Monday: “I Will Come Again”
Read John 14:1-3. It has already been almost 2,000 years since Jesus promised to come again. How can we help others see that, despite the great length of time (which really doesn’t matter), this promise is relevant even to our own generation, so long removed from the time when Jesus spoke it?
Four times in the book of Revelation Jesus stated, “I am coming soon!” (Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20, NIV). The expectation of His soon coming drove the mission of the apostolic church and filled the lives of uncountable Christians throughout the centuries with hope.
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But generation after generation has died, and this promised event has not yet occurred. And thus, many are enquiring: How much longer will we have to preach that “Jesus is coming soon”? Have these words generated an unrealistic expectation? (See 2 Peter 3:4.)
Many Christians have complained about the long “delay” (compare with Matthew 25:5). But how do we, in fact, know that it is a long “delay”? What would have been the “right” time for Christ to have returned? Would it have been 50 years ago, 150, 500? What really matters is the biblical promise that “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
Despite the long centuries since Jesus ascended, the promise of His coming remains relevant, even today. Why? Because all that we have is our own short life (Psalm 90:10), followed by an unconscious rest in the grave (Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10), and then the final resurrection, without any later opportunity to change our destiny (Hebrews 9:27). As far as each one of the dead is concerned (as stated in lesson three), because all the dead are asleep and unconscious, the second coming of Christ is never more than a moment or two after they die. For you, in your own personal experience (as for all of God’s people of every age), Christ’s return is no more than a moment after your death. That’s very soon, is it not?
Every passing day brings us one day closer to the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven. Though we don’t know when He will come, we can be certain that He will, and that is what really matters.
| A pastor preached a sermon, arguing that he didn’t care when Christ returned. All He cared about is that Christ does return. How does that logic work for you, and how might it help if, you are discouraged over Christ’s having not yet returned? |
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I learned this scripture as a kid growing up in post-war (World War II for those who need the reference point) New Zealand. Of course, I asked what a mansion was and was told that it was a big well-built house. My childhood experiences did not include a lot of large expensive houses. My grandfather had been a builder of some repute though and he had built a rather large grand two-story house in town when my father was a kid. It still stood (and it is still there today) although my Grandfather no longer owned it. So I imagined that when we get to heaven we would all live in big two-story houses like the one that Grandad built.
It took quite a while to get past the childhood vision of a heaven filled with two-story grand houses. I learned that the word μοναὶ (monai) often means rooms or abiding places. So, it makes sense to read the above verse as; "In my Father's house are many rooms". I also learned that the word μοναὶ is only used twice in the new testament. The other reference, also in John 14 says:
So, my thinking "grew up" from thinking about heaven in terms of a place with rich dwellings to an everlasting relationship with our heavenly Father. Implicit with this understanding was the notion that heaven was not an exclusive place where only people like me dwelled, but an inclusive "abiding place" with lots of room for people not like me.
And in the big scheme of things, which is more important: big houses, or an inclusive everlasting relationship? And in terms of the hope that we hold in our hearts and minds now, how does that understanding affect how we interact with others now?
Hi Maurice gm. As a child I was fascinated about Jesus building a mansion for me. However now that I am older, I am looking at this text on a different prospective. It took Jesus 6 literal days to create the entire that we cohabit, yes! It is more than 2000 years plus that He made that promise, yes! So, what is that mansion looks like? How about we accept the fact that He is building our Characters to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? That when He comes again, He will take us home to be with Him. Food for thought.
2022.11.14 Sabbath School Monday “I Will Come Again”
A pastor preached a sermon, arguing that he didn’t care when Christ returned. All He cared about is that Christ does return. How does that logic work for you, and how might it help if, you are discouraged over Christ’s having not yet returned?
This logic works for me, rather encourages me because we do not know the date of His return. Many preachers study and claim they know when Christ’s return by giving a date like Harold Camping. When religious leaders set dates on the Lord’s return discourages the believer to leave the church when the date turns out to be false, a false alarm. Preachers who keep setting dates are like the boy who cried wolf. I pray that a popular religious leader, even a mainstream one out there, stops setting dates, so the Lord doesn’t have to disprove them and He can finally return lol. Seriously speaking, the matter of when Jesus returns shouldn’t concern the Christian believer because life is not guaranteed tomorrow. Death can come at us anytime by means of accident, war, health, age, crime, and many others. This is the reason why the gospel message is urgent for the Christian believer to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. But, the relationship doesn’t stop there by just accepting or believing the fact that Christ is Lord (James 2:19). We continue to accept Him as our personal Saviour everyday by walking with Him (Genesis 5:24). How do we walk with Christ? By (1) talking, (2) listening, and (3) connecting. Please read my comment on Sunday’s lesson by what I mean to walk with God (Luke 24:13-35). When I was a teenager and adolescent growing up in Church the pastor would always say Jesus is coming soon. I get upset every year that Jesus didn’t come yet. Finally, as I matured more into adulthood I realized the gift of life. I understood the preciousness of life and the meaning it gives and the opposite is true. Death can come knocking at our doors any moment whether we like it or not. If we keep ourselves healthy and live a long life then we are blessed by God’s grace (Psalm 90:10). I’m worried for people believing in set dates because it seems to me a worrisome feeling of Christ returning. I hope it is not the case, but rather, we should make joyful noise because Christ’s promised He is coming back. And, Jesus always keeps His promises (pinky swear hehehe).
