Monday: Second Coming of Christ
The apostles and early Christians considered Christ’s return “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13, NKJV), and they expected all the prophecies and promises of Scripture to be fulfilled at the Second Advent. Seventh-day Adventists still hold firmly to this conviction. In fact, our name, “Adventist”, states it unequivocally. All who love Christ look forward with anticipation to the day they will be able to share face-to-face fellowship with Him. Until that day, the promise of the second coming of Christ exerts a unifying influence on us as God’s people.
What do the following passages teach about the manner of Christ’s return? How does this differ from some of the popular notions of Christ’s return? Acts 1:11; Matt. 24:26-27; Rev. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 19:11-16.
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The Bible repeatedly assures us that Jesus will come again to claim His redeemed people. When this event will happen should not be a matter of speculation, because Jesus Himself stated, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36, NKJV). Not only do we not know when Christ is coming back, we have been told that we do not know.
At the end of His ministry, Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) in order to illustrate the experience of the church as it awaits His second coming. The two groups of virgins represent two types of believers who profess to be waiting for Jesus. Superficially, these two groups appear to be alike; but when the delay of Jesus’ coming occurs, the real difference between them becomes obvious. One group, in spite of the delay, had kept its hope alive and had made the adequate spiritual preparation. By this parable Jesus wished to teach His disciples that the Christian experience is not to be based on emotional excitement or enthusiasm but on a continuous reliance on the grace of God and perseverance in faith even when there is no tangible evidence of the fulfillment of God’s promises. Jesus invites us still today to “watch” and be ready at any time for His coming.
| Though our very name “Seventh-day Adventist” testifies to how crucial the Second Coming is to us, how can we on a personal level keep the reality of the Second Coming before us? How can we, as the years go by, not make the mistake that Jesus warned about in the parable of the ten virgins? |
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A recurring question that comes to my mind as I read through this week’s lesson on fundamental doctrines is: How does this doctrine affect me and my interaction with others. The Second Advent is part of our Church’s name and sometimes we chastise ourselves for not preaching it to others. For me the real issue is how do we live that belief meaningfully. I could go out and tell my unchurched friends that Jesus is coming soon but they would only look at me as though I had lost my marbles, or they would assume that I think on the level of a cargo-cultist. The message has got to be much subtler than that. Living the second coming is a challenge, particularly for those of us who are third, fourth, or fifth generation Adventists. We have heard it all before, and it has been a long time waiting.
The text that springs to mind is:
Simple, practical, effective!
Second coming allows me to see my savior face to face.
I will not be tormented between serving God and my own selfish desire.
I will not have to end the prayer meeting because I have run out of time.
Earth once considered the lost sheep in the universe will be found reconciled unto God.
It is a time of unity between nature, animal kingdom and humanity.
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I can only imagine mercy me portrays the second coming of Christ so beautifully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Are we living the life of the ten virgins or living in the blessed hope of our Lord's soon return?
Wonderful consolation - this evil chaotic world will soon end!
Plan as if the world will carry on but live as if it will end tomorrow.
People ask why God allows evil to continue, I believe he wants us and the universe to say enough! Act now! We want to live in a world which is only good like it was in the beginning. You were right!! Praise the LORD!
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Righteous and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, because Your righteous judgments have been manifested."
I think the "secret" to this is to keep a close relationship with Jesus. By doing so, I don't think we are going to miss the signs! Besides, if we develop this love for the Master, why would'nt we long to see Him face to face?
Let us not get caught up in forfeiting and drunkenness and with the cares of this life, so that the day come upon us unawares.Luke 21:34.
Our understanding of scripture in regard to Jesus' return for His people is a strong point of unity, and actually was the main point that began the Advent movement, and keeps it going today, though it seems that many among us do not have Jesus' return as their point of focuse and thus the great incentive for taking our distinct message to “every creature”.
If we allow the things of this present life rob our focus on the Blessed Hope, unbelief will surely keep us unprepared for that great day. If not vigilant, the cares of this life and the "deceitfulness of riches" will rob us of the eternal life Jesus purchased for us with His blood.
