We keep hearing that the world situation indicates that Jesus is about to return. What does the Bible actually say?
Jesus promised, "I will come again" (John 14:3). At the time of His ascension the promise is reaffirmed:
"...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" (Acts 1:11). The promise of the Lord's second coming is taught clearly, emphatically and repeatedly in the New Testament. In fact, about one out of every 25 verses in the New Testament refers either directly or indirectly to his return. However, the one fact which is not revealed about our Lord's advent is the time factor. Listen to these verses: 1) "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36); 2) "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (Matthew 24:42); 3) "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 24:44); 4) "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:13).
TV preachers are constantly taking the "signs" of Matthew 24:1-34 and applying them (we should say mis-applying) to the second coming. Just a casual glance at Matthew 24 shows that in the first part of the chapter (1-34) Jesus is dealing with a local destruction (the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, see also Luke 2 1:20 for Luke's account). He says in verse 34 that the generation then alive would see the fulfillment of all of the signs and the destruction of Jerusalem. Then in contrast the Lord says there would be no signs given to indicate that his second coming was close at hand (verses 36-51). Notice the clear distinction and contrast between "these things", "these", "those days" and "that day" (Matthew 24:2, 8, 22, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36).
Finally, both Paul and Peter teach that Jesus' return would be like "a thief in the night" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3; II Peter 3:9-14). A thief does not give warning or signs of his break-in.
Let us be daily prepared for Jesus' return (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Revelation 22:12-14; John 12:48).This item originally appeared in Forest Park Newsletter (April 24, 2001)
