Anticipating Christ's Return: Hope in Advent

Devotional

Day 1: Advent: A Season of Dual Anticipation

Advent is a time to reflect on both the first and second comings of Christ. While we celebrate His birth, we also anticipate His return, which will bring both rescue for believers and judgment for non-believers. This dual focus enriches our understanding of the season. Advent is not merely a historical reflection on the birth of Jesus but a forward-looking anticipation of His promised return. This season invites believers to live in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet," celebrating the incarnation while eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire both hope and urgency in our faith. As we await His coming, we are called to live faithfully, trusting in His promise to bring relief and justice. [00:14]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live in the tension of celebrating Christ's birth while eagerly anticipating His return in your daily life today?

Day 2: The Unified Return of Christ

The belief in two separate comings of Christ, one for the rapture and another for judgment, is not strongly supported by scripture. Instead, passages like 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 suggest a single, comprehensive return of Christ. This understanding challenges the common pre-tribulation rapture view, which posits two distinct events. The scriptures emphasize a singular return where Christ will bring both relief to believers and judgment to non-believers. This unified return underscores the completeness of Christ's redemptive work and the finality of His judgment. [05:04]

"Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light." (Isaiah 13:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How does the understanding of a single return of Christ impact your view of the end times and your daily walk with God?

Day 3: The Rapture as Part of Christ's Return

The rapture, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4, is part of Christ's singular return. Believers will meet the Lord in the air and accompany Him back to earth, symbolizing a triumphant return rather than a temporary departure. This imagery reflects the ancient practice of welcoming a dignitary into a city, highlighting the honor and joy of participating in Christ's return. It shifts the focus from an escape from tribulation to a celebration of Christ's victory and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. [09:07]

"Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light." (Zechariah 14:5b-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prepare yourself to be part of the welcoming party for Christ's return, living in anticipation of His triumphant arrival?

Day 4: Hope and Urgency in Anticipation

The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire both hope and urgency in our faith. As we await His coming, we are called to live faithfully, trusting in His promise to bring relief and justice. This dual response of hope and urgency encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith, actively participating in God's work on earth while eagerly looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises. It is a call to live with purpose, knowing that our actions have eternal significance. [11:08]

"Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him." (2 Peter 3:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to live with both hope and urgency, reflecting your anticipation of Christ's return?

Day 5: The Christmas Season as a Reminder

The Christmas season is an ideal time to focus on the coming of Christ. As we celebrate His birth, we are reminded of the hope and promise of His return, which brings both comfort and a call to readiness. This season serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises, encouraging believers to live in a state of readiness and expectation. It is a time to renew our commitment to Christ and to reflect on the transformative power of His presence in our lives. [11:31]

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use this Christmas season to renew your commitment to Christ and live in a state of readiness for His return?

Sermon Summary

Advent is a season of anticipation, not just for the birth of Christ, which has already occurred, but for His promised return. This period is an opportune time to reflect on the second coming of Christ. A question arises: will Christ return once more or twice? My understanding, based on the New Testament, is that Jesus will return once more. This return will encompass both the final rescue of believers and the final judgment of non-believers. The idea of two separate comings, one for the rapture and another for judgment, is a common belief, particularly in the pre-tribulation rapture view. This view suggests that Christ will first come to take the church out of the world before the Great Tribulation, and then return again to establish His kingdom.

However, after studying the scriptures, particularly 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2, I find it unlikely that there are two separate comings. These passages describe a single event where Christ's return brings both relief to believers and affliction to non-believers simultaneously. In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8, Paul speaks of Christ's return as a singular event where He will repay affliction to those who afflict believers and grant relief to the afflicted. Similarly, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 emphasizes that the day of the Lord will not occur until the rebellion and the revelation of the man of lawlessness, indicating a single, decisive return.

The concept of the rapture, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, involves believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. This is not a separate event but part of the singular return of Christ. The imagery of meeting the Lord in the air is akin to a welcoming party that accompanies Him back to earth, not a departure to heaven for an extended period.

As we await this glorious return, we echo the early church's prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus." This anticipation aligns beautifully with the Christmas season, a time to celebrate the first advent of Christ and look forward to His return. In this season of waiting, we are reminded of the hope and promise of Christ's return, which brings both comfort and urgency to our faith.

Key Takeaways

1. Advent is a time to reflect on both the first and second comings of Christ. While we celebrate His birth, we also anticipate His return, which will bring both rescue for believers and judgment for non-believers. This dual focus enriches our understanding of the season. [00:14]
2. The belief in two separate comings of Christ, one for the rapture and another for judgment, is not strongly supported by scripture. Instead, passages like 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 suggest a single, comprehensive return of Christ. [05:04]
3. The rapture, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4, is part of Christ's singular return. Believers will meet the Lord in the air and accompany Him back to earth, symbolizing a triumphant return rather than a temporary departure. [09:07]
4. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire both hope and urgency in our faith. As we await His coming, we are called to live faithfully, trusting in His promise to bring relief and justice. [11:08]
5. The Christmas season is an ideal time to focus on the coming of Christ. As we celebrate His birth, we are reminded of the hope and promise of His return, which brings both comfort and a call to readiness. [11:31]
** [11:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Advent: A Season of Waiting
[00:29] - Question on Christ's Return
[00:59] - Understanding Christ's Return
[01:26] - The Pre-Tribulation Rapture View
[02:09] - Personal Study and Convictions
[03:12] - Revelation 3:10 and Its Interpretation
[04:14] - God's Protection Through Trials
[05:04] - 2 Thessalonians: One Coming of Christ
[06:19] - Relief and Affliction in Christ's Return
[07:31] - The Day of the Lord and the Man of Lawlessness
[09:07] - The Rapture and Meeting the Lord
[10:15] - Understanding the Word "Meet"
[11:08] - The Glorious Second Coming
[11:31] - Prayer and Anticipation for Christ's Return
[12:14] - Supporting the Ministry

