Has Christ Returned Already?

By Dr. Ken Matto

Since the summer of 2004 or maybe even sooner, Harold Camping has been teaching that Christ has already returned and is judging the churches. Not only does this Depart Out heresy take from Dispensationalism, Islam, Seventh Day Adventism and Swedenborgism, now Camping has added a tenet of Preterism to his teaching. Preterists teach that Christ had returned in 70 AD and that the book of Revelation had been fulfilled by that time. Preterists believe that the book of Revelation was written around 65 AD. Preterist comes from the word “preterit” which means “bygone or former.” The Preterists teach that Christ returned invisibly in 70 AD. and this is what Harold Camping is now proclaiming that Christ has returned invisibly to judge the churches. The next time Christ comes will be a visible return.

So then Campingism states that Christ came the first time visibly, the second time invisibly, and the third time will be the final visible return of Christ. However, we must look at what the Scriptures teach concerning the return of Christ. The question that we must ask ourselves is, is Christ returning invisibly at any time between His first and second appearances? The answer to that question is no! The Bible clearly teaches that when Christ returns, it will be only one time, not two! Let us look at what the Scriptures teach concerning the second coming of Christ.

Acts 1:11
(Acts 1:11 KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

This verse is very clear that the Disciples had visibly seen Christ ascend into Heaven. The angel then tells them that Christ is going to return in the same manner that they observed Him going into Heaven. What was that manner? It was visibly! Christ did not ascend invisibly but visibly and that is how He is going to return.

Hebrews 9:28
(Heb 9:28 KJV) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Here is one of the clearest statements in the Scriptures concerning the return of Christ. Notice in this verse we read plainly that the “second” time the Lord returns will be the final time. He will return to take His Elect unto Heaven. The time of salvation is now over as the last one has become saved. Now this brings up a serious situation for Campingism. If the Lord has returned already, for the second time, then how can people become saved since this verse teaches that His next return will be without salvation. Camping himself teaches that there is going to be a great Latter Rain where multitudes of people are going to become saved outside the churches. Now, how then can there be a Latter Rain of salvation if the Lord has already come and the Scripture teaches that when He comes the second time, there will be no more salvation? Remember, Camping is saying that the Lord has already returned which means it was the second time. Here we see that Campingism is proclaiming another major deception.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Dispensationalism teaches a secret return of Christ but the secret return of Christ is not found anywhere in Scripture.

(1 Th 4:16-17 KJV) 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: {17} 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.

The Dispensationalists call this a secret rapture. Take a close look at the description of the Lord’s return. There is going to be a “shout with the voice of the archangel” with the “trump of God” and then “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Now how could this be a secret return of Christ with all this activity going on. Dispensationalists teach that this secret return of Christ will be the second coming and the final return of Christ will be on the last day which will be the third appearance. Do you see the parallel between Dispensationalism and Campingism? Both systems manipulate the Scriptures to make them say what they want.

Revelation 1:7
(Rev 1:7 KJV) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Here is another verse which voids the belief of a secret return of Christ. There is nothing in Scripture which plainly teaches that the second time Christ returns He will only return to few individuals who will understand that He is judging the churches. This verse teaches plainly that when Christ returns “every eye” shall see Him and the verse states that “ALL” the kindreds of the Earth shall wail. Why? Because Judgment Day is here and His return is visible to the whole earth, not just a few self-proclaimed enlightened individuals.

Philippians 3:20-21
(Phil 3:20-21 KJV) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Here is another set of verses concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. These verses reveal to us that when the Lord Jesus returns, He is going to change our vile bodies into the spiritual glorified bodies fit for Heaven. Now if the Lord has returned already, who has received their glorified spiritual body? I haven’t seen anyone yet receive it. Here is another example that the return of the Lord Jesus is going to be visible with visible results.

Luke 21:27
(Luke 21:27 KJV) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke describes a time when much perplexities are going to come upon the whole world but in verse 27, the Lord’s return is revealed. The whole world is going to see the return of Christ and it will be in great power and glory. There is nothing silent or invisible about the return of Christ.

Summary
We have looked at only seven verses and there are many more which describe the second coming of Christ as visible and to the entire world. There is no such thing written in Scripture of a secret return of Christ to judge the churches between His first and second advent. This is just a figment of Camping’s deluded imagination by means of creating his heresy as he goes along. When a congregation goes apostate as many have, then Christ removes their candlestick and they are no longer a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing written in Scripture that He has returned to judge the churches, He is God and can do His judging from Heaven. Christ came the first time to die for the sins of His Elect and He will return a second time to bring those Elect to Heaven and then recreate the New Heavens and the New Earth. I really have pity on those who follow Harold Camping and his scripture manipulations to create this system of heresy and apostasy. That is their conscious decision and one day they are going to be let down and hopefully some of them may make it to glory.