A segunda vinda de Cristo: sinais e como esperar por Ele
A promessa de que Jesus voltará
Jesus prometeu que voltará de forma visível e gloriosa para reunir o seu povo, julgar o mal e renovar todas as coisas. A história não caminha para o acaso nem para a destruição, mas para o cumprimento definitivo da palavra de Deus.
Antes de ir para a cruz, Jesus consolou os discípulos garantindo que prepararia um lugar e voltaria para buscá-los. Na sua ascensão ao céu, anjos confirmaram aos apóstolos que o retorno aconteceria da mesma maneira visível como Ele partiu.
Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me. In my Father’s house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.(John 14:1-3)
And as they were gazing into heaven, as he was going, behold, also two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do ye stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld him going into heaven.(The Acts 1:10,11)
Behold, I come quickly, and my reward with me, to render to every one as his work shall be.(Revelation 22:12)
He that testifies these things says, Yea, I come quickly. Amen; come, Lord Jesus.(Revelation 22:20)
Os sinais que antecedem o retorno
A Bíblia não fornece datas para a volta de Cristo, mas aponta sinais que marcam a história até aquele momento. Jesus alertou sobre o surgimento de falsos líderes, conflitos entre nações, catástrofes naturais e perseguições.
Esses avisos não servem para alimentar pânico, mas para ensinar discernimento. No meio das dificuldades, a pregação do Evangelho por todo o mundo segue como a prioridade da Igreja até o fim.
And as he was sitting upon the mount of Olives the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what is the sign of thy coming and the completion of the age?
And Jesus answering said to them, See that no one mislead you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall mislead many. But ye will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not disturbed; for all these things must take place, but it is not yet the end.(Matthew 24:3-6)
Then shall they deliver you up to tribulation, and shall kill you; and ye will be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake. And then will many be offended, and will deliver one another up, and hate one another; and many false prophets shall arise and shall mislead many;(Matthew 24:9-11)
and because lawlessness shall prevail, the love of the most shall grow cold; but he that has endured to the end, he shall be saved.(Matthew 24:12,13)
And these glad tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth, for a witness to all the nations, and then shall come the end.(Matthew 24:14)
Then if any one say to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or here, believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall give great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they say to you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the inner chambers, do not believe it.(Matthew 24:23-26)
there shall be both great earthquakes in different places, and famines and pestilences; and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.(Luke 21:11)
Como será a vinda de Cristo
O primeiro advento de Cristo em Belém foi humilde e reservado, mas o seu retorno será público, inconfundível e pleno de autoridade divina. Ninguém precisará perguntar se aconteceu: todos verão a sua glória manifestada.
O apóstolo Paulo explicou que o Senhor descerá dos céus ao som da trombeta de Deus. Os que morreram em Cristo ressuscitarão primeiro, e os que estiverem vivos serão reunidos a Ele para viver para sempre na sua presença.
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the land lament, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the one extremity of the heavens to the other extremity of them.(Matthew 24:29-31)
For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to each according to his doings.(Matthew 16:27)
And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roar of the sea and rolling waves, men ready to die through fear and expectation of what is coming on the habitable earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws nigh.(Luke 21:25-28)
for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel’s voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord. So encourage one another with these words.)(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Como viver enquanto esse dia não chega
Como ninguém sabe o dia nem a hora da volta de Jesus, a resposta bíblica não é a especulação, mas a vigilância diária. Vigiar significa viver de forma sóbria, praticando a justiça, o amor e a oração no cotidiano.
A rotina corrida, o peso das contas e as distrações da vida podem entorpecer a fé. Por isso, a Escritura orienta a manter o coração firme e atento, trabalhando com fidelidade enquanto o Senhor não vem.
Watch therefore, for ye know not in what hour your Lord comes.(Matthew 24:42)
Wherefore ye also, be ye ready, for in that hour that ye think not the Son of man comes.(Matthew 24:44)
But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be laden with surfeiting and drinking and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares; for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, praying at every season, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.(Luke 21:34-36)
But the end of all things is drawn nigh: be sober therefore, and be watchful unto prayers;(1 Peter 4:7)
Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
so that ye come short in no gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall also confirm you to the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.(1 Corinthians 1:7,8)
A bendita esperança de quem crê
Para o cristão, a segunda vinda não desperta terror, mas consolo. É a garantia de que a dor, o luto e as injustiças deste mundo têm prazo de validade. Aquele que começou a boa obra na vida do crente é quem virá para completá-la.
Saber que Jesus voltará traz descanso para enfrentar os dias difíceis: a última palavra sobre a vida humana pertence a Deus, e a promessa da redenção eterna é certa.
For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things, awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.(Titus 2:11-14)
thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.(Hebrews 9:28)
having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto Jesus Christ’s day:(Philippians 1:6)
But let not this one thing be hidden from you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.(2 Peter 3:8)
And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming.(1 John 2:28)
I come quickly: hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy crown.(Revelation 3:11)
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