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Where in the Old Testament does it say that there would be a second coming of the Messiah?

Question: A friend of mine keeps bugging me to show where it says in the Old Testament that the Messiah would come a 2ND TIME. He doesn't accept the New Testament. He wants it from the Old Testament. He wants me to show him that the concept of a second coming existed before Jesus. He says that there is no Biblical evidence of a second coming until after Jesus. He wants some evidence that the Messiah was supposed to appear twice and that this was taught in the Old Testament. Thanks.

Response: For your friend, I would very respectfully point out that the following prophesized events all happened twice, not once, but twice:

1. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed.
2. The Jews were exiled.
3. Israel became a wasteland.
4. The Jews were (and still are) scattered worldwide.
5. The Jews have been persecuted worldwide.
6. The Jews have had a tremendous worldwide impact.
7. The Jews, and their national identity, have been preserved.
8. The Jews are returning to their ancient homeland.
9. Enemies of the Jews are residing in their homeland.
10. The Jews do have Israel again as their own country.

www.AboutBibleProphecy.com/accuracy.htm
www.100prophecies.org/evidence.htm)

They all happened twice because prophecies are not predictions, they are promises. Predictions are fulfilled once. Promises are fulfilled as many times as the need arises.

This whole cycle of destruction and restoration happened twice, and therefore the Messiah must appear twice, because the appearance of the Messiah is related to this cycle of prophecy. The Messiah, as we learn from Jeremiah 23:3-6, is to appear after many Jews are re-gathered to their homeland. And this happened after the fall of the Babylonian empire more than 2000 years ago, and it is happening again in modern times.

As shown above, there are scores of prophecies in the Bible that have happened twice. The past 2000 years of Jewish history is proof of this. If the Jews can be exiled, scattered, persecuted and re-gathered twice, then why can't the Messiah appear twice?

Another point to consider is that some of the ancient Rabbis had the opinion that the Old Testament prophesized two different Messiahs - a Suffering Messiah and a King Messiah. In fact the two Messiahs are given the "nicknames" of Messiah ben David and Messiah ben Joseph in the Talmud, which is a collection of ancient Jewish writings that include commentaries and opinions about the Old Testament.

The point here is that ancient Rabbis had no problem seeing a "two-ness" or duality in Messianic prophecy. For Christians, of course, the two Messianic roles are fulfilled in one Messiah, Jesus, who is to appear twice. When Jesus first appeared some 2000 years ago, he fulfilled the prophecies involving a suffering Messiah. When Jesus returns in the future, he will do so as the King Messiah.


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