JUST AS LIGHTNING FLASHES FROM EAST TO WEST: UNDERSTANDING THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Many Christians today live casually, giving little attention to the urgency and reality of Christ’s return. But have you ever considered why Jesus compared His second coming to lightning?

1. The Suddenness and Visibility of Christ’s Return

“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
Matthew 24:27–28, ESV

Jesus used the image of lightning to convey that His return will be sudden, visible, and undeniable. Just as lightning strikes without warning and lights up the whole sky, Christ’s return will happen quickly no one will miss it, but many will not be ready.

The “vultures” gathering around a corpse in verse 28 symbolize the unavoidable judgment that follows His return. No one escapes His coming, just as no animal escapes the attention of vultures when death is present.

2. Divine Revelation for a Prepared Church

Many believers are unaware that before the rapture, Christ will reveal divine mysteries to prepare His Church. These mysteries are not found in Scripture because they are reserved for a specific time for those walking in intimate fellowship with Him.

Just as lightning is often followed by thunder, spiritual thunder will follow the light of His return symbolic of the Seven Thunders mentioned in the Book of Revelation:

“…He called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.’”
Revelation 10:3–4, ESV

Theologians agree that the content of these thunders was deliberately hidden, pointing to specific divine instructions or revelations that will be understood only by those who are spiritually awake in the final days.

These are not general messages for all ages, but precise truths for a specific, pure Bride of Christ. Amos 3:7 (ESV) supports this idea:

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.”

3. The Danger of Being Spiritually Deaf

This isn’t the first time God’s voice was mistaken for thunder. When God spoke to Jesus publicly, many people couldn’t recognize His voice:

“Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not mine.’”
John 12:28–30, ESV

What does this tell us? Without spiritual sensitivity, divine messages will sound like noise. Many will hear but not understand. That is why Jesus constantly urged people to “have ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15).

4. The Urgency to Enter the Narrow Door

Jesus knew there would come a time when people would desire salvation, but the door would be shut.

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door… you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ Then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”
Luke 13:24–25, ESV

This “door” represents Christ Himself (John 10:9). The time to seek Him is now not after the lightning has flashed and the thunders have sounded.

5. The Gospel Clock is Ticking

The gospel has nearly completed its journey among the nations. According to Jesus:

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14, ESV

Today, the Jewish people pray daily at the Western Wall, yearning for the restoration of their kingdom. This aligns with the prophetic timeline. Yet many in the Church are asleep chasing miracles, wealth, or motivational messages, but ignoring the deeper call of the kingdom.

6. Work Out Your Salvation Seriously

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12–13, ESV

Fear and trembling here do not mean panic but reverent seriousness. The Christian life is not a casual stroll; it’s a race (Hebrews 12:1), a battle (Ephesians 6:12), and a preparation for a wedding (Revelation 19:7).

Final Thought: The Lightning and the Thunder Are Near

We are living in the final stretch of grace. The signs are everywhere. The “lightning” will flash Christ will appear. The “thunder” will follow messages known only to the ready.

If you are outside of Christ, you will not understand when that moment comes. You may hear the sound, but like many in Jesus’ day, you will say, “It was just thunder.”

Don’t delay.

Come to Christ now. Prepare your heart. Live awake.

Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus.

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