Martin skips the hype, delivers the facts

Is Jesus Coming Soon by Ralph Martin 
A Catholic Perspective on the Second Coming
Ignatius Press, 1997

The judgement day and Jesus' second coming are of great interest to many. Always have been, always will be, and for good reason. Does Ralph Martin finally answer the question, "When?"  with his book Is Jesus Coming Soon? No. However, that's not surprising. As those familiar with Scripture are surely aware, nobody - not even the Son - knows the day or hour (Mk. 13:32-33). So, what's the point here? Why bother speculating?

Martin notes there are numerous alarming events that seem like indications the end times are near. Many people, past and present, have used such troubling events to predict the impending end of the world. Is it true? Well, there's no doubt it will happen sometime and that there will be signs. However, "testing and discernment" are required if we're not to be misled. An "important base for this discernment," Martin says "is knowledge of what Scripture says about ... what must transpire before the Lord returns." Thus, this is the thrust of the book - a solid lesson in what the Bible really says about the Second Coming

Martin starts at the beginning, explaining the salvation narrative from Adam and Eve through to Christ’s first coming. So often the hype of those in the end-of-the-world prediction business completely overlooks this very important background information in favor of jumping right into the “Repent, or be left behind,” chorus. Martin’s is a helpful approach that gives the reader a solid foundation regarding why and how the second coming came to be in the first place.

"He will come again in glory, to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end." With those words from the Nicene Creed, Martin quickly walks step by step through the return of the Lord, resurrection of the body, and final judgement. To the point and backed up every step of the way with scriptural references, these chapters are indispensable - they provide all anyone would ever need to fully understand this important belief.

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. Most Catholics have repeated those 10 simple words many, many times, but perhaps have not questioned more deeply their implication. Maybe it seemed too complicated. Maybe it seemed intimidating. Maybe the din of so many end-of-the-world predictions made it seem confusing. Whatever the case, all Christians owe it to themselves to know and understand the truth about the Second Coming. Martin's work here leaves them no excuse why they shouldn't.