Adventists have also done their share of date setting. Besides the obvious October 22/1844, I have heard of years like 1964 (120 years after 1844), 1994 (apparently something to do with jubilee cycles), 2000 (the idea of 6,000 years and a millennial "Sabbath"). I am aware that someone who will remain unnamed is predicting that Jesus must return by 2031 for the same reason.
No, none of these people set an "exact" date, but it does us no services. I think it makes people disillusioned. And our focus ends up on the wrong things anyway.
When I look at the world I believe that Jesus must be coming back soon as it sure seems bad. But I said the same thing 20 years ago when the towers fell. And as a child, I was sure that Jesus would come before I was grown and that is now half my life away. We have to endure regardless. In the parable of the virgins, the ones who didn't anticipate a delay were the ones who ended up in trouble. We can get all fired up anticipating the end, but do we have a relationship with God to carry us beyond that?
I wrote in the margin of my lesson "The right time is when the most people can be saved." That's why I believe Jesus hasn't returned. If He can just save one more... He'll wait. And I'm willing to wait too because there are so many people who need Him. How can I long for His immediate return if it would mean their loss? May we look for the blessed hope with a desire that many more may share it with us.
Jesus coming again is the only true solution for sin, disease, and death. But in the meantime, we can live life now in a way that shows those who are still living for sin in their lives, to live for Jesus in their lives and forsake sin as a lifestyle for their lives.
"How does that logic work for you, and how might it help if, you are discouraged over Christ’s having not yet returned?"
We can open our Bibles and read the many passages that speak of Jesus’ first coming. Then study the fulfillment of those prophecies to realize that the OT believers also had to wait many years to see their fulfillment.
I admit that I have never thought of the fact that we, personally, only have to wait our own lifetime, as pointed out by lesson. We so often point to the number of years since Christ's ascension. I believe, in a way, this is a very good POV, (esp. since tomorrow, on this version of earth, is not promised to us.)
He has told us He will return so that we may be ready and to bring a harvest with us. He has a proven track record of always keeping His promises. He asks us to consider and trust Him.
The Promises in God's Word, The Bible, leave us absolutely no room for being discouraged because Jesus has not returned yet. In Jesus, we already have "Eternal Life" in us via His Holy Spirit. And or example: in Psalm 27:14 God's counsel for us even now is the same as it was then when King David wrote this inspired by God to write these words, "Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord." This was counsel for God's people over several thousands of years ago and Jesus had not even come the first time, how much more now that He is about to come The Second Time?
The way I sum it up is, that my potential death is Jesus' potential coming. As the writer posits, "Christ’s return is no more than a moment after your death." It's like standing on the sea shore and watching a ship sailing, then disappearing from sight into the horizon but, suddenly appearing to those watching on the other side. The death of believers in Christ Jesus is not futureless. There are many scripture texts that say He will come again and we believe Him. Therefore we should be watchful and ready like the five wise virgins at all times. The Holy Spirit will help us prepare for His coming, long for His coming, love His coming, and tell others of His coming. Our daily lives will also be impacted by the Spirit to invest in the spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, etc. Additionally, if I truly believe in the second coming of Jesus, is my heart yearning to seek out those who are marginalized by society-the persecuted, isolated, shunned, and outcast? Lord, please help us to truly be ready for Your coming.
Hi, Cheryl. Thank you for the beautiful thoughts.
When you say:
I take it that you mean this is the case as His coming affects you personally. You speak of longing for His coming, and I suppose that by this you mean Jesus' actual coming, in power and glory, that will bring an end to the sin and suffering that are so prevalent and horrifying in the present evil age. This is something that your own death, or mine, could never accomplish. How very much it does matter, just when Jesus comes! But we may trustingly leave that in the Father's hands, as we pray and work for its hastening.
Have a blessed day!
Thank you R.G. for your response. It is appreciated. You and I know that we will die (unless Jesus returns and we are still alive) because "the wages of sin is death." However, we pray that we will die the first death in which we fall asleep in Jesus and experience the first resurrection and be forever with Him. The second death takes place after the second resurrection. This brings an end to sin, suffering, death, and those who refused to allow Jesus to save them. During the time that we are asleep (dead) we are totally unconscious of the essence of time so when Jesus returns and for sure He will, it would seem as though we had just fallen asleep!
Dear Cheryl – my comments usually are posted at the end of those responding to the day’s lesson. By reading your comment, I noticed that you highlighted the same points as I had done and included Titus 2:11-14 to support it. I just wanted to let you know that I am blessed by reading this Scripture quote and thank you for sharing it with us as part of your writing.
Thank you, Brigitte Humphery, for sharing Titus 2:11-14, I especially like where Titus refers to Jesus' "appearing," but says nothing about it as being "A Second Coming." The only place I found that even comes close to the Gospel Writers as Jesus' coming as being a "Second Coming," is in Hebrews 9:28, but even here the idea is not about Jesus coming again as being a "Second Coming," but that He came "Once" to die for sin and that those who "Look for Him," He will then "Come again without sin" to save them. In other words, Jesus came once as sin offering and now He is coming not as a sin offering but as a "Saviour" to those who are looking for that "Awesome hope from Him," to give them a new and eternal glorified body.
No one's "Death" is any kind of "Potential" for Jesus to come again. Jesus is coming no matter who dies, or when they die, etc. He is coming just as surely as He, along with His Father and The Holy Spirit, spoke this universe and this world into existence!