The Master’s House Revelation of the Second Coming | Jonathan Cahn Sermon
The return of Jesus Christ, called the Second Coming, stands as one of the defining hopes of the Christian faith. It’s a promise that every generation of believers is called to watch for, anticipate, and prepare their lives around. Yet, just as first-century disciples struggled to make sense of ancient prophecies about the Messiah, so do many today misunderstand or lose sight of what it means to live in the “Master’s house” with the expectation that the Master will soon return. This article explores the profound biblical truths behind the Master’s return, what it means for the Church and the world, and how every believer is called to live watchfully and faithfully in these days of waiting.
Understanding the Master’s Return: A Prophetic Mystery
Throughout the Bible, the idea of the Messiah coming has always been wrapped in mystery. Old Testament prophets like Zechariah described Messiah’s arrival in ways that seemed contradictory Zechariah wrote of Messiah coming to Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, while Daniel envisioned him arriving in glory, riding the clouds. Ancient rabbis couldn’t reconcile these images. Some speculated that two different Messiahs would come: one humble and suffering, another glorious and triumphant. But neither Scripture nor history has supported the idea of two Messiahs. The remarkable truth revealed only through the life of Jesus, and clarified in the New Testament, is that there is one Messiah, but two comings.
Jesus himself taught this in his parables. He described himself as the master who goes away and entrusts his house to his servants, with the promise that he will return unexpectedly. This sets the stage for two central truths: first, that Jesus had to die before he could reign forever, necessitating the resurrection; and second, that he must leave (the Ascension) in order to return. These themes are central to the Christian faith, however surprising they may be when viewed within the context of Jewish history and prophecy.
The Master’s House: Living in Anticipation of the Return
In Luke 12, Jesus instructs his disciples to be “dressed for service, with lamps burning,” likening his followers to servants waiting for their master’s return from a wedding. The message is clear: our faith should be marked not only by remembrance of what Jesus has accomplished but by expectation of what he is still going to do. The reality is, we live in the time between the first and second comings of Christ in the “Master’s house” while the Master is away.
This house is not just the church as we have come to know it. The term used in the Bible for “church” derives from Greek words meaning “the house of the Lord” or “the Master’s house.” It refers to all those whom Christ has called together to serve while he is away. But on a larger scale, since God is the Creator, the entire earth and universe belong to him. In that sense, all of creation is the Master’s house. This amplifies the responsibility of believers: we are entrusted with spreading the gospel, teaching the word of God, and watching over creation until the Master returns.
The Role of Watchfulness and Readiness
Believers are specifically warned not to fall into complacency or forgetfulness concerning Christ’s return. Just as employees tend to work differently in the presence or absence of their boss, so human nature tempts us to spiritual laziness when we forget who really owns the house. Jesus compared the suddenness of his return to a thief in the night unexpected and without warning. No one can predict the exact moment; prophecy charts and timelines may intrigue us, but Jesus was clear: “the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
For believers, this means living every day as though Jesus could return at any moment. Our ultimate priority should be to honor God in all things, making every achievement, possession, or position secondary to that purpose. Whether in times of blessing or hardship, we are called to be ready to stand firm as “salt and light” in a darkening culture, to endure in faith regardless of persecution, and to keep our focus on the eternal rather than the temporary.
Warnings for the Master’s Servants
Jesus did not just describe the blessings for those who are found faithful and watchful. He also warned about the dangers of forgetting the Master’s return. The parable outlines the consequences for the servant who, forgetting his Master, succumbs to greed, brutality, and self-indulgence. Rather than caring for the house and fellow servants, he abuses his authority and turns to foolish living. The end result is judgment because the Master will return at an unexpected hour, and every servant will give an account.
Throughout Christian history, whenever the Church has lost sight of the expectation of Jesus’ return, it has drifted into worldliness and compromise. This happened when large segments of the church pursued power, wealth, or cultural respectability, and stopped seeking the coming Kingdom. In some periods, the idea of Christ’s return was ignored or even rejected, resulting in churches that were more interested in preserving their own status than proclaiming the Lord’s soon coming.
Apostasy in the Master’s House
This warning goes beyond individual believers to the collective Church. As the “household of God,” the visible church is always at risk of drifting from its original calling. When the Master seems delayed, some begin to conform to the patterns of the world endorsing whatever society celebrates, even if it contradicts God’s word. History is filled with examples of once-vital churches that grew apathetic or even hostile to basic biblical truths, celebrating sin and suppressing the very gospel that gave them life.
Painful as these realities are, they serve as a fulfillment of Jesus’ parable: in a season of the Master’s apparent delay, many servants in the house of God act like the Master will never return. They adopt the world’s values, exalt self-interest, and persecute those who remain faithful to Christ’s teachings. This is not only a corporate issue but a deeply personal one for each believer will we
