Awaiting Christ’s Return

By David Ettinger

An Enlightening Conversation
One of the great things about working for a Christian ministry is that quite often daily discussions focus on the Word of God or the things of God.

I experience this daily as a writer/editor for Zion’s Hope near Orlando, Florida, and a perfect example occurred recently as I was reminiscing on an discussion I had a few years back when the ministry’s founder, renowned Bible teacher Marv Rosenthal, came to my office. (Earlier this year, Marv went home to be with the Lord).

“Dave,” he said, “something’s bothering me.” I asked him the reason for his disenchantment, and he related that in church the day before, the congregation sung a song on the Second Coming of Christ and no one seemed moved by it. “This bothers me greatly,” Marv said. “Do you realize that the return of Christ should thrill every believer to the very core of his being?”

Being guilty of the same spiritual apathy, I confessed to Marv that I hadn’t thought of Christ’s return in such terms.

“Well, you should,” he mildly chastised, then gave me an assignment. “Sometime today, I want you to give me a list of verses dealing with the Second Coming. It would make for a good study.”

He’s Right!
I did a Google search on “return of Christ verses” and discovered that Marv was spot-on. Every verse listed was filled with hope, anticipation, and eagerness regarding Christ’s second coming, proof that indeed the return of Christ should be a source of bliss for all Christians.

The return of Jesus Christ will be the culmination of every Christian’s desire as the curse of sin’s hold on this planet will end, and the Millennial (1,000-year) Kingdom Age will be ushered in. This coming age of peace, long life, and joy will be shepherded over by Jesus Himself, who will reign from His capital city of Jerusalem.

But until that age begins, we are to be contemplating its coming, doing so with enthusiasm and expectancy. So, without further ado, here is a list of Bible verses which confirms these truths (pivotal words emphasized):

Philippians 3:20: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Titus 2:13: “… looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus …”

1 Thessalonians 1:10: “… and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

Jude 1:21: “… keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

Romans 8:23: “And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

2 Peter 3:12: “… looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”

2 Peter 3:13: “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

Galatians 5:5: “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”

Romans 8:19: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Good Therapy
In this dark and decaying world in which we live, there can be no better therapy for our hearts and souls than to meditate upon Christ’s return and the glory awaiting us when that blessed event arrives at last!

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Tagged: christian living, Christianity, Loving God, Practical, prophecy, the end-times, the New Testament, The Return of Christ, The Second Coming

Posted in: Application, Bible study, Bible teaching, Christ's Deity, Christianity, Comfort, Devotional, Editorial/Blog, Glorifying God, God's Divine Plans, Grateful to God, Loving God, Making a Point, New Testament, Practical, Resting in Jesus, the end-times, The Return of Christ