Christ is surely coming
“…why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:11 (NKJV)
The first week of Advent begins with the theme of hope, and focuses on the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, particularly the promise of His second coming in power and glory.
When Jesus came to earth the first time, he came in the flesh: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…’ (John 1:14). Angels announced Jesus’s birth to the shepherds, and some time later wise men from the East also came to see Him. Jesus came as the ‘Lamb of God’ to save sinners when he died on the cross and rose again for all humanity.
But, as the prophets of the Old Testament foretold, He is coming again, a second time: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…’ (Matthew 24:30-31).
What a contrast to His first coming! His second coming will be as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). This is good news, and we can await this second coming confidently. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we see, ‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.’
Assurance for our future is also given in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: ‘Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed.’ When Jesus comes, he will transform our lowly physical body to be conformed to his glorious body and we shall be like him.
We can be absolutely sure of Jesus’s second coming, and of our future with Him, but what about the world at that time? Revelation 11:15 reveals, ‘Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” ’
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Prayer
Abba Father, we eagerly await the second coming of Jesus, for he will usher in His peaceful and righteous kingdom and reign with justice and equity forevermore. In his name I pray, Amen.
Study by Natu Moti
About the writer:
Natu Moti is a deacon in the Birmingham congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Birmingham
All Saints Church
George Road
Birmingham
B23 7QB
Local congregational contact:
David Gibbs
Email: birmingham@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church