“AND HE SHALL COME AGAIN WIH GLORY…” (ORTHODOX CREED OR SYMBOL OF FAITH)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

Christ is in our midst! He was, is, and ever shall be.

"AND HE SHALL COME AGAIN WITH GLORY TO JUDGE
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD; WHOSE KINGDOM SHALL
HAVE NO END…" (ORTHODOX CREED OR SYMBOL OF
FAITH)

The spiritual gaze of mankind which believes in Christ, beginning with the time of the Ascension from earth to heaven of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, has been directed to the greatest future event of world history: His Second Coming to earth.

Testimony to the reality of this expected Coming was given quite definitely many times by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, together with a whole series of details regarding it (Matthew 16:27 and chap. 24; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:40; John 14:3). The Angels declared it at the Lord’s Ascension (Acts 1:11). The Apostles often mention it: the Apostle Jude (vv. 14-15); the Apostle John (1 John 2:28); the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:13); and the Apostle Paul many times (1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6; and other places).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself described to His Disciples the manner of His Coming in the following characteristics:

IT WILL BE SUDDEN AND OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE" (Matthew 24:27).

First of all, "there shall appear THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn" (Matthew 24:30). This, according to the universal interpretation of the Holy Fathers of the Church, will be THE SIGN OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF THE LORD.

The Lord will come surrounded by innumerable Choirs of Angels, in all His Glory: "And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30), "with the Holy Angels (Mark 8:38). "He shall sit on the Throne of His Glory (Matthew 25:31). Thus, the Second Coming WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST when the Lord "HUMBLED Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross" (Philippian 2:8).

He will come to "JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Acts 17:31) "AND TO REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS" (Matthew 16:27). In this, the purpose of His Second Coming into the world IS TO BE DISTINGUISHED IN ESSENCE FROM THE PURPOSE OF His Coming, when He came "NOT O JUDGE THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED" (John 3:17); He came "TO GIVE HIS LIFE (AS) A RANSOM FOR MANY" (Matthew 20:28). [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

_______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George