A Glimpse of the Coming King

By Richard J. Hill

In A Glimpse of the Coming King, author Richard J. “Dick” Hill explores what the Word of God teaches about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He invites believers to consider many biblical passages that predicted Christ’s first coming and then those that describe His second coming. The Bible student can look to the prophetic words of the Bible and get a glimpse of our coming King and reflect on how He will return–triumphant and victorious, ushering in a new epoch on this earth.

This will be the time when the King of this entire universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return to this earth and be crowned King over all His created order. This small planet, so seemingly unimportant, will become the center of God’s amazing plan for this universe. By preparing spiritually now and studying the prophetic Word of God, we will treasure this magnificent kingdom and delight in the coming days of the King.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973626718

Richard J. Hill

Richard J. “Dick” Hill is a pastor and the founder and director of Glimpses of Grace ministries. He has worked to share through his writings the Bible’s doctrines of grace that have defined his ministry for over 50 years. This book, A Glimpse of the Coming King, is part of his book series (A Glimpse of the Christ, A Glimpse of the Christian, A Glimpse of the Chosen, A Glimpse of Galatians, and A Glimpse of Romans). Hill is a graduate of Florida Bible College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Kosciusko, Mississippi. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2018 Richard J. Dick Hill.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2670-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2672-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2671-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904935

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/09/2018

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1     A Glimpse of the Coming King

Chapter 2     A Glimpse of the Abrahamic Covenant

Chapter 3     A Glimpse of the Davidic Covenant

Chapter 4     A Glimpse of the Palestinian Covenant

Chapter 5     A Glimpse of the Kingdom Truth

Chapter 6     A Glimpse of the Kingdom Constitution

Chapter 7     A Glimpse of the Kingdom Gospel

Chapter 8     A Glimpse of the King Rejected

Chapter 9     A Glimpse of the Seventieth Week of Daniel

Chapter 10   A Glimpse of God’s Divine Antagonists

Chapter 11   A Glimpse of the Babylonian System

Chapter 12   A Glimpse of the Return of the King

Chapter 13   A Glimpse of the Remnant

Chapter 14   A Glimpse of Life in the Kingdom

Chapter 15   A Glimpse of the Ultimate Gift

Study Guide

Endnotes

Introduction

I t was never my plan to write a log of my own spiritual journey into the realm of God’s amazing grace, but without a doubt, that has been the will of God. Throughout my lifelong study of God’s Word, I have been consumed by glimpses of His amazing plan. At this point in my life, God is so enormous, so unbounded, so very incomprehensible to my finite mind that I can do nothing but simply stand amazed in His presence.

This book completes the C-series of books that I have written (A Glimpse of the Christ, A Glimpse of the Christian, and A Glimpse of the Chosen being the first three books). The Second Coming of Jesus Christ has been a subject of discussion among religious groups throughout the world for hundreds of years. For those of us who take the Bible as God’s inerrant, infallible word in its plain, commonsense meaning, it is clear that God has promised a day when Jesus Christ will come again to this earth. In answering the question of how He will come, we will look at the many passages that predicted His first coming and proceed from there to His Second Coming. His Second Coming should be interpreted in much the same way as the first.

Life had been surreal for a small band of men who watched their beloved leader unjustly treated for three years, horribly mangled, and ultimately crucified, buried, and miraculously raised from the dead. Along the way, He gave the Jewish people every reason to believe that He was, without a doubt, their long-awaited King. He had come to His own people, yet they did not receive Him (John 1:12). The disciples had, no doubt, gone from bouts of being in utter despair and depression to incredible heights of inexpressible elation and joy. They were probably emotionally spent.

The disciples were assembled with the Lord Jesus Christ near Jerusalem at the foot of the Mount of Olives. They had been listening, probably with rapt attention, to Jesus teach about the kingdom of God. They hoped that at last their King was going to bring in this long-awaited kingdom.

Their thoughts concerning the kingdom motivated them to ask again, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6). The promise from God of a literal kingdom for Israel was at the heart of everything they hoped for. His teachings about this kingdom had led them to believe that it was to be a real kingdom, that it was coming to the earth, and that it was coming very soon. The issue in their minds was simply when.

When the disciples asked Him about the coming kingdom, Jesus did not put doubts in their minds concerning the fact of the kingdom. He gave them the impression that timing was the issue. He told them that the coming of the kingdom was under the authority of God the Father. It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (Acts 1:7). He told the disciples that they must wait. The King would send them the Holy Spirit soon, and they would be empowered to become witnesses for Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). In fact, this small group of common men, armed with the gospel of God’s immeasurable grace, were going to literally turn the entire world upside down (Acts 17:6).

The twelve had seen the King show miraculous power over nature, angels, disease, demons, and death itself. Some of these events may have played over and over again in their minds as they walked with Him. They did not realize that He had saved one of His greatest performances for last. Suddenly, He was lifted into the air and up, up, and away into the clouds and out of sight. They saw this happen with their own eyes. This wasn’t a mirage. This wasn’t a spiritual, invisible ascension. It was real and very animated.

