Second Coming 1 (Eastern): Jesus’ Return and Platforms of Deception
The Spiritual Mysteries of the Divine Calendar: Jesus’ Return and Platforms of Deception ~ August 17–23, 2025 ~ We recently celebrated the Feast of the Dormition, and the final Season of Salvation of the Divine Calendar is upon us, drawing our attention to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Church maturing as the Bride of Christ, and our departure from this life into eternity. During this two-week Season, and the Holy Spirit desires to highlight the end of the age, bringing the liturgical year to a close and inviting us to reflect on how Jesus’ return should shape our spiritual lives here and now.
If you attend an Old Calendar parish, I believe you will enjoy this talk from Week 1 of Heavenly Participation on the New Calendar: The Heavenly Places in Christ.
The coming of Jesus connects the end of the Divine Calendar to the beginning of a new cycle in September, as the first Season of Salvation focuses on the Kingdom of God and the first coming of Jesus. The theme of consecration, introduced in the previous Season—Heavenly Participation—also continues into the Season of the Second Coming.
“… we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2–3 [NKJV]).
A Saying from St. Anthony the GreatThe father of monasticism, St. Anthony the Great (251–356), told his monastic disciples to view every day as our first and our last.
On the first day, a new world—a Kingdom—lies before us, ready to be discovered. Our love for Jesus blazes with faith, full of expectation for what awaits around the corner. Our last day becomes the ultimate opportunity to give our all for Him, to make things right with everyone, and to prepare for the final exodus—our last breath.
The Key to the End
In the three synoptic Gospels, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the temple and the signs of His Second Coming. Today, reading Mark 13 or Matthew 24 can feel like watching the evening news.
The Divine Calendar draws our attention to the Church prepared as a Bride for Christ, and to the world prepared for the return of Jesus, the Bridegroom King. This Season retains the key from the previous Season of Salvation—the tabernacle or tent—to help us enter into the mysteries of this final Season. The theme of consecrating our lives and ministries naturally progresses into our becoming the Bride of Christ.
The Bride forgets “your own people also, and your father’s house; so the King will greatly desire your beauty; because He is your Lord, worship Him” (Ps. 45:10a–11). Therefore, we live in our tabernacles, uprooted from this world.
Jesus the Bridegroom is preparing the eternal home we will share with Him, while we complete our souls’ bridal adornments—our sanctification—until He comes to lead us to our new Home. “I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck” (Ez. 16:11). “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2b–3).
Jesus’ Return
In Mark 13:28–30, Jesus says: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”
The Greek word translated as it is in the phrase “know that it is near” can also be translated as “He is near.” Additionally, the word “generation” in Scripture refers to a period ranging from 40 to 100 years. It refers to a single generation in Numbers 32:13, the average human lifespan in Psalm 90:10, and as much as a century in Genesis 15:13–16.
Either way, 40 to 100 years is a relatively short period in a biblical or historical context. This suggests that “a generation” will witness the fullness of all the signs described in Mark 13, including the Second Coming.
Jesus’ Return: The Fig Tree and the Spiritual State of Israel
Of course, the big question is: has this generation already been born? We can’t know for sure, but Jesus gives us a clue through the parable of the budding fig tree before summer arrives. Many view this fig tree as a symbol of the spiritual state of the nation of Israel, based on Old Testament passages like Jeremiah 24:3–7:
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ And I said, ‘Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.’ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah […] Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart”’” (Jer. 24:3–5a, 7).
As prophesied by Isaiah, Israel returned to the family of nations on May 14, 1948. “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?”
However, the leafing out of the fig tree refers not just to national restoration but to the spiritual rebirth of Israel—more specifically, the rise of the Messianic Jewish movement: Jews who believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah.
Jesus’ Return: The Rebirth
Both Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesied that once the land of Israel was being cultivated again, the eyes and ears of the nation would also begin to open. This could only happen after May 14, 1948, when the modern state of Israel was born—because the nation had ceased to exist after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple in A.D. 70, just as Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:1–2:
“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’”
We read in Isaiah 6:10–11: “‘Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.’ Then I said, ‘Lord, how long?’ And He answered: ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate.’”
Also, in Ezekiel 36:24–27: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.”
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Jesus’ Return: The Prophetic ClockWe can conclude that “the generation” (referring to a period of 40 to 100 years) that will witness the fullness of the signs of the end times—culminating in the Second Coming—will begin sometime after May 14, 1948. Therefore, we would expect the world to furiously oppose the state of Israel, since “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
Jesus also said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 10:22).
The creation of the state of Israel in 1948 set the prophetic clock ticking toward the return of Jesus.
Soon, He will set His nail-pierced feet upon the Mount of Olives and return to the city of Jerusalem. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
“And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south” (Zech. 14:4).
Jesus’ Return: World Peace
After all, Jesus said that Jerusalem “is the city of the great King” (Matt. 5:35). At His Second Coming, Jesus will establish Jerusalem as the capital of the world:
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.
“For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:2–4).
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)
Summer Is Near
What do we mean by the fullness of the signs of the end times? When Jesus speaks about the end times in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, He lists many signs—such as earthquakes, famines, and wars—that have been present throughout history. So, how do we discern the intensity of these events that Jesus is referring to?
