There are many historical events and miracles (God breaking in on “natural” events) in the Bible that may be troublesome or hard to believe – the Flood, the virgin birth, the shadow going back in 2 Kings 20. But the future miracle of Jesus’ return is somewhat neglected.

We can understand why. It’s been nearly two thousand years since he went away, and we know we won’t know when it will happen. Science fiction writers and recent electromagnetic thruster discoveries are full of the possibilities of life on other planets and easy trips to Mars and beyond. For many people, the future does not include an ending point.

But 1 Thessalonians 4 makes a big deal about the return of Jesus. The Thessalonians were concerned about their friends who had died – would they be part of the resurrection? Paul assures his friends that even though the Lord’s return will be loud and awesome, there will be an orderly process for the dead in Christ and the elect who are alive to “meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

The phrase Maranantha, meaning “The Lord is coming” or ”Come, O Lord,” replaced the traditional Jewish greeting “Shalom” partly because there would be little peace for early Christians. The thought of Jesus’ return was a comfort and assurance for them.

Fortunately the way for twenty-first century Christians to show we believe in the promised arrival is to continue in the faith – grow in sanctification, study scriptures, pray, be part of a good fellowship, tell the good news to those around us; these are just the things Jesus told his disciples to do when he left.