BEN F. VICK, JR.
It is just as wrong to sing a lie as it is to preach it. This song, written by R. E. Winsett in 1942, teaches error. I have tried to justify it because "soon" is a relative term; however, the New Testament does not teach that the second coming of Christ is coming soon. If it does, Paul did not know it because he taught that there would be a falling away after his death (Acts 20:28-32). If the New Testament teaches the imminent return of our Lord, Peter did not know it. The Lord had said to Peter that he would die before Christ returned (2 Peter 1:12-14; John 21: 18-19). These apostles spoke by inspiration of God. If they were wrong, it reflects on the Holy Spirit who revealed the messages to them (John 16:7-13).
The Premillennialists teach the Lord shall return before his 1000-year reign on the earth. Some also teach the imminent return of Christ. They believe the New Testament teaches the imminent return of Christ. If the New Testament teaches it now, it taught the same 2000 years ago. I believe in the eminent doctrine of the second coming of Christ, but not the imminent return of our Lord. "Eminent" means prominent. "Imminent" is defined as “ready to occur, impending, close in time, about to occur, at hand.”
John wrote, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20.) The word "quickly" translates from the Greek word (ταχύς), which pertains "to a very brief period of time, with focus on speed of an activity or event. The word "quickly" is an adverb modifying "come." The Lord's coming will be quickly. He will come swiftly, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."
A second definition of the Greek word pertains "to a relatively brief time subsequent to another point of time." To translate the word "ταχύς" as "soon" is not wrong in specific contexts. However, the bias of the translators of some available translations today is seen using the word "soon." The NIV, ESV, NLT, and NRSV translate the word as "soon." The New Berkeley Version renders the word "very soon." The Message reads, "I'm on my way! I'll be there soon." These renderings reflect the veracity of the Godhead. It has been 2000 years since those words were penned. It might be argued that a day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day; however, that statement is from the Lord's perspective; "Surely, I come quickly" is written from man's viewpoint.
The song "Jesus Is Coming Soon" teaches error in saying there will be "signs" of the Lord's second coming. The second stanza in our songbook reads:
Love of so many cold, losing their home of gold
This in God's word is told, evils abound.
When these signs come to pass, nearing the end at last
It will come very fast, trumpets will sound.
Brethren, there will be no signs of the second coming of Christ. More on that later. However, to teach that there will be signs of his return is based on a misapplication of the Lord's teaching concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. It is to apply the signs of the pending doom of Jerusalem with the second coming of Christ. Those are two different events. The Lord's prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. There are short references in other places as well.
When Jesus and his apostles were in Jerusalem, Jesus said to the Jews, "Behold, your house [not his house or temple] is left unto you desolate." (Matt. 23:38.) This announcement concerned the apostles. Mark records, "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" (Mark 13:1.) Perhaps they could not understand how the temple would be desolate. It was beautiful. They spoke of its having been "adorned with goodly stones and gifts." It was the center of Jewish worship. Jesus said, "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Luke 21:6)
The disciples went with Jesus to the Mount of Olives on the eastern side of Jerusalem. As they sat there looking over Jerusalem, they could see the temple's east side. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus privately, "Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?" (Luke 21:7.) Though Matthew mentions three questions asked by Jesus' apostles, they boil down to just two. The apostles were asking him about the destruction of Jerusalem, his coming, and the end of the world or age. Their questions related to one event, the destruction of Jerusalem. However, Jesus answered them concerning two events: the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming. Matthew's account makes this clear.
Jesus answers the question as to the destruction of Jerusalem in 24:4-34. What were these signs? There were remote signs of its destruction: Many would be claiming to be Christ and deceive many (24:5). There would be wars and rumors of war. Luke's account says, "wars and commotions" (Luke 21: 9). But the end of the state of Judaism would not be then (Matt. 24:6). The law of Moses ended at the cross (Col. 2:14), but many Jews were still worshiping under a law that had been nullified. Nation would rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in different places would occur. Jesus said, "All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matt.24:8.) "Sorrows" literally is "birth pains." These things mentioned would be just the beginning of great pain.
Jesus said they would be delivered up to be afflicted. They would be hated of all nations for the Lord's name. Many would stumble and betray one another. Mark's words of the Lord are these: "Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death." (Mark 13:12.) Luke says, "And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death." (Luke 21:16.) Further, Jesus said, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matt.24:11–12) Does that sound like the second stanza of the song? Yes, I know one's love for the Lord can wax cold now, but that is not the context of this expression. Jesus said, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13.) The end of what? He was not referring to his second coming here. The context deals with the Jewish state's end and Jerusalem's destruction. Persecution would cause some to fall away from the faith. But those who remained faithful to the Lord, not a hair of their head would perish (Luke 21:18).
To be continued.