It helps to consider the perspective from which Jesus is speaking. He is sitting on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, addressing His Jewish disciples. Israel and the Jewish people are the primary point of reference for these events—not the Church in New Zealand, the United States, or England.
Of course, Jesus is also speaking to every Christian in every nation, as we too will increasingly experience these events as we draw closer to the Second Coming. Every Christian is a spiritual Israelite. “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
Signs of the End Times
If we put ourselves in the shoes of a Messianic Jewish family living in the Holy Land today, we can begin to understand how deeply Jesus’ words would resonate with what they might be feeling. Mark 13:3 begins with: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple …”
“But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars…” (Mark 13:7).“For nation will rise against nation, andkingdom against kingdom” (Mark 13:8).“And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be faminesand troubles” (Mark 13:8).“Butwatch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils” (Mark 13:9)“… you will be beaten in the synagogues” (Mark 13:9)“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand” (Mark 13:11)“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death” (Mark 13:12)“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Mark 13:13).“Andthe gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:13)—we are close to reaching this point.One thing is certain: we are closer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than at any other point in history—closer than we were yesterday. This realization helps us to “take heed, watch and pray” (Mark 13:33a), and when we “see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).
Lift Up Your Heads
Although these signs may cast an ominous shadow, notice what Jesus tells us in Luke 21:28: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” We are called to look forward with great anticipation to His coming, not with despair.
Instead of allowing fear and anxiety to hold us back, these severe shakings can awaken our spiritual heartbeat and ignite a longing to see Jesus face-to-face—living with zeal for the coming King. This is the grace the Holy Spirit desires to impart to us during these two weeks—the zeal of the Bride of Christ.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). “…but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2c).
Photo by Leon Rockel on Unsplash
Platforms of DeceptionJesus warns us in Mark 13:5–6 and 21–22 about deceivers, false christs, and prophets who mislead many through supernatural signs and wonders. This refers to a powerful deception that will sway and mislead the masses.
Deceiving voices build their platforms both outside and within the global Church today, and our greatest protection is simply knowing the truth. Just as experts who detect counterfeit money focus on studying genuine notes to easily identify fakes, we too must deeply know the truth in order to recognize deception.
We need a fresh hunger to read the Word of God and saturate our minds with truth, so when deceptive voices speak their lies, we recognize them immediately. Let us seek the Lord during these days to stir a renewed appetite to devour the Scriptures and proclaim their truth to ourselves as we read.
If we fill our spirits by reading the Living Word, then when deceptive voices call us out, we will experience the truth of Mark 13:11: “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Standing Against the Spirit of the Antichrist
In Mark 13:14–16, Jesus speaks about the moment when the Antichrist will enthrone himself in the Temple in Jerusalem. Even now, we see the spirit of the antichrist at work in society, demanding we submit to its rebellion against biblical truths and values. How can we be prepared to stand against its influence? Jesus gives us a practical answer—it’s a form of fasting.
“Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes” (Mark 13:15–16).
The Key of the Tabernacle
As in the previous Season—the Season of Heavenly Participation—the Holy Spirit continues His work of revealing any bonds we may have to earthly things. Spiritually speaking, living in a tent and not settling on the earth is the key to receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit in this Season as well.
The “fasting” that protects us from giving in to the mounting pressure of the spirit of the antichrist is a separation from the spirit of the world. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1. Cor 2:12).
The spirit of the world cannot lay hold of the Bride, and Jesus presents “her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). If we sense any attachment to material things—not simply using them, but being addicted to them—then God helps us identify and break these bonds.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15–17).
In these days, the Holy Spirit lifts our eyes toward eternity and reveals how hidden earthly attachments can distract us from the return of Jesus.
The Hour Is Already Late
In Matthew 14:13–21, the disciples grow anxious as the afternoon wears on and the crowds remain without food. But Jesus responds by giving them a task …
We read in Matthew 14:15–16: “When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’”
Jesus says in His end-time discourse, “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:10). When we think about the Second Coming of Jesus, we often worry that so many have yet to respond to the Gospel and join the Church.
But Jesus promises His Church exceptional grace at the end times to bring in the final harvest. This grace, however, will be poured out upon communities in unity. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head …” (Ps. 133:1–2a)
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20). “And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:29).
Even if we feel the hour is late and that Jesus is standing at the door, ready to return to earth, we can still offer Him our “five loaves and two fish” (Matt. 14:17) with greater faith. His grace will multiply our efforts, giving every person a chance to respond to the Gospel of Jesus. And then, He will come.
Sunday Gospel for Jesus’ Return and Platforms of Deception: Matthew 17:14–23 (NKJV)
In the Eastern Church, this week’s Sunday Gospel—according to this year’s liturgical calendar—does not directly relate to the Season of the Second Coming and is therefore not included or reflected upon in this post.
Concluding Jesus’ Return and Platforms of DeceptionIt’s been a long journey, but we’re now entering the final stretch of the Divine Calendar. The end is near, and it’s been my honor to travel with you.
Let us pray that we receive the grace of watchfulness, and that the shakings in the world will not shake us, “since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28a).
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The post Second Coming 1 (Eastern): Jesus’ Return and Platforms of Deception first appeared on Father Elisha: Let me take you on an intriguing journey..