It didn’t stop there. A couple of angels put a final note on the miracle. They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). Jesus Christ will come again in the same way that He left.

This was the last message that the disciples received. Someday, their King was coming back through the clouds. His feet would once again stand on the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah predicted this exact coming. Speaking of Yahweh in the Old Testament, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament, Zechariah said, And in that [future] day, His feet will stand [again] on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). His feet would once again stand where His last sandal prints on earth could be found, on the Mount of Olives. No truth could be clearer.

These Jewish men had every right to expect that the Christ would indeed establish His kingdom on the earth while He was with them. They had every right to question Him concerning the kingdom, and ask they did. Undoubtedly, deep in the crevices of their minds and constantly ringing in their ears were many detailed promises.

The King, while meeting with His disciples in an upper room, made an amazing prediction. He told them that He was going away. They did not take that truth very well. He told them they were not to be troubled. They believed in God; they were to also believe in Him. He said that there were many places to live in His house and that He was going away to prepare a place for them. But He reassured them that He was coming again to receive them unto Himself, that they may be with Him (John 14:1–6).

The King will return to rescue and restore the nation of Israel in order to fulfill God’s covenant promise to Abraham (Zechariah 13:8–14:19; Romans 11:25–36; Revelation 19:11–20:3; Isaiah 61:2b–64:12). God will purge and purify the Jews from their rebellion against Him and prepare them to face their King (Zechariah 12:9; Malachi 2:3–4). He will make the nation of Israel, now dead, to live again (Romans 11:25–26; Ezekiel 37:4–12).

The King will also return to reclaim and renew the earth from the clutches of Satan (Isaiah 11:3–9; Romans 8:19–22; Luke 4:6–7; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 16:11, 12:31; Revelation 5:6–10). And the King will return to reign over a kingdom on a renewed earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6).

Jesus Christ came to earth the first time as the promised King, offering His kingdom to the Jews (Luke 1:31–33). The wise men knew that this was the reason that He came because they asked, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

God predicted that He was going to come into the world through the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:14). He did (Luke 1:26–35). He predicted that He would be God with us (Isaiah 7:14). He was. He foretold that this event would occur in Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2). It happened exactly as He said.

The coming of the King also was to occur when the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4). Rome would supply the stable roads to travel throughout the entire world and the much-needed peace for travelers. The Greeks would give the world a common language so that people could communicate with one another. It would be a time when travel, safety, and communication among the masses were possible. All of this would be used to get the message of the good news to God’s elect scattered all over the world (2 Timothy 2:10).

The prophets predicted precisely why He was coming: He was coming to die for His sheep (Isaiah 53:1–6; John 10:14–16). We need to be reminded that this all happened just as it was foretold by the prophets. His Second Coming, likewise, was predicted by the prophets and will be fulfilled literally.

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A Glimpse of the Coming King

I am a fan of The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien. My favorite of the three books is The Return of the King. I am always emotionally stirred by the words spoken by the white wizard Gandalf when he was finally placing the crown upon the head of Aragorn, the true king of Gondor. He said, Now come the days of the king, and may they be blessed.

There is coming a time when the King of this entire universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return to this earth and be crowned King over all of His created order. This small planet, so seemingly unimportant, will become the center of God’s amazing plan for this universe. This universal reign will commence when Christ establishes a kingdom over a redeemed earth and reigns over it for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6–9). The Lord Jesus Christ will at that time turn this kingdom over to His Father, who will transform it into a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness will dwell forever.

The thousand-year segment of this everlasting kingdom will allow God to finally and forever demonstrate to the human race and the angelic realm that the only political system that will ever work for humankind is one in which God alone rules over the hearts of men and women. It will not be a democracy, nor a republic, nor socialism, nor communism. It will be a kingdom ruled over by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s kingdom will place on display the immense value of the second member of the Holy Trinity. It will be a time for the Christ to have His day in the sun.

Though not original with me, the following thoughts express the contrast of what the coming days of the kingdom will be like. Just imagine a world dominated by what is right and fair. The new world will be ruled by a perfect government bringing true peace on earth and goodwill toward men. All weapons of war will be remade into instruments for growing food. No nation will dare to be aggressive against other nations, and war will be no more. The curse from the Fall will be removed, and the environment will be restored to the pre-Fall beauty of the Garden of Eden. Wild animals will no longer eat each other in order to survive, and small children will have no fear of any of them. This will be a world ruled by a perfect and glorious ruler.

Imagine a time when there will be no fear of deadly natural disasters or uncontrollable diseases. Envision a time when every court will deliver perfect justice for every case, when truth will be established in every conflict, and when all who deceive will be exposed and judged swiftly. Picture a world where all children from every race and nationality will be fully educated by the King. Physical deformities and social, political, and religious oppression will be no more. All forms of slavery will be abolished.

