Living in Hope: The Second Coming of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Holiness and Readiness

The second coming of Christ is not just a future event to anticipate but a present call to action. It is described as personal, physical, visible, sudden, and glorious, urging believers to live in holiness and readiness. This doctrine is not meant for mere intellectual debate or speculation about dates and times. Instead, it serves as a reminder to purify ourselves and live in a manner that reflects our hope in Christ. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire a transformation in our daily lives, leading us to embody the values and teachings of Jesus in everything we do. [05:41]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you prepare your heart and life today to reflect the holiness and readiness that the second coming of Christ calls for?

Day 2: Trust in God's Timing

The exact timing of Christ's return is unknown, even to the angels and the Son, but only to the Father. This truth cautions believers against setting dates or becoming overly fixated on prophetic details. Instead of focusing on the uncertainties, Christians are encouraged to trust in God's perfect timing and to live faithfully in the present. The emphasis should be on the certainties of Scripture and the transformative impact this hope should have on our lives. By trusting in God's timing, we can find peace and assurance in His divine plan. [07:45]

Acts 1:7-8 (ESV): "He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from trying to predict the future to trusting in God's timing and living faithfully today?

Day 3: Living in the Last Days

The apostles, while they may have seemed to expect Christ's return in their lifetime, never taught it as a doctrine. The New Testament uses terms like "the last days" to refer to the entire era from Christ's first coming to His second. This understanding reminds believers that they are already living in these last times. The concept of prophetic foreshortening, where events are seen in close proximity, requires careful interpretation. Christians are called to live with an awareness of the times, recognizing the urgency and significance of their faith in the present moment. [13:06]

2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9 (ESV): "Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'... But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: How does understanding that we are living in the last days influence your daily decisions and priorities?

Day 4: Interpreting the Signs of His Coming

Certain signs will precede Christ's return, such as the calling of the Gentiles and the gathering of Israel. The interpretation of these signs varies, with some believing in a national restoration of Israel and others seeing it as a spiritual fulfillment within the Church. The eleventh chapter of Romans is particularly significant in this discussion, and it is important to study it carefully to understand the Apostle Paul's teaching on the salvation of "all Israel." Believers are encouraged to approach these signs with humility and discernment, focusing on the broader message of hope and redemption. [22:30]

Romans 11:25-26 (ESV): "Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.'"

Reflection: How can you approach the signs of Christ's coming with humility and discernment, focusing on the hope and redemption they represent?

Day 5: Living Faithfully and Expectantly

The focus of believers should be on living faithfully and expectantly, not on predicting dates or becoming sidetracked by speculative theology. The second coming is a glorious hope that should inspire Christians to live holy lives, ready for the day when the Lord will return. This hope is not passive but active, calling for a life of faithfulness, service, and love. By living with an expectant heart, believers can find joy and purpose in their daily walk with Christ, knowing that their labor is not in vain. [11:32]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to live more faithfully and expectantly, embodying the hope of Christ's return in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

The doctrine of the second coming of Jesus Christ is a profound and complex subject that requires careful consideration and a humble approach. It is essential to understand that the second coming will be personal, physical, visible, sudden, and glorious. This doctrine is not merely a topic for intellectual debate or speculation about dates and times; rather, it is a call to holiness and readiness. Our interest in the second coming should lead us to purify ourselves and live in a manner that reflects our hope in Christ.

The timing of Christ's return is a matter that has intrigued many, but it is crucial to remember that no one knows the exact time, not even the angels or the Son, but only the Father. This should caution us against setting dates or becoming overly fixated on prophetic details. Instead, we should focus on the certainties of Scripture and the transformative impact this hope should have on our lives.

The apostles, while they may have seemed to expect Christ's return in their lifetime, never taught it as a doctrine. The New Testament uses terms like "the last days" to refer to the entire era from Christ's first coming to His second, reminding us that we are already living in these last times. Prophetic foreshortening, where events are seen in close proximity, also requires careful interpretation.

Certain signs will precede Christ's return, such as the calling of the Gentiles and the gathering of Israel. The interpretation of these signs varies, with some believing in a national restoration of Israel and others seeing it as a spiritual fulfillment within the Church. The eleventh chapter of Romans is particularly significant in this discussion, and it is important to study it carefully to understand the Apostle Paul's teaching on the salvation of "all Israel."

Ultimately, our focus should be on living faithfully and expectantly, not on predicting dates or becoming sidetracked by speculative theology. The second coming is a glorious hope that should inspire us to live holy lives, ready for the day when our Lord will return.

Key Takeaways

1. The second coming of Christ is a personal, physical, and visible event that calls us to holiness and readiness. Our interest in this doctrine should lead us to purify ourselves and live in a manner that reflects our hope in Christ. [05:41]
2. No one knows the exact time of Christ's return, not even the angels or the Son, but only the Father. This should caution us against setting dates or becoming overly fixated on prophetic details. [07:45]
3. The apostles may have seemed to expect Christ's return in their lifetime, but they never taught it as a doctrine. The New Testament uses terms like "the last days" to refer to the entire era from Christ's first coming to His second. [13:06]
4. Certain signs will precede Christ's return, such as the calling of the Gentiles and the gathering of Israel. The interpretation of these signs varies, with some believing in a national restoration of Israel and others seeing it as a spiritual fulfillment within the Church. [22:30]
5. Our focus should be on living faithfully and expectantly, not on predicting dates or becoming sidetracked by speculative theology. The second coming is a glorious hope that should inspire us to live holy lives, ready for the day when our Lord will return. [11:32]
** [11:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to the Second Coming
[00:34] - Key Terms and Definitions
[00:55] - Nature of Christ's Return
[01:35] - Importance of Approach
[02:19] - Timing of His Coming
[03:18] - Interest in Prophecy
[04:25] - Test of Interest
[05:23] - Call to Holiness
[06:23] - Warnings from History
[07:09] - Scriptural Statements
[08:09] - Knowledge Denied
[09:05] - Certainties and Uncertainties
[10:42] - Dangers of Obsession
[12:21] - Apostolic Beliefs
[13:57] - Prophetic Foreshortening
[17:24] - Signs of His Coming
[22:30] - Calling of the Gentiles
[23:49] - Gathering of Israel
[34:21] - Homework and Conclusion

