The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Statement of belief:
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer's hope and is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.

Terms associated with the second coming
"premillennial" This belief states that Jesus will return to physically reign for a thousand years. It is also necessary that Christ does return to initiate the beginning of the thousand years of reign. The scriptural basis for this view is taken from Revelation 20:4-6. Christ is seen as literally breaking in on time and space causing great separation of good and evil in this world.

"amillennial" The amillennial view states that there will be no millennial reign of Christ. When he comes the second time it will initiate the great final judgment. The amillennialist believes that the 1000 years reign of Christ is to be taken symbolically and not literally. It also holds that the 2 resurrections written of in Revelation are to be understood as the first as spiritual and the second as physical.

"postmillennial" This is the view whereby the preaching of the gospel will be so successful that the world will be converted, There will be peace and evil will be banished. Then when the truth of the gospel has taken full effect Christ will return to reign as King. This view has its Biblical basis from scripture such as Psalms 47, 72, and Isaiah 45:22-25.

Which position do I accept?
I tend to gravitate toward the premillennial stance. I say this because of my belief and understanding of the Bible. I believe that the stories in the Bible to be true and historically sound. I also view revelation as a symbolic writing with literal consequences. So if John records that there will be a 1000 years of Christ's reign then there will be a 1000 years rule. I do not know when Christ will return but I do believe that things in the world will not get totally better without the removal of evil from this planet. I do hold to the hope that the Kingdom of Heaven has in part begun with Christ's victory over death and will continue to grow with the spreading of the Gospel. I can see the hope of the postmillennial view but I have a hard time believing it. So I rest in the premillennial view.

How do I define "imminent?" and in what sense is the Second Coming of Christ "imminent?"
Imminent is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as, "ready to take place." I believe that this definition can be used to explain my understanding of Christ’s return. Jesus spoke of many things during his time on earth but one thing that held his disciples true to the faith was that he was going to return. Matthew 24-25 Mark 13:26 Luke 21:27 The imminent return of Christ is also described in the Bible as unexpected. Matthew 25:8-10 I believe that Jesus is coming back but I do not know the time. I do believe that there will be signs of the times that will prepare us but we are called to live everyday as being in a state of readiness for his return. This means that we are to be at work fulfilling the Great Commission until he calls us home. By doing this way the Church will grow and be a blessing to the world and not a private social club waiting for the their ticket to heaven.