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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Observation Questions:

According to 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8, what two outcomes are described as occurring at Christ's return? How are these outcomes related to believers and non-believers? [05:23]
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, what events must occur before the day of the Lord, according to Paul? How does this passage challenge the idea of two separate comings of Christ? [07:52]
How does 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describe the event commonly referred to as the "rapture"? What imagery is used to depict this event? [09:07]
What is the significance of the phrase "meet the Lord in the air" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and how does it relate to the concept of a welcoming party? [10:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the description of Christ's return in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 as a single event impact the understanding of the rapture and final judgment? What implications does this have for the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture? [06:19]
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Paul emphasizes that the day of the Lord will not come until certain events occur. How does this teaching provide clarity or challenge to the idea of an imminent rapture? [08:13]
The sermon suggests that the rapture is part of Christ's singular return. How does this interpretation affect the traditional view of the rapture as a separate event? [09:38]
How does the anticipation of Christ's return, as discussed in the sermon, inspire both hope and urgency in the life of a believer? [11:08]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the dual focus of Advent as a time to celebrate Christ's birth and anticipate His return. How can you incorporate this dual focus into your personal or family traditions this Christmas season? [11:31]
Considering the sermon’s emphasis on a single return of Christ, how does this understanding influence your perspective on current world events and personal trials? [06:19]
The sermon highlights the importance of living faithfully as we await Christ's return. What specific actions can you take this week to live out your faith with a sense of urgency and hope? [11:08]
How can the imagery of meeting the Lord in the air as a welcoming party influence your understanding of community and fellowship within the church? [10:15]
The sermon encourages believers to echo the early church's prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus." How can this prayer shape your daily life and priorities? [11:31]
In what ways can you prepare your heart and mind during this Advent season to be more receptive to the hope and promise of Christ's return? [11:46]
How can you use the anticipation of Christ's return to motivate you to engage in acts of service and love within your community? [11:08]

Sermon Clips

Advent is a season for waiting of course we are not waiting for the birth of Christ any longer but we are awaiting the second advent of Christ his return to earth and those two advents are not far removed from one another nor should they be Christmas is a very fitting time to dwell on the return of Christ. [00:00:03]

My understanding of the New Testament is that Jesus promised he would return and that in this returning he would do a final rescue for those who are trusting him and a final judgment to those who are not believing in him. I don't think there are two comings of Christ in the future but only one. [00:00:56]

The more I studied this for myself even as a teenager I can remember thinking about this I just could not find two comings in the future for the Christian Church. I asked once a very reputable Old Testament scholar really scholarly Old Testament scholar asked him once who believes this view what's the most important text that persuades you that before Christ comes in judgment he will come earlier to take the church out of the world. [00:02:31]

God's promise to keep us from the hour of trial probably doesn't mean that we are taken out of the world but rather that God will keep us from the faith destroying effects of the hour of trial he would guard us he will protect our faith in fact first Peter says beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial that comes upon you to test you. [00:04:06]

Second Thessalonians 1 and second Thessalonians 2 and both of these chapters talked about the coming of the Lord the second coming in a way that makes two comings one to rescue and one to judge extremely unlikely if not impossible in view of what these verses say. [00:04:55]

God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to grant relief to you so there's the two of two things that are gonna happen he regards it as just two to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven. [00:05:47]

I think that's very clear and teaches that Christ is coming again and when he comes he will repay unbelievers with affliction and he will grant relief to believers and and he says these two things happen quote when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven so this is one coming not two that's the first text that persuaded me. [00:06:23]

Now concerning the coming of the lord the lord jesus christ and our being gathered together to meet him or gathered to him we ask you brothers not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that the day of the lord has come already. [00:06:57]

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the voice of an archangel iment the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first then we who are alive who are left will be here's the key phrase caught up this is the rapture we'll be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. [00:09:07]

Yes indeed we will rise to meet the Lord in the air sort of says like a great welcoming crowd and then we will descend with him in his triumphant arrival and I recalled how stunned I was when I was I think 23 years old maybe 22 how stunned I was when I first saw that the word meat caught up to meet the Lord in the air. [00:09:44]

My thoughts about this being a rising to meet the Lord in the air and then returning to heaven for seven years evaporated that's just not the intention of that verse it's a rapture in the sense that we've rise to meet the Lord in the air and then like a great band of of welcoming we come back with him for his established judgment and rule. [00:10:39]

There is one great glorious second coming of the Lord in our future he will come once more to give relief to his church and judgment to his adversaries and to establish his kingdom and I say and I'm sure we all do with the early church the next-to-last verse of the Bible come Lord Jesus amen. [00:11:04]

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Anticipating Christ's Return: Hope in Advent

Devotional

Day 1: Advent: A Season of Dual Anticipation

Day 2: The Unified Return of Christ

Day 3: The Rapture as Part of Christ's Return

Day 4: Hope and Urgency in Anticipation

Day 5: The Christmas Season as a Reminder

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Anticipating Christ's Return: Hope in Advent

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