Christ’s Return

1 Timothy 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The suffering Thessalonian church lived with the hope of Christ’s return because their circumstances caused them to long for heaven. Paul reminded them that the persecution they were suffering would ultimately be dealt with by Christ’s judgment of sin and rebellion at his second coming. Justice and mercy would triumph over idolatry and sin.

Do we eagerly await the return of Christ, and do we encourage each other with these words?

Or have we found heaven on earth and avoided suffering so that the return of Christ is no longer on our minds?

Can we live in the security and comfort of western society and still anticipate Christ’s return because his kingdom values and mission guide our lives?

“Lord Jesus, come. My eyes are on you, and your imminent return motivates me, for your glory.”