12. Jesus will return
Jesus will return |
How many people believe nowadays that Jesus will return? His coming and ministry on earth about 2000 years ago are events that have long-since been imprinted onto the memory of mankind, having been historically registered as such.
Since then, mankind has continued to take its course in multiple fields:
social, economical, political, cultural, scientifical and others. In the whirl of countless problems of daily life man does not have the time and leisure to occupy himself - even for a little while - with the reading of a certain book (the Bible) which offers not only historical information about events that had taken place and have been archaeologically proven, but also unique prophetical revelations.
One of these - whose fulfillment still lies ahead - is the return of
Jesus Christ.
The last look his disciples had from Him has been the one of His
ascention.
”9 ... when he had spoken these
things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out
of their sight. (Acts 1. 9-11)
Will His return possibly happen in secrecy, being thus visible only to
certain people? The Bible tells us the following:
”3 ... the disciples came unto
him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24.3-5, 23-26)
Jesus replies to His disciples’ question at first with a
warning. It is important that until His return - namely in the manner as prophesied by himself - we should not let ourselves impressed and taken in by fascinating events („shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” - Matthew 24.24). These ”false Christs, and false prophets” will try to convince through exceptional powers. Thus they will unperceivedly exert their influence on the emotions of the people. The return of the Saviour Jesus Christ will be unique and indubitable, as furthermore told by himself:
”27 For as the lightning cometh
out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24.27,30,31) More than 500 years before Jesus’ birth on earth the prophet Daniel tells about a message he received from God in a night dream:
”13 I saw in the night visions,
and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the
clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. (Daniel 7.13,14) In the last book of the Holy Scripture we find the following divine statements:
”7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every
eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1.7,8)
This event will be thus seen and heard by every man on
earth. Are we able to know the exact moment of His return? Jesus tells us: ”36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24.36) What we could know though are the pre-announcing signs of His approaching return:
”6 And ye shall hear of wars
and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24.6-8) Jesus tells us not to let ourselves be emotionally affected, by being afraid of the terrible events that happened already and are still to come, but to maintain our composure.
According to Jesus’ statements there is a direct correlation
between the appearance of false religious teachers and the coming of hard
times. The inclination of the people to follow false ”Christs” and false religious teachers will be intensified by the increase of wars, epidemics, earthquakes, natural disasters. Wars, epidemics, famines, etc. have always existed, but the possibility to take note of all these on any place of the earth (”rumours” of ...) has never been so far advanced as nowadays by means of mass media (especially over television and internet).
Once having heard of these things, frightened people will be susceptible
to manipulations that could thus lead them to thoroughly entrust
themselves to false teachers and prophets. But these will, after all, aim
for power, wealth, fame, political influence, etc. (they could be
identified even within the present official churches). The importancy of the correlation between the contents of the Bible, eternal life and His Person is revealed to us by Jesus Himself, as follows: ”39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5,39) His prophetic speech with regard to the approach of His coming ends with following words: ”28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21.28)
Jesus says we should direct our look upwards, wherefrom our redemption
will come.
Earthquakes, wars etc. are merely first signs of these prophecies’
fulfilment. Although the first signs of His coming are known to us, these do not give us a dead certainty regarding the moment of His coming, as Jesus also says: ”44 ... be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24.44)
”34 And take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting,
and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you
unawares. (Luke 21.34-36)
The surfeit with food and the drunkenness as well as the cares of this
life are features of people whose lives are based most often on unsoundly
occupations and pleasures and who let themselves be troubled with the
common worries of life.
Each one of us could have priorities that seem to us of
”essential” importance, thus quite likely showing complete
disregard to the promise of our Saviour. What does that mean: ”to watch”?
It means, to re-evaluate the priorities of our life: based on the
biblical message, which is the Word of God for each of us. And above all ”to watch” means, to believe that Jesus could return at any moment.
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