Bite-Sized Bible Studies: A Stumbling Stone

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." (Romans 9:30-33)

The stone is Christ. The stumbling stone separates the sincere in heart towards God from the insincere. The unbelieving do not have a true heart for what is right or for truth and so they stumble on the stumbling stone, they stumble at Christ.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)

Bite-Sized Bible Studies: Every Eye Will See Him

Christ is in the world today, in that He indwells those who have been born again. But, Jesus is returning bodily (and soon) at His 2nd Coming. 

"For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Mt 24:27)."

The rapture of the church is imminent. At the rapture, the believers will meet Him in the air and are glorified in the twinkling of an eye (1 Thess. 4:17, 1 Cor. 15:52). Shortly after the rapture, the world is then thrust into what Jesus called “Great Tribulation.” According to Daniel (9:24-27), this period of time will last 7 years. Jesus' Second Coming brings the Great Tribulation to an end. 

The Second Coming is the physical, bodily return of Jesus to earth, with His church, to rule and reign over God's Kingdom forever. 

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen (Rev 1:7).

"Every eye will see Him" like "lightning flashing across the sky." The Second Coming of Christ will not happen in secret. There will be no doubt or question as to His arrival.