The Second Coming August 25th, 2024
Lord, to whom shall we go, for you have the words of eternal life? Guide us by your Word and Spirit this day, so that we may gain wisdom from the Scriptures, and be moved to follow Jesus closer, for he is your Living Word. Amen.
Today we’re going to look at a second in the series of the promises of Jesus, being the promise of his return. Certainly, this is a key promise and one which can be either good, or bad news, depending upon your relationship with him. The good news found in the promise of his return is that when it does happen, we will once again see all our loved ones who have departed. There will be a second Eden and all of us will have new bodies, no more aches and pains and sickness which we have now, and we will have new ways of thinking, all thoughts of anger, jealousy, greed, and so on will be no more. What an amazing promise, one that fills those that follow Jesus with excitement and anticipation!
But the bad news is that when Jesus does return it will not be just to reunite all people, but also to judge them. And as much as even believers wish it wasn’t true, there will be a day of judgement when all of us, both those who have passed and those still alive, will be called to account for their deeds. This will be the time when Jesus will judge all people, separating believers from non-believers. As Jesus said to his disciples when he was teaching them on the Mount of Olives, “‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.’” (Matthew 25:31-33) At his second coming, Jesus will judge the world.
Yet, despite this word of warning, throughout history, believers have looked forward to the second coming of Christ. This longing is rooted in the promises found in Scripture, assuring us that Jesus will return in power and great glory. The second coming of Christ brings us hope amid a broken world, reminding us that our struggles are not in vain. It reassures us that justice will prevail, righteousness will triumph, and every tear will be wiped away. In a world filled with uncertainty and despair, the hope of Christ’s return shines as a beacon of light, guiding us through the darkest times.
So important is the promise of Jesus that he will return again, that there are over 300 references to it found in the New Testament. That means one of every 13 verses deals with some aspect of our Lord’s return to the earth. It is so central to the New Testament that Christians everywhere have always believed that Jesus will return someday. Though we differ over the details, Christians of all denominations unite in believing that Christ himself will return to the earth one day. This promise has endured through thousands of years after Jesus’ time on earth not only because it was documented in the Bible but also because he had made such a miraculous and amazing impression on our ancestors at that time and throughout history to present day.
Now, it was during the night of the Last Supper that Jesus made his promise to the disciples that although he was soon to leave them, he would one day return. Let’s look at the words of John’s Gospel and see how this took place. The scene unfolds during the farewell message of Jesus, a time of parting words and important lessons for his disciples as Jesus prepares them for the future without his physical presence.
After they had broken bread, Jesus said to them, “‘Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now, I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’” (John 13:33-36)
Jesus has told his disciples that he will be with them only a little while longer, and that where he is going, they cannot come now, but will come at a later time. The disciples are troubled, and no wonder, their beloved teacher is leaving them, one of their own, being Judas, has turned against them, and now they are facing a future without the leader for whom they gave up everything in their lives. It’s as though the ground is shifting beneath their feet.
Jesus, in his love for them, responds to the anxiety of his disciples by saying, “‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.’” (John 14:1-3) With these words of comfort, Jesus assures them that he is not abandoning them. Rather, he is returning to his Father, which is good news for them. One day they will be reunited with him in the presence of God.
Given the promise of Jesus that he will return, let’s look at the words of the Apostle Paul to see what will take place when that glorious day arrives. Paul writes, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Imagine the scene that Paul describes, the wonderful day when Jesus, in all his splendor, descends from heaven to earth. It will be a sight that surpasses human imagination. Every eye will witness his arrival, and the entire creation will bow before him in reverence and awe. Paul tells us that this magnificent event will be accompanied by a trumpet call, echoing throughout the earth. The sound of the trumpet will be a divine proclamation, announcing the arrival of our King and summoning the redeemed from every corner of the earth. What an incredible time that will be, but we know from all that God has done since the beginning of time, that this will be an easy feat for him.
When that day arrives, first the dead in Christ will rise. This resurrection will triumph over death itself, as all those who have faith in Jesus will experience the fullness of eternal life in his presence.
Following the resurrection of the dead, then Paul assures us that those still alive will undergo a remarkable transformation. In an instant, our mortal bodies will be changed. This is how he explains this, “What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will 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 will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53) We will be given new bodies with which to spend eternity with God and our Lord and Saviour.
There are many passages in Scripture which describe our future in the Lord’s presence. It is a place of eternal peace, where pain and sorrow cease to exist. It is a place of perfect love, where every tear is wiped away, and all brokenness is made whole. It is a place of eternal worship, where we will join the heavenly chorus, praising and glorifying our God for all eternity. These promises remind us that our eternal union with the Lord holds endless blessings and incomparable joy.
Knowing of our eternal union with the Lord should inspire us to live with a heavenly perspective and eternal hope. While we journey through this temporary world, we can focus on the eternal realities that await us. It empowers us to live purposefully, pursue righteousness, and proclaim the gospel. It gives us strength to endure trials and persevere in faith, knowing that our present sufferings are incomparable to the glory that will one day be revealed.
But when that day will come, none of us know. As Jesus warned his disciples, “‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’” (Matthew 24:36) So not even Jesus, during his time here on earth as a man, knew the day and hour of his return. So, we must be patient and trust God, only he knows when the time will be right.
And as we sit here today, we must remember that it could be near, or it could be far of, for “…with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.” (2 Peter 3:8-10)
Jesus had warned his disciples to be ever vigilant, and so must we. He said to them “’Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. . .. Stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come. . .. And what I say to you, I say to all: Stay awake’” (Mark 13:33–37). The message is clear, stay awake and be ready. Always take care of your relationship with God, this is the most important thing that you must attend to here on earth.
Jesus Christ is coming back, and it is said, “Men of Galilee,” the angel said at Jesus’s departure, “why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Therefore, we ought to face the future with optimism. The world looks at all the problems and says, “Is there any hope?” For those who know Jesus Christ, there is enormous hope. Trust him completely so that if he comes today or tomorrow or next week or in a hundred years, you will have no regrets but will be ready to see him when he returns.
Before we close, let us bow our heads in prayer, embracing the anticipation and hope that flow from the truth of Christ’s coming return. Let us express our gratitude for the promise of eternal union with God through Jesus and seek his guidance and strength as we await that glorious day.
Let us Pray:
May the hope of Christ’s return fill us with unwavering faith, unshakable joy, and steadfast perseverance. Let’s go forth with the assurance that our Saviour is coming again, and may our lives radiate the hope and light of his return to a world in need. May God bless us abundantly. Amen.