Longing for the Second Coming

Every time the world seems to be falling apart, Christians start talking about the Second Coming. It happened during WWI and WWII. It is happening again now that stock markets all over the planet are careening and crashing. Because the Bible talks about difficult times, many assume that when they start happening, this is it; Jesus is going to return soon.

Self-styled prophets have also predicted when they think Jesus will return. Dates have come and gone, to the point that mockers laugh and people use “slow as the second coming” to describe tardiness. Even many Christians become skeptical when they hear the latest date-setting. We know that Jesus said only the Father knows when He will send His Son back to earth.

Paul wrote two letters to the church in Thessalonica that are mostly about the return of Christ. The believers in this church seemed to have thought it already happened and they missed it. While this seems silly to me now, I have to remember that they only had the Old Testament and maybe a few letters from Paul. The New Testament was not yet compiled so they were pulled this way and that by rumors and speculation.

In any case, Paul wanted to set them straight, so he told them God’s thoughts on when Jesus would return. What he had to say is instructive for the church today. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2-10, he wrote:

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

While the Second Coming will be a shock to those who do not know Him, Paul assures these Christians that they are not in darkness (spiritual darkness produced by sin). This applies to the modern church too. If we are walking with Christ and paying attention to Him, we will not be totally shocked when He comes. However, our focus isn’t supposed to be trying to figure out the date or time, but that we are serious, trusting, loving, hopeful people. This is a far greater witness than “doom and gloom” predictions, particularly when they don’t happen.

I know that Jesus will come one day. It could be soon, but I don’t think the signs are all in place yet. Whether He speeds up events that signal His return, or He slows things down (and restores financial stability), I know that I am His child and that I have eternal life. So do others who know Him.

This assurance is perhaps the best explanation for date-setting. Christians know and love Jesus. While we are eager for the end of this mess and the end of evil, we can easily fall into predicting it will be soon be over, not just because we want it to be, but because we are longing to see Jesus. We yearn for that first glimpse of His face and we are eager to begin the rest of our lives together with Him.