The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age [Hardcover]

John F., Jr. MacArthur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again andwill take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
John 14:3 ESV

Jesus Christ was very clear: One day He will return-and none ofus knows when. Vocal fanatics claim to know the details of theSecond Coming, causing many Christians to all but ignore the goodnews that Jesus is coming again. Yet God's own Word commands us toknow the signs of the times, to remain watchful, and to beready-whenever Christ comes.

This book is a straightforward, in-depth exploration of the keybiblical texts regarding the Second Coming; most notably, Christ'slongest and most important eschatological message, the OlivetDiscourse. As you study what the Word of God says about thesematters, it will stir in your heart an earnest longing for Christ'sreturn-as well as a certainty about how to live expectantly untilHe comes again.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books; 1St Edition edition (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581341210
• ISBN-13: 978-1581341218
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren.
John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur.
John is president of The Master's College and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Best-selling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Truth War, The Murder of Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Decent, not Technical, Good Intro for Premill/Pretrib, April 15, 2004

By 

kerry195 "KG" (Theologically Correct dot Com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age (Paperback)

If you've ever wondered about eschatology, MacArthur's got a very simple book here. Written on the level of those who've never dealt with anything dealing with the end times, he gives a very sobering and balanced view (representing the premillennial, pretribulational rapture). He decries 'newspaper theology' and goes to great lengths to steer believers away from the kooks and loonies like Jack Van Impe, the Lalondes, Hal Lindsey, John Hagee and others. He encourages believers to work as though Christ could appear at any moment to take them away, yet at the same time work as if He is afar off, redeeming our time while here on earth.

The book also serves as MacArthur's volley on full preterism (a heretical view which teaches that ALL prophecy has been fulfiled, including the second coming of Christ), with a few smacks and jabs at partial preterism (which teaches that MOST prophecy was fulfilled at 70 A.D. and we still await the second coming of Christ), since both use the same hermeneutical system.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and wonderfully informative, March 2, 2007

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age (Paperback)

This is another great work of expository teaching by Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church and the president of Grace to You radio ministry. In this book, Dr. MacArthur examines the Olivet Discourse (in particular, Matthew 24), which focuses in on the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Tribulation, and the coming of the Son of Man. Using the other passages of the Bible to explain and elucidate the Matthew passage.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and wonderfully informative read. Dr. MacArthur eschews the all too often taken path of trying to suggest that the events are right around the corner, and instead explains why it is important that Christ returns and how to view the imminence of the return. Now, as you would expect with Dr. MacArthur, he does take an unapologetic premillenial, pretribulation, dispensational view of the text - but, he does examine the preterist view of 24:32-35, and shows how it is out of step with their view of the rest of the passage.

Yes, I must say I really enjoyed this non-sensation, highly informative look at the Olivet Discourse. If you want to read a truly mind-expanding view of that passage, then I would highly recommend that you get this book. I give it my highest recommendations!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Puts the focus on Christ, July 27, 2000

By 

"kerry195" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age (Hardcover)

John MacArthur has done a pretty good job in this book. It's light reading- nothing too heavy here. The one thing I appreciate about this book is that he puts the focus on Christ (contra the focus on signs like Van Impe, Lindsey and other sensationalistic writers). MacArthur's writings will make you have a more humble attitude toward the Second Coming of Christ. I recommend this book for beginners and even for a few folks who are already familiar with premillennial eschatology.

I'd like to see MacArthur expand further on this topic.