First and Second coming?

[MatthewG]

Many believers place their hope in the future return of Jesus, and I respect that. For me personally, I simply acknowledge that one day I will die, and when that time comes, I will go on to meet Him. That reality doesn’t trouble me.

I don’t have an issue with people holding different views. Some may see me as mistaken or even label my beliefs negatively, though they would never say so directly. I’m not pointing to any individual — just acknowledging how people can be, especially when conversations happen behind the scenes. My comments are general, not personal.

As for my own belief, I hold that Jesus has already returned. To my knowledge, there is no rule against believing this, and if there is, I would appreciate someone showing it to me. Others say Scripture proves otherwise, but that is precisely the point of discussion: are they interpreting it correctly, or am I?

Many people cling to the hope of a future coming because they imagine meeting Jesus in the air or seeing their enemies left behind. Everyone has their own expectations or mental picture of what that event would look like.

For me, the central question is whether the people of the first century — the ones Jesus and the apostles directly addressed — mattered in the fulfillment of those promises. If they were misled or if the timing given to them was inaccurate, then what was the purpose of those warnings and assurances?

I still believe that today, through faith, we become sons and daughters of God and part of His kingdom. When we die, we are raised to be with Him. Some disagree with that, and that’s fine. Others believe we remain in the grave until a future return of Jesus. These are differences in interpretation, and I’m comfortable acknowledging that people will see these matters differently.


People need to think for themselves. Thats all I got to say.

 

[MatthewG]

Aren’t you glad to be called a son or daughter of God through faith in the Lord Jesus? Scripture says, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). That’s a promise that never fades.

Aren’t you thankful to be part of a spiritual kingdom — one that is heavenly in nature and not of this world? Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and Paul reminds us that God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Aren’t you content knowing that your relationship with God is rooted in faith in the Lord Yeshua? “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

These are ongoing promises — to walk with God, to grow the inner spiritual person, to abide in the Lord Yeshua so that He produces the fruit of righteousness in us. Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5). When we let God work in us, the Spirit forms Christlike character within us.

And one day, each of us will die. But don’t you believe that those you’ve loved who have passed on are already with the Lord? Paul said plainly, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). That’s a hope we can rest in.

I know what I believe — but only you can answer these questions for yourself.

 

[MatthewG]

A lot of people today genuinely believe their loved ones are already with God in heaven. Even though different traditions teach different things — some talk about hell, some talk about waiting, some talk about the kingdom — that’s not really the point when someone is grieving.

For example, my coworker just lost her child last Sunday. They had to make the heartbreaking decision to remove life support, and the family is preparing for cremation this weekend. In a moment like that, I’m not going to say, “Well, the resurrection hasn’t happened yet.” That would be cruel and completely out of place. I tell her, with sincerity, that her daughter is with God now. Because that’s what compassion looks like.

This is where interpretation gets messy. People will insist the Bible means one thing, but then in real life they speak and act in a completely different way. It becomes inconsistent and honestly unnecessary.

So let’s be reasonable and respectful toward people and their beliefs.

If someone believes they are part of the Bride of Christ — that’s their personal conviction. If someone believes the resurrection hasn’t happened yet — that’s also their personal conviction.

And thank God that we are free to make those choices. That freedom is a gift.