The Second Coming
It is just before midnight on October 22 1844. Come with me to a hillside just outside New York. It’s a balmy evening and we are standing in an enormous crowd numbering upwards of 100 000 men, women and children. All around us there is the low buzz of whispered voices as men exchange stories of how they have sold their homes, given up their jobs or abandoned their farms to be here. An almost tangible air of expectation hangs over the gathering.
Standing at the top of the hill is a lone figure – his name is William Miller – and most of the eyes in the crowd are trained on him. He is their leader; he is the man who has spent years studying the prophecies in the Book of Daniel and has predicted the second coming of Christ at midnight on this day.
Needless to say midnight comes and goes and slowly, sadly, certainly reluctantly, the crowd begins to drift away. Some, who have wagered their entire livelihoods on the truth of Miller’s words, hesitate a little longer looking skywards expecting at any moment that they will see, in Jesus’ own words, the “Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
But as we know, it was not to be. And now, rather than looking to the Old Testament prophets to give us a clue to the future, we believe the words of Jesus when he says, “No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Of course it is easy for us to dismiss the Millerites of the 19th century as misguided and misled. And most of us look with a wry and patronizing smile at those who carry banners proclaiming that the end of the world is near. But are we in danger of losing sight of the fact that our Saviour will return one day? Of course we may acknowledge it in words but does the inevitability of his coming really make any difference to us?
For a few minutes this morning I want us to look together at some of the passages in the Bible that tell us about Jesus’ second coming and then consider some of the implications that should have on the way we live our lives.
The first thing we should be absolutely certain of is that when Jesus returns it will be in person. In the very original versions of the New Testament, which were written in Greek, the word that is used most often to signify Jesus’ re-appearance is the word ‘parousia.’ The meaning of this word implies actual physical presence. In other words, Jesus will appear at the end of times as a real physical being, albeit transformed in all his glory as the Son of God.
He himself confirms this in Matthew 24. Verse 27 tells us, “as the lightening comes from the East and flashes to the West so will be the coming, the parousia, of the Son of Man.”
This same Greek word is used by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 15. There he tells us that Christ will appear physically, then those who believe in him. This will mark the end of history and the beginning of his eternal reign.
James, the brother of Jesus, uses the word ‘parousia’ to emphasise the physicality of Jesus’ return in his letter, “Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.”
Peter speaks of ‘parousia’ 3 times in his epistles and John reiterates the theme in 1 John 2: 28 with the words,” Now, dear children, continue in him, so that, when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
So the first thing I want us all to be sure of is that when Christ returns there will be no mistake or misunderstanding. He will be visibly and tangibly present in this world.
But there is a second Greek word that is often used in describing the return of Christ and that is the word ‘epiphaneia.’ This refers to the actual events surrounding the appearance of Christ. This is not going to be some quiet, unobtrusive happening, but will be, as Paul describes it to Titus, “the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
In the 4th chapter of 2 Thessalonians Paul writes in vivid detail, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God…”
So the second thing we should understand about Christ’s return is that it will be a decisive and incisive intervention in history. It will be visibly splendid and glorious and it will shatter the world system as we know it today and replace it with his kingdom of righteousness.
The third Greek word that is closely linked with the second coming is the word, ‘apokalypsis.’ Literally this word means to ‘disclose’ or ‘bring to the light.’
In essence it refers to the fact that Jesus’ second coming will be the fulfillment of our faith. All that we have trusted in the scriptures, and been led to believe by the Holy Spirit, will be substantiated and confirmed as the truth.
In 1 Corinthians Paul quotes Isaiah, “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” But the ‘apokalypsis’ of Christ’s second coming means that these hidden truths will be disclosed, and the glory that awaits every believer will be brought to the light.
But as much as to all believers the ‘apokalypsis’ of Christ’s second coming will be a wonderful unveiling of truth, for unbelievers it will be a truly disastrous event. Because it is also the time when all the sins of the world will be disclosed and brought to the light.
In 2 Thessalonians 1 verses 7 and 8 we read these words, “This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and the majesty of his power…”
So we need to understand that Christ’s return carries with it the promise that the true reality of all things will be revealed. Both for better, for those of us who believe, and for worse to those who deny the gospel of Christ.
So what have we learnt from these Greek words that are used to describe Christ’s second coming? Simply this, that when Christ re-appears it will be in person, in glory and in all truth.
But this begs the inevitable question – are you ready? Of course it’s easy to sit back and think that because Christians have been waiting some 2000 years now for Christ’s return why should we worry that it will happen tomorrow?
Well let’s look at that a different way. The fact is that we are 2000 years closer to the date that Our Father has set for the return of His Son. It didn’t happen on October 22 1844 but that’s no reason to think that it won’t happen on October 22 2007!
So, with that thought in mind what must we do to ensure we are ready?
There are many parables that Jesus told which provide pointers for how we should prepare and be prepared for his second coming – there’s the story of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins, and the servants who were entrusted with the Master’s money when he went away.
But I want us to look briefly at a passage in Paul’s letter to Titus chapter 2 and verses 11 to 14. Let me read it.
” For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
From this passage we can learn three lessons in our preparation for Christ’s return. Firstly we should live Godly lives. Simply put we are to do those things we know that please God and refrain from those we know displease Him. I know that is easy to say and a lot harder to achieve. But it’s like most of the goals we set ourselves in life – if it is a goal really worth pursuing, like a career, a wife, a first house, then we usually go after it, come what may. Surely preparing for the return of our Lord and Saviour is just such a goal?
Secondly we are to live expectantly. As I said a few moments ago, we shouldn’t be asking ourselves why God has waited this long but rather how much longer can we expect Him to wait before He intervenes in this fast-crumbling world. In that parable of the ten virgins Jesus tells the disciples that the bridegroom was so late that the virgins all became drowsy and fell asleep. But the difference was that the 5 wise virgins were expectant of the bridegroom’s return despite his delay and were prepared. Are you living expectantly, ready to welcome the risen Christ into your home, your workplace, your circle of friends at any time?
The third lesson is that we are to live with purpose – the last phrase we read in that passage from Titus, ‘eager to do what is good.’ Of course that is a subject of a whole new sermon! But Christ sums up clearly for us what our purpose is in the parable of the sheep and the goats, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Christianity is not a passive philosophy, it is an active commitment to carry on the work of Jesus and witness to others the truth of his gospel.
Most people will never remember the events of October 22 1844. It was later termed by the followers of William Miller as, ‘The Great Disappointment.’ Misguided he may have been, misled he patently was, but of one thing we can be certain he was not mistaken in his attitude. Christ will return and whether it’s on a hillside outside New York or standing on Hobie Beach in St Francis we will all see his coming in glory. The question for each one of us is – am I ready?
