--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Church expected the Second Coming of…" description: "\"“The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ immediately. The converts had known a first coming. And then? And then! That was the trouble — the the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/charles-williams-12379_christianity_the-church-expected-the-second-coming-of_2385639.jpg" --- # The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ… ![“The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ immediately. The converts had known a first coming. And then? And then! That was the trouble — the then. He had come, and they adored and believed, they communicated and practiced, and waited. The then lasted, and there seemed to be no farther…” quote by Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/charles-williams-12379_christianity_the-church-expected-the-second-coming-of_2385639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/charles-williams-12379_christianity_the-church-expected-the-second-coming-of_2385639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/charles-williams-12379_christianity_the-church-expected-the-second-coming-of_2385639.jpg) > ““The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ immediately. The converts had known a first coming. And then? And then! That was the trouble — the then. He had come, and they adored and believed, they communicated and practiced, and waited. The then lasted, and there seemed to be no farther equivalent Now. Time became the individual and catholic problem. The Church had to become as universal and as durable — as time.”” [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Church’s focus on the future (“the then”) creates a problem of time, forcing it to become universal and lasting like time itself. **In simple terms:** Fixation on future creates tension. Key Takeaway Balance present and future. Themes time church universality faith anticipation Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious practice - future planning - cultural adaptation Key Concepts Christian theology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded while planning ahead? - What timeless values guide you? A Different Perspective Excessive future focus can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Second Coming Of Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-coming-of-christ/) [Second-coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-coming/) [The-church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-church/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The Church expected the Second Coming of Christ immediately, and no doubt this was so in the ordinary literal sense. 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Disease will be eliminated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-second-coming-of-christ-will-be-so-revolutionary-that-it-will/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [If we were to do the Second Coming of Christ in color for a full hour, there would be a considerable number of stations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/if-we-were-to-do-the-second-coming-of-christ-in-color-for-a-full-hour/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [For the first time ever, everything is in place for the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/for-the-first-time-ever-everything-is-in-place-for-the-battle-of/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Once I accepted Christ I immediately had peace. 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