PREPARING FOR HIS PROMISED RETURN

“The great day of the Lord is near, near and hasting fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there.  That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.  I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flash like dung.  Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath (Zeph. 1: 14-18)

“Messianism” and Messianic expectations are ways of describing the expectation that an anointed person will come to redeem Israel and/or the church.  Christians believe that the Messiah has already come in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  The appearance of Messiah is understood to be part of a larger eschatological phenomenon whereby human activity on earth is appreciably altered by the in-breaking of the “Kingdom of God”, a time when God’s will on earth is more tangibly and permanently experienced.  It is usually believed that this anointed figure is part of the climax of human history.

 The messianic expectations in Jewish and Christian faiths are traced back to God’s covenant with King David (2 Samuel 7) and aftermath of the exile and cessation of Davidic dynasty.  Hope arose that God would someday restore a godly king to Israel.  Some of Israel’s prophets foretold the coming regal Davidic descendant and their description seen to portray him as a far more than mere mortal.

The coming of the Messiah was sometimes referred to as the day of the Lord, when the Lord Himself would defeat Israel’s enemies and restore Israel’s dignity.  It was a day much longed for.  But to the disappointment of the people, the prophet here paints a not too cheering picture of the much awaited day of the Lord.

According to the prophet, it was going to be a day of lamentation for the ungodly.  A day God’s wrath would be poured on those who walked not according to the way of the Lord, but a day of joy for those who feared God and walked with him.

 Though the Jews are still expecting the coming of the Messiah, Christ Jesus perfectly fits into Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah, Isaiah foretold the coming of a ‘child’ and “Son” who will be named ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Eternal Father’, ‘Prince of Peace’, and whose Kingdom will never end (Isaiah 9: 6-7).

Again, Isaiah prophesied the coming of a Branch of David, on whom the spirit of God would rest, who will rule the earth with justice and equity (Isaiah 11: 1-5).  Descriptions such as these hinted that the coming anointed one, the Messiah, would be God himself.

No doubt the prophecies were fulfilled by the first coming of our Lord Jesus, the Christ.  Our Lord Jesus Christ before his ascension promised that He would come back to judge the earth.  Like the description of the day of the Lord by Israel’s prophets of old, Jesus also foretold of mixed fortunes when He returns.  It will be a day of joy for those who kept their master’s commandments and a day of gnashing of teeth for sinners and the unfaithful.

 Jesus again revealed to John, what it would look like when he returns.

“See I am coming soon!  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”  “See I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work” (Rev 22: 7, 12).

Brethren, how are you preparing for that day when heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and elements will melt with fire?  (2 Peter 3: 12)

 Brethren, for us to benefit from His promised return, we must not ignore this warning:

“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day.  The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise…  since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness.” (2 Peter 3: 8-11)

 Wishing you the grace to be called to the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon

S.Igein Isemede