The First and Second Coming of Christ: Similarities

Maccabees, Age of Silence (left), the Messiah Returns, Age of Salvation (right)

There is a four hundred year period between the Old Testament and New Testament. These are called the silent years, when God did not speak, prophets ceased, and no angel messengers came to man. It was a time of absolute quiet, and as result men devised systems of religion. Out of this dark age came the sects of Judaism: Pharisees (believe they had sinned, and stricter observance of the Mosaic Law would save them, non-conformist), Sadducees (did not believe in the resurrection and friends of Rome, conformist), Essenes (mystical monks), Sons of Light (St. John the Baptist was one), and the Zealots (patriot warriors of Israel, like the IRA today, left overs from Maccabean wars). While God was silent, the sons of Abraham sought to practice their religion in these four boxes, they had no expectations, no anticipation, even the prophecies of the messiah and bridegroom by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, David, Daniel, and tetra became mute as false messiahs appeared. Then in the blink of an eye, God came into the world (John 1:1) and the Son of God, Emmanuel (God With Us), The Savior, and the Christ was born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1).

The church of Christ's day, the Temple and synagogues had been lulled into a sleep, no longer looking for the Lord. It thus was a shock when Zachariah, high priest heard from an angel in the Holy of Holies and was told He would have son named John (Luke 1:5-2:20). Zachariah unbelief was the norm, God had been silent for four hundred years, and no angelic messengers had come either. Now suddenly there was one in Temple talking about Zachariah's son. Elsewhere, in Nazareth, a woman, a virgin and ordinary girl who revered the Lord has an angel appear to her, telling her, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:21). Talk about earth shattering news, suddenly after silence for four centuries, the Christ comes into the world! The reaction was harsh, many did not believe Mary or Joseph, that angels had come to them, and Jesus was often insulted with the subtle mocking that He was illigamant, when in truth He was Immanuel.

Now think about the times we live in. A silence has crept over sanctuaries, revival is happening in wider world, but in America Humanism, Nationalism, Consumerism, Atheism,  Narcissism. Mammonism, and Liberalism has taken hold. Millennials are first generation to have hardly any Christian believers, the numbers being, "89% of Millennials are not religious in any way." (700 Club, 2/22/16). The Church in America has gotten comfortable with its methods, and sects, in same way the Jews in the time of Jesus had. We have Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Lutherans, and many more; all holding on to their form and way to be close to God; and yet is there silence? Everything seems to be lining up to when Lord first came, hundreds of prophecies regarding the end times are beginning to be fulfilled, in the same rapid succession as the prophecies about Christ's first coming. Only the Magi, and Sheperds came to Christ's birth place, Bethlehem, the Stable. The Magi had watched for the signs, they knew, "I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke," (Joel 2:30). In same way the Lord Jesus tells us regarding His second coming, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea," (Luke 21:25) and "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42).

Another major similarity about the First and Second Coming of Christ is the disbelief. The Jews of Jesus' time became exasperated by all the false messiahs, those claiming to be the Son of David. In the same way many Christians have become exasperated by the eschatology and end times pridicitons of the return of Christ by false prophets. The Church is in danger of being like Pharisees and Sadduccess, unwilling to see the Savior in their midst, or in case of Christ's Second Coming, the clouds, Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7).
But many in Church are not ready. They act like the sects during the Savior's First Coming, they keep practicing their "having a form of godliness but denying its power, have nothing to do with such people" (2 Timothy 3:5) and they fail to see the signs pointing to Christ's coming, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea," (Luke 21:25) and "And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30, NLT).

We must study the Scriptures, know all the End Times sections: Matthew 24, Mark 13, Matthew 25, 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Corinthians 5, Revelation, Daniel 13, Zacariah 13 and 14, and more! We cannot afford to be like the Pharisees, content with dead religion and self made religion (Colossians 2:23). We need to know Christ (Matthew 7:23), and keep watch for His Second Coming (Matthew 25:13). The religious elite of the day missed Emmanuel's coming, and only select few saw the Star of Bethlehem and were looking. While all will see Jesus coming in sky (Revelation 1:7), I believe at this point only a select few, the elect, will be keeping watch and looking for the Sign of His Coming (Matthew 24:30). This is why Jesus Christ says, "I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). Be warned Church, you risk being like the Pharisees and Sadduccess, rather than the Magi and Sheperds. Wake up, lest, "Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning." (Mark 13:36), and "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed." (Revelation 16:15).