A week spent on the theme of the Second Coming of Christ, culminates today with this message, one which I only preface with the note that I needed to undo so much misconception and misunderstanding about the Second Coming of Christ be before I could share this with you. Indeed, today’s message was given to us by Jesus Christ but is often run over and/or forgotten because of the appeal that sensationalized and dramatized readings of the Book of Revelation or Old Testament mythology that accentuates end-of-world disaster.
If you’d listened to the last daily messages of the last four days – those dedicated to the Second Coming of Christ – then you are ready to hear truth about the end by Jesus Christ himself. This will only make sense if you have followed the Armodoxy manual of eschatology as presented over the last few days, so if you have not read or heard those messages please do so before proceeding.
This, then, is the description of the Second Coming according to Jesus Christ, offered to you here on this 40th day of Lent as a fitting culmination of our Lenten Journey as we engage in the life that is before us. And Jesus says,
“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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All things are affected by their environments. Few things exist in vacuums, and those that do are not organic, obviously they die of suffocation. Even religion is a product of its environment. And so begins today’s examination of yet another aspect of this week’s study of the Second Coming of Christ.
The Book of Revelation seems to be a favorite among people who want to decipher dates and times about the Second Coming, despite the fact that Jesus says it is not for us to know the dates and times and instructs us to live for the day. We discussed this over the last few days explaining that life is the gift that God to us, meant to be lived and not wasted with worry about tomorrow. And the best way to be prepared for the Second Coming is to accept the teachings of the first coming.
Furthermore, the Book of Revelation comes with a warning, “Everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” You’ll find this at the end of the Book, chapter 22, verses 18-19. A book of prophesy, demands interpretation, and those who interpret – in the words of the warning, are adding and subtracting to the prophesy.
The Book of Revelation was written by St. John, the same one who wrote the fourth Gospel, from the island of Patmos toward the end of the first century. He was talking to the Christian community of that time in a code that they would understand. The Christians for the first century were under tremendous persecution and gist of the Book is to let them that in the end, God will prevail.
Revelation was the last book to be accepted in the Biblical Canon by the Church in the fifth century. It was written in a time and place far from us. Revelation, as anything else, must be understood in context of space and time.
If I wrote in my journal, today, that I was facing some challenges and I decided to bite the bullet we would all understand that with courage and decisiveness I did something that was difficult and unpleasant. Yet, 2000 years from now, if someone found my journal they would certainly pity me thinking that in the face of my challenges began chewing on live ammunition!
In Armodoxy we allow God to be God and we live the day as best we can according to the guidelines given to us by Jesus Christ.
Hoy rezamos una oración del Libro de Horas de la Iglesia Armenia, Jamakirk: "Señor Dios nuestro, te damos gracias porque nos has permitido pasar este día en paz. Concédenos, oh Señor, pasar esta tarde y la noche que tenemos por delante sin pecado ni tropiezos, y mantenernos firmes y constantes en la fe, en la esperanza, en el amor y en la observancia de tus mandamientos. Da paz al mundo, estabilidad a tu santa Iglesia y salvación a nuestras almas. Porque a ti te corresponde la gloria, el dominio y el honor, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén".
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_7569-scaled.jpeg25601920Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-03-26 00:10:032026-03-28 13:03:55En el espacio y el tiempo
Armodoxy for Today: Prelude to Second Coming, Love
This final week of the Lenten Season is dedicated to the Second Coming of Christ. As I’ve shared over the last couple of days, the Church talks about preparedness for the Second Coming in terms of living a life based on Christ’s first coming, namely, living in harmony with God and your fellow man. We read that the leaders of the religious community tried to trick Jesus by asking which is the greatest commandment, thinking that he might choose the Do not murder, or perhaps, Do not make false oaths and in return they would argue the merits of another commandment. But Jesus gives them an answer that cannot be disputed: Love God and love neighbor and he seals this commandment by saying, “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
Today we meditate on the simplicity of Christ’s call to love God and our neighbor. If you love God you cannot murder, you cannot lie, you honor your parents, you cannot be apathetic about life. Every commandment hinge on these two essentials.
We hear the reports from war daily. There is a vocabular of war with phrases such as targeting innocent people, friendly fire and war-crimes, in other words, there are certain crimes inside of war confrontations that are criminal, as if war itself is not a crime? Think of it for a moment, if you love God how can you possibly drop a bomb on another human being? Whether military or the civilian target, aren’t they all innocent? Aren’t they all children of God?
