"Nothing is more prominently brought forward in the New Testament than the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ"
- John Nelson Darby
About this Quote
John Nelson Darby, a 19th-century theologian understood for developing the doctrinal system known as Dispensationalism, highlights the significance of the second coming of Jesus Christ in this quote. The declaration highlights Darby's belief that the anticipation of Christ's return is a central style in the New Testament. This anticipation is not only a doctrinal element but likewise functions as a source of hope and assistance for believers.
The quote recommends that the pledge of the 2nd coming is not a peripheral problem but a focal point that is regularly highlighted throughout the New Testament texts. The anticipation of Christ's return is central to Christian eschatological beliefs-- the branch of theology interested in completion times or the final occasions in the history of the world. Passages from the Gospels, Pauline epistles, and the Book of Revelation, among others, typically speak of this event, strengthening its prominence. For example, verses like Matthew 24:30, where Jesus speaks of "the coming of the Son of Man," or the letters from Paul that regularly reference the return as imminent and transformative, illustrate this point.
Additionally, Darby's quote shows his own theological viewpoint which views the 2nd coming not merely as a future occasion but as an inspiration for ethical living and evangelism. He believed that the reality of Jesus's return should motivate believers to lead a Christ-centered life, dedicated to spreading the gospel and ready for the eventual satisfaction of God's kingdom on Earth.
This expectation was also a driving force behind the Brethren motion, of which Darby was a leading figure. In stressing the significance of the 2nd coming, Darby sought to remind believers of the imminent hope and guarantee in the promises of God as depicted in the Christian scriptures, consequently affecting both personal faith and the cumulative mission of the Christian church.
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