10月10日
要来的王
“看哪，他驾云降临！ 众目要看见他，连刺他的人也要看见他；地上的万族都要因他哀哭。这话是真实的。阿们！”
启示录 1:7
约翰·罗纳德·瑞尔·托尔金（J. R. R. Tolkien）的《指环王》（又译《魔戒》）中的第三部叫作《王者归来》。里面说的是预言中的英雄阿拉贡（Aragorn）回到故国刚铎（Gondor），奋战邪恶势力，最后加冕为王。最终，这片土地得到恢复，民众重新开始安居乐业。
托尔金这个故事令人想到耶稣。先知预言中说耶稣会来开始他拯救的使命，也应许他会再来，末日要消灭罪恶，完成重建的工作。
耶稣被称为阿拉法，也被称为俄梅戛，是开始也是结束(启1:8)。祂所动的工，祂必成全这工。祂说要回来招聚我们，接我们所有人到祂那里去 (约 14:1–3)。基督既然一次被献，担当了多人的罪，将来要向那等候祂的人第二次显现，并与罪无关，乃是为拯救他们 (来9:28)。祂要我们预备祂意想不到的来临（太 24:44）。 因为祂应许我们，凡找寻祂的一个也不失落（约6:39–40)。
今日祷告：
耶稣，直到祢再来时，让我始终定睛仰望祢。阿们。
October 10
The Coming King
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
REVELATION 1:7
J. R. R. Tolkien’s third volume in The Lord of the Rings series is called The Return of the King. In the story, the prophesied rescuer, Aragorn, returns to the land of Gondor, fights victoriously against evil forces, and is joyously crowned king. As a result, the land is restored, creatures return home, and refreshing peace reigns over the land.
Tolkien’s story had Jesus in mind. The prophecies spoke about Jesus’ coming to launch his rescue mission, but they also promised he would return to fight an apocalyptic battle to destroy evil and complete his restorative work.
Jesus is called the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). What he started he will finish. He has promised to return to gather us—all of us—to him once again (John 14:1–3). Having once carried our sin, he has promised to return to save us absolutely and finally from it (Hebrews 9:28). He wants us to watch for him (Matthew 24:44) because he has promised to fight for those who look for him (John 6:39–40).
Pray for the Day:
Jesus, when you return, let me not be caught looking for something other than you. Amen.
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