Theme Introduction
A woman pulled up in our Drive-Thru Prayer station at my church on a hot summer day a few months ago. Her car was packed with belongings, and it quickly became apparent that she was there for more than prayer. She had questions.
“What position does your church take on premillennialism?” she asked.
I looked at my prayer partner Lane with a smile and immediately deferred to him. I don’t think he appreciated my graciousness!
We tried to field that question—and a host of others—without letting the focus become doctrinal positions that might unify or divide us. I eventually turned the conversation back to prayer and asked how we could pray for her.
“Pray that I can find a new church,” she said. Based on all her questions and comments, her request was not a surprise.
After she left, it prompted some interaction about the various beliefs related to the “end times” and Jesus’ second coming. The one thing I know we all agreed on is the sense that the return of Christ may be soon.
Yes, I’ve felt that for a long time, but the intensity of world situations seems to increase by the moment. This adds to the growing sense of urgency. And my living in Minneapolis with riots, police tensions, and racial struggles over the past year is a reminder of how quickly seemingly peaceful lives can change. We don’t know the day or hour that Jesus will return, but we can sense we are in the season of the final of the final of days.
It is with this anticipation that we pray and prepare for the second coming of Christ.
In This Issue
For most of the life of our nation, the Church has been viewed with favor. We are seeing that comfort rapidly decline. Dave Butts likens this to no longer being the “home team” with all the extra advantages. He writes about our need to adopt an entirely different mentality—one that recognizes hostilities and animosity, yet presses forward with the gospel.
Nathan Jones echoes the heart-cry of anticipation of the second coming captured in the prayer: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” from the closing verses of Revelation. He highlights the “signs of the times” and biblical indicators that the Lord’s return is near. Our prayers for the return of the King will radically change how we live now.
The question of what Jesus meant when He said, “Occupy till I come,” is the challenge that Kyle Lance and Laura Martin explore as we await His return. They highlight the need to pray, but also to be obedient as “the answers to our prayers.”
When I had the chance to stand on the Mount of Olives while on a tour of Israel in 2017, it gave me a powerful image of the fulfillment of Zechariah 14:4. There will come a day when Jesus returns, and His appearance will split the Mount of Olives in two. The whole world will know that He is Lord of all!
Let’s pray like we believe it is soon. Our prayers will prepare us for that moment the heavens open and Jesus appears.
CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect and author of Prayer That’s Caught and Taught.
Appearing in Prayer Connect magazine. To subscribe. To purchase hardcopy of individual issue click Buy Button below.
