Topical Encyclopedia The phrase "Time of Your Appearing" is not directly found in the Bible, but it is often used to refer to the anticipated return of Jesus Christ, also known as the Second Coming. This event is a central tenet of Christian eschatology, where believers expect Jesus to return to earth in glory to judge the living and the dead, establish His kingdom, and fulfill the promises of God.Biblical Context The concept of Christ's return is rooted in numerous passages throughout the New Testament. In the Gospels, Jesus Himself speaks of His return. In Matthew 24:30-31 , Jesus describes the event: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." The Apostle Paul also addresses the Second Coming in his epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 , he writes, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." Theological Significance The "Time of Your Appearing" is a moment of hope and anticipation for Christians, as it signifies the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It is a time when Christ will be revealed in His full glory, and His sovereignty will be universally acknowledged. This event is seen as the culmination of history, where justice will be served, and God's kingdom will be fully realized. The anticipation of Christ's return encourages believers to live in a state of readiness and holiness. In 2 Peter 3:11-12 , Peter exhorts, "Since everything will be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God." Eschatological Views While the belief in the Second Coming is universal among Christians, there are varying interpretations regarding the timing and nature of this event. These interpretations are often categorized into different eschatological views, such as premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. Each view offers a different understanding of the sequence of events leading up to and following the "Time of Your Appearing." Practical Implications The expectation of Christ's return has practical implications for Christian living. It serves as a motivation for evangelism, as believers are called to share the Gospel in anticipation of the Lord's return. It also provides comfort and hope in the face of suffering and injustice, as it assures believers that God will ultimately set things right. In summary, while the exact phrase "Time of Your Appearing" may not be found in Scripture, the concept it represents is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative and Christian doctrine. It is a time eagerly awaited by believers, marking the glorious return of Jesus Christ and the consummation of God's eternal plan. Subtopics Time in Prophetic Language, Means a Prophetic Year, or 360 Natural Time: All Events of, Predetermined by God Time: All God's Purposes Fulfilled in Due Time Time: Computed by Hours, After the Captivity Time: Daniel's Reckoning of Time, and Times, and Half Times Time: Division of, Into Watches Time: Epochs of Before the Flood Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Accession of Kings Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Building of the Temple Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Nativity of the Patriarchs During the Patriarchal Age Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Captivity Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Exodus from Egypt Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Jubilee Time: One Day is Like One-Thousand Years Time: Part of a Period of, Usually Counted As the Whole Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Accepted Time Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Ancient Time Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Evil Time Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Healing Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Need Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Reformation Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Refreshing Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Restitution of all Things Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Temptation Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Trouble Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Visitation Time: Shortness of Man's Portion of Time: should be Spent in Fear of God Time: The Duration of the World Time: The Heavenly Bodies, Appointed As a Means for Computing Time: The Measure of the Continuance of Anything Time: The Sun-Dial Early Invented for Pointing Out Related Terms |