The Second Coming and Behavior Modification
This week, when reading Thessalonians, I picked up on one of the themes of Paul’s message, which was to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. It is a theme that appears repeatedly in the scripture, along with the admonition to prepare. Why did Paul speak as though the coming of the Lord was imminent? Some of us hope for the day when Jesus comes and sets things right, while others know we are not ready and fear the day. Why do we say it could happen at almost any time, when only the Father knows when it will happen?
There are prophesied signs that will precede the big event. But the signs include things that frequently happen: fires, earthquakes, floods, famine, wars, human corruption, and the list goes on and on. If people of any age started paying attention to these things, they could reasonably believe that the Lord’s advent could be at the doors.
If you think it is close, you are in good company with Paul, who lived about 2000 years ago. You may say that Paul knew the coming of the Lord was far off, but why did he use the promised event to motivate people to watch, be vigilant, and prepare? Here is a snippet of his language: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
The promised destruction of the wicked and the lifting up in glory of the righteous evoke powerful imagery that is meant to modify our behavior. The list of things we can do to prepare for the day of the Lord follows the warnings. The images of destruction are graphic and frightening; I don’t know a better way to describe them. Fear is a powerful motivator, as is faith, and Paul uses both to convince people to change their behaviors.
The formula for self-sanctification and preparation is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
The Second Coming is a cleansing event similar to the great flood at the time of Noah. The flood was a cleansing by water. The Second Coming will be a cleansing by fire.
Noah prepared for the flood by following God’s instructions to build an ark, wherein he could save and preserve everything needed to continue living after the waters receded. Furthermore, Noah was tasked with warning the people, but only his family listened. In the flood, all the wicked people were destroyed.
At the Second Coming, wickedness and those who refuse to give away their sins will be destroyed. Paul says it this way, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glory in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”
The fire of God and the glory of his power are the instruments that will consume wickedness. When we are confronted with a troubled conscience because of the word of God, which is his power, we either conform and change our behaviors, or we rebel and languish in sin. We are faced with a choice of letting our sins die, or we die, having not become who we are meant to be. The wicked are destroyed by the spirit and word of God and the light that will reveal the “mystery of iniquity.”
Whether the end of wickedness comes from water or fire, the cleansing result is the same. We will be taken out if we ignore the warnings to prepare for the cleansing event. So what if the Second Coming does not happen in our lifetime? Does that mean we are exempt from the destruction? No! We will come before God and either be punished because we failed to prepare or join with the angels and stand with Christ.
So, will the Second Coming happen soon? Based upon the prophecies surrounding the event and the historical record, yes and no. Maybe the better question is: is the earth prepared for it (and by earth, I mean the people of the earth)?
As I see it, God will not destroy anyone without warning. The preaching of the gospel is the voice of warning. So, if you have heard the gospel, you are fair game for destruction, and the Second Coming becomes almost irrelevant to you individually. On a worldwide basis, the destruction of wickedness can’t happen until everyone is given a chance to repent.
That day, in theory, is here now because there is not a single place on the planet that technology cannot reach. There is not one person who earnestly seeks for the truth that cannot find it, if they are aware of and have access to the internet on a computer or cell phone. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 1, verses 2-5 reads, “For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.”
There was one other part of Thessalonians that made me think. The description of Satan in 2 Thessalonians, verse 4 of chapter 2 shows that his fall was because he exalted himself above God. Could it be that the Sons of Perdition also think themselves to be above God because they believe the great lie of Satan? In a less dramatic and consequential way, do we ever consider ourselves to be above God? In some ways, I think that we place ourselves above God when we ignore the warnings in the scriptures and from the mouths of prophets. When we procrastinate our preparations, we do the same.
I hope we will voluntarily invite the Holy Ghost’s consuming fire into our lives to purge our sins. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be with him in eternity, so he speaks to us by revelation. As with nearly all the words of God, the prophecies of the Second Coming affect us by invoking hope and faith or fear. If we must be jolted by fear so that we begin to change, eventually, faith will replace fear, allowing us to move forward