Brad Alles

This series of Advent blogs ends with a comparison between Jesus’ birth and His Second Coming.  Both have signs that signal His arrival.  Are you wise enough to discern them?

Jesus’ describes His Second Coming in Matthew 24:29-31.  He said, “Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

Notice that Jesus list signs before His return to Earth.  Just as there was an astronomical sign to herald His birth, there will also be events in the heaven to see before He comes back.  Jesus said the sun and moon would be darkened, and falling stars (or meteors) will hit earth. 

Astronomers and geologists can tell you that our planet as been hit over 100 times by meteors.  Craters here and the ones on the moon are proof of celestial bombardment.  So Jesus says that will happen again, but on a terrible level–“the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”  The darkening of sun and moon may be more than eclipses, for Jesus said many would be confused and terrified at these events.  Luke 21: 25-28 says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Although unbelievers will be totally panic-stricken, Christians who study the Bible will be like the Wise men who saw the celestial sign and understood that the King was born.  Likewise, Jesus said that in the future Christians should stand up and lift up their heads, since their King is returning.

But instead of the Magi looking for the newborn King, Christians will be gathered by the King who is looking for them!  Christ will return to Earth, not to suffer and die, but to “gather his elect from the four winds.”   And just as the  Wise men worshipped the Christ Child at the house, in a similar way Christians will worship God for all eternity. 

How wonderful to know that the Savior has been born, lived perfectly for us sinners, and then paid for our sins on the cross.  You can be restored to a right relationship with God because of Jesus’ salvation.  And you can know signs that will accompany His triumphant return!