The last month in the church year has dawned. Soon the Advent season will begin, and with it the new church year. But before that, New Apostolic divine services will focus on the last things. First and foremost, these include our hope for the future and the judgement. A true Christian never needs to be without hope.
To help create the future—who would not wish such a thing for himself? Human beings have always known that they have to sow early if they hope to harvest later on. This not only applies in the existential or abstract sphere, but also in terms of our faith. What do you want to harvest, Christian? Are you without a care or have you made provisions? The responsibility to sow well lies with man. The blessing for a good harvest is granted by God.
The doctrine of the last things—also known as “eschatology”—is a term from the domain of theology. It has to do with death, resurrection, judgement, and eternal life. In short it deals with the question as to how things will go on in the life after this life. The various religions all have different interpretations when it comes to this subject. The Christian doctrine states: there is a resurrection, and life does go on, albeit in other dimensions and outside of the human sphere of perception. Jesus is our example: He came, He died, He celebrated His resurrection, He ascended, and He promised His return. This is what Paul believed when he wrote the familiar words to the Corinthians: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed …” (1 Corinthians 15: 51). Paul the man, the follower of Christ, derived great comfort from his belief that Jesus Christ would remain with him and ultimately cause him and the others to experience a transformation: this comfort, this hope in the eternal fulfilment of our faith, also serves to strengthen and enliven Christendom today, as difficult as life may be in the individual situation.
The last things
The brief theme series on “the last things” is well placed in the month of November, for soon Christians will begin preparing themselves for the Advent season. Before this, however, the call of hope is to resound. Those Christians who truly believe in Christ will live in hope for the future. A better and perfect world will open up for them. Christ is risen, and the believer will likewise receive new life. The Spirit makes alive—this not only applies in the here and now, but also in later life. That is why the thinking and desire of the Christian is always oriented toward the future, in view of the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise. Sowing—hoping—harvesting: this is a path with a goal.
Although a judgement has also been announced, the believer is not afraid of this either. All dread of the day of the Lord—of the judgement—has faded away. Justified by their faith in the triune God, believers serve the Lord in love and the fear of God. In this active love, all fear has disappeared. It is because of this that they stand in complete contradiction to the godless. The latter have no choice but to be afraid because they do not know what is coming. Fear of the future? That is actually nothing for believing Christians. After all, they know that human beings can only be justified by faith, and not because they have performed works of the law.
Yes and Amen
The new church year begins on the last Sunday of the month of November, which is also the first Sunday of Advent. This year’s Advent season is captioned by the theme series “The time of fulfilment”. All previously given promises concerning the Redeemer of mankind are fulfilled in Jesus’ birth: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1: 20). Here God’s will to save is clearly revealed: the time of grace has dawned for all sinners. No temptation, no attack of the evil one can stop the Saviour of the world! The victory over sin and death is His! He gives us His yes—and we respond with amen!