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The Second Coming of Jesus – Week 26 / June 23rd
“Behold, I am coming as a thief, blessed is he
who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he
walk naked and they see his shame.”
Revelation 16:15
How amazing it is that as we near the Second Coming of Jesus Christian leaders are scoffing at the idea and even mocking their fellow Christians for believing in Jesus’ soon coming. This of course was predicted by the Apostle Peter who wrote that scoffers would come in the last days mocking the idea of Jesus’ soon coming. (2Peter 3:3-4) The Book of Revelation is totally ignored by these people and here again they imply that those who do examine its passages are a little crazy etc. As for Jesus’ Olivet discourse (Matthew 24 and Mark 13); they mishandle its context in an attempt to sell us the idea that it has all been fulfilled by the events of AD 70 and a little beyond. In the end all this means that we are left with no indicators as to Jesus’ coming and thus we should give our attention to more urgent matters. The question we have to ask ourselves is; is this true? I think not for the following reasons:
1. The early Church leaders lived in the light of Jesus’ second coming.
They understood that this is the blessed hope of the Church (Titus 2:11-15) as it will complete our redemptive experience by bringing our bodies to perfection through the resurrection (Philippians3:2021). Indeed it is the Holy Spirit Who births an expectancy in us about the soon return of Jesus as this helps to keep us focused and to walk lightly through this world (1John3:1-3). When the Church abandons this expectation it drifts into spiritual lethargy and error. Every great revival brought with it an expectation of Jesus’ soon coming. Indeed the first century believers greeted one another with the words, “Maranatha.” (1Corinthians 16:22) Meaning; the Lord is coming soon!
2. The early Church saw in type the end-time scenario.
Jesus’ teaching on His second coming included what we theologically call progressive prophetic fulfillment. That is, similar events take place more than once. We have many examples of this in scripture. For instance the first manifestation of the Abomination of Desolation is that of Antiochus Epiphanes who in 168 BC desecrated the temple (Daniel 9:27). This happened again in AD 70 when Titus desecrated the Temple (Matthew 24:15-21) and scripture affirms that it will happen again just before Jesus returns (2Thessalonians 2:1-8). So, in Paul’s day there was a global government in place in the form of the Roman Empire, Caesar worship was demanded of all those who lived in the realm and Jerusalem became the flash point of history. It was besieged and attacked by the Romans. This picture Jesus painted for them in His Olivet Discourse and most certainly linked it to His second coming. In fact the Church was saved from the carnage that followed in AD70 precisely because they viewed this “impending distress” (1Corinthians 7:26, 29, 31) as a precursor to the Savior’s coming. They were thus right and wrong but their heightened expectation of the soon return of Jesus preserved them.
This end-time picture, just as Jesus said it would, is building up again! The Jews are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24), a global new world government and financial order is fast materializing and Jerusalem is the flash-point of global conflict. Jesus is coming! It is time to trim our lamps with fresh oil because the “midnight cry” is about to shake the earth (Matthew 25:1-13). Do not be deceived by those who scoff at these things and call us to get involved with more important spiritual things.
3. The early Church heard a message from Jesus that called them to get ready for His coming.
The first few chapters of the Book of Revelation convey an urgent message to the Seven Churches of Asia. That message is clear; Jesus is coming soon! (Revelation 1:7-8; 2:25; 3:3; 3:11) Indeed the closing chapters of this book also addressed to these churches, state that He is coming quickly and they must get ready and keep their garments clean ( Revelation 19:7-9; 22:7,12). Since Jesus did not come in their lifetime was He mocking them and leading them astray? The answer is no. He was speaking to them and all generations of Christians to follow because He knew that the expectation of His return will keep them out of the world and close to Himself. Those who abandon this message get entangled in the world and false notions of the kingdom of God. There is nothing more glorious than focusing on Jesus’ soon return and the transformation of our mortal bodies into the state of immortality and perfection (1Corinthians 15:50-58). This is the glorious hope that is set before us and it will happen.
Conclusion
The events in Israel, the Church and the world today are setting the stage, just as they did in AD 70, for Jesus’ return. Jerusalem is back in Jewish hands and is the great bone of contention world-wide. It is time to look up because our redemption, the transformation of our bodies, is nigh (Luke 21:28). Be sure then to live a holy life, be filled with the Spirit, pray for Israel and do not use the world!
Maranatha!
Malcolm Hedding
©Malcolm Hedding Ministries
2013Devotional Blog