In my Dispensational upbringing, my understanding of the verses where Christ says "you know not the hour when the Son of Man is coming" and refers to it as a thief in the night...my thinking was that he was just talking about the Rapture.
Anyways, in WCF 33.3 on the last judgment, it says: "As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen."
This is a very new understanding for me that these sayings of Christ are referring to him coming in judgment. So I have two questions:
(1) Could someone explain to me exegetically that these verses are referring to Christ coming in judgment?
(2) When does this judgment occur? Is it referring to a person's death or the last judgment? Will there be a judgment at a person's death before the last judgment? I mean, the WCF here does seem to indicate this judgment could happen at any minute, that a person should live with a constant expectation/preparedness of it -- would that judgment be best understood as the actual return of the Lord, that it could be at any minute? I need a little help with these concepts.
I have a lot of questions as this is new to me. Thank you for your help.
Anyways, in WCF 33.3 on the last judgment, it says: "As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen."
This is a very new understanding for me that these sayings of Christ are referring to him coming in judgment. So I have two questions:
(1) Could someone explain to me exegetically that these verses are referring to Christ coming in judgment?
(2) When does this judgment occur? Is it referring to a person's death or the last judgment? Will there be a judgment at a person's death before the last judgment? I mean, the WCF here does seem to indicate this judgment could happen at any minute, that a person should live with a constant expectation/preparedness of it -- would that judgment be best understood as the actual return of the Lord, that it could be at any minute? I need a little help with these concepts.
I have a lot of questions as this is new to me. Thank you for your help.