Similarity Of First And Second Coming

Our mission today is to pursue a bit more of what there is in common, with our Lord’s First and Second Coming, as we are guided by His Holy Spirit.

Here is the passage which we have been quoting. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1: 7

Our interest is held by two images of goodness and grace, in this particular text, which we all need to treasure and ponder upon.

The first image is one of King Jesus, coming with the clouds. Clouds speak to us of mystery. They shroud us in times of revealing and concealing. There are times when clouds appear in the sky and they are thick with darkness and threatening gloom. We then talk of the clouds being ominous. On the other hand, clouds are bright, light, soft and fleecy in appearance. We then talk about the clouds being lovely and warming.  What are we being shown here about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus? We do know that He is coming with the clouds and through His goodness and grace, we believe that He will be as a gloomy, ominous cloud to many and as a bright and beautiful cloud to a few. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22: 14. 

Is this not also given image in our Lord’s First Coming? In other words, does not Jesus’ First Coming set this out plainly for us? At His first coming, was He not as a thick, dark, ominous cloud for King Herod and his people? Wasn’t the First Advent of King Jesus, threatening gloom for Herod, whose mind became so disturbed, he forever after, lived a life of unrest and unease? On the other hand, for people like the shepherds and the Magi, they were overjoyed and could hardly contain that joy, as they spread the Good News of Messiah’s Coming, to others.

The other image is one of King Jesus coming with visibility. And every eye will see him. Truly, no one knows the hour of our Lord’s Second Coming, except the Father. Nevertheless, what we do know is that His coming will be visible. All eyes will see Him. In other words, He will not be hidden from some eyes and shown to other people. Does this not bring you into focus, in your thoughts, ideas, beliefs and speaking? Is this not also given birth at our Lord’s First Advent?

When Jesus was born, was it not God who sent His angel from heaven to earth, to a group of working-class people, during working hours, to tell them about the birth of Messiah? Was He not pointing and very clear, in telling them where and how they would be able to recognize Him? Surely it was God’s plan and design that human eyes should see His Son Jesus at His First Coming to earth.

This is also making impact on me though I cannot explain it. In the grace and goodness of Father God, He let both Jewish and Gentile eyes see Messiah at His First Coming. Does this resonate with you at all, in any way? Did not the Magi see the Baby King Jesus?

O God of all mystery, thank You for including us in learning. Continue to enlighten us, through Your Divine, Holy Spirit. Make us ever aware, in spirit and in truth, that unless we know a First Advent, with its abundant treasures, unless they work in and through us, keeping us grounded and rooted in Christ, His second Coming will mean nothing to us. May the hope, goodwill and peace of King Jesus’ First Coming, as our Sacrificial Lord, remain with us, as we remain in Him, who is soon coming again as our Separating Lord. He will separate the sheep from the goats. Amen!