Hebrews 9: 28 NKJV
I've heard the sermon quite a few times. We must all do our very best to be "like Jesus" to ensure that He will look favorably upon us when He returns. I guess that this is a good way to keep christians on good behavior? We all too often use the coming of Christ to proclaim a few prophesies. That Jesus will return to gather all believers to Himself {Matthew 24:31}. That Jesus will return to judge the nations gathered before Him. However, in Matthew 25 we're told that Jesus will "seperate" the nations gathered before Him {Matthew 25:32}. Nothing is mentioned here of the judgement of Christ. It can certainly be said that the second coming of Jesus is one of the most debated topics in all of Christinaity. Perhaps it's because Jesus said in His own words that nobody knows the exact time of His return {Matthew 24:44}. Therefore, we've resorted to our own understanding in predicting the return of Christ. We might intermingle a few scriptures that sound well and good to support our prediction, but in the end we still don't know the exact time of His return. Whether we understand the timing of Jesus' eventual return or not, most christians agree that it must happen. Not to toss a wrench into those who would predict the coming of the Lord, but what if Jesus has already returned? What if Christ Jesus is today very much present on the earth? That's right, what if Jesus is alive and well on the earth today? Would you consider something like this His second coming? Would you even believe in such stories?
15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessolonians 4: 15 - 18 NKJV
*Notice that we are to meet Christ in the air, not here on earth*
Although he had never met Jesus, the apostle Paul indeed knew much about Him. Raised in the strict teachings of the Jewish faith, Paul spent a good portion of his early life in opposition to all Jesus taught. These days Paul would be labled as a non believer...and who would follow someone like that? Had Paul followed the traditional path, the story would have ended there with Paul continuing to persecute the early followers of Christ. Then, as sometimes happens in life, God stepped in. After Paul was introduced to Jesus on that Damascus road, his life would never be the same {Acts 9:5}. Eventually, Paul came to understand that Jesus wasn't where he was taught to believe He was. Paul tells us that it is Christ Jesus whose Spirit dwells in us {Galations 2:20}. Still think that Jesus is yet to come a second time? I could do the math. Jesus was born to Mary (His first appearance). Upon His death on the cross, Jesus rose again on the third day and was seen by many (appearance number two). Now, what was that you were saying of His second coming? It seems to me that any appearances of Jesus after this will be His third. What do I know, I'm just a silly believer in Jesus. However, I believe that we can no longer use the catch phrase "when Jesus comes" with any certainty. No, Jesus is already here with us. Now, I believe that, according to scriptures, that Jesus will reveal Himself once again in the end of the age to gather all to Himself. As Paul realized, there's no need for us to tow the line of church doctrine to assure ourselves favor with Jesus upon His return. There is no need for us to strive to "be more like" Jesus...we already are. If you feel that you've been waiting for the Jesus bus for a long time take heart, He's been here waiting for you also.
15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.
Galations 1: 15 - 16 NKJV
~Scott~
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