Why Christians should be praying for Jesus' Second Coming

[LivingWordUnity]

Jesus of Nazareth - Holy week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection (excerpts from pages 288-90)

But what is the position now in the Christian life regarding expectation of the Lord's return? Are we to expect him, or do we prefer not to? Even in his day, Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258) had to warn his readers not to neglect to pray for Christ's second coming through fear of great calamities or fear of death. Should this passing world be dearer to us than the Lord for whom we are actually waiting?

The Book of Revelation concludes with the promise of the Lord's return and with a prayer for it: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20).

It is the prayer of one who loves, one who is surrounded in the besieged city by all the dangers and terrors of destruction and can only wait for the arrival of the beloved who has the power to end the siege and to bring salvation. It is the hope-filled cry for Jesus to draw near in a situation of danger where he alone can help.

Christian prayer for the Lord's return always includes the experience of his presence. It is never purely focused on the future. The words of the risen Lord make the point: "I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:20).

He is with us now, and especially close in the Eucharistic presence. Yet, conversely, the Christian experience of the Lord's presence does include a certain tension toward the future, toward the moment when that presence will be definitively fulfilled: the presence is not yet complete. It pushes beyond itself. It sets us in motion toward the definitive.

Above are partial quotes of the pages. I wanted to quote more, but I'm trying to avoid violating the copyright. I own all three of these books, and I highly recommend purchasing them. They are available here at this link Jesus of Nazareth (Ignatius Press) or through Amazon.

Note: Hoping and praying for Jesus' Second Coming or the belief that it may be near (if Jesus returns in a few hundred years it would be "near" in God's way of looking at time) is not the same as claiming to know the date when Jesus will return. So I would appreciate it if no one confuses these things.

 

[MikeK]

Of course it is. Catholics have been praying hopefully for Jesus's return for 2000 years or so. In fact, thousands of Catholics have believed that they were living in the end times, based on their interpretation of propfesies in scripture. All of them were wrong of course, and it is folly to spend time trying to figure out when the end will be - that time is certainly better spent serving God and neighbor, as wheather the world ends in our lifetime or not, our last breath is just around the corner.

 

[bill5]

Of course it is. Catholics have been praying hopefully for Jesus's return for 2000 years or so. In fact, thousands of Catholics have believed that they were living in the end times,

More like billions, if not trillions.

Sorry if this is wrong of me, but I prefer it happen after I'm gone. As I recall, those times are going to be might nasty bad times.

 

[LivingWordUnity]

More like billions, if not trillions.

Sorry if this is wrong of me, but I prefer it happen after I'm gone. As I recall, those times are going to be might nasty bad times.

Christians do suffer a great tribulation near the end, but the very worst of it is reserved for the wicked.

 

[pdudgeon]

on the other hand we could take a leaf out of the book of the wise bridesmaids and have plenty of oil for our lamps. That way even if the bridegroom arrives later than we think, we will still be ready to arise and enter in with Him.

trust in the promises of the Lord. He is coming!

 

[LivingWordUnity]

on the other hand we could take a leaf out of the book of the wise bridesmaids and have plenty of oil for our lamps. That way even if the bridegroom arrives later than we think, we will still be ready to arise and enter in with Him.

trust in the promises of the Lord. He is coming!

Yes. There's nothing to lose by expecting that the Lord will return within our own lifetime as long as we don't set a date for it and as long as we don't spend all of our time staring up at the sky. When I think that His return could happen at any time it motivates me to seek confession and to avoid sin. Jesus warns us that we will be tempted to sin if we think to ourselves, "My master is delayed," and He calls the one who says this a "wicked servant" (Matt 24).

 

[mark46]

Yes. There's nothing to lose by expecting that the Lord will return within our own lifetime as long as we don't set a date for it and as long as we don't spend all of our time staring up at the sky. When I think that His return could happen at any time it motivates me to seek confession and to avoid sin. Jesus warns us that we will be tempted to sin if we think to ourselves, "My master is delayed," and He calls the one who says this a "wicked servant" (Matt 24).

How is this different from from what priests have taught for all of our lives? We have always been taught to live each day as if it were our last. The end of the world could indeed come for any of us this day, or this night. And yes, we have always taught to make sure we included a good confession in our night-time prayers.

The open question is how we would act differently if we expected the world to end in our life times. In my personal opinion, it seems a bit narcissistic to believe that my death and 2nd Coming will happen at the same time. Our job on earth is to prepare this earth for his coming. I don't know how people would act differently if they thought that the world will end soon. Perhaps, they will have fewer children. Perhaps, they will not bother with life insurance. Perhaps, lots of financial planning will make no sense.

