The Day Of The Lord

So what will happen? I can’t tell you exactly, mainly because it has not actually happened yet, but I’ll say one thing, and that’s that the realisation of God’s reign of justice and peace makes far more sense to me than a rapture to be followed by a great tribulation. In last week’s gospel reading, [1] we were explicitly told that that when we give food to the hungry, refresh the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit prisoners, we do this for the Christ and will be welcomed into His Kingdom.

So, if there is going to be a second coming of some sorts, when is it going to happen? We have no idea. Jesus himself said, “No one knows, however, when that day or hour will come – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father knows”. [2] I want to shout this verse aloud every time someone try to predict a date for the second coming. Even Jesus was content to not know.

There are times in this life we need to wait, and this is one of them, but we must also be prepared. We do not know how or when the Christ will return, but we need to be ready, for we don’t know when we will be called account for what we have or have not done to bring about the coming of God’s Kingdom.

Darryl Ward

27 November 2011

www.theword.tk

1 Matthew 25:31-46

2 Mark 13:32 (Good News Translation)