Forty days after His resurrection Jesus defied gravity ascending upward into heaven into a cloud while His eleven disciples looked on. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11)
Jesus’s second coming will be the greatest event the universe has ever seen since creation. His physical explosion into the natural realm from the spiritual realm will be the epitome of supernatural. Jesus Himself described His coming (Gr. parousia). Amidst the cosmic darkness described in the previous post, the sky will erupt with blinding light. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:30,27). This amazing spectacle of His coming will be seen all over the globe encircling the entire earth. Absolutely no one on earth will miss this event. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.” (Revelation 1:7).
His return will reverse the curse mankind brought on himself through sin. Jesus will crush and destroy evil and set up His kingdom returning the Edenic relationship man had with his creator before the fall. The righteous followers of Christ, those who have accepted the Son and His sacrifice, will be privileged to walk and talk with their creator just as did the first man, Adam. And, they will be the first to meet Him when He appears. The word parousia implies the splendor of a returning victorious king with His subjects turning out to meet Him. “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. 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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
So, how should we prepare when considering this magnificent event? Jesus’s brother James said this: “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8). The apostle John adds this: “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28). Establish your hearts. Abide in Him with patience. Good advice to build our confidence! His Parousia is sure and likely sooner than you think.
Maranatha, Jim