A  Balanced Response

A straightforward reading of the New Testament shows that the first followers of Jesus expected Him to return very soon, even though Jesus had made it very clear that only His Father knew the time that would be. Later New Testament writings show that Jesus' followers came to recognise that it was it was probably not quite as soon as they had first expected. They needed to give more attention to living a good life in the here and now.

So, were the first generation of believers completely wrong to expect a soon return? And what about ourselves? After almost 2000 years, should we get used to the delay and live as if it could never happen in our own lifetime? And do the scriptures provide us with a timeline of events that can help us see where we are in God's programme of salvation? These are questions that go beyond the scope of a single short letter to answer, but it is possible to sketch an outline response.

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Over the centuries many attempts have been made to put together a road map of history leading to the end. Some people, at some times, have thought that the return of Jesus was going to be in their lifetime and have been quite certain in their own minds about a particular date. In extreme instances they have made elaborate preparations, neglecting family and civic responsibilities. So far, it must be said, they have all been proven wrong. Such people have been crushed with disappointment. The fundamental mistake they made, was to confuse the certainty that He will return with their own calculation about when. This is not helpful; indeed, it is positively harmful. If they were wrong about that, then what else might they be wrong about? So begins a decline into doubt, disillusionment, and despair. 

At the other end of the spectrum are those who call themselves Christian, but who never seriously contemplate the fact that Jesus will return. Such people are equally mistaken. They are tempted to settle down to a cosy life of self-interest and complacency. For such people, there is no urgency to evangelise. But Jesus said:

'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'

Matthew 24:14

Jesus gave the church a task to perform before he returns. Is it possible that if this task is neglected, then the return of Jesus is delayed?

A healthier and more balanced position is to live with both the possibility of His soon (imminent) return and also the possibility that it will be delayed. Holding on to the former will help us to live with a degree of urgency and seriousness. Holding on to the latter will help us to avoid extremism and a disregard for the future. We need to take both seriously. 

But what about the second question? Has God given us a timetable? The simple answer is 'no'. A sequence of events - yes, but only a very broad-brush sketch. Of course, there is a basic Biblical timeline which is much clearer looking backwards.  Looking forward it is not so easy. We do know the culmination - Jesus' return. We also know that there will be birth pains and suffering beforehand. We know that believers will experience judgment for reward. We know that God's covenant people the Jews, having rejected Jesus, will come to recognise Him as their Messiah and return to God (explained in Romans 9-11.)

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There is a view known as dispensationalism which became popular in some circles from the early 19th century. This has many forms all of which aim to fit elements of scripture into a coherent sequence. The basic problem is that it involves making a basic assumption and then fitting the pieces into it. However, there is nothing in scripture to warrant the original assumptions. All of them have problems when looked at closely. 

One contentious issue is that of the Millennium - a word only mentioned in one passage of scripture (Revelation 20:4-6). It occurs in a book which contains a great deal of number-symbolism and picture-symbolism and yet there are people who have confidently interpreted it as a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus on earth inaugurated when He returns. People who are familiar with this view but have not given a great deal of thought to the alternatives, often hold to it with great passion and sincerity and give it far more prominence than its brief mention in scripture warrants. In the very early days of the church a man called Papias interpreted scripture this way, but he was very much out-of-step with everyone else and his view was rejected. 

Another contentious issue is the rapture. This refers to the supposed removal of believing Christians from the earth before a period of suffering known as the tribulation. It has been popularised in books such as The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series which proved particularly popular in the USA. But again, from the perspective of church history it is a recent and minority view resting on unprovable assumptions.

Are such views harmful? Does it really matter? Is it not acceptable to adopt a wait-and-see approach? My own view is that belief in a form of Millenarianism is not so much of an issue. By all means, let us wait and see. But certainly, we should not make it a core belief for church membership nor the basis for breaking fellowship (which has unfortunately happened far too much in the past). It is not a doctrine which is of first importance.

But belief in a rapture of believers before the tribulation is a little different. It implies an expectation that Christians will escape suffering. That simply is not true in the history of the church, and it contradicts much Biblical teaching. Truthfully discipleship may involve suffering as part of witness for Christ. The word martyr, after all, comes from the Greek word for witness. If belief in a rapture is part of a reduced and unbalanced gospel which simply centres on personal security and well-being on earth and in heaven, then yes, it is harmful. Such people will not stand the test when the going gets tough, nor are they likely to lay-down their lives for the sake of others! 

'Those that suffer with Him shall reign with Him.'

2 Timothy 2:12

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So, to return to our initial question. Were the first readers completely wrong to expect a soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ? I would suggest not completely wrong! This is one of those areas where we need to hold two complementary truths in a healthy tension. To live with the expectation that Jesus could return soon, and indeed within our lifetime, will keep us on our toes. We will live doing his will and ordering our lives according to His Kingdom priorities. Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish virgins makes this point. At the same time, we must cultivate the fruit of patience, knowing that God's ways are not our ways, and that part of being a follower of Jesus is to persevere and endure. Another of Jesus' parables - the mustard seed, speaks of slow growth from tiny beginnings.

What difference might this make for Christian leadership? I offer just one example. As leaders we need to balance our own immediate priorities and challenges with those of the future. We need to run the race with diligence, fulfilling God's calling on our lives. At the same time, we need to focus on the future and those who will succeed us.  A careful consideration of succession-planning is important. Indeed, it is built-into the very heart of Christian ministry which is to equip God's people for works of service. Our legacy should include not just the things we have done but the capacity of those we have led to continue God's work into the future.

Chris Moffett