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Катехизис на английски език

10.1.1 The promise of the return of Jesus Christ

In His farewell discourses, Jesus Christ gave His Apostles the promise of His return: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14: 3). This promise of the Lord was reinforced by angels at His ascension into heaven: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1: 11).

No man or angel, but only God alone, knows the day or the hour of Jesus Christ's return. The Son of God repeatedly admonishes watchfulness: "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24: 42; cf. Luke 21: 36).

Through parables, the Son of God made it clear that one should at all times be vigilant in faith and await His coming (Matthew 24: 43-51; 25: 1-30).

Accordingly, the early Apostles already encouraged the faithful to prepare themselves for the return of the Lord. For example, Apostle Paul addressed the congregation of Corinth with the early Christian call: "Maranatha!"–which means: "Our Lord is coming!" or: "O Lord, come!" (1 Corinthians 16: 22).

The call to watchfulness also comes to expression in the book of Revelation. There Jesus Christ says: "Behold, I am coming quickly!" (Revelation 3: 11; 22: 7, 12, 20). Thereby all believers are called upon to align their lives conscientiously with the return of Christ.

The expectation that the Lord's promises will be fulfilled, together with the hope of personally experiencing Christ's return and being caught up to Him, also remain at the core of the New Apostolic faith today. In 1 John 3: 2 we read as follows concerning this: "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."