The Return of Jesus

2 Peter 3:12, ESV: "waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!"

Christians know what day of God means - called "the day of God," because God will then be manifested in his power and glory. Jesus will return to claim what is rightfully his and the end will come.

Yet how many Christians know what .... waiting for and hastening the coming  really means. I think I often skipped over those words as I was so taken aback by the heavens will be set on fire, etc. It's easy to gloss over some parts of scripture when other parts are so vivid.

The Greek word rendered "hasting," (σπεύδω speudō,) means to urge on, to hasten; and then to hasten after anything, to await with eager desire. We know we are to be excited and eager for our Lord to return. But are we? Really? How often do you actually think about it?  Or anticipate it?

Which brings me to the hastening part. I know we cannot hasten Christ's return - or can we? 

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
hasting unto—with the utmost eagerness desiring, praying for, and contemplating, the coming Saviour as at hand. The Greek may mean "hastening (that is, urging onward) the day of God"; not that God's eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come. By praying for His coming, furthering the preaching of the Gospel for a witness to all nations, and bringing in those whom "the long-suffering of God" waits to save, we hasten the coming of the day of God. The Greek verb is always in New Testament used as neuter (as English Version here), not active; but the Septuagint uses it actively. Christ says, "Surely I come quickly. Amen." Our part is to speed forward this consummation by praying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Re 22:20).

There are differing mindsets concerning these words - among many great theologians - so I certainly don't have the answer. But I do know we are told many times in God's Word to pray for the return of Christ. Jesus taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom come" in what we call the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:10). Psalm 122:6 says "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" to which we know will only happen when the Lord returns - so we are praying for his return when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And at the end of Revelation, John closes with "Even so, come Lord Jesus (Rev 22:20).

Peter in Acts 3:19-20 says........... Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus.

While I don't think it's clear whether or not we can actually affect when Christ returns, I do know we are commanded to do the following:

*To believe in Jesus as the Son of God and love one another (1 John 3:23)

*To go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20) and .........

*To pray for the return of Jesus

What I don't understand is why we are not praying for His return every week in our churches? We should be praying corporately and individually for His return. We should be EXCITED about His return. We should be using His return to encourage each other and give the body hope.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thess 4:17-18

Jesus IS coming back for His bride - the Church. We live our lives as if it's never going to happen when the truth is it could happen at any moment. Early Christians used to greet one another with "Perhaps today!" They were anticipating His return, they were excited about it and they used that phrase to encourage one another. My prayer is that this generation of Christians would begin to feel the excitement and start praying daily for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!

Perhaps today,
Lisa