Painful fear seizes the hearts of millions when they look at the world events in our days. Less than a century ago, humanity witnessed the most terrible war in history. Then the cry for deliverance was raised to God by broken hearts all over the world. Now a new misfortune has appeared that is even more widespread, affecting in some way every human heart.
No one is left unaffected by the consequences of the financial crisis in our world. Today most of the common people are poorer than ever. In every major city, thousands of strong men who are able to work are left without a job, without a prospect of being hired, and dependent for their survival on the benevolence and charity of others.
And worse of all is that the young men and women of the growing generation also find their place in the lines of the jobless – they are not sought after even in their teenage years.
Seeing that we are facing such an unprecedented situation, thousands add their raging voices to the roar of the multitudes. Yet God lives and he has always overruled the world events and he has carefully watched over his people and he has silently been accomplishing his eternal plan of salvation.
Because sin entered this world, and it brought to the race a terrible disaster, God sent His Son Jesus to save from the remains left from the shipwreck all that could be saved. His love was so boundless, the human beings were so dear to him and sin was so loathsome to him, that no sacrifice was too dear to him to make. Thus we read:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
The sending of Jesus once into this earth accomplished one part of the great plan of salvation. By his death and resurrection Jesus made it possible for those who believe in him to become co-heirs with him to the eternal inheritance. And the plan of redemption also includes him coming again, to call on those who have accepted his sacrifice through the ages and who have acknowledge his rule. To accomplish this part of God’s plan, there was a need for Christ to come again to this earth.
Jesus himself acknowledged this fact. On one occasion, he told his disciples:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.
The thought that one day he will come a second time never left the mind of the Savior. He always reminded his disciples that he would come again and come as a King of Glory. Not long after his crucifixion, he pointed them to some signs that would declare that his coming was near. He said:
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27.
This state of things that was described by Jesus himself is an exact image of the situation of the world that we are facing today. Though there have been fears and complicated situations in every century in the past, they have never eaten the hearts of men like they are today. The whole world is in tribulation as there has never been – tribulation similar to that which was prophesied about by Daniel, which was to come when Michael, the great prince, would stand up. See Daniel 12:1.
Truly, all the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures regarding the end of the world concentrate on this very time that we live in. All the terrible events and conflicts around us are its deadly agony. They show us that the hour of redemption is nearing. Didn’t Jesus himself say: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)?
The fact that Jesus is going to come changes our whole worldview. Hope takes the place of despair. The very trouble of the time we live in now becomes lighter. Man is enabled to endure almost infinite sorrow if there is a prospect of a final deliverance. For this reason, the Second Coming of Christ is a “blessed hope” just now – because it not only presents the only possible way for resolving the dilemma, but it is also the issue of all that trouble, and it is filled with much more happiness than any human endeavor could accomplish in thousands of years.
Indeed, his coming will not bring gladness to all, because to those who have not been interested in God and who have fought against his Kingdom, it will cause terror. So much that they would cry to the rocks and mountains to hide them from the face of him that is to come. But to those who have loved God and have given their hearts to him, it will be a day of great joy. With the words of the prophet Isaiah, they will say:
“This is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.
This will be a day of happy reunion not only of all the redeemed with their Savior but also with one another. At the sound of the voice of Christ, the righteous dead will come up from their graves and they will be gathered by the angels to meet Jesus in the air. The apostle Paul says:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17.
The coming of Jesus in glory will change everything. The sorrows of today will be forgotten in the joys of the glorious morning that he is preparing for his own people.
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 35:5-6.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:35-37.