Christ's Two Appearings

he two great links between earth and Heaven are the two advents of our Lord, or rather, He is Himself, by His two appearings, the great bond of union between earth and Heaven. When the world had revolted against its Maker and the Creator had been defied by His own creatures, a great gulf was opened between God and man. The first coming of Christ was like a bridge which crossed the chasm, and made a way of access from God to man and then from man to God. Our Lord’s second advent will make that bridge far broader until Heaven shall come down to earth, and ultimately earth shall go up to Heaven.

Here, too, is the place for us to build a grand suspension bridge by which, through faith, we ourselves may cross from this side to the other of the stormy river of time. The cross, at whose foot we stand, is the massive column which supports the structure on this side, and as we look forward to the glory, the second advent of our Lord is the solid support on the other side of the deep gulf of time. By faith, we first look to Jesus and then look for Jesus, and herein is the life of our spirits. Christ on the cross of shame and Christ on the throne of glory: these are our Dan and Beersheba, and all between is holy ground. As for our Lord’s first coming, there lies our rest; the once-offered sacrifice hath put away our sin and made our peace with God. As for His second coming, there lies our hope, our joy; for “we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” The glories of His royal priesthood shall be repeated in all the saints; for He hath “made us unto our God kings and priests;” and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever.

At His first advent, we adore Him with gratitude, rejoicing that He is “God with us,” making Himself to be our near Kinsman. We gather with grateful boldness around the Infant in the manger and behold our God. But in the anticipation of His second advent, we are struck with a solemn reverence, a trembling awe. We are not less grateful, but we are more prostrate as we bow before the majesty of the triumphant Christ. Jesus in His glory is an overpowering vision for mortal man to behold. John, the beloved disciple, writes, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” We could have kissed His blessed feet till He quitted us on Mount Olivet, but at the sight of our returning Lord, when Heaven and earth shall flee away, we shall bow in lowliest adoration. His first appearing has given us eternal life and that holy confidence with which we are looking forward to His glorious appearing, which is to be the crown of all His mediatorial work.

Christ's Two Appearings from Christ's Incarnation - The Foundation of Christianity by C.H. Spurgeon