Predicting the Second Coming
Some of the most extraordinary predictions found in the Bible relate to the second coming of Jesus Christ. His promise, “I will come again” (John 14:3), is regarded by Christians as the “blessed hope” of Titus 2:13.
Of the hundreds of prophecies relating to Christ’s return, none are more startling than those involving the catastrophic events surrounding it. It is well known that calamities such as natural disasters, terrorism and wars, epidemics, political and social unrest take centre stage because of their ability to alarm. However, two millenniums ago, Jesus not only predicted the normality, increasing frequency and greater intensity of wars, famines and natural disasters, He referred to them as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, KJV).
In our modern world, many say calamitous events shouldn’t be identified as the only predictors of the Second Coming, but more with deteriorating conditions as the earth ages. They reflect the apostle Paul’s view that the natural world—God’s creation—is also affected by the ruin of sin. He said, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now” (Romans 8:22, NRSV).
In his book Billions and Billions, Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sagan was concerned not so much about the Second Coming or that natural disasters would destroy our planet but that we—humankind—would annihilate ourselves. Sagan, one of the world’s foremost scientists, warns of global agricultural failure in the next generation if we don’t do something about greenhouse warming now. As well, the threats of Chernobyl-type meltdowns and “dirty” bombs, although unimaginable, are always on the horizon. As the countdown to the Second Coming continues, is there any way of knowing when it will occur, what to expect, and how to be ready?
do we know when?
Predicting the time of the Second Coming is as difficult as foretelling any future event. This is because most prophecies are only fully understood after their fulfilment. Currently, the safest way to validate completed prophecy is to examine the biblical data and test it via the crucible of history. This seems to be the method Jesus proposes when teaching His disciples how to understand the Bible’s prophecies. He said, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he” (John 13:19).
In What the Bible Says About the End-time, Bible scholar Jon Paulien suggests that even trying to predict the time of the Second Coming misses the whole point: “Although our human curiosity is God given, the central purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy our curiosity about the future, but to teach us how to live today.” The fact is, the Bible simply doesn’t reveal the exact time of the Second Coming. However, the same cannot be said about what to expect, or how to prepare for it. There’s a glut of biblical information on these two topics. What follows are some highlights.
what can we expect?
1. A divided world. After outlining world powers from approximately 600 BC to the end of the world, Daniel the prophet (Daniel 2:42ff) peers down to the Second Coming and tells us we should expect a divided world until the end. He said, “As you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.” Among other things, this prophecy rules out any one-world government.
2. A world on the go. The Bible says life will be so busy when Christ returns, humankind will overlook the warnings. In Matthew 24:37-39 (NKJV), Jesus said: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Perceptively, Joseph Benson says that in Noah’s day, humankind had ample opportunity to get ready, but didn’t bother (A Commentary On The Holy Bible Vol 5, page 211). Apparently, the same attitude will exist at the Second Coming.
3. Increased satanic activity. In Luke 21, Jesus predicted false Christs would impersonate His coming. As well, the Bible says Satan tries to imitate the Second Coming: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
John adds, “he [Satan] performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 13:13, 14).
4. A worldwide, end-time message from God. The apostle John predicted a universal proclamation of three closing messages to all earth’s inhabitants before the end comes.
The first message calls humankind to worship their Creator: “He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water’” (Revelation 14:7).
Although controversial, many Bible passages reveal Jesus as our Creator (see John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). As our Savior, Intercessor and Judge, He is worthy of worship.
The second message calls people out of “Babylon.” After Noah’s great flood, those who rebelled against the Creator’s law built the Tower of Babel. This became the city of Babylon, whose ruins are in Iraq. The New Testament uses the name “Babylon” figuratively, to describe counterfeit religions. (Remember, a counterfeit is intended to swindle and imitate the real thing.)
In Revelation 18, God calls those He loves—those deceived by Satan’s trickery—out of Babylon lest they receive the object of Revelation 14’s third and final message, “the mark of the beast.”
Those who refuse this “mark” will be threatened with death. Revelation 13:11-18 describes an incredible period for our planet just ahead.
No-one knows exactly how events will transpire, but when it’s over, we will know, and the world will never be the same again.
5. Persecution of Christ’s followers. The Bible reveals that a distinguishing feature of the true God is the Ten Commandments. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, NRSV). Our Lord makes it clear His end-time church is both faith-based and commandment keeping (see Revelation 12:17; 14:12). As in the past, it is highly probable that at the end of time the Ten Commandments will again be the major issue.
Honest people don’t dispute some commandments, such as the injunctions against stealing and murder. However, others like the removal of the second commandment concerning images by one faith and the requirement of the fourth commandment as the true day of worship taught by another, are specific points of disagreement.
Only God’s Word—the Bible—can resolve the truth on this matter.
6. The testing of true Christians. In Revelation 12:17, John reveals Satan’s attacks on God’s people because they will not worship him—a continual thorn in his side. The devil, masquerading as an angel of light, tried to trap Jesus into worshipping him in the desert during the 40 days of temptation (see Matthew 4:9).
Here, in Revelation 13 and 14, true worship is again the test; it’s mentioned eight times.
Jesus warned His followers that following false religions, even unwittingly, would result in false worship: “And in vain they worship me,” He said, “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9, NKJV).
how to be ready
In both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels, Jesus highlighted the antics of unfaithful servants to warn us off delaying our readiness for His return. The whole point of the prophecies surrounding the Second Coming is to be ready, regardless of the time.
In 99 Reasons Why No One Knows When Christ Will Return, B J Oropeza says Christ’s return is unexpected by both Christians and non-Christians. The difference between the two is their allegiance and continued readiness (1 Thessalonians 5:4). The truth is, if we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour today, we are ready: it’s as simple as that.
why hasn’t Jesus returned?
In all probability, there are two reasons why Jesus hasn’t yet returned. First, the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 haven’t yet reached the four corners of the earth. Second, because of God’s love toward humankind, he gives more time. The apostle Peter says the Lord is not willing any of us be lost, and so He is waiting for us to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9).
The reassuring thing about having Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour is that we do have a future and a hope. We need not worry about calamities or the time of the Second Coming, because our destiny isn’t tied to any date. Rather, it’s based on Jesus’ promise to rescue us from this doomed world.
|
Articles of interest:
|
This is an extract from November 2004
|
Home - Archive - Topics - Podcast - Subscribe - Special Offers - About Signs - Contact Us - Links
 |
 |
|
Copyright © 2006 Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ACN 093 117 689
