The Surprise of Christ’s Appearances
Americans love the videos of military personnel returning from overseas, to the absolute surprise of their loved ones. The hugs, the tears, and the joy of a glorious appearing, usually in an unpredictable public setting, simply delights us.
Christ Jesus has appeared, and He will appear again. The Greek word is epiphaino. Phaino has the sense of light appearing. To shine upon the world is what the Father of lights has done, in sending His only begotten Son, as the Light of the world (Jn 8:12; Jas 1:17). The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light (Mt 4:16), when Jesus appeared in Israel. He came to deliver His people from the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), so that they would become children of light in the midst of darkness. Together, they would be light like a city set on a hill, illuminating the dark night (Mt 5:14).
The appearing of Christ, who the Bible calls, “the bright and morning star (Rev 22:16),” brought light and heat to a cold, dark world, without God and without hope (Eph 2:12). His loving-kindness appeared at innumerable surprise encounters for the lame, the deaf, and the blind. Christ appeared to take away sins (1 Jn 3:5), and to destroy the work of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). His appearance was warfare against the demonic spirits and against deluded men of pride. He exposed their evil ways (Eph 5:11).
His appearance, as the hope of Israel, was salvation for God’s chosen people (1 Tim 1:1). He put away death by His appearing (2 Tim 1:10). Light entered the darkness (Jn 1:5), but the darkness did not comprehend the mystery of His star appearing in the sky (Mt 2:9).
As light pierces through the clouds, to shine upon select plots of earth, so Christ shines upon His elect brethren, causing them to alight with the fire of the Holy Spirit, giving light and heat to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). “Let your light so shine before men (Mt 5:16),” was Jesus’ command to His disciples, created in Him beforehand for good works (Eph 2:10), which shine for others to glorify our Father in heaven.
Just as Christ suddenly appeared in the world, so the Holy Spirit suddenly shines the light in the hearts of those predestined to be children of light (Eph 5:8; Phil 2:15). The conversion of many serves as a surprise to their family and friends. The bold witness of spiritually blind men, made to see the light of truth, is powerful, as when the man born blind met Jesus and received His sight (Jn 9). The appearance of one who was lost in darkness, now able to see, is nothing less than shocking. The glory of the Lord shines all around…our hearts (2 Cor 4:6).
The glorious next appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, following his long absence from the earth, in His second advent, will shine even brighter, upon the delusional darkness of the man of sin, the prince of darkness, who has blinded the world to such a degree, that the mass of humanity is swept away in his lies and deceit (2 Thess 2).
Christ, the King of glory, is to appear again on the day only known to God the Father (Mt 24:36). He will bring such light and heat that the heavens and the earth will burn with purifying holiness (Is 13:13; Zeph 3:8; 2 Pet 3:10), from the mere glance of His eyes aflame with fire (Rev 1:14).
Those who have rejoiced in Christ’s first appearing, having received the appearing of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, are those who look forward to His future appearing in the presence of His holy angels and saints who have gone before us (Mt 25:31–46; Titus 2:13). The final destruction of darkness is their salvation. For this reason, the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come, quickly! (Rev 22:17, 20”
May you also appear with Him at His coming…unashamed (1 Jn 2:28)…appearing in the white robes of His righteousness, for joy comes in the morning and in His presence!
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 29, 2021
