For over forty years much has been written with regards to Christ’s second coming. Books have been written to argue/contend that Christ will return pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation but pre-millennium, and some have contended for post-millennium. Each has cited passages from the Bible to shore up and support their position. Likewise, there were those who “prophesied” that Christ would return in 1988 [that is, 1948 (Israel recognized once again as a nation) + 40 years (number of years of a “generation”) (Cf. Matthew 24:32-34)]. There have also been many messages preached from pulpits warning that we are on “borrowed time” [that is, the longsuffering of God].
Paramount, though, to all that has been written by man concerning Christ’s return, God’s Word clearly states that “Christ will return” – but God only knows when.
Matthew 24:42 states,
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
The first century disciples also believed that Christ’s return was eminent during their day. If you contrast Matthew 24 with the persecution of the first century saints, as well as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., one living during that time period could have easily concluded that the time of Christ’s second coming was quickly approaching.
Nearly two thousand years have passed. Many today – just like many of “yester-year” – have concluded in their heart that Christ is not returning any time soon. Now before you completely reject this statement outright, consider the following arguments. God’s Word proclaims that we are to be “watchful servants” – serving the Lord through one of His local New Testament assemblies. Yet, how many “Christians” today are: 1) watchful, 2) servants, 3) members of a local New Testament assembly, 4) committed to the ministry that God has called them to?
Consider the following passages of Scripture.
Luke 12:35-40,
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Ephesians 3:21,
“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Hebrews 10:25,
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
If we who are children of God truly believed in our hearts that Christ could return any day soon, more Christians would not only be watchful – but serving the Lord through one of His churches – preparing for the Lord’s return. Consider Jesus’ proclamation concerning His own return.
Matthew 24:46-51,
“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
May each one of us who are children of God choose to become a watchful servant, yearning for Christ’s return.
