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Week 52: Jesus Comes Again

Weekly memory verse:

Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Weekly hymn:

“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” (free download)

Weekly catechism:

What is your only hope in life and death?
My only hope in life and death is that I am not my own but belong to God and to my Savior Jesus Christ.

Day 256: The Coming of Christ

Reading: Galatians 4:4–7; Titus 3:3–7; 1 Timothy 1:15–17

Notes

Galatians 4, Verse 4. Son. This emphasizes Jesus’s full deity. Woman. This emphasizes Jesus’s full humanity.

Verse 5. Adoption. Those who are redeemed become children of God.

Titus 3, Verse 7. Justified. A legal declaration of righteousness based on Christ’s righteousness imputed to those who believe.

1 Timothy 1, Verse 15. Trustworthy. Paul uses this phrase to denote a statement that summarizes key doctrine.

Summary

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Jesus, who is fully God and full man, lived a life in perfect obedience to the law of God, thus earning the righteousness that no person could earn, and died to take the punishment for sin. Those who trust in him are given his righteousness and the forgiveness he secured. He now sits at the Father’s right hand, waiting to come again to free his people from the very presence of sin.

Questions for Reflection

1. Why did Jesus come into the world?
2. Why will Jesus come again?
3. How do both comings of Christ give hope to the Christian?

Day 257: Paul Arrives in Rome

Reading: Acts 28:1–31; Psalms 147–148

Notes

Acts 28, Verse 1. Malta. An island south of Sicily.

Verse 11. Twin gods. The Greek gods Castor and Pollux, Zeus’s sons, who were believed to protect sailors.

Verse 12. Syracuse. Tradition holds that Paul established a church in this important city in Sicily during his short stay there.

Verse 31. Without hindrance. Luke finished writing Acts before Paul’s first release from Roman prison (ca. ad 60–62).

Summary

God providentially brought Paul to Rome, which was a deep desire of his, through quite unusual means. Yet Paul’s imprisonment allowed him to faithfully preach the gospel there, defending the Christian faith, and helping to establish a strong Christian presence in that powerful city.

Questions for Reflection

1. How did Paul faithfully fulfill his mission even during his imprisonment?
2. What was the central message of Paul’s defense of Christianity to the Jewish leaders?
3. How can God’s providential work in Paul’s ministry give us confidence today?

Day 258: The Second Coming of Christ

Reading: Revelation 1:1–20, 4:1–5:14

Notes

Chapter 1, Verse 1. Revelation. This is the Greek word from which we get the English word “apocalypse,” which means to uncover or reveal.

Verse 4. Seven spirits. This is likely a reference to the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit prophesied by Isaiah (Isa 11:2).

Verse 8. Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying that Jesus is the beginning and end of all things.

Verse 9. Patmos. A Roman penal colony where John was imprisoned.

Verse 10. Lord’s Day. In Christian writings following the completion of the New Testament, including by authors close to John, this refers to the first day of the week, the day on which Jesus rose from the dead, which became the central day of worship for the Christian church.

Verse 20. Angels. This term means “messengers” and here likely refers to the pastors of the seven churches to which John is writing.

Chapter 4, Verse 4. Twenty-four elders. These elders represent the church.

Chapter 5, Verse 1. Scroll. This represents the title deed to the Kingdom of God.

Summary

John’s vision foretells the time when Jesus will come again in power and might to establish his Kingdom on earth. Anticipation of such a coming is meant to cause Christians to take account of their lives now, making sure that they are fervently following Christ and looking for that blessed hope.

Questions for Reflection

1. What should anticipation of the coming of Christ cause us to do?
2. What does John’s vision of the worship of heaven teach us about our worship?
3. Why is Jesus the only one worthy of opening the title deed to the Kingdom of God?

Day 259: The New Heaven and the New Earth

Reading: Revelation 21:1–27; Psalm 149

Notes

Revelation 21, Verse 2. Bride. This is a key metaphor in the New Testament for the church (Eph 5:25–27). The New Jerusalem becomes the dwelling place for the church.

Verse 8. Lake. This is the place of final, eternal punishment for those who do not trust in Christ.

Verse 27. Lamb’s book of life. This journal in which God has written the names of all whom he has chosen to save.

Psalm 149. These final psalms command us to praise the Lord in all circumstances of life, whether it be in corporate worship, in social settings, in the home, or even in the midst of battle.

Summary

One day, God will create a new heaven and a new earth where he will forever dwell with his people in perfect harmony, just has he has promised. There, Christ will be the source of all satisfaction, and there will be no tears or sin. All unbelieving people will be sent to the eternal lake of fire.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what ways does the new heaven and earth bring to remembrance God’s plan for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?
2. Why will there be no tears in the new earth?
3. What does the description of the New Jerusalem teach us about the eternal dwelling of God’s people?

Day 260: Jesus Is Coming

Reading: Revelation 22:1–21; Psalm 150

Notes

Revelation 22, verse 7. Quickly. Jesus’s coming again is imminent; it could happen at any time.

Verse 10. Seal up. Prophecies were typically sealed, but this prophecy is to be proclaimed, both as a warning to those who do not believe, and as an encouragement and admonition to believers.

Verse 15. Dogs. In New Testament times, these were undomesticated animals, and thus represent those filthy with sin.

Verse 17. Come. The fitting response of the church to this letter is anticipation of such a coming again.

Summary

Jesus will soon come again. His coming, which could happen at any time, will bring with it judgment to sinners, but eternal life and blessing to those who repent of their sins and trust in him alone for their salvation. Anticipating his coming should cause us to live holy lives, faithfully proclaim the good news to unbelievers, and live with hope and confidence in the good plan and promises of God.

Questions for Reflection

1. When could Jesus come again?
2. What should this letter cause Christians to do?
3. What is our only hope in life and death?