The 17th century French archbishop François Fénelon expressed it eloquently: All wars are civil wars because all men are brothers… Each one owes infinitely more to the human race than to the particular country in which he was born.”
Christ’s path is the higher road to take. In the context of the Second Coming, if fear of a final judgment stops people from hurting and killing one another, then let us promote that day. But let us promote it with the terms by which Jesus promoted it: Love God and love your neighbor! Everything is built on these two commandments. Love is an action that must be demonstrated not with words but with deeds.
Today I leave you to meditate this simple parable offered to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he repented and went. And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him. (Matthew 21)
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Sunday was the sixth Sunday of Lent, known as the Sunday of Advent, or coming, referring to the Second Coming of Christ. We continue from yesterday’s message…
Since Apostolic times we, the Christian Church, confesses to Christ’s return to judge the living and the dead. And we have traveled the course prescribed by our Church for two Millenia. Sadly, somewhere along the way of two-thousand years of Christianity, someone pulled the switch and took the train off course. I don’t know how, who or when, all I know is those on board will miss the destination.
It has become quite popular for people to interpret prophecies, especially the Book of Revelation. Millions are spent by innocent victims who are being given misleading information – false interpretation of philosophy – for a chance to be part of the select group that will outlast horrifying and cataclysmic events, trials and tribulations and end up sitting with Jesus on his return.
Furthermore, these false readings have caused wars and escalated anxiety and fear in an effort “help God usher in the Kingdom.”
Is it any wonder that our Church Father designated the Gospel Passage from Matthew chapter 22 as the passage for the Second Coming. Listen attentively, because you may think you missed something…
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
Did you hear that? Or, I should ask, what did you NOT hear? Nothing about horseman, tribes, the sun falling out of the sky or 666? That’s right! The Church Fathers ask us to read this passage on the Sunday of Advent because they don’t want us to miss the destination, that is, life! Just as Christ asks us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
It is easy to be consumed by end time discussion, and lose track of life itself. With this passage we learn, the best way to be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ is to adhere to the teachings of the First Coming of Christ: to love God and neighbor. “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
We continue tomorrow.
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One of the celebrations of the Holy Cross takes place this week. It commemorates the discovery of the Cross of Christ. It comes from the fourth century. The mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, having converted to Christianity, sets out to find the Cross of Christ. She travels from the Roman Empire to Jerusalem and there finds the True Cross of Christ.
It is a story that is laced with beauty, wonder and what is often described as miracles. It points to one of the most precious objects of our faith, the Holy Cross, and of course, its discovery is a reason for joy and celebration.
But there is a very special message that is woven into the Scriptural passage of the Day. The Church Fathers have assigned to this day a passage from Matthew chapter 24 (verses 27 to 36). In it, Jesus speaks about the Second Coming of Christ, and likens it to “the lightning [which] comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be… the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” At the end of the description Jesus reveals, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
Discovering this “second Cross” of the Jesus has turned into an obsession with so many people, with books, seminars, sects and denominations that have sprouted in particular over the last century. Some churches have even published timelines and dates for the Second Coming. Dare I say, the Second Coming of Christ has turned into big business, bringing in millions of dollars for access to this information. Tragically, these groups and sects even confuse people by using titles such as “church” and have misinformed people about Scripture. The real tragedy is that many have abandoned the opportunity to live, in hopes of deciphering God’s will.
Plainly, Jesus says, dates and times are in God’s domain. Trust God. Don’t miss the opportunity to live and celebrate the day has God has given you. Live your life today. Or as Jesus so eloquently stated, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6)
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Somewhere along the way, in 2000 years of history of Christianity, someone pulled the switch and took the train off course. I don’t know how, who or when, all I know is those on board will miss the destination.
This last Sunday of Lent is called Advent Sunday. Advent means coming and in this case it is used in reference to the Second Coming of Jesus. And the Armenian Church, subscribes to the formula expressed in the Nicene Creed: [Jesus] is to come with the same body and with the glory of the Father to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there is no end.
We also believe the unfailing word of Jesus Christ who says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” And continues to say, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mathew 24) And so, the Christian, like a Boy Scout, is always prepared.
It has become quite popular for people to interpret prophecies, especially the Book of Revelation. Millions are spent by innocent victims who are being given misleading information – false interpretation of philosophy – for a chance to be part of the select group that will outlast horrifying and cataclysmic events, trials and tribulations and end up sitting with Jesus on his return.
