Steven A. Bush - December 8, 2024
A Future Glimpse of Jesus' Return
1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 declares: "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (NIV) Paul goes on to tell us much more will follow. While we may wonder what Jesus thinks when it comes to how people around the globe celebrate His first coming--His humble and relatively quiet birth in a Bethlehem stable--we might ponder similarly what Jesus thinks about the various eclectic views of end-time prognosticators. This we know: however quiet Jesus' first Advent was, His second Advent promises to be much louder and vastly more visible. Within moments on that Day, what was once broad speculation will have vanished. And what else? His encore appearance will be magnificently glorious for His own--those longing for His return--and yet it will be horribly terrifying for everyone else! So which way will it be for you?
Scripture References: Daniel 12:1-4, Romans 3:23-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18