Devotional – The Second Coming of Jesus

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

After escaping from the Philippine Islands in 1942 during World War II, General Douglas MacArthur is reported to have said, “I came through and I shall return”. MacArthur did return as head of the American army in 1944 and freed the Philippines from occupying forces.

The second coming of Jesus is one of the foremost teachings of the Bible. There are over 300 references in the scriptures to this great event; which will be the moment where all of history and prophecy will converge. As much as all the prophecies of His first coming were literally fulfilled, we can be assured that the prophecies of the second coming of Jesus will be fulfilled too. We are reminded in Acts 1:11 that, “…Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me… I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am (John 14:1-3). Since He has promised to come back for His people, we need to ask ourselves how ready we are for his coming. Jesus also said, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42). Are you preparing for that great day? Are you preparing for the second coming of Jesus?

If a human General could fulfill a promise made in World War 2, how much more would the risen Savior be true to His Word!

“Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:5b)