The creed’s reference to the return of Jesus, often referred to as the Second Coming or Parousia, ¹ is one of the most significant themes in Christian theology. One theologian goes as far as saying, ‘The second coming of Jesus Christ is the core of the biblical world view, the climax of the biblical message, the cornerstone of biblical theology, and the centrepiece of authentic biblical faith for the twenty-first century.’ ² 

Though the specifics of the Second Coming are more fully articulated in the New Testament, the Old Testament lays an important groundwork. The prophets often spoke of a ‘day of the Lord’ (Zechariah 14), a time when God would intervene decisively in history to judge the nations and deliver his people. Isaiah envisioned a Messiah who would reign in righteousness (Isaiah 11), while Daniel saw visions of ‘one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven’ (Daniel 7:13–14). These references echo forward, anticipating the clarity of New Testament revelation.

In the New Testament, the return of Jesus is mentioned about 300 times, with one out of every 13 verses about the second coming: The Synoptic Gospels have Jesus speaking about the coming of the ‘Son of Man’ (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), and John alludes to a future return in chapters 14 and 16. In the Pauline epistles, the Second Coming is referred to in 1 Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4, as well as the header scripture in Titus. While the book of Revelation culminates in the establishment of a ‘new heaven and a new earth’, where God dwells with humanity (Revelation 21-22).

Whilst there is a sense of urgency reflected in the New Testament writings, where believers are urged to live as though the return could happen at any moment, the Second Coming is never brought up to get us to work out a timeline for when it will happen or to speculate about the end. Nevertheless, belief in the Parousia should affect how we live. So, how are we to wait for the blessed hope of the appearing of Jesus in glory? Let me suggest the following:

Be ready – In Matthew 25, a story of an Eastern wedding ceremony is presented where the bridegroom would come from his home and start walking towards the place of the marriage, and the bridesmaids are to be ready with their lamps. On this particular occasion, the bridegroom was delayed and some of the bridesmaids grew careless and weren’t prepared when he came, resulting in them not getting into the feast. The lesson is clear: we must live in a state of readiness.

Be supportive – In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul is explaining to relatively new believers what had happened to those Christians who had died, and that they will see Christ when he returns. He goes on to say they are to support each other by encouraging one another with these words.     

Be holy – In the light of Jesus’s return what kind of people are we to be? The context of our header scripture provides the answer:  “[Grace] teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:12-14).

May Jesus help us to be ready, be supportive, and be holy as we wait for his return.

¹  Greek, literally, presence, to be present  PAROUSIA Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
²  Motyer, Stephen, Come Lord Jesus, p 15.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church