Promise of His Coming

The Promise of the return of Christ is a vital part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. That is why the event was foretold by prophets, proclaimed by angels, and taught by Jesus and the apostles. In fact, more Old Testament passages are devoted to Christ’s Second Coming than the first. 

In the New Testament, the Lord mentions His return more frequently than His death.Why does the Lord purpose the promise of his coming? Because the Father wants us to be excited and hopeful about Jesus’ return, recognizing it as the culmination of His plan for the world. To keep our hope alive, Scripture tells us what to expect, though we don’t know the exact timing.

The promise of the return of the Lord is the only hope of the World, the only hope of the Nations, the only hope of the gentiles, the only hope of Israelites, and the only hope of the Church. We are confronted with so many problems of life, persecutions from the fanatics, religious crises, political uncertainty, and economic recessions, and are pressed from every side. Our Lord vehemently encourages us in John 14: 1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Our Lord is preparing a mansion for us. When he finishes it, He will come again to receive us to Himself. Yes, it produces hope and enthusiasm in Christian lives, which enable us to strive through all these miserable hitches.

When Christianity passed through many centuries, the scoffers also increased and questioned the certainty of His coming. This had commenced even in the first century, in the very time of Apostle Peter. (2 Peter 3: 3-4) That is why Peter clarifies the reason why our Lord tarries. There are two vibrant reasons why he is slow in His return. The first one is related to the people yet to repent (2 Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”. The second reason is related to the believers. (2 Peter 3: 14)“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” 

 Hundreds of promises are found in the Scripture regarding the second coming of Jesus Christ, both in the Old Testament, New Testament, and Christian writings. 

A reference to the second coming of Christ is found in the Nicene and Apostolic creeds. “He (Jesus) shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His Kingdom shall have no end. The second coming defeats Satan’s earthly reign and establishes Christ’s kingdom of peace and righteousness in its place. Saints from all ages will be gathered to reign with the Lord.”

Angel Gabriel corroborates the promise of Jesus’ eternal Kingdom in the dialogue with the virgin Mary. (Luke 1: 31-33) “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” There are seven promises contained in this statement. Out of these seven promises only four of them were fulfilled. (1) You will conceive and give birth to a son. (2) His name will be called Jesus. (3) He will become great. (4) He will be called the Son of the Highest. These four promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The proceeding three promises are yet to be fulfilled. (1) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. (2) He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever. (3) His Kingdom will never end. If these final promises must be fulfilled, it is mandatory for His second coming.

The first and foremost promise of His coming is found in Genesis 3:15. “You will strike his heel” refers to His first coming, fulfilled at Calvary where our Lord Jesus was crucified for us. “He will crush your head” refers to the second coming and our Lord’s final overthrow of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 20:1-3).

Historical books and wisdom literature broadly elucidate a future kingdom. Job in his excitement shouted, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.” The Psalmist also was anticipating the glorious days of the Messianic Kingdom. “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of  the living” (Psalms 27: 13)

The prophecies of Isaiah to Malachi consistof enormous promises of His coming. They were not fulfilled at His first coming, but await fulfillment. In the Book of Daniel chapters two and seven, narrate the prophecy of the future kingdoms of the World.  It is portrayed in a sequent order of Five Kingdoms. It begins with Monarchy, leads to Democracy, and culminated in Theocracy. If the four world kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) were literal, then the fifth Messianic kingdom will be literal too. 

The Old Testament concludes with the prophecy of Malachi, in which the culmination of Christ’s coming is portrayed as the following.  “who fear My name,  The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves”. What a blessed promise it is!!

Then in the Gospels, we have the inspired and authoritative records of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and repeatedly He spoke of His Second Coming.Many of the clear statements made by our Saviour, and in some of His parables, we have the promise of His coming. Moreover, the Gospel of Mathew chapter 24 is a vibrant picture of His coming and adjunct events.

The Promise of His Coming is found in the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:9-11 is a very significant passage, where two men guarantee His coming. The Promise of His Coming is found in the Letters of Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude.  The Promise of His Coming is also found in the Apocalypse. The Book of Revelation does not make sense if we take from it the promise of His return. The whole message of the Book is summed up in Revelation 1:7 and 22:7, 12, and 20. The Lord’s Supper is a significant symbol, which prospects the return of the Lord.  (1 Corinthians 11:26) 

Are you eagerly anticipating Christ’s return or seldom thinking about it? Apostle John warns us not to love the world or the things it contains because they are passing away (John2: 15-17). Instead, we are to long for our Savior’s return and rejoice in His coming Kingdom.

The Promise of His Coming is found in the heart of every true believer.What is the testimony of Jesus which we, as believers, have within us? It is the promise of His coming again. The Holy Spirit places in our hearts the assurance and expectation of His near return, which causes us to cry out, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).