The Hope, Pt. 1
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”
The first advent of Christ came quietly. Jesus was born in humility, laid in a manger, rejected, crucified, and risen. Almost everyone missed Him because they were looking for a conquering king and not a suffering servant. But Scripture is clear, the story does not end with His first coming.
NO ONE is going to miss His second coming.
Paul tells us that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven. This isn’t a symbolic coming or some spiritual metaphor; the Living God is returning in body for all to see! There will be no confusion about who He is. Revelation tells us that every eye will see Him and every knee will bow. The same Jesus who came to save will return to reign, and reign forever.
At His first coming, Jesus bore our sin. At His second, He brings judgment and restoration. The promises of peace we read about in Isaiah will no longer feel distant or partial, they will be complete. The brokenness of this world, injustice, suffering, and the effects of sin will finally come to an end. He will wipe away every tear! What began as prophecy and promise will be fulfilled in His almighty glory.
The second advent is not something to fear for us, the church. It is everything we’ve hoped for. Paul reminds us that the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who remain will be caught up to be with the Lord forever. This is our redemption. The same Jesus who sought us in our sin, justified us by His blood, and sanctifies us everyday will one day FULLY restore us.
For all those who do not know Him, the world, the second coming is a warning. Being a “good person” isn’t enough. Today, there is still time for salvation. God is patiently waiting by His mercy, giving time for repentance for all who will come to believe upon His gift of salvation before the King returns.
Advent reveals to us where we are, chronologically. We are living between the promise and the fulfillment. We look back at the manger with heartfelt gratitude and forward to His throne with hope. I can hardly wait until that day. Until He comes, we remain faithful, watching, serving, and proclaiming the gospel as spirit-filled believers doing the work of God in this broken world. Every act of service, every prayer, and every heart focused on Jesus serves to the Kingdom of Jesus.
The Branch has come. The King is coming again. And His kingdom will never pass away!
Hallelujah!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the hope we have in Christ. Thank You that Jesus is coming again to restore all things. Help us to live ready, faithful, and expectant as we wait for His return. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.