Back to the Bible Podcast: Episode 110 – The Second Coming (2)
Host: Larsen Plyler
Date: June 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Larsen Plyler continues an in-depth examination of the biblical teaching on the second coming of Jesus Christ. Building on a prior discussion, this study delves into major New Testament passages, clarifies misconceptions about key texts, and offers practical encouragement for Christian living in light of the Lord’s promised return.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Second Coming: Central Focus of the New Testament

(Starts ~07:30)

• Larsen emphasizes that the second coming isn’t peripheral—it’s “the focal point of the New Testament.”

  “From Matthew to Revelation, there is a sense in which we are looking toward the second coming of Jesus Christ.” (08:20)

• Contrasts this with the Old Testament, where prophecies about Christ’s coming were seen as a single event, but the New Testament clarifies it unfolds in stages.

2. Distinguishing Texts About Judgment

(10:10)

• Not all judgments in scripture refer to the second coming.
• Matthew 24 and Mark 13 are commonly misread as discussing the end times, but Plyler argues they specifically address the destruction of Jerusalem:

  “People come away with bad ideas about the Second Coming because they are reading texts that are talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.” (11:30)

• Similar “judgment language” occurs in the Old Testament as previews; the destruction of Jerusalem is a preview of the end of the world.

3. The Book of Revelation & Prophetic Misreads

(13:40)

• Many see Revelation as a “codebook” detailing the second coming, but its primary focus is judgment on contemporary oppressors of God’s people.
• Chapters 21-22 may point forward to the ultimate future, but “the primary focus of the book is those who are oppressing God’s people at that time.” (15:45)

4. First Major Point: The Timing of the Second Coming is Unknown

(17:00)

• All predictions—Y2K, 2012/Mayan calendar, 1914—have been proven wrong.
• Some claim Jesus’ second coming already occurred in a “secretive way,” but scripture teaches the timing is truly unknown.

Textual Basis: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

(18:50)

• Paul uses the metaphor of a thief in the night:

  “The day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” (19:15)

• Christians are warned to not be “in darkness,” and should not be overtaken or caught unprepared.

  “We are the kind of people...who don’t have to be overtaken by the thief. We don’t have to be unprepared, we can be ready for that day.” (21:40)

• Preparation and expectation—not calculation—are what’s required.

5. Is the Second Coming “Near”? Understanding ‘At Hand’ in Scripture

(24:35)

• James 5:7-9:

  “Be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand...the Judge is standing right at the door.” (25:40)

• 1 Peter 4:7:

  “The end of all things is at hand.” (28:00)

• Larsen explains “at hand” doesn’t necessarily mean chronologically imminent, but “nothing stands between us and the end.” Just as walking close to the Grand Canyon’s edge, “the end is always near” in terms of readiness.

  “There is no other divine event...that has to be accomplished before the end comes. And so it is as if it is true that the Judge is standing at the door.” (30:30)

6. Addressing Delayed Expectations: 2 Peter 3

(32:00)

• False teachers and skeptics argue, “Where is the promise of His coming?” because so much time has passed.
• Peter’s reply:
  • The world’s been judged before—the flood was global and real.
  • The current world is “reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
• God’s “delay” is about patience, not slowness:

  “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8, quoted at 36:00)

• The reason for patience is salvation:

  “The Lord is not slow about his promise...but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, quoted at 37:10)

7. Call to Action: How Then Shall We Live?

(40:10)

• The point isn’t to speculate about “when,” but to live uprightly in expectation:

  “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” (2 Peter 3:11, quoted at 41:00)

• Each day’s delay in the second coming is God’s mercy—one more day to repent, one more day to help others find salvation.

  “Think of [God’s patience] as salvation. One more day to make things right. What a blessed gift.” (43:20)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Reading Texts Carefully:

  “We need to understand what we’re reading first.” (12:54)

• On Living in Readiness:

  “We are living in the day, and we’re not living in the darkness.” (23:00)

• On God’s Patience:

  “He is not slow. He is patient. And so it is important that we have that idea.” (39:10)

• On The Only Relevant Question:

  “The question here is not whether or not the Lord is coming. He is. The question is not even when is the Lord coming?...The question here is knowing that the Lord is coming and knowing the consequences of that. What sort of person ought you to be?” (42:00)

• Practical Encouragement:

  “Let’s be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless. And every day that passes, don’t think of that as a delay, he says. Think of that as the patience of our Lord, and think of it as salvation.” (43:01)

Notable Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Notes | |-----------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | 07:30 | Main Lesson Begins | Second coming as NT focal point | | 10:10 | Interpreting Judgment Passages | Matt 24/Mark 13, destruction of Jerusalem | | 13:40 | The Book of Revelation | What it is/isn’t about | | 17:00 | First Key Point: We Don’t Know | Unpredictability of the second coming | | 18:50 | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | Thief in the night, spiritual readiness | | 24:35 | “Is it Near?” and Scriptural Use | Biblical meaning of “at hand” | | 32:00 | 2 Peter 3: Skeptics & Delays | Addressing the “delay” | | 40:10 | Call to Holy Living | The practical takeaway | | 43:20 | God’s Patience as Salvation | Each day’s delay offers another chance |

Conclusion

Larsen Plyler’s rich, scripture-driven lesson encourages serious, expectant, and holy Christian living in light of Christ’s promised return. He urges listeners to focus not on predicting timing, but on living faithfully:

“Because the day of the Lord is coming.” (44:30)

The second coming is always “at hand”—nothing stands between us and that event except God’s patient mercy, inviting all to repentance and readiness.