THE HOPE OF HIS COMING
This gift of Jesus, the grace that leads to salvation, that we receive, unearned and unwarranted is Jesus Himself living in us. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords lives in us and through us to the glory of God. Now that’s big.
In the vision that John sees of the realm of Heaven, it is time. It is time for sin to be conquered on the earth. It is time to change course for sin and immorality. For too long sin and its accompanied immorality have ruled. It is time for a new ruler, a perfect king. Even though we know that sin will rear its ugly head again during the millennium, through those who are born during the thousand years, there will be a leader who rules with justice, that is perfect, and with grace, that is perfect.
Verse 11 of Revelation 19 is a vision of the second coming of Christ. The first coming was marked by the introduction of the humble, loving Jesus. The One who taught that we are to love God and love others as He loved us. John says in 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus was the one who brought peace with God and made it available to all mankind (Romans 5:1)
As John saw heaven open, he saw prophetically Christ's second coming and the events which will follow it. The second coming of Christ is a prominent doctrine in Scripture. So, this is obviously a major event in the divine program. Conservative interpreters of the Bible almost universally recognize this as a yet-future event, as indicated in orthodox creeds throughout the history of the church. Just as the first coming of Christ was literal and was fulfilled in history, so the second coming of Christ which is yet future will be fulfilled in the same literal manner.[1] – John Walvoord
Christ’s life of love led to the cross where he exemplified unbiased, unprejudiced, sacrificial, substitutionary love. Along with that love, He showed His grace toward all mankind not willing that anyone should perish, but that everyone would find redemption in his act of love and grace (2 Peter 3:9).
[1] John Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.
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