Filipenses 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Citizenship ... in heaven ... Russell pointed out that this illustration "was drawn from the fact that the Philippians' citizenship was in Rome. Paul developed the same idea in Hebrews 13:14."[33]

Whence also we wait for a Saviour ... The Second Coming is the background of this. Paul represents himself and the Philippians as living in a state of expectancy, awaiting the coming of the Son of God from heaven, who would raise the dead, appoint the hypocrites their portion in hell, and redeem the righteous unto eternal glory. While true enough that no apostle ever taught that Christ was sure to come within the age wherein they lived, nevertheless they certainly taught that it was possible to be "at any time," that people should live expectantly in regard to it, and that they should be ready at all times for the coming of the Lord. This was sound doctrine then; and it still is.

Boice was correct in diagnosing the cause of much of the malaise which has fallen upon modern Christianity, thus:

In our day, belief in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ has faded into a remote and sometimes irrelevant doctrine into any large segments of the Christian church; and it is entirely possible that our present lack of courage and lack of joy flow from this attitude[34]

[33] James William Russell, op. cit., p. 492.

[34] James Montgomery Boice, op. cit., p. 247.