A Blessed Hope

From: Echoes of Grace: 1981

• 1 min. read • grade level: 6

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8⁸Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8).

Every writer of the New Testament speaks of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter and Jude, all proclaim this glorious event.

The Lord is coming for His own first, and then the Lord is coming with them.

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:4⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).

Who is this coming One?

"The Lord Himself." 1 Thessalonians 4:16¹⁶For 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: (1 Thessalonians 4:16). "This same Jesus." Acts 1:11¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11). "If I go... I will come again." John 14:3³And 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 14:3).

When is He coming?

"Behold, I come quickly." "Surely I come quickly." Revelation 22:7, 20⁷Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)
²⁰He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20). "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1 Corinthians 15:52⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Why is He coming?

To receive His own to Himself, that where He is, there they may be also (John 14). To catch up His loved ones, "they that are Christ's," that they may "ever be with the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:23²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23) and 1 Thessalonians 4:17¹⁷Then 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 Thessalonians 4:17).

This, not death, is the Christian's blessed hope. How about you, who have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? Will you be left behind? He may come today! Are you ready?

"And that, knowing the time, that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep: for NOW is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11).

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