Appendix L
The Return of Jesus Christ
In Power Glory and Splendor Part II
(The epiphaneia)
By Lambert Dolphin

30″At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of
the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with
power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they
will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. –
Matthew 24:29-31 (See parallel passages in Luke 21:23-27; Mark 13:24-27.)
The Apostle Paul describes this event in his second letter to the Thessalonians (2
Thessalonians 1:3-2:8).
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7
and give relief to you who are
troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed [unveiled, that is
apokalupsis] from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do
not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. – 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8
The Apostle John also presents a full picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus with his
saints (Revelation 19:11-21).
John’s vision closes with an invitation and a final warning,
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let
him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to
them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away
from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this book.
20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. – Revelation 22:17-21
The warning is equally clear: Don’t change a word in this prophecy! The book of
Revelation is God’s truth, Don’t add to it, Don’t subtract from it, Certainly a book so rich in
symbolism must be interpreted-but it must be interpreted carefully, Don’t take away its meaning
by emphasizing the symbolic at the expense of the literal, Do not destroy its intent by literalizing
everything in it and ignoring the meaning of the symbols, Most important of all: Believe it,
Ignore, reject, or distort God’s truth and you risk missing out on God’s plan; you risk having to
endure the terrors described in the book; you risk losing out on your portion of the tree of life
and the beautiful Holy City, Believe it–because Jesus is coming soon! He who testifies to these
things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen, Come, Lord Jesus, Doesn’t your heart reverberate
with that same poignant prayer! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The world is waiting, aching, crying
for your return! The church is watching and expecting you! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.