Eschaton

All the three readings for this Sunday Mass, only points to the Ascension. It is not to the apostles, commissioning, leaving or anything. The central theme of the liturgy is none other than the ascension. As simple as that. The ascension is not about Jesus leaving us, or the apostles but it is about the triumph that it implies. There is something more after the ascension. It entails that Jesus will soon come back. Jesus went up to heaven but only as a preview of his glorious coming. Jesus will return to us. We need not be troubled, as suggested last Sunday, because Jesus will be coming back. John chapter 14 verse 27 says "You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice," If we truly love Jesus we sill rejoice that he went up to heaven because we bear the promise of his coming back. The feast of the ascension points us to the Second Coming. What would it be like on the next coming? I would like to share to you 5 things that we can know beyond the shadow of doubt about the Second Coming. Five truths that we can hope for when Jesus Christ appears to us again in the Last Day. Are you ready?

1. Jesus will LITERALLY, come back.
First thing that we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that Jesus will come back literally. Many people say that the second coming is something iconic. It is not a literal come back but a renewal of the hearts of Christians when we will live in peace and Utopia. They say that Utopia is a second coming and Jesus will not anymore return. But John Chapter 14 verses 2-3 will enlighten us now.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."


Jesus said that He will prepare a place for us and after that He will fetch us here.Jesus will literally come here.

2. It will be VISIBLE.
Second thing we can know about the Second Coming is that it will be visible when Jesus return. The first reading says in Acts Chapter 1 verses 10-11

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

That means Jesus will be seen exactly the way he ascended into heaven. The Bible says that God will restore the sight of the blind. Isn't it wonderful to know that when they restore their sight, the first person they will see is Jesus.

3. It will be AUDIBLE.
Third thing we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that Jesus will return Audibly. Everyone will hear him coming because Jesus is just as excited as you are for the second coming. You will not whisper when you succeed, you will shout and He will come with a shout! The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4; 16

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumphet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first"

It is so loud that even those who are dead will be awaken. Can you imagine how loud the sound is? Even those who are asleep for a million year will be awakened.

4. It will be STUNNINGLY GLORIOUS.
The fourth thing we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that it will be stunningly glorious on the day of the Second Coming. How do I know? Well guess what, the Bible tells me so. Revelation Chapter 19 verses 1-2 says

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand"

There will be millions of angels singing Alleluia to God and they will be singing with joy and exaltation. Jesus will be dressed in white robe and with a mighty sword. Can you imagine that. Read the book of Revelation and you will see how glorious that day will be. It will be the best day in the history of mankind because...

5. It will mark the End of Human History
The Second Coming of Christ will be the end of earthly life. As said in Revelation Chapter 21.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

The message of the Ascension is - we must be ready for the second coming, because as of now Jesus is preparing a place for us there in heaven.