Jesus is coming again. When His disciples watched Him ascend into the clouds following His resurrection, they were also assured of His future return. The Bible says, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 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 1:9-11, NKJV). Since Christ has not yet “come in like manner” as they “saw Him go into heaven,” Christians still await the fulfillment of this promise. As the writer of Hebrews plainly states, “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:28).
The apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica emphasizes the importance of the second coming of Christ, especially as it relates to the everyday lives and future hope of God’s people. Looking forward to the fulfillment of this great promise, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians saying, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19-20).
Based on the teaching presented in 1 Thessalonians, what does the promise of the second coming of Christ do for the faithful Christian? Please consider the following:
1. It motivates holy conduct. Paul exhorted the Christians in Thessalonica, saying, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thess. 3:12-13). The understanding that the Lord will one day come again to receive His own should spur servants of God to be “blameless in holiness” when it comes to each one’s attitudes, behavior, and conduct. Christ is coming again, and we want Him to be pleased with what we have done when He comes.
2. It provides comfort. To calm the concerns of the Thessalonian Christians regarding those among them who had already died, Paul wrote, saying, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:13-18). The understanding that the Lord will one day come again and resurrect faithful Christians who have physically died so that they join with those still living in being welcomed into His eternal home should serve as a source of comfort for God’s people. Christ is coming again, and we can find consolation in the fact that He will provide a glorious future for His faithful followers beyond this brief earthly life.
3. It encourages watchfulness. Paul went on to warn the Thessalonian Christians concerning the second coming, saying, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:1-6). The understanding that the Lord will one day come again at an unpredictable time should awaken each child of God to the urgency of being prepared for His coming. Christ is coming again, and we must remain watchful and ready at all times instead of lapsing into sin and neglect in our service toward God.
Conclusion: As we await the fulfillment of the promised coming of the Lord we must allow the prospect of His coming to motivate us to conduct ourselves in holiness, to comfort our hearts in view of our eternal hope, and to encourage us to constantly live watchful and godly lives rather than become entangled in the sins of this world. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23). Will you be ready for His coming?