Just how close are we to Jesus Christ’s second coming? What does the Bible say?
The Day of His Return
Just how close are we to Jesus Christ’s second coming? What does the Bible say? To be sure, today we’re one day closer to His return than yesterday, but just how close are we to Jesus’ coming again? Can we know? To be sure, we cannot ever know the exact day and the exact hour of His return. Jesus Himself said this when asked about the time of His return. Our Lord told the disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” (Acts 1:8). Jesus is not saying we should not pay any attention to when He might return or the signs of His second coming, but He was referring to the specific time of His return. This, only the Father knows. Anyone who claims to know the day and hour of Jesus’ return is lying to you, for this refutes Jesus’ statement in Acts 1:8 and in Matthew 24. Referring to His second coming, Jesus said, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matt 24:36). I doubt very much that the Father would let someone in on this date and hour if even the angels in heaven don’t know it.
Signs of His Return
Before Jesus comes to judge the nations, He says we can know what some of the signs will be.
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:10).
This is currently happening.
“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11).
We have certainly seen an uptick in natural catastrophes.
“…there will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matt 24:7).
World hunger has never been higher and there are more living at the poverty level than those living more comfortably (like most of us).
“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matt 24:11).
Today, the biblically solid churches in the world are in the minority as many false prophets have arisen.
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt 24:12).
Just looking at the world today and current criminal statistics, the love of many have grown cold and that has ramped up violence in the world, but this is just what
As in Noah’s day
We have clearly seen exponential growth of lawlessness, but this pattern of growing evil has happened before. Back in Noah’s day we read that, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). All they ever thought about was doing evil all the time, and perhaps, even inventing new ways to sin. That is our culture today, so it is as Jesus said: “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:37). And just as in Noah’s day, most ignored Noah’s warning about a coming flood which was God’s wrath to be poured out on the unrepentant. Just as in Noah’s day (Heb 11:7), today, most will shut their ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The vast majority of sinners you share the gospel with are going to reject it, and thus, ignore the fact that Jesus Christ is coming again to judge those who refuse to bow the knee (Rev 20:12-15).
Escalating Violence
How is increasing violence a sign of Jesus’ coming? Remember reading in Genesis where “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). At that time (as well as today), all that mankind could ever think about was doing something evil. They simple strained to imagine or devised even more heinous sins since they were “only evil continually,” which means it never stopped. It was continuous…without stopping, and the reasons that “the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Gen 6:6). Mankind cannot presume that God will allow humans to grow worse and worse without bringing judgment upon them, eventually. God had seen enough evil and the rapid growth of it in the face of the earth (like today!), and said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them” (Gen 6:7).
A Violent World
By the short time of human history, it wasn’t long before “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Gen 6:10-11). This is why “God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Gen 6:13). For those were living in the days of Noah, the increasing violence was a sign of their coming judgment. Today, we know there is another judgment coming and it seems that violence is also increasing around the world just like in Noah’s day, so is this a sign of the end times. But how close, we cannot know. We can only be prepared to be found faithful in serving Christ when our Lord returns. ?
Conclusion
I pray by now you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, but if not, you are presently in real danger of hell fire. You who are not saved are all one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity. Then it will be too late to repent (Luke 16:19-31). This very day is the very best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) because tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If not, prepare to face God’s judgment after death (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), any of which could happen at any moment.
