The King is Coming: Living in Light of the Second Coming

In last several posts, we’ve looked at the blueprint, the worship, and the mission of the church. But all of these things point toward a singular, climactic event that defines the Christian's hope. History is not a series of random accidents; it is a timeline moving toward a specific destination. That destination is the return of Jesus Christ. I am a member of the church of Christ because we live with the constant expectation that the same Jesus who ascended into heaven will one day return in glory. This isn't a "scare tactic"—it is the ultimate "comfort tactic" for those who are in Christ.

The Certainty of His Return

Just after Jesus ascended to heaven, two angels appeared to the disciples and made a startling promise: "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 1:11). Jesus Himself promised, "I will come again and receive you to Myself" (John 14:3). The New Testament mentions the return of Christ over 300 times. It is the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) that sustains the believer through every trial and tragedy. We don't know when it will happen—and anyone who claims to have "calculated" the date is contradicting the Word of God—but we know with absolute certainty that it will happen.

What Will That Day Look Like?

The Bible dispels many of the myths surrounding the Second Coming. It won't be a secret or "silent" event. It will be visible: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7). It will be audible: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (I Thessalonians 4:16). It will be sudden: It will come "as a thief in the night" (II Peter 3:10). There will be no final warnings or "second chances" once the trumpet sounds. On that day, the physical world as we know it will be "dissolved" and "melt with fervent heat" (II Peter 3:10). The dead will be raised, and all of humanity will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

The Resurrection and the Judgment

The Second Coming is inextricably linked to the resurrection of the dead. Paul explains in I Corinthians 15 that just as Christ was raised from the dead, so shall we be. Our "corruptible" bodies will be changed into "incorruptible" spiritual bodies. This leads to the final assessment of our lives. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). For those who have rejected the Gospel, this is a day of "vengeance" and "everlasting destruction" (II Thessalonians 1:8-9). But for those who have obeyed the Gospel and walked faithfully, it is a day of "rest" and "vindication."

How Then Should We Live?

If we know the world is going to end and we are going to face our Creator, how should that affect our Tuesday mornings? Peter asks this very question: "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?" (II Peter 3:11). Living in light of the Second Coming produces:

 * Urgency: We want to share the Gospel with as many people as possible while there is still time.

 * Purity: We want to be found "without spot and blameless" when He appears (II Peter 3:14).

 * Perspective: The problems and material possessions of this world seem much smaller when viewed against the backdrop of eternity.

Conclusion

The story of the church is not just about a historical group that started 2,000 years ago; it’s about a people being prepared for a King. When Jesus returns, He is coming to claim His bride—the church. If the trumpet sounded today, would you be ready? Our greatest desire is to help every person prepare for that moment. We invite you to join us in looking upward, "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God."