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The text can teach us some important lessons. First, be careful regarding predictions of a soon-to-be, literal return of Jesus—there have been these repeatedly in Church history, and all such have proven inaccurate. Second, the passage, as most Scripture pertaining to the end of the world, is apocalyptic. This is a genre, or literary type, of symbolic writing, and it is not to be taken literally (i.e., Jesus will come in clouds), like historical prose. Third, apocalyptic Scripture communicates spiritual truth with a relevant message that can be adapted to each generation. And, last, we will never agree on the highly symbolic passages of an end time and the Coming of Christ: we need to be humble in claims on such matters.
God is Eternal Life, and is beyond time. I recommend that Christ is always coming, through the Holy Spirit: indeed, the terminology “Second Coming” is not found in Scripture. While we affirm Christ came historically through the Virgin Mary and that we are returning to God through His Son, we can be equally certain Christ comes to us, always, in a spiritual way that is more important than anticipations of an end-time return. This Christ, in the Revelation says to us: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (3.20, NLT). And, in the Revelation, “The [Holy] Spirit and the bride [the Church] say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (22.17, NLT).
Blessed Advent!
Brian K. Wilcox
Servant Pastor, Pinetta-Hickory Grove UMC
Madison County, FL
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