Greek is a very precise language. For example, it has two words for our English word “time”.
One is “chronos”. We get our word “chronological” for this Greek root. It refers to quantity and means the flow of time with various events happening in sequence. The second word is “kairos”. I can’t think of an English word deriving from this one but it refers to quality and means a very special moment when something happens or is experienced. And (finally) the word “pleroma” means fullness or completeness.
The first Advent
During this recent Christmas season, many Canadian believers observed Advent (meaning “Coming”). It refers, of course, to the first coming of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem. Most of our New Testament information about the first Christmas comes from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
But the apostle Paul made a reference to this incredible event in his first century letter to believers in Galatia (northern Turkey today). He wrote, “But when the set time (chronos) had fully come (pleroma), God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” (Galatians 4:4)
This tells us that God chose exactly the right time to send Jesus into our world about two millennia ago. It was a special “kairos” moment for humanity.
When we look at that period in human history, we can understand why that was the opportune time. The civilized world had a common language, Greek. This would facilitate the easy communication of God’s message to the world. The civilized world had for the first time a vast (and fairly safe) transportation system uniting one end to the other. This was thanks to the Roman system of roads which enabled their legions to move quickly from one part to another to enforce Caesar’s rule. These same roads helped the early Christian missionaries (like Paul) to travel, preach and plant new churches across the Empire.
Janet Oke points out in her Christmas booklet “Reflections on the Christmas Story” that there was another reason. The Jewish people were full of expectation that the long-promised Messiah would finally arrive. They just didn’t expect him to come in the humble, vulnerable way he did. So, God chose the right moment of time to send Jesus on the first Advent.
The second Advent
Scripture tells us that Jesus will come to earth a second time. We call this future event the “second advent” or coming. Some today (in the 21st century) may ask why it’s taking so long. The apostle Peter addressed this issue (even in the first century) when he wrote, “They (scoffers) will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised?” Peter’s inspired answer was “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (see 2 Peter 3:3-9). The same answer applies today.
Jesus himself gave his followers various signs to look for. These would precede his return. They include false teachers, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, spiritual apathy and worldwide evangelization (see Matthew 24). Most of these signs are negative and, sadly, have characterized world history to some degree since the first century.
However, some have noted a marked uptick in their frequency in recent times. For example, the Geneva Academy recently reported there are 114 armed conflicts in the world today. We hear about the big ones (Ukraine, Israel, Sudan) but many more smolder in the background without making the news.
Just as Jesus came at the right time as a baby in Bethlehem, so He will return at exactly the right moment. This time, however, it will not be in an obscure stable in a backwater village in a forgotten fringe of the world. “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)
The most important question for me and you is this – “Will we be ready?”
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