You rightly say that we shouldn't look at the sky. Some of us remember December 31, 1999 when many Christians did exactly that. For almost a year, the world (including much of the Christian world) wasted their precious time thinking that the world would end on January 1, 2000. And, of course, this wasn't the first or the last time such a belief has interrupted people's lives in the past century, as in centuries before.

So, IMHO, it is harmful to many to believe that the world will end soon. I suppose such a belief could focus the lives of some. I haven't a clue why that would be the case. For each of us, the world could end this evening. That should be enough to help us focus on what is important.

 

[bill5]

In my personal opinion, it seems a bit narcissistic to believe that my death and 2nd Coming will happen at the same time.

? Because?

Some of us remember December 31, 1999 when many Christians did exactly that. For almost a year, the world (including much of the Christian world) wasted their precious time thinking that the world would end on January 1, 2000.

Actually I think extremely few people believed that, just like few believed 21 Dec 2012 (the whole Mayan bit). But your broader point (at least I think it is) and LWU's of living life and not "looking to the sky" is well heeded.

 

[mark46]

? Because?

Actually I think extremely few people believed that, just like few believed 21 Dec 2012 (the whole Mayan bit). But your broader point (at least I think it is) and LWU's of living life and not "looking to the sky" is well heeded.

I participated in many Catholic meetings, especially in our prayer group. Many, many Catholics feared that the world would end on January 1, 2000, or at very least that there would be a major catastrophe for the world. I'd say that our group leadership team and the prayer group were split, with the majority believing the something significant would happen.

This all seems so silly now. However, then as now, many, many Christians (including many Catholics) were reading the tea leaves and predicting that Jesus was coming soon. The increasing hype over January 1, 2000 provided a perfect focus for those who have such personal beliefs.

 

[Tigg]

Of course I pray often for God's return. As someone else stated it will be a nasty period but then I note this world is getting nastier and nastier. Common sense turned upside down, what was right now is wrong etc etc. Whether I go to God or He comes here to me is the question. May He return quickly and end this mayhem in our world - now. Sooner better than later. Oh and a small thought. I should be doing those things God wants of me to do now and not have to change one thing if I knew He was coming in an hour or a day or tomorrow. God bless...

 

[LivingWordUnity]

I participated in many Catholic meetings, especially in our prayer group. Many, many Catholics feared that the world would end on January 1, 2000, or at very least that there would be a major catastrophe for the world. I'd say that our group leadership team and the prayer group were split, with the majority believing the something significant would happen.

This all seems so silly now. However, then as now, many, many Christians (including many Catholics) were reading the tea leaves and predicting that Jesus was coming soon. The increasing hype over January 1, 2000 provided a perfect focus for those who have such personal beliefs.

There have been a lot of signs that Jesus' Second Coming is getting closer. Recognizing the signs that precede Jesus' return is not about "reading the tea leaves" but it's instead about reading Sacred Scripture. St. John Chrysostom said that we can't know the day or hour, but we can know the signs that precede it since Scripture tells us of those things.

"For this cause, I say, when He [Jesus] had told all things, both the times and the seasons, and had brought it to the very doors (for it is near, He says, even at the doors), He was silent as to the day. For if you seek after the day and hour, you shall not hear them of me, says He; but if of times and preludes, without hiding anything, I will tell you all exactly."

- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 77 on Matthew​

The so-called "Y2K" scare is a red herring since it was computer geeks promoting the fear that all computers would suddenly stop working. It was called the "Y2K computer bug." The atheists often predict that the end of the world will come by some kind of catastrophic natural or man-made disaster. More recently, they had an obsession with the Mayan calendar which is what can be compared to "reading the tea leaves." There's a big difference between a Catholic saying that it could be near based on the prophecies of Scripture vs. someone, whether atheist or whatever, who claims to know the date for the end of the world.

 

[Colin]

We really miss out during the season of Advent if we fail to recognize its emphasis on Christ's Second Coming .

I know I have a bee in my bonnet about Advent . It is a pentential season , sadly overlooked by so much early anticipation of Christmas , plus party-going well before Christmas . Fine , we are preparing to celebrate the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem , but we are also called to focus on his Second Coming in glory .

I don't recall ever hearing a homily on the Second Coming .

" When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. "


" Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's return to earth. This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ's Passover. Until everything is subject to him, "until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God." That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ's return by saying to him: Marana tha! "Our Lord, come!" " ( from the Catechism of the Catholic Church ) .

Grant your faithful , we pray , almighty God ,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming ,
so that , gathered at his right hand ,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom .
Through Christ our Lord .

( the collect of the first Eucharist of Advent ) .

