Второе пришествие

We can contemplate the first coming in pious remembrance, the second is presented to our imagination by the Word of God in the most picturesque and powerful features. This painting can salutarily shake our souls with the fear of God, awaken us from deep negligence about our eternal fate, as if from a restless sleep with which our carnal life has lulled us. “The Son of Man will come in His glory” (Matthew 25:31). His first coming was the coming of the Redeemer, who submitted to all human weaknesses, lifting them upon Himself to destroy them with Himself; the second coming will be the coming of the Judge to accept an account from humanity regarding the behavior of humanity regarding the Divine redemption granted to them by God. “The Son of Man will come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him... and all nations will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25:31-32) to present their deeds to Him for judgment and to receive from Him rewards or executions in accordance with their deeds. The Savior of the world, introducing His disciples to the signs heralding His imminent second coming, said: “Then, if anyone says to you, Behold, here is Christ, or there,” “do not believe... If they say to you, “Behold, He is in the desert,” “Do not go out; “Behold, He is in the secret chambers,” “- do not believe; for just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:23–27; see Luke 17:23–24). It will not be necessary and impossible for people to convey to each other the news of the coming of the Son of God. He will appear suddenly, according to His omnipotence, He will appear to all people and the whole earth at one time. The objection of scientists that it is not possible for the Son of God to appear to all mankind at one time due to the natural spherical structure of the earth has no place. If the omnipotent God brought both the earth and the whole world out of nothingness by His omnipotent and all-wise command, without being forced into a preliminary consultation with scientists, then will He not be able, for the same reason, by His unlimited power and wisdom, to appear to humanity at one time, even if the method for bringing this to fruition was inaccessible, as it should be, for all the scientists of the earth? "" The Lord concluded the teaching about the end of the world and His second coming with the following instruction and testament: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and lest that day come upon you suddenly, for it will come upon you like a snare on all those who live on all the face of the earth” (Luke 21:34-35). In these words of the Lord, in this testament of the Lord, in this advice, in this commandment of His, carnal life and excess in earthly pursuits are forbidden, which all together transform a person from spiritual to carnal and material, makes him forget eternity and God, and leads to a fall into all sins. In a heart that is not protected and sealed by the remembrance of God and the fear of God, all passions conveniently enter; moral darkness enters into it, ignorance of God enters into it. For people who lead a carnal, sinful life, intoxicated and foggy by it, the coming of the Lord will come like a snare. This network will embrace all of humanity. There is no way for anyone to escape, to escape the net. Knowing this, we will remain in constant sobriety. By resorting to God with frequent, unceasing prayers filled with tenderness and tears, acquiring and supporting the Kingdom of God within ourselves by living according to the will of God, we will be able to get rid of chains and snares, sin and the rule of the world by God’s grace and power. You might be interested in: