The Second Coming in Light of the Cross

In our lesson on the Sanctuary we learned about a group of people who were disappointed when Jesus did not return when they expected Him in 1844. They were very sad and grieved deeply. I mean if you think about it, not only were they expecting to see Jesus again, but they also expected to see all their loved ones in the resurrection who had died. So when they were not re-united with their loved ones as they fully expected to be, they grieved for them all over again as well as for not getting to see Jesus. But like we talked about, some did not mind that Jesus had not come, they were in love with the world and quickly went back to it. These people were not ready for Jesus because they were not in love with Him and the Cross, but were in love with themselves and the world. Paul says in Galatians 6:14 that if we glory or love the Cross we will be crucified to worldly things and not care about them.

Matthew 24:37-39 talks about a group of people who will be like the people in Noah’s day when they were too wrapped up in themselves and the world to bother getting onto the ark before the flood. They perished as will those in the last days who are more in love with the world than they are with Jesus.

But not all are in love with the world. In 2 timothy 4:8 Paul talks about everyone receiving a crown of life who love Jesus’ appearing. You see, there is a difference between believing He will come, and loving His appearing. Children who are misbehaving at home while mother is out running errands believe she is coming again but since they have misbehaved and made a mess out of the house they do not love her appearing. A true Adventist is one who not only believes in Jesus’ coming but is in love with Him and His appearing. They are like Paul in Galatians 6:14 and in love with the Cross and crucified to the world!

The Bible often refers to the church as a woman (Revelation 12). Revelation 19:7 mentions a bride who is ready for marriage with the Lamb. Who could the Lamb be but Jesus and who could this bride be but His church? Now when you go to a wedding you will notice a very pretty little flower girl all dressed up. She is prepared for the wedding. But the groom does not wish to marry the flower girl. Oh she is pretty all right, and she is prepared. But she has not come prepared for the groom. No, she has come prepared for the cake and punch after the service! The groom does not want to marry a flower girl and neither does Jesus. The groom, Jesus wants to marry the bride. You see the bride has come and is prepared for one thing and one thing only. It’s not the cake and punch, no all she cares about is the groom! You see Jesus is not returning for “flower girls” who just get all excited about the cake, punch, golden streets and mansions. Jesus is returning for a bride who cares about Him!

Just as the bride is dressed in white, so Revelation 7:14 speaks of the redeemed having robes that have been cleansed and made white by the blood of the lamb. This is the church of Christ, His bride, who has fallen in love with Jesus the Lamb at the Cross and is now ready for His appearing not so much to walk on golden streets or live in their new mansions, but to look in the face of their Savior and Redeemer who died for them. Then they will be able to personally thank Jesus for dying for them. They will be able to clasp His nail scarred hands and thank Him for loving them. They are more than ready to say goodbye to this world of sin and suffering because there was never anything or anyone in this world who loved them as Jesus does.

In John 17:24, just before Jesus goes to the Cross He prays “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.” As Jesus looked towards the Cross He saw the goal of reconciling us with Him so we could be with Him forever in heaven.

How do we know Jesus is really coming again?

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And 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 14:1-3

 These words Jesus spoke the evening of His betrayal, which lead Him to the Cross. Jesus endured the Cross despising the shame by keeping His eye on the goal of having us in heaven with Him! Jesus who cannot lie said He is coming again. Of course He is! Look at the price He paid for us! Would you pay several thousand dollars for a brand new Lexus and then when it was ready not bother to go pick it up? Of Course not! Jesus did not leave paradise to shed His blood and give His life just to turn around and forget about us. He is coming just as He said, so we can be together. After all, we are what make heaven paradise to Jesus. Until you are there it’s just not heaven to Jesus.

What will some people say when Jesus returns?

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?  Revelation 6:14-17 

How sad! Jesus gave His life for these people and instead of running out to meet Him and thank Him for dying for them they run and hide. I can’t think of anything sadder than hiding myself from the one who died for me. Let’s not let this sinful world keep us away from Jesus. Let’s plan on running out to meet Him!

What will another group of people say when Jesus returns?

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.  Isaiah 25:9

 That’s the group I want to be in! How about you?

  Please read the following passage from the chapter “Gethsemane” from the classic commentary on the Life of Christ The Desire of Ages.  “The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ's thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God. In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God's presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ's hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father's love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied, for He would see a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved.”   

In Gethsemane Jesus accepted the Cross so you could accept heaven. What is  your response?