The Second Coming

Today's reading was Peter's second letter to the church. He is clearly aware that his death is imminent and so he deals with issues that the church is facing and will face after he is gone. He encourages the church to remain faithful and to make their "calling and election sure". He calls on them to remember the facts of the gospel as he is an eyewitness to the life of Jesus and the events that changed the world. He warns them of false teachers, knowing that this will be an ongoing threat to the body of Christ. And then he tells them about the second coming of Christ.

It would seem that some people are beginning to question the timing of Jesus return, his second appearance on this earth. They were expecting a quick return and so they have begun to question the veracity of Peter's claims. He tells them that "scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4) You may have had this thought yourself or had someone say something similar to you. It is a reasonable question! Nearly 2000 years have passed since our Lord returned to heaven, when is he coming back? Peter says that when we think like that, we forget that God created everything and that by His word everything is maintained. The creator and sustainer of the universe can well choose the time of His return. It is His business.

That is satisfactory enough, but Peter gives us more information to chew on.  "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." (2 Peter 3:8-10) He tells us that our way of reckoning time is insignificant to God, His timetable is eternity. While we may consider it to have been a long time, in the scheme of eternity, 2000 years is the blink of an eye. So God is not slow in fulfilling His promises, rather He is very patient with us. He wants everyone to be saved and so He waits for just the right time to send His Son back to take His church home.

Many claim to know when the Lord will return, they have studied the scriptures and looked at the "signs" and have announced that His return is imminent. Some have even given dates, only to look foolish when the date passed without His return. What does the Bible teach about this? In these verses, we are told that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief". The message is that we don't know the time of His return. What does Jesus say about this? "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:35-37) Jesus says that He doesn't know the day or the hour; the angels don't know the timetable.... only the Father knows. Only the Father knows. Only the Father knows. While men may run around with well thought-out presentations, proclaiming the soon return of the Lord; I would ask them how they know, since Jesus doesn't. (and he may well return soon, certainly sooner than it was 2000 years ago)

So, what's the point? Peter tells us that we should be looking forward to His coming and that our lives should reflect the fact that we are eagerly waiting for His second appearance. We should "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him."(ch 3, v 14) The point being that by not knowing, we should live in anticipation of his return and that should change the outlook of our entire life. Each day, watching and waiting, telling others about His sure return. Daily spending our time in His word and being constant in prayer, with one eye toward heaven and the other toward our neighbors. (Matthew 22: 37-39) This I know, He will come back and take us home to be with Him! That my friends is certain.