The Second Sunday in Advent (Populus Zion)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A year and a half ago, the so-called Great North American Eclipse passed through much of the United States, including northern New England. Many drove for hundreds of miles to witness the total solar eclipse. They endured hours-long traffic jams to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event, and they brought with them special eclipse glasses to better see it and fancy camera equipment to capture the moment. They tracked the moon’s movement with NASA’s special tracking site, and they stood in awe of the natural phenomenon as it occurred. But how many of these people saw the event for what it truly was?
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27).
Dear friends in Christ: The end of the world is near. The signs are all around us. The question is, do we have eyes to see and discern the signs? The thing is, we are quick to brush these things off with natural explanations. Perhaps you’re not convinced by my suggestion that a total solar eclipse is a sign of the end times. After all, it’s predictable and natural. As evidence to the contrary, I submit to you these words of Martin Luther from one of his sermons on this text:
Some think that the sun is to be darkened as never to shine again; but this cannot be the meaning, for day and night must continue to the end, as God foretells in Genesis 8:22: ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.’ This sign must therefore not interfere with day and night and still be fulfilled before judgment day, for it is a token of its coming. It cannot, therefore, be more than a darkening of the sun in its accustomed course.
Luther then goes on to expressly cite eclipses as an example of the signs of which Christ speaks in our Gospel text. We have a hard time buying this, though, because our minds are too enthralled with science and so-called “natural explanations.” But if we had enough faith to take Christ at His Word, perhaps we would begin to see the world theologically and we would believe His Word more readily than we do the secular scientists.
Dear friends in Christ, the fact of the matter is that the end of the world is drawing near, and Christ invites us to look up and see the signs all around us. It’s not just eclipses, but shooting stars, wars on earth, the transgender epidemic, COVID-19, the rampant outbreak of depression and anxiety, natural disasters—these departures from God’s usual order are all signs of Christ’s impending return. We must set aside our modern tendency to rationalize and recognize these signs for what they are.
Perhaps the other aspect of our hesitancy to think this way is that we expect the signs of which Christ speaks to be immediately followed by Christ’s return. And eclipses, wars, epidemics, and the like have been occurring for ages. In response to this, the apostle Peter would remind us:
“Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
God’s timing is not our own. In the grand scheme of eternity, “soon” is very different than a mortal being would define it. The point is not that we should say for certain, “Christ will come back tomorrow.” For no one knows the day or the hour (cf. Matthew 24:36). The point is that Christ might return tomorrow. We ought not live as if Christ’s return is some distant event that we will not have to concern ourselves with. Christ might return tomorrow. Therefore, let us learn to recognize the signs that He has given. Let us see the eclipse or the epidemic or the natural disaster, and let us be reminded of Christ’s impending return.
The world fears this way of thinking. They view the end of the world as something which must be avoided at all costs. Consider, for example, the raging debate some years ago about global warming. One side said, unless we do something about it, the world as we know it is coming to an end. We must reduce our emissions and radically change our lifestyles lest we destroy the world. The other side buried their heads in the sand and said, “nothing to see here—global warming isn’t real.” Now, I don’t intend to pass judgment on one side or the other. I intend to pass judgment on Christians who wholeheartedly bought into the arguments of either side. I’m not knowledgeable enough about science to determine which side is “right.” But I do know Scripture well enough to say that a Christian ought not primarily think in these categories. A Christian ought to desire to be a good steward of creation because this is God’s charge to humanity. But we also cannot become so consumed with affirming or denying scientific claims that we fail to recognize what Christ tells us about these things: The world is coming to an end. In the global warming debate, one side so feared the end of the world that they were hell-bent on stopping it. The other side so feared the end of the world that they blindly denied the deterioration of the earth. But we, dear friends in Christ, ought not be afraid because the world’s end is a good thing for Christians.
Consider our Lord’s words: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
The end of the world and Christ’s second coming are good news for Christians. Christ invites us to see the sweetness of the world’s end by comparing it to summer drawing near. When you see the trees bud and bring forth leaves, you know that summer is near. As we endure these dark, cold days, we may begin to long for the sweetness of summer. In the same way, we ought to look for and expectantly desire Christ’s return, which will bring us relief and freedom from the winter of our sin.
As we were reminded last week, our redemption was accomplished upon the cross. Christ came in the flesh at Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago so that He could redeem you from the oppression of sin, death, and the devil by His atoning death upon the cross. The promise of that redemption is ours now, but we still await the fullness of its coming. Therefore, let us eagerly long for the return of Christ, when He will graciously take us from this valley of sorrow unto the joys of everlasting life.
So, be encouraged. The suffering of this life is not the end. When you suffer evil, when you or your loved one faces disease or death, when you see disturbing things in the world around us, be reminded that this world is not your home. Christ is coming back to make all things new, to raise the dead, and to grant eternal life to all who believe in Him. So, be encouraged.
But also pray for Christ to return soon. The final words of Scripture exhort us to do so. In the second last verse of the Bible, St. John records these words of Christ:
“Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20a).
And St. John then replies: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b). The end of the world will bring with it increasing trouble and hardship for Christ’s saints, but the Church still prays for Christ’s return. We know that it is immanent, but even if it means an increase of suffering and pain for us, we gladly pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” For we join the apostle in saying:
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
Therefore, let us eagerly desire the end of the world and our Lord’s return which will accompany it. Let us be diligent to look for and recognize the signs of His impending return. And let us hold fast our Lord’s Word which will not pass away as we pray with earnestness for His return.
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b). Come quickly, Lord.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
