In this article I want to show from the scriptures, the Bible, the Word of God, prophecies that have to be fulfilled before the second coming of Jesus.  The biggest question in the church world, the kingdom of God, today is — when will the second coming of Jesus take place? 
 Many preachers and people believe they have the answer to this question.  Preachers have been preaching and teaching their version of the second coming of Jesus on TV, radio, in books, ever since Jesus was taken up into heaven almost 2000 years ago.  But even after preaching the "rapture" all this time, Jesus still has not come.   Wake up preachers! Wake up, people!  Stop and think!  The way to find out is to do as Jesus said in St. John 5:39: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."   This lets us know that anything there is to know about Jesus, it can be found in the scriptures - the Word of God, the King James Version.  As Paul the Apostle said to the Gentiles in II Timothy 3:16-17:  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."  In other words, have a Biblical answer to any question. 
 Peter said in I Peter 3:15 to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you (or us) a reason of hope in meekness and fear. 
 Therefore, search the scriptures to find the answer to the second-coming question, instead of continuing to preach and teach that Jesus can come any time.   Now that the year 2000 is at our door, the Y2K scare is on the rampage, everyone believing that Jesus' coming is eminent, believing that He will appear at any time, ministers have added that there are two stages to the second coming of  to Jesus: 1 – when He takes His people to meet Him in the air to be with Him for seven years, and 2 – when He comes back with His people to reign.  What a good thought or theory!  It sounds good to the ears.  But the only bad part is there is not one scripture to support this doctrine!  Therefore, let us hear what Jesus said in Mark 24:23-24: "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear, but take heed at what you hear" for everything you hear is not gospel.  Search the scriptures and see what saith the Word of God and not what fantasy the "minister" is saying.  Matthew 24:24: "For there shall arise false Christs (more than one), and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (which is the church)."  Matthew 24:22, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." [Note: Just because Jesus said he would shorten the days for the elect's sake, it doesn't mean that he will come just anytime.] 

Paul -- The Apostle to the Gentiles, reveals three major points to witness that the second coming of Jesus is not "just any time." 
1. Paul said in II Thessalonians 2:3-4:  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the second coming of Jesus) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, . . . . .   If ever there has been a falling away it is today.  Everywhere you look churches are splitting again and again, causing more confusion than ever before and causing the falling away to come to pass just as Paul said. 
2. "and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?   The man of sin has to be revealed before the second coming of Jesus! 
3. II Thessalonians 2:9:  "Even him (Jesus), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,. . ."    This scripture plainly reveals that Jesus cannot come back until after Satan has deceived whomsoever he can with lying signs and wonders, with all power, and has been put on the throne in Israel showing himself that he is God.  Do you know anyone who is sitting on the throne in Israel claiming to be God?   If not, then how can Jesus come back now?  He can't.  The scripture plainly says that Jesus will come back after the working of Satan – not before. 

Peter - The Spokesman of the Twelve, said in Acts 3:21 concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ. 
 "Whom the heaven must receive (hold) until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." This means restoring The Church of God that Jesus built according to the pattern of the tabernacle that God gave to Moses on the mount.  The pattern of 12 apostles, 70 prophets, 7 men of wisdom, and Jesus appointing Peter as the spokesman of the 12, James and John being the left and right hand witnesses, and Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.   This was the Jewish house (the Church) that Jesus set up before He ascended up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father until the Church of God among the Gentiles is built according to that same pattern that Jesus used – 12 apostles, 70 prophets, 7 men of wisdom, with the three principal men, and a leader (which is the Chief Bishop), with Jesus being the head of the Church.   FOR THE CHURCH MUST BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL PATTERN THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES before God can return Jesus to earth. 

 Peter said in Acts 15:14-18: "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people (a church) for his name (the Church of God).  According to Acts 20:28,  "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."  In Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 Solomon said, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.  That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past."   Meaning –  the way Jesus set the Church with apostles and prophets, is the way The Church of God will have to be set up among the Gentiles.  Ephesians 4:8: "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."  (11-17) "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," (meaning the Church has a measure or number to reach).  Ephesians 5:27:  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (Revelation 19:7-9) 
 Ephesians 1:9-10: Having made known unto us (the Church) the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" John 10:16: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  Peter said when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, all Israel will be saved, and he will gather into one (both Jew and Gentile).  Ezekiel 37:22: "And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all."  All these things must be fulfilled first before Jesus will come back. 
 In the face of all these scriptures, and many more, which show that Jesus cannot, or will not, come back until the falling away is completed, the man of sin is revealed, and the Church is completed according to the pattern that Jesus used.  Then He will return in the manner in which he left according to Acts 15:16-18:  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." 
 Therefore, let us do as David said in I Chronicles 22:19: "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary (the Church) of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD."    And let us do it with patience, as James, the servant of the Lord said in James 5:7-9:   "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."  AMEN 
 

 Reprinted from "The Midnight Cry Messenger", Vol. I, Issue 24, Oct. 1999 (by permission)