The second coming of Christ is a most central pillar of Biblical truth; it is the climax of end-time prophecies. The second coming of Christ is His coming to take His children—all those who accept His off er of salvation from the kingdom of sin—into His heavenly kingdom, safe and secure from sin for eternity.
Christ’s words in John 14 are so significant; they reveal His love for us. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto Myself: that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 1–3. Oh, what love—immeasurable love! Pouring out His blood and life, bearing the weight of all the sins of the world and suffering the excruciatingly painful separation from His Father, the anguish of the second death in taking upon Himself the penalty of sin! And then He ascended to heaven to intercede for us, to bestow upon us the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witnesses and live His life. But there is still more: He is preparing a place for you! Oh, just listen to the revelation of Jesus Christ given to us through the apostle John:
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him….” Revelation 1: 5–7.
It is our privilege not just to wait for the second coming of Christ, but to hasten it. “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly….” Zephaniah 1:14. “And a world is to be warned. With such preparation as they can gain, thousands upon thousands of the youth and those older in years should be giving themselves to this work. There is no line of work in which it is possible for the youth to receive greater benefit. All who engage in ministry are God’s helping hand…. With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come—the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!”1
This is why we feel so privileged at Hartland, because God has entrusted us with the mis- sion to “educate, equip, and train missionaries to transform the world through Christ.” Our vision is to have “Hartland alumni serving in every nation, supporting the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to prepare the world for Christ’s soon return.” We are striving to be a school of the prophets, a place where young people can be prepared as faithful witnesses, to be counselors and servant leaders in His church and light bearers to a world in darkness. Thank you for partnering with us to hasten Christ’s second coming. Thank you for your prayers and support.
In His service,
Norbert Restrepo
President of Hartland Institute
1. E. G. White, Education, p. 270–271