The return of Christ is a recurring theme in the Bible and one of the greatest hopes of Christians. Many wonder what we know about it and what we should expect. The book of 2 Thessalonians offers us some answers to these questions.
In chapter 2, the apostle Paul talks about Christ’s return and how it must happen. He begins by explaining that we must not be deceived by people who say that the day of Christ’s return has already arrived. Paul states that before that will happen the revelation of the Antichrist, a figure who opposes God and exalts himself as if he were God. This Antichrist will do wonderful things and deceive many people, but he will be destroyed when Christ returns.
Paul also talks about the coming of Christ as a spectacular and visible event, which will be accompanied by signs that will make it clear that he is the one who is coming back. He says that “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). After that, Christians who are alive on earth will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and will be with him forever.
What we can look forward to is Christ’s final victory over evil and death. He will bring justice and peace to the world, and all those who love him will be with him forever. But in the meantime, we must prepare ourselves, as we don’t know when he will return. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
Therefore, the return of Christ is an event expected by Christians, who must prepare and live according to the will of God. Even if we don’t know the day and hour, we can be sure that Christ will return and take us to be with him forever.
Aprofunde seus conhecimentos
566. What places are conducive to prayer?
148. Are there other names and images with which the Bible speaks about the Church?
108. Why did Jesus manifest the Kingdom by means of signs and miracles?
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations?
22. What importance does the New Testament have for Christians?
48. How does the Church express her trinitarian faith?
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
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Justification by Faith: What Does the Bible Say? (Romans 1:17)
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