Hello,
Ever since I was a child, I have wondered how Jesus can come again. The media is everywhere, and we see so many strange things on TV. I try to picture a person of sincerity having to battle the world as it is currently set up. Will Jesus have to attend attend press conferences? Assuming our culture holds firm, how will He contend with it? And how will anyone know Him? It seems that people will have a much harder time believing it’s really Him than Doubting Thomas had, upon seeing Him Risen.
Any thoughts?
We have a glint of an idea about how His return will be, in
Acts 1:9-11, we are taught: "And when he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,
will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Jesus Himself made reference to how obvious His return would be: “For as the** lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west**, so will be the coming of the Son of man.”
Matthew 24:27
Jesus’ return may very well appear as supernatural as did the vision received by the prophet Daniel (
Daniel 10:5-7): “I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with gold of Uphaz. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the noise of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.”
Compare this to the transfiguration, when Jesus revealed Himself in His glorified form (
Matthew 17:1-8): “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And
he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, * with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
And (Luke 9:29-32): “And as he was praying, the appearance of
his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.”
Thus, His return will be obvious to the entire world. Its very supernatural nature will be incomprehensible to the non-believer. And, just as the devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem at the rushing wind sound of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (
Acts 2:2, 5-6), so will the faithful know His voice and stand upright at His return. As to press conferences, He answers to no one, since He IS the answer. Regarding the press, do you recall the images from 9/11 of the New Yorkers fleeing in the streets from the falling twin towers? I suspect that the media., perhaps with the exception of the few faithful Christians involved in it, will appear much the same.
