I Will Return

In March 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt ordered General Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippine island fortress of Corregidor. Imperial Japanese forces were quickly approaching and MacArthur had only a small window of opportunity to escape. He reluctantly left the island but before he set foot on the boat that would take him to safety he proclaimed to the American troops and the loyal Filipinos, “I will return”. MacArthur had hoped that the islands could be reclaimed soon, but after reaching Australia he found out there wasn’t a large enough force to launch a counter attack. The Philippines fell to the Japanese and suffered much under their occupation. On October 20, 1944, MacArthur waded ashore onto the Philippine island of Leyte. On that day he made a radio broadcast in which he declared, “People of the Philippines, I have returned!”

Acts 1:10-11

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We have this same promise. It was proclaimed that Jesus will return. Even though there has been much time since this proclamation and much suffering in the world, Christ will declare by His appearance, “I have returned!” Let us be comforted and comfort one another with these words, “He is coming back!”