiritual being, the "express image of the Father's person," and hence at His return is normally invisible to human sight.

At His return He sets up His Kingdom on the earth and assumes control of earth's affairs, having associated with Him the members of His Church, His devoted followers of this Age. His ruling power will be exercised through faithful men of God of old, the Hebrew patriarchs and prophets, raised from the dead to be guides and counsellors to humanity. During the whole period of Christ's reign over the earth evil will be restrained, death, except as the penalty for wilful sin, will cease, and men be encouraged to come to Jesus in full repentance and conversion, so receiving everlasting life.

Those signs which Jesus described are being seen today. A widespread conviction exists among many Christian believers that we are living in the time of which Jesus spoke and that His revelation to men is an imminent event. The present distress of nations is a herald of the Second Advent.

AOH