"I'm Expecting"

This 1950's album cover photo for the song below, of an outdoor Christmas celebration from years gone by, warms my heart and causes me to long for Christmases long, long ago.

"I'm Expecting!"

In 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1988 those words flowed from my mouth as again and again I was with child. The same words are true for me today.  While I am not pregnant with child, nor taking in a foster child (at least this week) or in the process of adopting, I am living with expectancy. I am expecting the return of Jesus.

Look!  He is coming with the clouds.  Everyone will see him...Revelation 1:7

Who are we told in the Bible was both longing and expecting to see Jesus?

Luke 2:25-35 tells is this...At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. (They were under Roman rule.) The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.  So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.  

He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Sovereign Lord, not let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.  I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all the people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"

Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him.   Then Simeon blessed them and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise.  He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.  As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."

Simeon waited and prayed his whole life to see God's redemption through the promised Messiah.  While he didn't live to see Jesus crucified, dead, buried and resurrected for our sins, he did see the way God would bring it about. With joy filled eyes he beheld Jesus.

Let's sing out these lyrics in today's song "Long Expected": "Come though long expected Jesus, born to set the people free. From our fears and sins release us. Let us find peace and rest in Thee."

Now we long with expectation for Jesus to return!  We may depart earth before that occurs, but the time of His return is coming.  May it be today!

After the song is an excellent explanation from The Moody Bible Institute on the Second Coming.

The Song

"Long Expected" Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli (With Lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrFcwCNcuII&list=RDjrFcwCNcuII&start_radio=1

"Long Expected" (With black and white footage)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAdz2nrJtj8&list=RDWAdz2nrJtj8&start_radio=1

Moody Bible Institute on the Second Coming

"We believe in the second coming of Christ. His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray.

Before He establishes His kingdom on earth, Jesus will come for His Church, an event commonly referred to as the "Rapture." At that time the dead in Christ will be raised and living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever. In this resurrection, those who have died in Christ will have their redeemed souls and spirits united with a body similar to Christ's glorified body. Christians living at the time of this event will not die, but will be changed to be like Christ.This expectation is a motivation for holy living, as well as a source of comfort. No man knows the day or the hour when this will take place.

After the Rapture of the Church, Christians will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. He will reward them on the basis of the works they have accomplished. This is not a judgment to determine their salvation but a reward for labor on Christ's behalf. The Rapture will also inaugurate a period that the Bible characterizes as the "great day of His wrath," "the great tribulation" and the "time of Jacob's trouble." This time of unprecedented difficulty will affect Israel and all nations. Its purpose will be to prepare Israel for her Messiah.

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven as well as the Church to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth. His Kingdom will last for a thousand years. At this Second Coming, the Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for a thousand years.  The nations and their representatives will be judged. Israel will be restored to her land, never more to be removed. Christ will reign with firmness and equity. His kingdom will be marked by material and spiritual blessing, since the curse upon the earth will be removed. 

The Messianic Kingdom will close with apostasy and rebellion. God will crush this uprising in the last battle of the ages and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire. All those who rejected the Word of God will be resurrected. They will be judged by Christ and cast into the lake of fire, the place where they will suffer final and everlasting punishment. 

After this judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is the norm. There will be a new Jerusalem and the everlasting presence of God among all the redeemed."