– 3min Read
I remember how excited I was when I heard that John Piper was coming out with a new book about the second coming of Christ. As far as authors go, John Piper is certainly one of my favorites and as far as theological categories go, Eschatology is also one of my favorites. Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on The Second Coming of Christ by John Piper is now one of my favorite books I have ever read. Published in 2023 it arrived in my hands as I was teaching through 1st Timothy and getting prepared to enter into 2nd Timothy. Piper’s main text that he works out of and meditates on the most is;
In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
– 2 Timothy 4:8 (LSB)
In classic Piper fashion, he brings our attention to the reality that all of God’s people who are to be crowned with eternal life, will be those who love the appearing of Jesus. In other words, he takes us back to the theme of Desiring God. Therefore, eschatology is not something that can be simply ignored or neglected in the life of the Christian, for if we are to be longing for that day, the day when we will be awarded the crown of righteousness, eschatology is everything, because the appearing of our precious Lord is everything.
The goal of Piper’s book is to stir up the affections of the reader by showing them the magnificent glory of Christ to be seen and enjoyed at His coming. One of those glorys is that we will have Him and to have Him is to have eternal life. The joyful amazement of all who love His return is of the utmost importance according to Piper and I agree with him. Jesus and Paul spend a great deal of time explaining how the end will come about because it is for our benefit to know. And we are to know, for we are children of the light and the Day of Christ’s return should not surprise us, but for the unbeliever, it will totally shock them.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (LSB)
For those who wish to not yet dive into all the different opinions and intimidating theories of the “end times”, this book is a good starting place. I believe the meditations in this book on the second coming of Christ are helpful to the Christian. It is not optional for the Christian to learn about the second coming of Christ, but it is necessary because it is a part of the Gospel; “Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.” May we not be like the Pharisees and Sadducees;
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?
– Matthew 16:1-3 (LSB)
I hope this book blesses you as much as it blessed me! Maranatha; “Come, Lord Jesus!”