Imagine a world where the length of life will be restored and where the elderly will not grow feeble, will not lose their hearing or sight, and will not fear Alzheimer’s disease or cancer but will grow old with clarity of mind and a sound body. Imagine a world where what is appropriate and right marks every aspect of life, including relationships between people, businesses, and governments. It will be a world where there is absolute permanent peace and where that peace is enforced, a world filled with joy and good health, so much so that people live for hundreds of years.

The days will come when there will be such a world. These will be the days of the King.

The Lord’s Prayer reveals the reality of a kingdom to come such as this. Jesus prayed to the Father, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. That powerful statement is evidence that God’s heavenly kingdom will come to the earth. Please take the time to read the following scriptures. They are summarized below but need to be read in full to glean the full meaning.

THE KING WILL BRING UNIVERSAL PEACE (ISAIAH 9:6–7)

Isaiah described a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting Father, and a Prince of Peace yet to come who will bear all the responsibility of governing and rendering perfect justice in every case. That was simply not true during Jesus’s first coming. There will be no end to His reign upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. Every conflict will end in swift and fair judgment, and justice will prevail.

THE KING WILL RENEW THIS FALLEN CREATION (ISAIAH 11:1–9)

A descendant of Jesse, David’s father, will come on the scene, and he will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord and will rule with supreme wisdom and understanding. His judgment will not be based on human instincts or perceptions but on righteousness. His weapons of judgment will be the rod of His mouth and the breath of His lips. He will wear righteousness and faithfulness like a belt. It will be a time of utter peace on the earth, when even wild animals will not consume each other and will be led about by a little child.

THE KING WILL BRING HEALING (ISAIAH 35:5–6)

In this new kingdom, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and the dumb will sing. The desert will flow with water, the mountains will be no more, and the clouds will be rolled back.

THE KING WILL BE KNOWN BY ALL (JEREMIAH 31:34)

Everyone will know the Lord, from the least of them to the greatest. Their sins will be forgiven and remembered no more.

ALL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE KING (ISAIAH 2:2–3)

In the latter days, all nations will flow to the Lord’s dwelling place to learn of Him and walk in His paths. His law will go forth from Jerusalem.

ALL THE SCATTERED AND LOST SHEEP WILL BE BROUGHT HOME (JEREMIAH 23:5–7)

The people of Israel will be scattered because of their disobedience, but the Lord will gather a remnant of His flock from all countries back to their own land. They will be fruitful and have every need met. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed or lacking. The Lord will raise up from David a King to reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness. His name will be called the Lord Our Righteousness.

THE GENTILES WILL SEEK HIM (ISAIAH 11:10–16)

This descendant of David, King Jesus, will be as a banner to the people so that even Gentiles will seek Him. His resting place will be glorious. He will regather the remnant of His people who are left from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea. The dispersed will be gathered together from the four corners of the earth. Judah’s enemies will be cut off. Judah and Ephraim will work together to plunder the people of the East. They will bring into subjection Edom, Moab, and Amon. Jehovah will wave His hand over the Euphrates so that it is split into seven small brooks so that those returning from Assyria and Egypt can cross over on dry land.

WE WILL FINALLY BE HOME (ISAIAH 33:17–24)

When the King sets up His kingdom, we will see Him in His beauty. Our eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, a tabernacle that will not be taken down. No stakes will be removed nor cords broken, unlike the tabernacle that was moved with the people of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. The Lord will be our lawgiver, our judge, and our King. Those who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

THE KING WILL GIVE BEAUTY FOR ASHES (ISAIAH 61:1–11)

Isaiah declared that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because the Lord had anointed him to proclaim good tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and open the prison to those bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, and to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness—that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. The old ruins will be rebuilt, and the ruined cities will be repaired. God’s chosen people will be called priests of the Lord, servants of our God. They will eat the riches of the Gentiles and boast in their glory. Instead of shame, they will have double honor. Instead of confusion, they will rejoice in their portion. They will experience everlasting joy and an everlasting covenant with God. Their descendants will be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people. All who see them will acknowledge that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.

THE KING WILL REJOICE OVER HIS SUBJECTS (ISAIAH 62:1–12)

In that day, Gentiles will realize that Israel is God’s chosen people, and all kings will recognize her glory. God will give Jerusalem a new name, a crown of glory, and a royal diadem. She will no longer be called forsaken or desolate but shall be called Hephzibah, and her land will be called Beulah. The Lord will rejoice over her as a bridegroom does over his bride. God will set watchmen over the city to guard it night and day. No longer will the enemy eat her grain nor the foreigner drink her new wine. Those who gathered it will consume it and praise the Lord. The Lord will proclaim to the end of the world, "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation