NOTE.—Christ’s second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord’s return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise, “I will come again,” and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events. 7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord’s coming? “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven _with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God_: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thess. 4:16. 8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming? “Then if any man shall say unto you, _Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not_. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the _desert_; go not forth: behold, He is in the _secret chambers_; believe it not.” Matt. 24:23-26. 9. How visible is His coming to be? “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Verse 27. Object Of Christ’s Coming [Illustration.] The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12. 1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again? “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, _I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also_.” John 14:2, 3. 2. What part will the angels have in this event? “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and _they shall gather together His elect_ from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt. 24:31. 3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet? “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and _the dead in Christ shall rise first_.” 1 Thess. 4:16. 4. What will be done with the righteous living? “Then we which are alive and remain shall be _caught up together with them in the clouds_, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Verse 17. 5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints? “We shall not all sleep, but _we shall all be changed_, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised _incorruptible_, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on _incorruption_, and this mortal must put on _immortality_.” 1 Cor. 15:51-53. 6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?