Jesus' first coming was clouded in mystery and wonderment: a son of David born in a cave at Bethlehem; magi from the East guided by a star to worship the newborn king of Israel; a carpenter miracle-worker who gave sight to the blind and raised the dead; a Suffering Servant who bore the sins of many upon a cross; a Risen Lord who stormed the gates of Hell to release its captives.
Jesus on a number of occasions prophesied that he would return again at the end of the world to finish the work he came to accomplish through his death and resurrection. The image of a "Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" is taken from a vision which God gave to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14).
God showed Daniel a royal investiture of a human king before God's throne. This king was invested with God's authority and was given rulership over the whole earth. His reign would last for all ages.
The Jews of Jesus' day were looking for a Messianic king who would free them from foreign oppression. Jesus is both Son of David – the rightful heir and King of Israel who will rule forever – and the Son of man – God's appointed ruler who will establish a universal kingdom of peace, righteousness, and justice for all the nations and peoples of the earth.
The Lord Jesus gives us the gift of hope – the supernatural strength and perseverance to remain steadfast and confident in God's promise. What can we confidently expect from God? He promises us the hope of heaven, everlasting life, peace, and joy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
He also promises to right every wrong, to vindicate all who have been treated unjustly, to remove every tear, sorrow, and pain, including death itself (Revelations 21:4).
The world around us is plagued with fear, uncertainty, greed, selfishness, strife, and division. It has lost hope in God and in his promise to restore the human race and creation itself through the second coming of his Son Jesus Christ.
The prophet Jeremiah fortold the day when God would send his Messiah King to "execute justice and righteousness in the land" (Jeremiah 33:15). Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise and every promise God has made.
Many Christian churches in the East and West, since the early first centuries, have marked special seasons to celebrate the central truths of the Christian faith.
The Advent season which precedes Christmas and Epiphany reminds us that we are a pilgrim people, aliens and exiles in this age who long for our true home with God in heaven, and who await with joyful hope for the return of the Lord Jesus.
When will all these promises take place? Know one knows the day when Christ will return. But it is a certain fact that we are living in the end times, the close of this present age! The end times begin with the first coming of Christ (his Incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas) and culminates in his final return on the Day of Judgment.
Jesus' prophetic description of the end of time and the day of judgment was not new to the people of Israel. The prophets had foretold these events many centuries before.
"Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it" (Isaiah 13:9-13; see also Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18). Jesus speaks of the second coming as a known fact, a for certain event we can expect to take place.
This coming will be marked by signs that all will recognize; signs which will strike terror in those unprepared and wonder in those who are ready to meet the Lord.
When the Lord returns he will establish final justice and righteousness over the earth by overthrowing his enemies and by vindicating those who have been faithful to him. The anticipation of his final judgment is a sign of hope for all who trust in him.
What can keep us from recognizing the signs which await the coming of the Lord? Indifference and the temptation to slacken off – to become passive and lethargic or to fall asleep spiritually.
It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the present moment or to be weighed down with troubles.
The Lord knows our shortcomings and struggles and he gives us the grace to bear our burdens and to walk in his way of holiness. But there is one thing he doesn't tolerate: an attitude of indifference, being passive, not caring, and doing nothing when we could be actively seeking God and his kingdom!
God is ready to give us fresh vision, hope, and grace to walk in his ways.
He wants to work in and through us for his glory. That is why he expects more of us than we can do by ourselves. His grace enables us to actively watch for his action in our lives, and to actively pray for perseverance and endurance when we face trials and difficulties.
The Lord gives us strength to overcome temptation, especially from apostasy – the denial of Christ out of fear or pride.
God is ever ready to fill us with his grace, strength, and power.
Is your heart hungry for God or is it weighed down by other things?
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