“I'll be back!” (Advent Reflection)-WONDERING GURU

 Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Will He be back?

        It’s 1984. I was just a little kid in the boarding school, anxiously waiting to watch the science fiction film Terminator of my then favourite actor the great macho man Arnold Schwarzenegger. Long before the Terminator could utter “I'll be back!” Jesus had already said, “I am coming soon!” in Rev 22:7. That’s the great message of advent.  Jesus says he will be back the second time. The Second Coming of Christ is one of the important subjects for us Christians.  So what is this Second coming all about? Is it a creation of the Church? Did Jesus speak about it? Yes definitely! He spoke about His own return. (Mt.24:30, Jn.14:2-3) two men dressed in white foretold it (Acts 1:10-11). The early Christians motivated one another with it (1Ths 4:16-18, Rev. 1:7). They were asked to patiently wait for His coming (Jas 5:7-8, Heb.10:37).

 

How do we know when it will happen? 

         Will there be any signs that when it really happens we will be able to see it? The seventh angel will sound his trumpet (Rev 10:6-7, Rom. 16:25-26; Our earthly bodies will become like His glorious bodies (Phil. 3:20-21, 1Cor. 15:35-53); The dead in Christ will be raised to life.  (2Cor 4:14, Jn. 6:40, 11:25); those believers still alive will be caught up to meet Him. (Mt. 24:31); Creation will be set free from its bondage (Rom. 8: 19-22, Isaiah 35:1-7); all His enemies will be put under His feet (1Cor. 15: 24-25,2Thess. 1:7-10); Satan will be bound. Rev 20:1-10); Jesus will be revealed from heaven in a blazing fire with his powerful angels (2Thess. 1:6-9); A kingdom will be set up that will never be destroyed (Dan 2:44, Rev. 19:15-16).

 

How will Jesus be back?

          Will He come suddenly (1Ths 5:1-3,4-11); will He come like the Lightning (Mt. 24:27, Lk. 17:24); will He come in just the way He left. (Acts 1: 10-11); will He come with great power and glory (Lk 21:27); will He come infront of everyone (Rev. 1:7)?

 

What type of preparation should we make?

         Billy Graham once said, “We are to wait for the coming of Christ with patience. We are to watch with anticipation. We are to work with zeal. We are to prepare with urgency.” The commentator Warren Wiersbe sums up second coming in three commands: “Wake up, clean up, and grow up!”     So we need to be watchful at all times. The devil is prowling like a roaring lion warned St. Peter (1 Pt 5:8) we need to pray constantly (1Thess 5:17) Consistency in prayer is important. Our love has to increase (Mt. 21:31ff).  We must keep on doing the work God has assigned to us in life both quietly and faithfully (2Thess 3:12).    

         The Final Coming of Christ is a twofold event. He will come when the world comes to an end.  When that will happen no one knows except the father (Mark 13:32). However my personal world will come to an end on the day I die and that too without knowing when (Eccl 9:12).  Therefore we need to be prepared all the time before it is too late. A priest and pastor were standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that read, "The End is near! Turn around before it's too late!" One speeding motorist yelled out his window, “Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” as he flew by. From around the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash. “Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?