We’ve all been there. Waiting patiently for the main attraction, while enduring the musings of a ho-hum lesser-known act. As a kid, watching the Dancing Bears and Topo Gigio precede the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was downright painful. Occasionally, however, an opening act performs at a level that meets or exceeds that of the act at the top of the bill. Believe it or not, Jimi Hendrix opened for The Monkees just before “experiencing” phenomenal success.
The Opening Act
If the Second Coming is the main attraction, is there anything or anyone that could precede the consummation of time and space as we know it? We can consult scripture for clues:
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” (Mark 13:24-26)
Two things are clear in the above passage. One, even if not taken literally, something that is at least the equivalent to the moon and the stars disappearing will occur just prior to “the Son of Man coming in the clouds.” Two, Jesus will come “with great power and glory” whether there are actual clouds or not.
Here Comes Everybody
Taking a macro view, our span of life here on Earth could be viewed as the “opening act” of “the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting” stated in our creed. We live out our time on Earth under a cloud of unknowing, relying on “the eyes of faith” to see us through. When Jesus returns, will the event be witnessed and experienced through natural means or with supernatural senses? Will there be any advantage in being alive on Earth at that time over those that have gone before us “marked with the sign of faith”?
Somehow, mysteriously, all of us will be present for that glorious day. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:
The “Last Judgment” is God’s triumph over the revolt of evil, after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. Preceded by the resurrection of the dead, it will coincide with the second coming of Christ in glory at the end of time, disclose good and evil, and reveal the meaning of salvation history and the providence of God by which justice has triumphed over evil. (CCC 2661)
The resurrection of the dead and the Second Coming will coincide with the last judgment “after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world.” In linear, temporal terms, events will precede and follow one another during this period. In the realm of eternity, however, all things “happen” without the constraints of temporal time. In keeping with the theme of this article, The Beatles, Topo Gigio, and The Dancing Bears would appear together on the same stage at the same time!
When Will Be the Second Coming?
The concept of everything happening all at once aside, and conceding that the language of scripture is figurative, can we approximate the time of the Second Coming? We turn to scripture once again:
But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:32-33)
Unlike predicting the weather, “signs” are of little value in determining when the end of the world is near, or when the Second Coming will occur. No matter the order, the events will be unmistakably glorious and fall into place exactly according to God’s will. What preceded the end of time will be incorporated into eternal life in Heaven. As in the early church, we pray “Maranatha,” come, Lord Jesus!
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)
5 thoughts on “The Opening Act for the Second Coming”
Deacon Greg Lambert How long does it take to become a Deacon? Where do you do your studies to become a Deacon?
It varies from diocese to diocese. My formation was four years. Studies are college level, and sometimes can terminate in a Master’s degree. In my case, I pursued a Masters eight years after ordination. I hope this helps. God bless.
51 Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
I hope this helps!
“When Jesus returns, will the event be witnessed and experienced through natural means or with supernatural senses?” Are you, a Catholic deacon, seriously asking if maybe the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” are right, and the Second Coming might be invisible — in which case it might have happened in 1914?
God forbid.
Maybe it is worth simply pointing out that most prophecy — whether true prophecies given by God or even the so-called prophecies of, for example, the Oracle at Delphi — were not much about giving information that could be acted on. Well, except perhaps in the most general sense; for instance, the message of nearly every Marian apparition boils down to, “Repent and pray the rosary.” But most prophecy is meant to be understood only after it has come to pass, so that we can see that everything is taking place according to a plan and that we are not really the ones in charge. The prophecies of Christ’s birth, life, death, and Resurrection were there in the Old Testament, but they were not understood — how could they have been? We are in the same position regarding the Second Advent.
Meanwhile, I have it on good authority we should get busy repenting and praying the rosary.
Figurative or not, there is a rule of God which is prophesied in both Testaments that occurs on this earth before the end of the world. We can speculate as to the timing of the events; but the important thing is to be ready before things happen.