Second Coming of Christ

The goal of our earthly existence is a single thing we prepare for eternal life. Christian wisdom is to maximize the precious gift of time to ensure the afterlife. Our Lord Jesus Christ in many of its precepts exhorted his followers to value time and live constantly prepared to meet God and to be accountable for their actions. (See, for example, the description of God’s judgment in the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46), the parables of the Savior about the tares (Matthew 13:24-43), about the servants who are waiting his master (Luke 12:35-40), about the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13), the wedding guests (Luke 14:16-24), talents (San Mateo 25 :14-30), of the workers who received the same return (Matthew 20:1-16) and the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

“Watch – repeated the Lord – do not know when will the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:42), meaning that our life can be interrupted at the most unexpected moment. This will be for you the end of the world, ie the day of the trial and the beginning of eternity.

All men, in varying degrees, fear death, however, the apostles taught Christians to keep in mind the future encounter with God because they think regarding this helps to correct life. “The Coming of the Lord is near – writes the holy Apostle Santiago (James), – behold, the Judge is at hand” (Santiago (James) 5:8-9).

Early Christian writings, that from the time of the Apostles Christians attentively awaiting the soon return to earth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This expectation is argued, first, because of the atmosphere of persecution and martyrdom that surrounded their lives. The intensity of the harassment, at times, reminding them what was announced by the Savior about the last days when it was impossible to secure even a single day of quiet existence. It would be enough to remember the holy Archdeacon Stephen, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and his mother Sophia, the Holy and Great Martyr Barbara, the victorious St. George and other glorious martyrs to convince him that life of believers in the early days of Christianity was constantly in danger. In persons of the emperors Nero, Domitian, Decius, Diocletian and others like them persecutors, the Christians saw the image of the apocalyptic beast. Moreover, many of the early Christians were so inflamed by faith and commitment to lead a righteous life that Christ’s return and the earth was understood not as the time of trial and accountability, but as a joyous encounter with the Savior, Whom they loved with all his heart. They really wanted the speedy coming of Christ.

With the sinking of paganism, early in the fourth century, and the cessation of persecution of the Christians weakened the spiritual fervor and anticipation of the second coming of Christ is tempered. A more systematic study of Scripture convinced the theologians who before the arrival of the “Great Day of the Lord,” in the life of humanity to apply, the spiritual and social processes.