Sermon Clips

"Now if I've emphasized already the importance of the care and the importance of watching our spirits and the danger of being gripped by prejudices if I've done that in general, how much more necessary is it with respect to this particular aspect of the subject because so much of the interest in our Lord second coming centers upon this one question of the time the people are very concerned about this when is our Lord going to appear is it imminent may it happen at any moment and there is no doubt at all that it is because of that kind of interest that this subject always makes its appeal to Christian people." [00:02:40]

"The test of your interest in this question is this is the effect of your study of it or of your consideration of it upon your daily life and living I think I established last Friday that whenever this doctrine is introduced in the scripture it is always in that context it is always as a part of the appeal to holiness so if you are interest in this subject is simply that you may know times and dates and may be able to speak with authority as to when certain things are going to happen well then I say you are just unscriptural you've got a wrong interest a false one an unhealthy one." [00:04:29]

"Our interest in the second coming of our Lord should always be in terms of our relationship to him and unless it has the effect upon us of striving to be holy and to be ready for that great day well then there has been something wrong in the way we've been approaching it every men that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure and unless you go away from here tonight with this desire to be purified and determined to purify yourselves well either I or shall have failed very badly in what I say from this pulpit or else you will not have been listening to what I'm saying that is the context and we must never forget it." [00:05:17]

"Take the statement in 1 Thessalonians 5 in the first verse but at the times and seasons brethren we have no need that I write unto you and he goes on to point out how he will come as a thief in the night and so on but there is a still more important statement and I do want to emphasize this listen to these words of our Blessed Lord and Savior himself you'll find the main mark 13 verse 32 but of that day and that hour knoweth no man no not the angels which are in heaven listen neither the son but the father." [00:07:13]

"There is the son of God himself telling us that he did not know the time the date and the hour he says that this is a knowledge which was denied him as the son of men that the angels in heaven don't know it that it is a day at a time which is known only to the father and yet look at the books which bear eloquent testament to the fact that Christian people have nevertheless been trying to fix it exactly in spite of those two verses without reducing any other verses." [00:08:01]

"Indeed my whole endeavor as we consider this great subject is simply to concentrate on those things about which we can be absolutely certain there are certain things about which we can be certain I've already mentioned the the manner in which is going to come there is no question about that it seems to me that Scripture is perfectly plain and explicit we'll hold on to those things as for the rest all I'm going to endeavor to do is to put various views before you and ask you to consider them and to weigh them in the light of the scriptural evidence." [00:08:58]

"Beware of the terrible danger of being led from the main line of Christian living by an inordinate interest in the details of this great doctrine it's happened to many I have known large numbers of Christian people whose spiritual life has become dry and barren simply because this became almost an obsession they were always reading about it the latest books about it comparing them arguing it out working things out they gave themselves to that and the spiritual lives became dry and barren they forgot even their practical work as Christians they became students of prophecy and it led them onto a sidetrack and I've known many in that position for many years." [00:10:31]

"Let us give to this doctrine the place that it has in the scripture itself and not exaggerating it's one of those subjects which easily tends to exaggerate itself in our minds unless we are extremely careful I therefore repeat these warnings again far from being able to give you any data I am concerned mainly to discourage anybody to be concerned about dates and times and seasons we should be interested more in these very general principles which help us to understand the thrust of the scriptural teaching with regard to this matter very relevant as we approach this question of the time of his coming." [00:11:32]

"The apostles in their Christians to our Lord most certainly did give the impression often that they thought it was going to happen in their day and generation but I defy you to give me a single statement where they ever taught it in writing now then that is a dogmatic statement and I suggest you that if you examine the Scriptures you'll find it's correct they seemed to believe it in their Christians but they never taught it as such but there are certain statements and certain passages which on the surface and that first reading might give the impression that they did teach that." [00:12:57]

"We must remember that it generally refers to the whole of the New Testament era starting with the coming of our Lord and going on until the second appearing of our Lord the time in which you and I live is part of the last days of the last time as the term is used in the New Testament therefore if that is so it is very wrong to confine the term the last times of the last days to something that is yet going to happen you and I are already in the last time the Christians of a thousand years ago were the first Christians were the last times begin at the first advent and will run on until the second day." [00:14:49]

"There are certain signs which will precede his coming what are well here's the first the calling of the Gentiles now you've got that in Matthew the Gospel according to st. Matthew the 24th chapter and the 14th verse a very famous and the most important verse let me read it to you Matthew 24 the 14 and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come that's perfectly clear isn't it and there is indeed no doubt about that at all." [00:22:30]

"A second sign is going to be the gathering in of the fullness of Israel you notice that didn't you in the reading again at the beginning in that great chapter clearly teaching that the Jews are certainly going to be gathered into the kingdom and that that is happening is going to happen before the end you've got a similar statement in the second epistle to the corinthians in the third chapter in verses 15 and 16 at least this is the evidence that is generally brought forward let me read them to you but even to this day when Moses is read the Vail is upon their heart nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the veil shall be taken away." [00:23:49]

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