The Soon Return of Christ

I was once talking to a close family member on the phone and I told this person that I believed that Christ

was coming soon. This person swiftly reminded me that my Grandmother believed that Christ was coming

soon too during World War I and World War II and that Christ did not come then and He was not coming

now. I was crushed to hear this considering the many ways Christ was showing me He is coming soon.

Now I know that many Christians believe this way. I thought about these words and how my Grandmother

faithfully followed and watched for Christ. My earthly Father, who has since passed away, also watched

for Christ ardently during his lifetime. I thought about the very first Christians from the New Testament

and how they too watched for Christ’s return.

 

What did my dear Grandmother…my Dad…and the early New Testament Christians all have in common?

Well apart from the fact that they have all since passed away—they all watched and longed for the

promised return of Jesus and the catching away of the saints to the New Jerusalem as outlined in the Bible.

It does not matter that none of them lived during the time of the generation that would actually see the

return of Christ and the rapture, they all would still earn the Crown of Righteousness as promised to them

in the Bible. Did you catch that? God accounts that watching for the return of Christ as being so

significant that He awards a crown to the watcher in the next life. This is the mandate of God for the

follower of Christ to watch for His return to take home His Bride. Here is the verse regarding the Crown

of Righteousness:

 

2 Timothy 4:8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous

judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

So many Christians are caught up in the things of the world and when you even suggest watching for the

soon coming of Jesus, I hear so frequently their response from the verse Matthew 24:36: But of that day

and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. So they excuse themselves by

saying that since only the Father knows the day and time of these things, then let’s not worry or talk about

it. Only, here is the actual section in the Bible with this verse:

 

Matthew 24:36-44: But of that day and hour knoweth  no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father

only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that

were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that

Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the

coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two

women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for  ye

know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of  the house had known in

what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be

broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

This verse essentially says that BECAUSE no one knows about that day or hour, therefore keep watch.

BECAUSE you do not know on what day or hour your Lord will come you need to watch. This verse is

frequently misquoted and misused to say because no one knows about the day or hour but only the Father,

so then just put it out of your mind. Now let us read further into this section of the Bible:

Matthew 24:45-51: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his

household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall

find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil

servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and

to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him,

and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the

hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Here then are some sobering words from the Bible that the master will come on a day when He is not

expected and an hour He is not looked for and the servant not looking for the Master will be assigned to a

place with the hypocrites.

 

Now when the signs of the soon return of Christ start to happen, and they are now, then how much more

important is it for this generation to be watching for Christ? Therefore, God says that He will reward those

who diligently watch for and long for the return of Christ. God will punish those who do not watch for

Christ and occupy themselves with other pursuits. Now with the events foretold to happen at the soon

coming of Christ for His Bride taking place now, it is shameful for Christians not to be looking for Christ’s

soon return. In addition, it is shameful for Christians to persecute and condemn those who are faithfully

looking and watching especially since this is what the Bible specifically prescribes for all true followers of

Christ.

 

The Crown of Righteousness (awarded for those who long for His appearing) is called this for two main

reasons. One reason is that it is the hope and inspiration of the Christians’ during a time of great darkness

and life’s struggles to watch for Christ’s return. The other reason is that when Christians watch and

anticipate Christ’s return to retrieve His Church they are more inclined to pursue holiness and

“righteousness” in anticipation of the near coming of the Lord. When people believe that Jesus’ coming is

close, they tend to surrender their lives to Christ and to turn from evil in the only way it is possible to

pursue holiness—through Christ.

 

Hebrews 9:27-28: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was

once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time

without sin unto salvation.