“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The second coming of Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. We do what we do and are what we are because of the hope that is ours. The resurrection of our Lord is evidence that His promise to come again will certainly be fulfilled. Peter answered the scoffers of his day by saying, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…” (2 Peter 3:9-10). You may note that as a consequence of that coming, Peter states that we should conduct ourselves in holiness and godliness in hastening that day (cf. vss. 11-12).
Our society is very aware of the doctrine of the second coming. It is so well known, the phrase has been co-opted into the current zeitgeist.
A Google news search of the phrase “second coming” brought up articles about the revival of Indian actor Priyanshu’s Bollywood career; a reference to Newsweek’s adoring coverage of the campaign of democrat candidate Barack Obama; the return from retirement of a prominent English news anchorperson; the revival of lesbian singer kd lang’s career, which she attributes to her conversion to Buddhism, and her sexual affair with her “wife”; and a review of a play entitled Nunsense 2: The Second Coming, that is described as a “hilariously chaotic world as the nuns stage a thank-you show for their ‘congregation’.”
Though the doctrine of the second coming is known, it is obvious that it is not believed. Again note Peter’s statement, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:12). Anyone who truly believes that Christ will come again will live his life in accord with Christ’s commands. That way when Christ comes, he will be ready to join his Lord in heaven. Do you believe that Christ is coming? If so, are you living your life for him, “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God”?
