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When Fr. Richard says, "the second coming of Christ is you and me," he is expressing the idea that Christ's return is not necessarily a future event where Jesus physically reappears but rather something that manifests within and through each person. He often speaks about the concept of "Christ" as the universal presence of God in all creation, and that Christ's presence can be awakened or "born again" in each of us when we live out the values of love, compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness. In this view, the "second coming" is not a distant, dramatic moment in history but an ongoing, internal transformation. When individuals live in alignment with the teachings of Christ, especially those that emphasize divine love and the interconnectedness of all people, they become a vessel for the presence of Christ in the world. Thus, the second coming happens when humanity collectively embodies Christ’s spirit and continues his work in the world through love and justice. Hope this helps. Shalom

@@walkitoff117thanks that makes it more clear.. having believed the 2nd coming is a physical event for most of my Christian life this is a fairly new concept. I believe this but I can’t help thinking there will be also some sort of physical event also. I really pray there is a physical event new heaven new earth etc. thanks for responding

Second greatest!😃

Revelation is the most symbolic book of the Bible and must be interpreted carefully. If it were not for this passage and one other in Revelation, what is now the infernoist view of hell may never have developed. The angel promises that beast-worshippers will be tormented with fire and the smoke thereof goes up forever, which seems to suggest that their torment goes on forever. He also says they will have no rest day or night, suggesting that their restlessness will never come to an end. But the vision given to John consists of highly symbolic and apocalyptic imagery, so it must be interpreted carefully. The imagery of restlessness and smoke rising perpetually from torment may not actually communicate eternal torment, any more than a seven-headed, ten-horned beast (Rev 13:1) ridden by a prostitute with the name of a city on her head (Rev 17:3-6) communicates a future reality like something pictured in a horror movie. So then what does the imagery in this portion of John’s vision communicate? The harlot Mystery Babylon is seen tormented as well (Rev 18:7,10,15) and smoke from her torment also rises forever (Rev 19:3). But with respect to the city the harlot represents the interpreting angel says, “Babylon the great city [will] be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more” (Rev 18:21), borrowing language from Ezekiel 26:20-21, a prophecy concerning the destruction of the city of Tyre fulfilled long ago: “you will not be inhabited . . . you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again.” So this imagery of smoke rising forever from torment, when interpreted in the light of the Old Testament source it is quoting from, communicates permanent destruction that leaves lifeless remains. This should serve as no surprise to students of the Old Testament; the imagery comes straight from Isaiah 34:8-10 which describes the fires which long ago destroyed the city of Edom and have since dissipated: “Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever.” Edom is not literally burning to this day, smoke is not still rising from its remains. The imagery of smoke rising forever communicates the permanency of Edom’s destruction and that of Mystery Babylon. Therefore, the smoke rising from the torment of the beast-worshippers amounts to imagery communicating their permanent destruction as well.... NOT their existence being sustained, but rather, their destruction. From here one can argue if it their actual existence that is being destroyed forever, a conditional immortality view, or is it the destruction of the "fallen" self that is being destroyed forever, leaving what remains a created being reconciled to God, Apokatastasis, Acts 3:21, the reconciliation of ALL things. Ultimately, for me, theology that proposes any kind of eternal punishment is not consistent with the heart and mind of God as revealed through Christ, who IS the perfect revelation of God. Jesus said: "the father and I are one" "if you have seen me you have seen the father" "I only do what my father in heaven does", etc. And that same Jesus taught: "love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you" "forgive 7 x 70 or until you would have your father in heaven not forgive you" And while they were still in the process of killing Him on the cross Jesus said "forgive them Father for they know not what they do" OT writers believed and taught that the coming Messiah was going to come and put the Romans under their feet.....but Jesus allowed them to kill him. They expected Him to ride in on a war horse, He rode in on a donkey. They taught that salvation was only for the Jews, He taught them that it was for everyone. It is man who is vengeful and retributive... and as such they often depicted their God as being that way as well. Jesus came and set the record straight, but many didn't get the memo. God's justice is always about restoration, forgiveness, grace.... it is man who demands their pound of flesh. Shalom

If it were not for this passage and one other in Revelation, what is now the eternal torment view of hell may never have developed. The angel promises that beast-worshippers will be tormented with fire and the smoke thereof goes up forever, which seems to suggest that their torment goes on forever. He also says they will have no rest day or night, suggesting that their restlessness will never come to an end. The vision given to John consists of highly symbolic and apocalyptic imagery, so it must be interpreted carefully. The imagery of restlessness and smoke rising perpetually from torment may not actually communicate eternal torment, any more than a seven-headed, ten-horned beast (Rev 13:1) ridden by a prostitute with the name of a city on her head (Rev 17:3-6) communicates a future reality like something pictured in a horror movie. So then what does the imagery in this portion of John’s vision communicate? The harlot Mystery Babylon is seen tormented as well (Rev 18:7,10,15) and smoke from her torment also rises forever (Rev 19:3). But with respect to the city the harlot represents the interpreting angel says, “Babylon the great city [will] be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more” (Rev 18:21), borrowing language from Ezekiel 26:20-21, a prophecy concerning the destruction of the city of Tyre fulfilled long ago: “you will not be inhabited . . . you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again.” So this imagery of smoke rising forever from torment, when interpreted in the light of the Old Testament source it is quoting from, communicates permanent destruction. This should serve as no surprise to students of the Old Testament; the imagery comes straight from Isaiah 34:8-10 which describes the fires which long ago destroyed the city of Edom and have since dissipated: “Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever.” Edom is not literally burning to this day, smoke is not still rising from its remains. The imagery of smoke rising forever communicates the permanency of Edom’s destruction and that of Mystery Babylon. Therefore, the smoke rising from the torment of the beast-worshippers amounts to imagery communicating their permanent destruction as well, or at least the permanent destruction of their fallen self, as they may be eventually reconciled, Apocatastasis, Acts 3:21