When we consider the second coming of Christ, we must not get caught up with what people are teaching in secular Christianity. Rather, we must glean the Holy Scriptures to get our answers. This is a topic where one can get confused very easily. In the current school of thought, Theologians tend to look solely at the Book of Revelation to unveil the end times and Christ’s return. In this series of articles we will explore the topic of Christ’s return throughout God’s Word and not just one letter.
Is He (Jesus) coming back again?
John 14: 1-3 – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
The Lord teaches that He is coming back. Jesus frames this teaching as a promise. The Christ is reassuring His disciples that He is being truthful. The sentiment of this teaching goes as so: Don’t worry yourselves, I am going to God to get your place ready. I will come back get you. What a wonderful promise. Jesus indeed has gone to prepare that place, and one day He will come back. We must remember these words from the Apostle Peter, “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
In Paul’s writings to the church at Philippi, he gives hope to the Christians concerning Christ’ return. Using the words “eagerly wait” guarantees us by divine inspiration that the Christ is coming back to get the citizens of His eternal domain. We are to “eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. The Philippians had reason to rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). What a beautiful promise to the people of God. We must never lose our hope of our citizenship and Christ’s return to receive us!
James 5:7 – 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
The earthly brother of Jesus Christ would ask us to be “patient”. As humans we get impatient. The most common comment concerning the Lord’s return is this: “It has been over two thousand years. He is not coming back”. The reality of God and Christ is that time is not the same to the Creator as it is to us. “ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8). As the farmer waits patiently for his fruit, so shall we wait for the return of Christ with patience and longsuffering.
1 Peter 1:13 – 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As Christians, we need to realize that the promises of God are different from man’s. Man’s promises are built on our merit, rapport, and character. The promises given to us by Christ are built on hope, faith, and blood. This hope and faith comes by way of Jesus the Christ Himself. He came to earth as promised, He was without sin as promised, He was born of a virgin as promised, He gave His blood as promised, He came in due time as promised, and He will come again as promised!
Stand fast and have faith!