25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
— Luke 21:25-36, ESV

The Olivet Discourse is a dual prophesy that offers insight into the double meaning of Advent, now and then.    

Jesus preached the sermon in the now, near the end of His first advent.  It foretold the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (ref. Luke 21:20-24), which happened in the same century as His earthly life, death, and resurrection.  Then, it takes us to then, a much farther look into the future, to the destruction of the whole world.  This will occur, then, at Jesus’ second advent (ref. Luke 21:25-36).

Now, Advent is a jovial celebration of the first coming of Christ.  Bring out the Advent candles, the trees and lights, the manger scenes.  Let’s celebrate, now, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Then, Advent will be a cataclysmic event unseen before in human history.  It, too, will be a day of great joy, but only for true believers in the Lord.  For all others it will be a day of reckoning, judgment, and an eternal separation from God and all that is good.  

So now, let’s get ready for then, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again!

The Son of Man, Now and Then

“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (vs. 27)”
“Pray that you may escape and stand before the Son of Man (vs. 36).”

The phrase, “Son of Man,” turns up 199 times in the pages of Holy Scripture.  It represents humans as distinct from God (ref. Numbers 23:19), or God in human form (ref. Daniel 7:13-14).  It is prophetic (Ezekiel 88 uses) and messianic (the Gospels 82 uses) and apocalyptic (ref. Revelation 14:14).  It is also a sign of Advent, now and then.

Now, we think of the Son of Man as Jesus Christ, very God who became very human.  Now, we see Him as the Son of human beings, Mary, biologically, and Joseph, step-fatherly.  Now, Advent is a season to celebrate the birth of Christ, the first advent, as we depict Him in a manger, cradle, or perhaps the arms of mother Mary.

Now, there is nothing to fear in the face of this Son of Man.  Babies aren’t scary, unless you’re seated next to one on an airplane flight.  Jesus was a pleasant baby, a perfect child, a sinless man.  He came in the first advent not to judge or condemn, but to seek and save.  This is what we celebrate in the Advent of now.

Then, however, will be another matter.  And it is then to which Jesus speaks now.  Then, it will not be His earthly parents, a few shepherds, and a small band of disciples who will see Him.  Everyone living and who has ever lived will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud of power” (vs. 27).  So powerful and so dangerous will the Son of Man be then, we are told to “pray that you may escape” (vs. 36).  

Then, the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, “will come to judge the living and the dead” (The Apostles’ Creed).  Every hypocrite, every Christian in name only, every unbeliever will be rightly judged and righteously executed by the Son of Man, while true believers will “stand before” Him saved, forgiven, free, then, and forever.  

So now, let’s look at how we must respond to Jesus, so we will be ready, then.

The Salvation of God, Now and Then

“Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (vs. 28).”

Redemption is another word for salvation.  Theologically and historically, salvation comes now, and salvation comes then.  It comes now in justification.  It is happening now in sanctification.  It will come, then, in glorification, when a believer dies, or happens to be living at the second advent of Christ.

Now, salvation is for the lost.  Your “redemption” can be drawn in.  You can be justified, saved, by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Those truly justified are sanctified, endued with God’s Spirit and guided by God’s word.  

Now, Christ has paid the price to redeem sinners, and we are all sinners.  Now, faith is gift from God that makes a permanent transformation in a person’s life.  Now, understand those who have truly drawn near to Jesus will be found, now, in God’s word and in Christ’s church.  Those in Christ, now, will be ready when Christ comes again, then.

Then, salvation is only for the saved.  “Your redemption [will be] drawing near” (vs. 28).  Those believers who had died before us have already drawn near to the Lord.  They are in Paradise, just like Jesus promised the believing and repentant thief on the cross.  We cannot imagine how wonderful it is.  But we can join them, when Paradise is poured out into a glorious new heaven and earth during the second advent.    

Then, some of us are going to be alive to see the transition.  Then, all saints of all time will draw near to Christ and witness His two judgments, the judgement seat and the great white throne.  Then, true believers will be rewarded with everlasting life, while all others face ultimate death.  

Now is the time to get ready for then.  But when is then?

The Second Coming, Now and Then

“When these things begin to take place (vs. 28).”
“When you see these things taking place (vs. 31).”
“All these things that are going to take place (vs. 36).”

Only one generation witnessed the first coming of Christ.  Every generation of Christians since then has believed they will be the ones to witness the second coming of Christ.  It is true now, and it will come true then.

Now, we look for clues as to “when these things begin to take place” (vs. 28, 21, 36).  Jesus gave several during this speech spoken at the end of the first advent.  The first disciples listened but did not understand.  Today we have two thousand years worth of additional information.

Now, Jesus said, look for ecological and astronomical abnormalities.  Look for a fig tree in bloom.  Look for a culture of utter “dissipation and drunkenness.”  I suppose every generation has seen some of this in the now, but still Jesus tarries, until then.

Then, when the time is ripe for the second coming, there will be things happening like global warming on the earth and military missiles in space.  Then, the fig tree, a constant biblical symbol for the nation of Israel, will be in bloom, defending their borders and expanding to its original boundaries.  Then, the culture will be corrupt with sexual immorality and excessive use of mind altering substances.  Then sure sounds a whole lot like now!

Now, you must be ready for then, because one day, ready or not, then, here He comes!  

The Celebration of Advent, Now and Then

Now, we really do not know exactly when Jesus was born.  It was likely 4-6 BC in the spring of the year.  But we celebrate Advent anyway, as we should, now, at this time of the year.

Now, God is with us, Immanuel, so let us celebrate the first advent of Jesus Christ.

Now, we proclaim the gospel of who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, why He did so, and what it requires of us, namely repentance, faith, baptism, and participation in Christ’s church.  

This is now.  Now, look at then.

Then, we do not know the day and time when then will come.  We ready ourselves anyway, and seek to make others ready.  We all should treat every day like it’s our last day on earth.

Then, God will come to us, and will gather us around Him, in the second advent of Jesus Christ. 

Then, when the second advent arrives, the end result will be eternal, wonderful.  That is if, right now, you are saved and ready for then.  Then, the saints of all time will say with the great Saint John, “Even so, come Lord Jesus” (ref. Revelation 22:20).  

Now, are you ready, for then?