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“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11.
The logo of the Alliance points to the centrality of Jesus as seen in four ways. He is Saviour (cross), Sanctifier (laver or basin), Healer (pitcher) and coming King (crown). Let’s turn our thoughts for a minute to the last one.
The bible is replete with prophecies about the second coming of Christ, just like the angel’s statement to the astounded disciples in Acts 1. The prophet Zechariah just at the end of the Old Testament said: “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” Zech 14:3,4. Jesus will return personally, literally and visibly.
Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is here, but also that the Kingdom of God is coming. We live in the middle of those realities and there are a few ways to interpret just how the Kingdom will come. Much study has been spent on just how the end things – eschatology - will look.
Premillennialism (millennium = 1000 years as from Revelation 20:4,5) says that Christ will visibly return to earth and establish a one-thousand-year reign on the earth. Prior to this, the present age will end in seven years of tribulation – with the Church being raptured out of this tribulation at some point before, during or at the end of this time. Our founder was a proponent of premillennialism, and our denomination has largely been persuaded of this view. There are other biblical views however and the Alliance removed a premillennial stance a few years ago as a requirement for membership in recognition of this reality.
Jesus gave some teaching on end things in Matthew 24 – some of those things were fulfilled in the immediate future while others have yet to be fulfilled – that’s the nature of prophecy. But he did say repeatedly in that chapter for us to be in a state of readiness for his swift return. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” vs 44. This is the doctrine of imminence – Jesus may come today!
I have had people over the years ask me if this is the time for Christ’s return. Major world events make us think this way (eg. Climate upheaval or Covid). Even our founder AB Simpson wondered if the end of WW1 signaled the rushing up of Christ’s return. But Simpson also taught that Christ’s return won’t be a complete surprise to His people, for there are signs that tell us it is soon. Matthew 24:37, 38 - it will be in times like the days of Noah. Two major signs include the return of Israel to the land in 1948 (“…as surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them. ‘For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers” Jeremiah 16:15) – a miracle for sure! The other is in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
When Christ ascended to heaven, the angels told the disciples to stop looking toward heaven, wait for the Holy Spirit, and to get busy. This is also Alliance thought. In light of the return of Christ, we don’t sit in the dark with all kinds of end times theories – instead we are obedient to bring back the King by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth! Eschatology is the lifeblood of our missionary theology.
Christ is coming back. How are you living your Christian life in light of this reality? Holy Spirit – fill us and use us to bring back the King!
Pastor Leon Throness
Words like purity, sin and temptation have been turned on their ear these days. Purity is not seen as a value while sin and temptation are to be enjoyed. What is the Christian approach in light of this? Does Joseph the teenager have something to teach us? Have a listen to my latest podcast on this topic by clicking here:
