By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #77 ~
Do you ever wonder what Jesus is thinking about, what’s on His mind? Millions of things I’m sure, but there is no doubt He is thinking about coming back to earth. There will come a time, not long from now, when Jesus Christ will suddenly return and interrupt all our earthly plans, and everything will gloriously change. I have recently written posts on when Christ is coming back, and what is going to happen when He does, but why is He coming back? Why will Jesus Christ soon leave heaven and come back to this world?
Why? The most important reason is that Jesus loves His Father, and wants to please Him by fully carrying out all His plans for this world. “The world must learn that I love the Father, and that I do exactly as the Father commanded me.” John 14:31
Why? For the church. Jesus Christ loves her and cannot wait to see her. She is His bride, and He wants to come and get her so she can be with Him, and can in a much greater way, see His glory and know His wonderful love. At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will return to rapture all the Christians on earth. Immediately they will be gathered together with believers who have already died, and then taken to be with Him. “I desire that they also… be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.” John 17:24
Why? God’s character demands it. One of the primary themes in the book of Revelation is the holiness of God. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8). God’s holiness and justice cannot be ignored or compromised. God cannot just let evil go – it must be punished. Once the church is rescued from this earth, and is safe in heaven with Christ, then God will pour out His deserved and devastating wrath on this wicked world. Revelation 8-9, 16
Why? For the Jews. Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies tell us that God will bring the Jews back to the land of Israel, redeem a remnant of them, and then fulfill His promises to them during the millennial kingdom. With regards to the Jews, His chosen people, God will not go back on His promises, and they, along with the glorified believers, will be assisting Jesus Christ in His reign over the world. “The counsel of the Lord stands firm forever… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12
Why? To defeat the Antichrist, and to silence Satan. At His first coming, Jesus Christ disarmed the devilish rulers and authorities, but the outworking of that victory has been seen throughout the years, and particularly so at His second coming when the Antichrist will be thrown into the lake of fire, and Satan will be imprisoned for 1000 years. “The beast was seized, and with him the false prophet… these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20). “He (the angel) laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2
Why? To take this world back from Satan. Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, we have been living in a world that lies in the power of the evil one. The effects of his rule during this age, the wickedness and corruption covering this planet, has been clearly seen. But this evil will end, for Christ will come back, regain what is rightfully His, and begin His glorious reign. Then there will be peace on earth. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of he Lord.” Habakkuk 2:14
Why? So that you will be glorified, so your salvation will be made complete. Your present earthly body is sin-prone, weak and mortal, but at Christ’s return, you will receive a brand new and perfect body, one that is powerful, immortal and spiritual, one like His. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Jesus.” 1 John 3:2
Why? So God and Christ will be glorified. For the “summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:11). “So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Indeed, Jesus Christ will be “a great King over all the earth… God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:2, 8
I am so glad Jesus Christ is coming back to earth! I am excited He is coming back! I can’t wait to see Him! It will be the best thing for the world and the best thing for believers. But sadly, many people don’t even think about this. They are sleeping, and are loving this world, but are not loving God and looking forward to His Son’s return. But whether they know it or not, Christ is coming back. He has promised it, and He has planned it. His character demands it, and His word guarantees it. There is nothing in this whole world that can stop Christ from coming back, for you and for me, and for the purposes and glory of God. “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I have published a new article describing the special kind of person God wants us to be in the end times, Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Spiritual Forces. But I want to also encourage you to read an older article that expands on this present post, giving you many more details on why Jesus is coming back to earth.