How many of the people in your local congregation talk often of the blessed hope with eagerness? See how perilous this world can be, and why Jesus was so urgent in His cautions? He said that the love of many will wax cold.
The flip side of the issue is Robert, than many alarmists have been focusing on nothing but the second coming, so much so that they have no instruction on how to live the Christian life until He does come. Many Also with so much time setting (just claiming within the next five years is time setting) are crying wolf and lulling people to sleep instead of waking them up. Time setting produces exact expectations. When expectations are not met people give in to doubt.
William, I have heard many of the same opinions about time setting. Over the past 60 plus years we have often heard the word soon, to express the urgency intended. I agree with that admonition, along with the realization that every day may be our last day. Then time setting is often, but a misapprehension.
Wow William! I couldn't have said this better. It is true that as we advocate for our Adventist beliefs we may end up clogging up issues relating to Christian living. The Second Coming of the Lord, whereas a great fundamental, should give us a spirit of Hope, and in hope we should be ready to magnetise our brothers and sisters through Christian living. This hope is a component of love for one another. Jesus is coming back for his love to humanity, to take us home. In the same vein, then our living should be based on this hope of love and then shared, but not compared.
This hope is a beautiful thing, let's not use it to flog those "unbelievers", but let our lives show the love that this "blessed hope" would bring; allowing the Spirit to bounce out of us and continue reaching out to the world.
I have never imagined of anything else in this faith more glorious as the day when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will breakthrough the skies in company of His holy angels, coming down to take up us up with Him.
And that the sound of His coming will send those who rejected Him scamper in fear while those who have lived in faith - dead or alive will rise to meet Him in the skies. What a great moment and day that would be!
Fellow believers,we must not miss this event. Jesus is coming!
I do not condem any person of other religion. When I hear a sermon or someone talking about Christ setting up His kingdom without us 1st being caught up in the air with Him to take us to heaven and be with Him for a thousand years, then taking a ride back to earth in the city, New Jerusalem, makes me sad for the misinterpretation of the Bible. 1Thesalonians 4:13-18. Revelation 20. Revelation 21.
John, I had a similar thought about who will and possibly will not be among those taken to heaven. Will there be other denominations in Heaven also? That assumes that SDA's are a select group, and have all the answers and requirements. That may be an incorrect assumption.
Paul, I rather think there'll be no denominations in heaven at all. Rather, all those who truly accept Christ as Savior will be there.
Matthew 7:21 King James Version (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Yes, many will accept Christ as the Saviour but only those who also do the will of the Father.
What's the will of the Father when Jesus walketh the world?
It was strictly the 1st 5 books of Moses (Torah/Pentateuch) as there were no New Testament and technically from the Jewish point of view, the rest of the Old Testament were considered prophetic and inspired writings, not scriptures.
Yes, Jesus, himself a Jew, was clearly teaching that the belief in him is not good enough (as preached by many churches) but a person who does the will of the father(which is the keeping of the commandments and love).
Paul, Inge is right, no denominations in heaven. There will be no distinction between Christ followers in heaven. There will be no contention about woman’s ordination. We will be all ordained and commissioned to go to other worlds and give our testimony of what Christ has done for us. Our Angels will say, Paul and John come with us we are going to take you 787 light years away, you and I will say, wait a few minutes we need to pack our bags. Our Angels will say, you don,t need to pack, come on just bring your testimony.
"Until that day, the promise of the second coming of Christ exerts a unifying influence on us as God’s people." As Adventists the second coming should give us a sense of direction. It should help us remember that every decision counts in life. It is the day when all our labours will be rewarded. Therefore it gives value to all those decisions that we usually dismiss as of little importance.
We are living in the "perilous times of the last days when the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" before Christ's return (2 Peter 5:8;Rev 12:12). It is against this backdrop that Peter calls for soberness and vigilance.
The name 'Adventists' must have a bearing in all aspects of our lives. Seeing the second coming is our only lifelong goal, everything else is the means, Matthew 6:33,34.