Dearly
Beloved Brethren,
Nobody
knows the time or even the place that our Lord is returning to judge the living
and the dead. For this reason, the Fathers of our Church do not tell us to try
and outsmart God, by predicting the time that He will appear. On the contrary
the Fathers concentrate on teaching us to be constantly ready and watchful, by
praying, fasting and doing works of love and faith. We are instructed to expect
a sudden if not instant entry of our Lord.
In the
final chapter of the Book of Revelations, the Apocalypse of St John the
Theologian, we are informed that we must fully accept the imminent coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore we are told that our world will suffer
terribly before the Second Coming of our Lord and that this world will be
destroyed. Nevertheless so let it be, in obedience we should pray "Even
so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20) and come quickly.
In John
chapter 20 we are told of the pitiful sight of the Apostles who gathered in a
small dark house for fear of the Jews after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They had locked every window and door, and they were in a state of mourning.
They must have been deeply depressed, angry, disillusioned, confused and very afraid
to say the least.