The Sure Return of Jesus
By John Gallagher
Even if you don't like theology, you have formed one. The question is, "is it biblical?"
Benjamin Martin, in the movie “The Patriot,” said: “I have long feared my sins would find me out.” And if we fear not this, we fear the sins of others finding us, and we fear that the effects of sin on this world, our bodies and mind, will certainly find us out. Our own mortality, and the damages and hurts that come our way push us to develop a philosophy, a theology, a doctrine by which we see, understand and live life. Even if you say you do not like theology, you have formed one. The only question is, “is it completely biblical” or just an amalgamation of the Bible, experience and everything you have come across in your learning?
The Advent Christian Declaration of Principles sets forth both the basic tenets of the Christian faith and the distinctive doctrines most Advent Christians believe. It provides a guide, or guardrails, to keep us on the path of following Jesus. It helps to orient our personal philosophy, theology and doctrine, to the Word and will of God. This is why those first two words are vital “We believe.” These are words we must own for ourselves.
For our purposes in this piece we will look at Article VI:
We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his promise, will come again to this earth, even “in like manner” as he went into heaven — personally, visibly and gloriously — to reign here forever; and that this coming is the hope of the church, inasmuch as upon that coming depend the resurrection and reward of the righteous, the abolition of sin and its consequences, and the renewal of the earth – now marred by sin — to become the eternal home of the redeemed, after which event the earth will be forever free from sin and death.
Jesus will return personally, visibly and gloriously
We believe Jesus will come again “personally, visibly, gloriously.” We do not live in a world that will get better with age like wine. God’s plan of salvation through his Son Jesus makes it clear; the only way for things to improve is the salvation offered in Christ through his death, resurrection and his return to establish his literal kingdom forever. When Jesus ascended to heaven before the disciples, they were awestruck. After the trauma of what they had been through those three days before his resurrection, perhaps they could not accept the idea of another absence. They kept looking up in the sky thinking he might be right back. An angel appears with the following words indicating the personal and visible return of Jesus in Acts 1:11: “Men of Galilee,” the angel said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus himself said his second coming would be glorious in Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
Jesus’ temporary invisible reign will become his eternal visible reign
We believe Jesus is coming again to reign forever. Christians believe Jesus is King of kings now, that he sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. This Kingship is veiled. It is something we must receive and believe in faith. We do not experience it or see it in its fullness now. The return of Jesus promises a visible, literal reign forever. Faith will become sight. One of the thieves on the cross with Jesus grasped this truth when he said (Luke 23:42): “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” “When” Jesus came in his kingdom. “When” he returns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
His reign is necessary for us to fully experience the promise of Jesus in Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” It is obvious that the meek do not always inherit the earth now. In most parts of the world they suffer. Only when Jesus returns will we know what it is to inherit the earth and be with him forever.
The hope of the church is the resurrection at his coming
We believe his coming is the hope of the church. Our hope is in the resurrection. Our hope rests on his promise to reward the righteous. Resurrection is our only hope. Again, the thief on the cross recognized this by asking Jesus to remember him “when” he came into his kingdom. The thief anticipated, in faith, both resurrection and reward. In another passage Martha is responding to Jesus about the hope for her dead brother – and her only hope was resurrection. “Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24).
Resurrection is our only hope for immortality: “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:42). We are mortal beings. Immortality is conferred on those who believe in Jesus at the resurrection when we are “raised.”
The dead in Christ prior to his return are dead. They are not in some paradise or better place. They await the return of Jesus and the resurrection that comes with his return as described by the Apostle Paul: “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
A new heavens and new earth will be our eternal home
We believe the return of Christ will usher in the renewal of the earth, no longer marred by sin, to be our eternal home with Jesus. That Jesus would come and renew this world is essential since sin did more than corrupt human beings. It also corrupted all of creation: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:19–21). Creation itself needs to be made new. It longs for liberation from sin to one of perfection and sinlessness.
Sin, death, sadness and pain will be no more
Our life experiences cry out to us for creation to be set right! Who hasn’t grieved over a loved one suffering in the end of life? Or been appalled at the merciless behavior of humans preying on one another? Or mourned over a devastating natural disaster? Add to this the destruction man has brought to the planet, and we clearly understand the essential aspect of the earth made new again.
God himself created this universe perfect, only for sin to compromise it. Man’s sin rendered the universe imperfect. The second coming of Jesus is to save those who believe in him and completely eradicate sin and its affects on all of creation. This world, and universe must be restored to its original designed perfection. Therefore, both from God’s perspective and our own, we fully understand his promise in 2 Peter 3:13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” One day, when Jesus returns, the universe will be restored to a state of complete righteousness, and we who believe will live there to enjoy it.
The promise in Revelation 21:4-5 is precious: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Those tears can be for many reasons. The list in these verses are certainly cause for tears in this life but will be wiped away then. I cannot help but think about the tears from the weight of sin and guilt. Though forgiven by grace through faith, we still carry the scars, the burden of our sins and the sins of other upon us. One day those tears, that pain will be gone. Everything will be made new!
This hope should compel us to share the gospel
It is this life on the earth made new that will be ours through faith in Christ. It is this hope that anchors us in the storms of life. It is this hope that gives impetus to following Jesus even when it is hard. It is this hope for which the church exists — to make disciples, “to purify for Himself a people that are His very own” (Titus 2:14).
This hope fueled the passion of the early Advent Christians, and it continues to fuel our passion today. Consider these words from D. T. Taylor in “The Reign of Christ On Earth,” “Time is short. The season of toil is well nigh spent. Let us be active. Every Christian in this day should be a missionary in earnest. We are not against missions. Rather we do wish there were an army of five hundred thousand missionaries like Brainard, Wolfe, and Judson. Let this gospel of the kingdom be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then let the end — the kingdom come.”
In Revelation 22:20 Jesus says “I am coming soon.” John’s response is “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” I agree.
John Gallagher currently serves as pastor of the Savannah AC Church in SC and president of ACGC. He has held leadership roles on conference, regional and denominational levels and has served as a pastor in the Southern, Eastern, Appalachian and Central Regions. He has degrees from the Community College of Rhode Island, Berkshire Christian College, and Luther Rice Seminary. John is an avid reader and biker. He and his wife Joy have 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law and grandson.
Rev. John Gallagher, “The Soon Return of Jesus,” The Advent Christian Witness, Winter 2022