Monday, July 10, 2006

The Second Coming

The second coming of Christ - it means to most exactly what it proclaims.  I've had a different experience with this and want to share it.

To those who believe Jesus walked this earth, whether the historical Jesus or the Christ (Blessed) of God, we know this man existed, spoke, gathered crowds and was executed.  We read our Bible and find He plans to come again to this earth, "to judge the living and the dead" and one can interpret that as they feel most comfortable with.  I personally don't accept it. 

I've had Extreme Unction 3 times in my 56 years.  So while I awaited death, naturally I prayed that God would come for me in peace (and of course very little physical pain) and I'd become a part of the Universe, a speck of a molecule of the "body" of God.  "I" meaning my soul.  So I've been close.

I also had to bury a very dear friend.  She promised to send a message, as she truly believed she'd have that ability.  But what happened to me, as I sat at her funeral in a blinding mist of tears, was truly an epiphany of amazing truth:  

When Jesus, Son of God, God Himself, proclaims that He will come again, I now know He means He will come intimately, personally, as ONE, to EACH of us INDIVIDUALLY, alone, which will be the time of our physical death.  It will be a PRIVATE, singular thing for each of us, at our time.  "Prepare, for the time is at hand."  Of course it's at hand!  It's always at hand, we don't know our date with death!    To God, a life of 5 minutes or 95 years is all the same, for time to Him means not as it does to us.  Our physical lives are short and He WILL come for us at our deaths to reclaim the soul he instilled, the soul which years for its home.  I believe His second coming is the personal coming for us at the moment of death, each one INDIVIDUALLY, and separate from any other, He comes for our soul, the soul He created apart from anything of this physical world.  The soul which yearns for its Maker.  I do not believe Hewill appear on earth to draw crowds, or to throw lightening bolts, or anything that remotely resembles judgment.  A true God doesn't need to judge - why WOULD He?  If God knows all that will happen, he knew before you were born what kind of person you'd be.  And if God needs a hell, a "place" of eternal, unbearable, firey bloody vengeful suffering, what kind of God is He?  Not one I would surrender belief to.  Which is also why I don't believe in heaven, and for the same reason.  Could ANY God worth His salt sit in glory and honor knowing his own children were burning alive, but some were not?  Would God be partial like that?  I could never hope to understand how He thinks or why He allows certain things to exist in our world, but I know this:  The earth won't be opening up with dead people ascending to heaven.  That's a key word there:  "ascending" it means "up" which is definitely not where heaven would be, would it.  Just as hell would not be "down there".  Down where??  If indeed, Jesus Christ will appear on a cloud with a book and condemn his children for all eternity, I'm completely lost.  It makes no sense at all.  This "Second Coming" where He will nothing short of thumbs up, thumbs down now come on, that sounds a bit too HUMAN to me.  A true God doesn't need to consider, to judge, to contemplate, He IS.  And He said it Himself:  "I AM THAT I AM."   

So I do believe His "second coming" will be private for you and I, individually, at our time, as a Father for his beloved children, and that will be His return.  Yes, Jesus will come again, when it's time for the soul to be reunited back into the One God who created it.  The soul- our "God-part".  

The "second coming" of Jesus occurs at the moment of our death.  That is what He asks us to "prepare the way" for.  And oddly, when I read my written journal for that time in 2004, I kept seeing the word "Prepare!"  It was the continual response I'd get whenever I'd put my mind on the Lord and meditate on His goodness.  At first I thought, well maybe He's telling me to get my affairs in order as I was going to die to this world.  Then I realized the truth:  Of course we should prepare His Way, for it will come for each one of us when we shed these fleshy coils and the soul will be released back into the vast Universe that is God.  There is no second coming except the last one, our deaths. 

In believing this, I know I have disclaimers.  It doesn't matter, faith is faith and if you live by what you believe, what can harm you?  God does not require our faith in Him in order to exist.  "I am that I am."  When the second coming arrives for me, the world will continue and people will live on, until their own second coming is at hand.      

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow luddie this is really profound and this is indeed a different way of looking at the second coming of Our Lord.  I like this  idea very much and think it is  actually a very good take on what  most  think otherwise.  You absolutely amaze me at the way you write.  Thank you my friend for your beautiful words and wisdom you impart in your journal.  I tend to agree with you  it certainly makes me feel more at peace  rather than seeing the whole world collapse I will adapt this belief  i fully agree with you.

TreesRGreen78

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry Luddie, I will have to come back and read this again later.  I am smiling to the depths of my soul and find that I can not concentraite at this time.  I did enjoy what I read, (I think) and will try to comment again when I get some sense of composure back.
Ryman

Anonymous said...

Well, I have to disagree, as it says in Matthew that all the tribes of the earth will see Jesus coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.
Penny

Anonymous said...

Yes, Penny, the Bible is a wondrous book of many stories to help guide us through life's pitfalls and questions.   When each word or passage is taken literally, one soon notes the obvious contradictions and confusions, for example where did "the woman from the desert" come from, to marry Cain?  I don't really think it matters, I'm not a literal believer in the Bible though I believe it was written by men inspired by the spirit of God.  When Matthew describes all the earth's peoples seeing Jesus appearing at once on clouds of heaven, coming to judge both living and dead, coming to proclaim Himself the Son of God and punish the wicked whilst rewarding the good, Penny it's not the truth of the God I believe in.  I cannot take the Bible literally, as many good people can't, because which do you chose?  Which edition, which translation?  My love for this Book is great, I take to its pages when in doubt or just to read of wondrous things.  But to me this is not literal nor ever meant to be.  That takes nothing from my love of The Lord, and I truly believe that all we need is to be kind to one another and love God, by whatever His name.  The "clouds of heaven" could mean, for someone about to die, an awe-inspiring vision to bring them peace and calm in their last hours.  Jesus coming "in power and glory" is something already known - I know Jesus is powerful and glorious even if some do not.  All that matters is how we live our lives.  The Bible can help us lead decent ones.      

Anonymous said...

Dear Cathy
well spoken!
umm I think of the Great son of God as someoen who lend strength to us each day in his mercy. I think it is wonderful if we have avision of him in the end
love,nat