The second Coming of Christ and that period of time, commonly known as ‘The Great day of the Lord’, contains a large part of the Bible. It is a time of great importance and special attention must be given to it.
As Christians, the Second Coming or advent of Christ must be an event we are all anticipating and waiting for. It is one of which we cannot wait for when at last He will bring righteousness and justice to an unfair and unjust world. It is when those who died for their Faith in Jesus will be united with Him and will return with him and become Kings and Priests with Him. It will most certainly be a spectacular event and one that the world has never experienced.
In Matthew 24 verse 3, the disciples ask Jesus about the timing of this event:- “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” Jesus follows this request with a comprehensive response containing many different aspects and events and then closes with 4 parables. Jesus gives so much information and not in a chronological order to tell us exactly how and when these things will happen.
He responds firstly in verses 4 and 5, warning us of ‘false Christs and false prophets.’ One of the signs is literally there will be many saying they are anointed and will lead many astray! He repeats this warning in verse 11 and also verses 24 and 25.
Jesus then comments about the events in the world, such as wars, rumours of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes. In verse 6 Jesus says:- “See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” and then continues in verse 8 with:-“All these are but the beginning of the birth pains”. Never has there been such a time in recent history as an increased intensity of such events. Christ is coming soon.
Matthew 24 concludes with the first parable of a servant entrusted with the Master’s house until He returns. It is a telling of a story of what will the Master find His servant doing with the people when he returns at an unknown hour. Will He find the servant giving proper food at the proper time or find him doing the opposite? Jesus warns us that upon the Master’s return, if he does not find the Servant doing as he should, the Master of the house will ‘cut him to pieces’ and place him where there is gnashing of teeth. (verses 50, 51) The word here used to ‘cut him to pieces’ is the word ‘dichotomy’ – which means to expose and show a clear difference between two ideas or things!
On that day – will our hearts be exposed? Will Jesus find us doing the Master’s business or will we be found exposed and not ready?
Jesus is coming soon…………………………………
