I ended my last column writing, “So God did not act as expected by the people of John the Baptist’s day concerning the coming Messiah. What are our expectations today for the return of the Messiah at the end of the age?”
How does Scripture form our expectations for how God will act when Christ returns? Many today believe that Christ may return very soon based on the following Scriptures:
“Children will rebel against their parents.” (Mark 13: 12)
I suppose there have been many generations in the past that viewed their children as rebellious, but if you look at the respect that parents had even 40 years ago compared to today you will have to acknowledge that today’s children are vastly more rebellious and disrespectful of parents and adults in general.
Then look at, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24: 12)
We live in a world where Christian values are rapidly disappearing, where sexual immorality, and sexual perversions such as homosexuality, pedophilia and transgenderism are seen as normal, are accepted and indulged in throughout our society.
Today, truth in politics is almost none existent. Every newscast is filled with stories of violence, hatred, murder and the like.
Even in the church we see events that foreshadow the return of Christ.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4: 3, 4)
It said, “Men will not put up with sound doctrine”, so it is talking about Christians. So many Christians no longer accept the Bible as the inspired word of God. There are numerous denominations who preach the prosperity gospel. Just be generous with what God has blessed you with and He will fill your life with blessings and prosperity. He has to, because He has promised!
What rubbish! Have they not read of the trials and tribulations Jesus said Christians should expect?
Then there are denominations that teach there is no hell, everyone goes to heaven. So yes, today we can really see “men who will not put up with sound doctrine”.
They also some point to the large increase in natural disasters in recent years as a sign of the end of the age.
“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. . . .on the Earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21: 11& 25b)
Today’s news is filled with stories indicating an increase in natural disasters that goes well beyond just the better reporting we have today. Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, drought, famines, and wars are in the news every day. There are a great many other signs of the end of the age. We cannot look at them all in a short column, but one more that I see coming to fruition is found in: “And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations.” (Mark 13: 10)
Notice that it says nations, not people. Today we can say we are coming close. Through the work of worldwide mission efforts by a great many denominations there are not many places on Earth where the Gospel has not been preached. So, we can see that there are many indications that the end could be near. The world will not see the end coming though; it will be a total shock to them.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24: 37 – 39)
In fact, no one knows the exact day or hour Christ will return.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13: 32)
However, while the world may be oblivious as to what is about to happen, Christians should be aware that the time is approaching. Jesus said, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21: 28)
Jesus not only tells us to be aware that the end is near; He admonishes us to be prepared for it.
God did not act as expected when Christ first came, but He fully fulfilled what was prophesied. The Jews were expecting to be released from the oppression of the Romans. God released them from the oppression of their sin, their sinful nature and Satan by Christ’s sin-free life, His substitutionary death on the cross, and His resurrection.
While God may not act as we expect when Christ returns, we can be confident He will accomplish what has been promised. Christ will judge the nations and Satan, bring an end to our sin-filled world and usher in a new heaven and a new Earth where we will live forever with Christ and with a resurrected perfected physical body.
Blessings!
Rev. Terry Goerz,
Redeemer Lutheran Church.