Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig.

For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonable faith.org.

We've been talking about the second coming of Christ, and last time we talked about the nature of his second coming. Now we want to turn to the subject

of the purpose of the second coming. Why will there be such a thing as the second coming of Christ?

Let me suggest four purposes that are fulfilled by Christ's coming again.

First, Christ's second coming completes the work of redemption.

Christ's second coming completes the work which was begun with the cross and the resurrection of Christ,

and now is finally consummated by his return. Let's look at 1st Corinthians chapter 15,

verses 22 to 28 and 50 to 57. Here Paul writes, for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

But each in his own order. Christ, the first fruits, then it is coming those who belong to Christ.

Then comes the end. When he delivers the kingdom to God

the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until

he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death,

for God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says all things are put in

subjection under him, it is plain that he is accepted who put all things under him.

When all things are subjected to him, then the son himself will also be subjected to him

who put all things under him, that God may be everything to everyone.

I tell you this, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Lo, I tell you a mystery.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling

of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable,

and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on

immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality,

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