It is not a matter of waiting for the coming of Christ, it is a matter of receiving Him.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12 (John 1: verse 14 and 16 are the results of verse 12 and 13).
‘As many as received him,’ John 1:12 ‘…were born’ John 1:13 ‘…of God.’ John 1:13 and, the results; ‘…the Word was made flesh’ John 1:14 ‘…full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14 ‘And of his fulness have all we received’ John 1:16.
‘The future coming of Christ is real…’ (I think this parcel of someone’s statement comes from “the bottle from which they have been drinking” and is the reason the focus of so many does not receive the present tense indwelling of Christ, but buy into the “future expectation” endorsed by the ‘Spirit of error’ instead.) ‘Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink,
that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, …’ Habakkuk 2:15.
They say, ”The New Testament does speak of a future appearing, a consummation, a revelation.” Yes, but I believe “a future appearing, a consummation, a revelation” is defined in scripture as “when we open the door” (‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.’ Revelation 3:20), and as when “our eyes are opened” (‘I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.’ John 14:18-20 ‘… and will manifest myself to him.’ John 14:21; ‘Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.’ Matthew 13:11-17) So, I propose that “a future appearing, a consummation, a revelation” must also be defined ‘not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’ 1 Corinthians 2:13-14. ‘Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.’ Acts 13:40-41.
The New Testament’s “future appearing, consummation, revelation” is not about Christ arriving from outside. It is about Christ being unveiled inside. The entire New Testament pattern collapses if “future appearing” is interpreted as absence waiting to arrive, rather than presence waiting to be unveiled.
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