{"id":24099,"date":"2016-10-03T00:00:22","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T06:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=24099"},"modified":"2017-04-17T21:57:38","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T01:57:38","slug":"is-jesus-really-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/is-jesus-really-coming\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Jesus Really Coming?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"majesticloud.jpg\"Photo by Janice Matuch<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A <\/strong>friend connected to the underground Church\u00a0in China told me of this incident not long ago:<\/p>\n

\n

Two mountain villagers descended into a Chinese city looking for a specific female leader of the underground Church there. This elderly husband and wife were not Christians. But in a vision, they were given the name of a woman they were to look for and deliver a message.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When they found this woman, the couple said, \u201cA bearded man appeared to us in the sky and said we were to come tell you that \u2018Jesus is returning.’<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There are stories like this emerging from all around the world, often coming from children and the most unexpected recipients. But it’s coming from popes too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At World Youth Day in 2002 when John Paul II called us youth to become “watchmen”, he said specifically:<\/p>\n

\n

Dear young people, it is up to you to be the watchmen of the morning who announce the coming of the sun who is the Risen Christ!<\/em><\/span><\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World, XVII World Youth Day, n. 3; (cf. Is 21:11-12)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He did not consider this a perfunctory flattery, but called it a “stupendous task” that would require “a radical choice of faith and life.” [1]<\/sup><\/a>POPE JOHN PAUL II, Novo Millennio Inuente<\/em>, n.9<\/span><\/span>