Can Christians Hasten the Return of Jesus?

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

Is it possible for followers of Jesus to hasten his return? In seeking to answer this question, let’s examine two seemingly paradoxical New Testament passages regarding the coming day of the Lord.

First, Paul ends his address on Mars Hill with these words:

Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31, emphasis added).

Not long before his death, in seeming contrast to Paul, Peter writes:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:10-13, emphasis added).

So, Paul tells us God has set a day for the judgment of all people, while Peter seems to imply that Christians may “hasten” that day. Are Paul and Peter at odds in their understanding of God’s revealed plan for the ages? Both apostles claim divine inspiration for their writing. So, why do they seem to take different approaches to the Day of the Lord?

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Key Features of New Jerusalem – Part 2

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.

The previous post intoduced us to some of the key features of Mount Zion, also known as New Jerusalem. Now, we examine more features of the heavenly city.

New Jerusalem lacks a temple, stellar lights, a closing time, and anything unclean (Rev. 21:22-27)

After a detailed description of New Jerusalem’s exterior, John turns his attention inside the city walls. He notes first the absence of a temple “because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (v. 22). 

Historical Jerusalem is known as the city of God because his presence resides there in the temple (1 Kings 8:10-13). The people of God approach him through a mediator, a high priest who offers atoning sacrifices for the peoples’ sins in the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement. 

The atoning blood is carried through a thick veil and sprinkled on the mercy seat, above which the Shekinahglory blazes. There, the wrath of God is satisfied, and his mercy is extended to sinful creatures. All this activity inside the cube-shaped holy of holies bears forward-looking significance. The day is coming when God himself provides a sacrifice: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

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Christ’s Return: Soon, Shortly, Speedily

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

As we continue studying the imminent return of Jesus, it may help to look more closely at the Greek word often translated “soon,” or “quickly,” in the New Testament. The adverb tachys means shortly, speedily, or without delay. It usually refers to a brief period of time, focusing on the speed of an activity or event. It does not necessarily mean immediately, nor does it specify a precise moment, although it may describe a relatively brief time subsequent to another point in time. 

Tachys is found numerous times in the New Testament. For example, an angel at the empty tomb of Jesus instructs two women to go “quickly” (tachy) and tell Jesus’ disciples the good news. As they depart hastily with fear and great joy, they encounter the resurrected Christ (Matt. 28:7-9). 

Paul expresses his desire to send Timothy to the Philippians “soon” (tacheos; Phil. 2:19). And in his final instructions to Timothy, an abandoned Paul urges the young pastor to come to him “soon” (tacheos; 2 Tim. 4:9). 

In Jesus’ parable of the lost son, the father wants the celebration – featuring robe, ring, sandals, and a fattened calf – to begin without delay, for he addresses his servants with the command, “Quick!” (tachys; Luke 15:22). 

James reminds us that we should be “quick (tachys) to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19). 

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Key Features of New Jerusalem – Part 1

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.

The previous post intoduced us to Mount Zion, which stands in contrast with Mount Sinai. In this post, we note several key features of this heavenly city, also known as New Jerusalem. 

New Jerusalem is a holy city (Rev. 21:2, 10)

Humans have built many great cities over the centuries, from ancient Babylon to modern-day Tokyo. But New Jerusalem is unique in that it is a city built without hands. The writer of Hebrews tells us Abraham saw New Jerusalem from afar. He may have lived in tents as a foreigner in the Promised Land, but “he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). 

New Jerusalem is a holy city because it is the city of God. It is his home, and he invites us to live there forever with him. It is a holy place because God is holy – set apart, unique, perfect, and righteous. God’s otherness sets him apart from all creatures. He is eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present, unchanging, and transcendent. Wherever God visits creation, that place is holy ground, as Moses and Joshua experienced (Exod. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). 

In our future resurrection and glorification, we’re fully conformed to the image of Christ. That is, we are perfected in body, soul, and spirit, prepared to take up everlasting residence in the holy city.

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I Am Coming Soon

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

Throughout history, the element of surprise has birthed many dramatic victories. In 1184 B.C., a massive wooden horse is left at the gates of Troy, ostensibly as an offering to the goddess Athena. The horse, however, conceals soldiers who, once wheeled into the city, open the gates for an invading Greek army. 

A detachment of 2,400 troops crossing the icy Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776 uses the cover of darkness and the drunken stupor of defending German troops (whom the British hired as mercenaries) to secure a surprise victory for General George Washington’s beleaguered Continental Army.

And in the early hours of June 5, 1967, the Israeli Air Force launches Operation Mivtza Moked with two hundred aircraft. The pilots catch their Egyptian counterparts napping. By the end of the day, five hundred Egyptian aircraft are destroyed, and their military airstrips are rendered inoperable. Jordanian and Syrian aircraft are similarly targeted. As a result, the Six-Day War radically alters the geopolitics of the Middle East.

Unlike these historic upsets, the return of Christ doesn’t hinge on stealth. Jesus is not returning in disguise. He’s not scheming with Mother Nature. Nor is he descending from heaven under the radar. Quite the contrary. Jesus openly tells us he’s coming back. He offers signs as obvious as a red sky at dawn. He urges us to be ready at all times. Scripture foretells his return as personal, physical, visible, and powerful. John declares that “every eye will see him” (Rev. 1:7). 

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