When will Jesus come again?

Do you wish that Jesus would return soon? Hope for the end of the misery and wickedness that we see around us and that God will usher in a time as Isaiah prophesied: «There will be no wickedness or harm in all my holy mountain; for the land is full of the knowledge of the Lord as water covers the sea? " (Isaiah 11,9).

The writers of the New Testament lived in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus to deliver them from the present evil time: «Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for our sins, that he might save us from this present evil world according to the will of God , our father »(Galatians 1,4). They exhorted Christians to prepare spiritually and to be morally vigilant, knowing that the Lord's day comes unexpectedly and without warning: "You yourself know well that the Lord's day comes like a thief in the night" (1. Thes 5,2).

In Jesus' lifetime, like today, people were excited to see when the end would come so that they could prepare for it: “Tell us when will this happen? And what will be the sign for your coming and for the end of the world? " (Matthew 24,3). Believers have had the same question since then, how will we know when our Master will return? Did Jesus say we should look for the signs of the times? Jesus points out another need to be ready and vigilant regardless of the times of history.

How does Jesus answer?

Jesus 'answer to the disciples' question evokes images of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (see Revelation 6,1-8), which have fired the imagination of prophetic writers for centuries. False religion, war, famine, deadly disease or earthquake: «For many will come under my name and say: I am the Christ, and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and war cries; watch and do not be frightened. Because it has to be done. But it's not the end yet. For one people will rise up against another, and one kingdom against another; and there will be famines and earthquakes here and there »(Matthew 24,5-7).

Some say that when we see war, hunger, disease, and earthquakes increase, the end is near. Inspired by the idea that things would get really bad before the return of Christ, the fundamentalists, in their zeal for the truth, have tried to substantiate the end-time statements in the book of Revelation.

But what did Jesus say? Rather, it talks about the constant state of humanity in the history of the past 2000 years. There have been and will be many scammers until he comes back. There have been wars, famines, natural disasters and earthquakes in different places. Has there been a generation since the time of Jesus that has been spared these events? These prophetic words of Jesus find their fulfillment in every age of history.

Yet people look to world events as they did in the past. Some claim the prophecy is unfolding and the end is near. Jesus said: “You will hear of wars and war cries; watch and do not be frightened. Because it has to be done. But the end is not yet »(Matthew 24,6).

Have no fear

Unfortunately, a sensational end-time scenario is being preached on television, radio, the Internet, and magazines. It is often used in evangelism to get people to believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus himself brought the good news primarily through love, kindness, mercy, and patience. Look at the examples in the gospels and see for yourself.

Paul explains: “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, patience and long-suffering? Don't you know that God's goodness leads you to repentance? " (Romans 2,4). It is God's goodness that is expressed through us for others, not the fear that brings people to Jesus.

Jesus pointed out the need to make sure we are spiritually ready for his return whenever it will be. Jesus said: “But you should know that if the master of the house knew what time the thief was coming, he would not let his house be broken into. Are you ready too! For the Son of Man comes at an hour when you don't think so »(Luke 12,39-40).

That was his focus. This is more important than trying to pinpoint something beyond human knowledge. "But no one knows about that day and hour, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24,36).

Be ready

Some people focus on wanting to be better informed than the angels rather than properly preparing for the coming of Jesus. We are prepared if we allow Jesus to live through us and in us, just as his Father lives through him and in him: “In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I. in you »(John 14,20).

To reinforce this point for His disciples, Jesus used various illustrations and analogies. For example: "For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24,37). In Noah's time there was no sign of impending catastrophe. No rumors of wars, famines and diseases. No threatening clouds on the horizon, just sudden heavy rain. Relatively peaceful prosperity and moral depravity seemed to have gone hand in hand. "They ignored it until the flood came and carried them all away, and so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24,39).

What should we learn from Noah's example? Looking at the weather patterns and looking for any signs that might inform us of a date that the angels are unaware of? No, it rather reminds us to be careful and concerned that we are not weighed down by our fears in life: «But be careful that your hearts are not weighed down by intoxication and drinking and with daily worries and that this day does not suddenly fall over come to you like a trap »(Luke 21,34).

Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Be generous, welcome strangers, visit the sick, let Jesus work through you so that your neighbors can recognize his love! “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom the Lord has set over his servants to give them food at the right time? Blessed is the servant whom his master sees when he comes "(Matthew 25,45-46).

We know that Christ lives in us (Galatians 2,20) that his kingdom has begun in us and in his church, that there is the proclamation of the good news to be done now wherever we live. «For we are saved in hope. But the hope that is seen is not hope; because how can you hope for what you see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience »(Romans 8,24-25). We wait patiently in hope of the return of our Lord.

“But it is not the case that the Lord is delaying his promised return, as some believe. No, he's waiting because he's patient with us. Because he does not want even one person to be lost, but that all repent (repent, change their way of life) and turn to him »(2. Petrus 3,9).

The apostle Peter instructs how we should behave in the meantime: "Therefore, beloved ones, while you wait, endeavor that you may be found immaculate and blameless in peace before him" (2. Petrus 3,14).

When will Jesus come again? He is already living in you through the Holy Spirit if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Redeemer. When he will return to this world with power and glory, not even the angels know, and neither do we. Rather, let us concentrate on how we can make the love of God, which lives in us through Jesus Christ, visible to our fellow human beings and wait patiently until Jesus comes again!

by James Henderson