Jesus Christ’s resurrection is evidence that He is not a normal person. He is God in the likeness of man born on earth. After completing his mission on earth, which was to prepare for sinners the full salvation, Jesus Christ ascended to heaven as witnessed by many of His disciples. When Jesus Christ was taken up to heaven, the disciples were stunned, unsure what to do with themselves. The angels had to remind them that Jesus has already risen to heaven but he will one day return to the world. “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘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 1:9-11). Yes, one day our resurrected Lord will return to the world, triumphantly to complete his salvation work. Jesus Christ entered the world first as a helpless baby, carrying the burden of man’s humility and weaknesses, and obeying the Father’s will to the extent of dying for the world. After Jesus Christ resurrected and defeated death, His second coming will be different. Various passages in the bible mention that the Second Coming will be filled with glory and majesty, shaking the world with its unstoppable force. “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31). When Jesus Christ returns again, the nations will mourn because Jesus, whom they resisted, has prevailed. They will also weep as they experience Jesus’ judgement and punishment. Perhaps, such an ending seems unbelievable at the moment. What we see now is the prevalence of sin, moral corruption, and lawlessness on an upsurge, and Jesus’ gospel and the church being disdained and even persecuted. In fact, the terrible situation we witness now is also prophesied in the Bible. The Word of God also emphasised such a situation will only intensify before the return of Jesus Christ. In addition, all of nature will also give warning signals and omens: natural disasters, earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 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.”

We do not know how long it takes to wait for Jesus’ second coming. The bible never told us. However, God has clearly instructed us to persevere until the end and to be certain that He will come to save His children and judge the world, and also continue to serve with all our hearts to spread gospel far and wide. Therefore, no matter how the situation deteriorates in the world, no matter how resistant people’s reaction to the gospel becomes, spreading the gospel is the focal point of God’s children as we await His second coming. It is when we take God’s gospel work seriously that we can then experience God’s presence, have the energy to continue walking with God, and not to be weak and slide back in faith. This is the promise and Great Commission that Jesus Christ gave us before He ascended to heaven after He resurrected: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus Christ said after He died He will rise in three days. He indeed resurrected and was taken to Heaven! He said He will return. This too will definitely come true. May His return be our comfort and an incentive to preach the gospel with zeal. Let us do our preparation so that we can be like the Apostle John who said, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

translated by Davina Seet