A look at the Armenian Church’s orthodox perspective is so necessary, not only for Christians, but for our world. On this Sunday of Advent, our Church fathers direct us to this scriptural reading where the Lord Jesus proclaims, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. – Jesus (Matthew 22)
That’s it! It’s so easy and basic. It’s a formula that if followed allows you to always be ready for Jesus’ Second Coming. There’s nothing further you have to think about. It is the simple “bottom line” of the Lenten Journey. Jesus cuts through the law and the prophets and profoundly proclaims the message of love – toward God and toward neighbor. The best way to be prepared for the Second Coming is to follow the teachings of the First Coming.
Your act of charity today is to love. Fast from anxious thoughts about tomorrow. Trust God and His message of love. Today’s menu includes roasted eggplant with cashews. Try the recipe at the link below.
Let us pray, from St. Nersess Shnorhali, O Christ, the true Light, make my soul worthy to encounter with joy the light of your divine glory, on the day I will be called by you; and to rest in good hope, in the mansions of the righteous, until the great day of your coming. Amen.
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La meditación de Cuaresma de hoy es una especie de acertijo. Comienza con la pregunta más básica: ¿cómo puedes estar preparado para el regreso de Jesucristo? A medida que se desarrolla, encontramos un mensaje único con las instrucciones que necesitas, con los pasos exactos que debes seguir para prepararte ante un evento cataclísmico. Spoiler: estas instrucciones, sin embargo, tienen más que ver con el hoy que con el mañana. Este último domingo de Cuaresma se conoce en la Iglesia Armenia como el Domingo de Adviento.
En el Credo de Nicea, que recitas cada domingo durante la Divina Liturgia, confiesas la Segunda Venida. Dices que Jesús regresará para juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. En las escrituras hay referencias a las “señales de los tiempos”. Específicamente, los terremotos, las hambrunas y las guerras se mencionan como los eventos que precederán al fin. Desafortunadamente, la curiosidad a menudo te gana y, en lugar de prepararte para esos últimos días, te consumes con preguntas sobre dónde, cuándo y cómo sucederán.
Nuestro Señor Jesús te dice que nadie conoce la respuesta a esas preguntas, ni los ángeles en el cielo, ni siquiera el hijo, solo el Padre. Pero la curiosidad es poderosa. A menudo se consulta el libro de Apocalipsis para saciar esa sed. El Apocalipsis es un libro de profecías, y pocos pueden entenderlas; muchas veces el mensaje se distorsiona por conjeturas. La Iglesia ni siquiera prescribe la lectura de este libro (no está en el leccionario de lecturas semanales); sin embargo, la gente lo lee y lo interpreta a su manera. Señalan huracanes, hambrunas y guerras como señales de los tiempos y especulan que el fin está cerca. Jesús te advirtió contra tal mala interpretación de las profecías. De hecho, una lectura rápida de la historia muestra que cada época ha tenido huracanes, hambrunas y guerras.
¿Qué debes hacer entonces? ¿Cómo te preparas para la segunda venida? ¿Cuál es la prescripción de la Iglesia para estar preparado?
La lectura del Evangelio de este día tiene la respuesta. En lugar de recurrir a un libro de profecías, la Iglesia recurre a algo mucho más grande: las palabras de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. La lectura del Evangelio de este día proviene del capítulo 22 del Evangelio de San Mateo. La narración comienza con los fariseos acercándose a Jesús para engañarlo con la pregunta de cuál es el mandamiento "más grande". Pensando que Jesús podría elegir uno, tendrían la oportunidad de mostrarle el error en su camino. Jesús responde: "El mandamiento más grande es que ames al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, tu mente y tu alma, y el segundo mandamiento es que ames a tu prójimo como a ti mismo". Jesús nos dice que en estos dos mandamientos se basan el resto de las leyes y los profetas. En otras palabras, el amor a Dios y el amor al prójimo prevalecen sobre todos los demás mandamientos.
Debido a que este pasaje se coloca como la lectura del leccionario para este domingo de Adviento, ¡se entiende como la instrucción para la preparación ante la segunda venida de Cristo! El acertijo ha sido resuelto. La mejor preparación para la segunda venida es aceptar y vivir el mensaje de la primera venida. Ama al Señor tu Dios y a tu prójimo con toda tu mente, cuerpo, alma y corazón.
Durante este camino de Cuaresma has meditado sobre muchas fuerzas diferentes que te afectan. Has aceptado conceptos e ideas que te mejoran, que devuelven tu vida a lo esencial. Respondiendo a la pregunta, ¿qué es esencial para que sobrevivas? ¿Qué es realmente necesario para esa felicidad que no viene de afuera, sino de adentro?