Lord , holy Father ,
he assumed at his first coming
the lowliness of human flesh ,
and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago ,
and opened to us the way to eternal salvation ,
that , when he comes again in glory and majesty
and all is at last made manifest ,
we who watch for that day
may inherit the great promise
in which now we dare to hope .

( from the Eucharistic Prayer for Advent ) .

 

[pdudgeon]

......There's a big difference between a Catholic saying that it could be near based on the prophecies of Scripture vs. someone, whether atheist or whatever, who claims to know the date for the end of the world.

agreed.
Having knowledge through the study of the scriptures and observation of the times and seasons is one thing which is encouraged by God.
The point of 'looking up' is to have our focus on God so as to be in tune with Him, and to take our daily guidance from Him.

That is the first part, but that is not the whole of His guidance on the subject.
The second part is found in application.

Having the knowledge is good, but the purpose of learning is not an end in and of itself.
The purpose is found in the application of what we have learned to our own lives,
and also in teaching of others what we ourselves have been taught.

Jesus told us that He did the things that He saw His Father doing.
They were in yoke together, and daily doing the work of Jesus' ministry here on earth together.
That's the model that Jesus wants us to follow; working together with God to be aware of, to understand,
and to be prepared for what will happen when Jesus returns.

On the other hand desiring to have the same knowledge as God so as to BE God is one of satan's oldest temptations in the book of Genesis.

 

[LivingWordUnity]

St. Paul said that Jesus' Second Coming would not happen before the rebellion (2 Thessalonians 2).

This rebellion was alluded to by Jesus when, in foretelling what would come at the end of the world, He asked if there would be any faith on earth (Luke 18:8), and when He said, "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24).

Some of the signs of the rebellion are:

• Faith in God has been replaced with faith in science and technology
• Many Catholics have adopted the ideology of religious indifferentism
  
• The homosexual revolution (phase II of the sexual revolution)
• Abortion is now promoted globally and is called a "right"
• Christians are now told "keep your religion to yourself"
  
• Faithful Catholics are now considered bigots
• Atheism and Satanism are on the rise

And, for the first time in history, the U.S. government is trying to coerce Catholic nuns to pay for abortions and contraception.
.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Since the beginning of the Church the Christians prayed for the second coming.

Yet - we ought to pray earnestly for souls of sinners... so many many will be saved.

 

[LivingWordUnity]

Since the beginning of the Church the Christians prayed for the second coming.

Yet - we ought to pray earnestly for souls of sinners... so many many will be saved.

For people to be saved they must repent. But how can people repent if they think that evil is good and good evil?

 

[WarriorAngel]

Pray for conversion of sinners.
Although all sin - all need His graces.

I too see the many sins of this world - but though we see them - we want more for the souls to hunger for God and be saved.
Ask for grace to fill them - so they may convert in heart and soul and come home to His Church in humble submission.

Prayers to open up graces for sinners - will show them miracles and cause profound changes.
It's better to want to please the Lord by praying for all His creatures [whom HE wants more than anything] rather than find any joy that He helped only us thru His graces and that we hope others too can be shown the same mercy He has allowed for us.

We must remain humble to the gifts He gave us - not of ourselves - tho we cooperate with His graces - and want to share the joys of those graces for all souls...because Heaven rejoices over each soul who converts.

God made us all - He wants us all. He may not 'need' us - but He wants us.

 

[Boidae]

I actually hope for Him to tarry longer.

There is just too many things I want to be able to do with my kids as they get older. Fishing, hunting, their first Philadelphia Flyers hockey game, their first Miami Dolphins football game. The list goes on and on.

 

[MikeK]

I'd like to live longer, that I could do more to serve Him. I am certain that everyone in this thread is active in their community, spreading Lord's Word, volunteering to help and instruct in the faith the young and old alike, giving their time, their treasure, and even their blood for God and neighbor. Some people have been gifted a lot of money, with which they can serve the Lord. Others, those who do not need to work or cannot secure employment, are able to vollunteer to staff shelters and such. We don't know when the end will come, but we know what the mission is that we've been given. To our last breath, we should love the Lord our God above all things, and live our neighbors as ourself. There is no higher calling, no greater law.

 

[pdudgeon]

I actually hope for Him to tarry longer.

There is just too many things I want to be able to do with my kids as they get older. Fishing, hunting, their first Philadelphia Flyers hockey game, their first Miami Dolphins football game. The list goes on and on.

and who's to say but that there might be enough members of the Philadelphia Flyers or the Miami Dolphins to form teams in heaven?
Can you imagine the excitement of draft day and the field of candidates available when everyone has perfect health and coordination, and unlimited abilities?

Every game would literally be a Superbowl.