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Indeed, based upon much of the current interpretation of Christ's own promises regarding His Return, and the promises of the Old Testament, it seems impossible to Christians that Christ should have already returned. It appears clear to them from the statements of the Old and New Testaments, that at the time of Christ's Second Coming, it simply will not be possible for Christ to appear in the world in a way that they are not expecting. They feel they have been given too much guidance in the scriptures for such a thing to happen. Though they may not know all the details of Christ's Second Coming, they are certain they know more than was known at His First Coming. He has already appeared in the world once, they now know Who He is, and they are consciously expecting His Return. They display complete assurance regarding the Second Coming and a widespread consensus: "They will not miss Christ a second time." (83:2) Thus, for example, the Bible assures Christians that certain signs will accompany Christ's Return. They know, for example, that He will come "in the clouds" , that "every eye shall see Him" , and that He will reign as "King of kings" . They are sure of this because Christ Himself has spoken these promises. These, and the many other references to Christ at His Return, present Christians with that long awaited image of Christ's glorious and triumphant theophany when He will destroy evil and establish an everlasting justice on earth - a justice in which He, Himself, under the authority of God, the Father, will be the sole and visible Ruler (83:3) Yes, Christians know all this to be true-- beyond the shadow of a doubt. All who believe in the Bible, they feel assured, must accept this because this is what the Word of God has revealed. How then, could anyone refer, as was done above, to the Second Coming as if it had already happened? If the "King of kings" had come, then surely He would be, at this very moment, the prime focus of history. But the world seems to be proceeding as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Haven't the holy words of the Bible obviously been thrown out and rejected in order to advance the spurious claim that Christ has returned?
(83:4)
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