El mensaje de hoy, la instrucción de hoy, está en el corazón de todo. Te acerca aún más a comprender la esencia de la vida. Cuando amas al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, mente y alma, es decir, con todo lo que tienes, no puedes evitar amar a tu prójimo, no puedes evitar amarte a ti mismo, no puedes evitar ayudar a los necesitados, ya sean amigos, familiares, personas que no conoces o incluso personas que te desean el mal. En otras palabras, te elevas por tu humanidad y miras las cosas de forma distinta, desde el punto de vista de Dios, dándote cuenta de que todos a tu alrededor están verdaderamente relacionados contigo. Son tus hermanos, hermanas, padres, madres, tus hijos. En este sentido, te unes a la Gran Voluntad, a la Gran Voluntad del universo, a la Voluntad de Dios, quien desde el principio de los tiempos quiso que esta existencia fuera debido a Su Amor, Su amor infinito.
Hoy recibes esta perspectiva única. Amar al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, tu mente y tu alma te dice que estés preparado, no para una fecha futura, sino para hoy. El cristiano está llamado a estar siempre preparado amando siempre. Es el camino de Dios. Él siempre ama.
¡La mejor manera de prepararte para la Segunda Venida es practicar la enseñanza de la Primera Venida!
La oración de hoy proviene del capítulo 25 del Evangelio de Mateo. Es la oración del último día. Se nos ofrece como una parábola por nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
“Cuando el Hijo del Hombre venga en su gloria y todos los ángeles con él, entonces se sentará en su trono glorioso. Ante él serán reunidas todas las naciones, y separará a unos de otros, como el pastor separa las ovejas de las cabras. Pondrá a las ovejas a su derecha y a las cabras a la izquierda. Entonces el Rey dirá a los de su derecha: ‘Vengan, benditos de mi Padre, hereden el reino preparado para ustedes desde la fundación del mundo. Porque tuve hambre y me dieron de comer, tuve sed y me dieron de beber, fui forastero y me acogieron, estuve desnudo y me vistieron, estuve enfermo y me visitaron, estuve en la cárcel y fueron a verme’. Entonces los justos le responderán diciendo: ‘Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento y te alimentamos, o sediento y te dimos de beber? ¿Y cuándo te vimos forastero y te acogimos, o desnudo y te vestimos? ¿Y cuándo te vimos enfermo o en la cárcel y fuimos a verte?’. Y el Rey les responderá: ‘En verdad les digo que, al hacerlo con uno de estos mis hermanos más pequeños, lo hicieron conmigo’.
“Entonces dirá a los de su izquierda: ‘Apártense de mí, malditos, al fuego eterno preparado para el diablo y sus ángeles. Porque tuve hambre y no me dieron de comer, tuve sed y no me dieron de beber, fui forastero y no me acogieron, estuve desnudo y no me vistieron, estuve enfermo y en la cárcel y no me visitaron’. Entonces ellos también le responderán diciendo: ‘Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento, sediento, forastero, desnudo, enfermo o en la cárcel, y no te servimos?’. Entonces él les responderá diciendo: ‘En verdad les digo que, al no hacerlo con uno de estos más pequeños, no lo hicieron conmigo’. Y estos irán al castigo eterno, pero los justos a la vida eterna”.
Foto de portada: Luna y Gregory Beylerian, 2023
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Siguiente paso #667: Estableciendo un nuevo pilar de la Armodoxia, esto, a la luz de la Segunda Venida. El Evangelio según los cuatro evangelistas, según Jesús y según Pablo: cambia el enfoque y mira más allá de la retórica. Una comprensión que mueve a Jesús de lo temporal a lo universal: por qué la matrilinealidad hace 2000 años. Prepárate para ser desafiado y ver el Reino tal como lo expresó Jesucristo. Judas fue reemplazado por Matías, la conversión de Pablo, el cuento de la criada, el Medio Oriente y la cristología sin etnicidad. Matrilinealidad en el judaísmo Negocio en Burbank Fiesta de San Gregorio de Narek en el Vaticano Irish Heartbeat Chieftains y Van Morrison Viaje de Cuaresma
Portada: publicdomainpictures.net
Ingeniería de Ken Nalik
Producido por Suzie Shatarevyan para InHisShoes.org Busca The Next Step en blubrry.com ¡Escucha a través de Stitcher Radio bajo demanda! Escucha en Apple Podcasts
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