The Day of Return – Can we be sure when it will be?

What is sure from the teaching of Christ in the Bible is that one day He will return to our world in glory and power and judge the nations. The world is definitely hurtling towards the end times. The question is whether it is possible for us to know the day and the time of that awesome day?

In the previous two blogs we examined the events like war, famine, earthquakes and persecution of Christians as the beginning of sorrows. Lawlessness will abound and the Gospel of Christ will be preached all over the world. These two conditions we see being fulfilled in our times. Jesus had said, ‘and then the end will come.’ Mt. 24:14.

The final indication of the end times will be the great tribulation, such as one has never seen or will see. Mt.24:21. False christs and false prophets will rise and perform great signs and miracles, but do not be carried away, warns Jesus. The great tribulation has been described graphically in the last book of the Bible, Revelation.

The last of all signs of His return will be that the powers of heavens will be shaken and sun will be darkened, and stars will fall from heaven as if a mighty tree has been shaken.

Then will appear the sign of Jesus Christ, Son of God, in the sky. Like the lightening that flashes in one area, but is seen all over the sky above us, so will be the coming of Jesus Christ, says Jesus.

So no one can really fool us saying Jesus has come here or there. His coming will be witnessed by the whole world. It will be a powerful display for He will come in His power and glory with all His angels and archangels. Mt. 24:27.

But do we know when exactly it will be? Can we with confidence set a time and say all these will happen at this year or on this day or season?

Many are prophesying that tribulations are already on in the world. Experiencing the scorching sun, which relentlessly beats down without any traces of rain, for the past 15 days or so, in Bangalore, the city of gardens and the air-conditioned city, one wonders may be it is true that we are in the tribulation period!

Be that as it may, Jesus made one thing very clear; no one knows the time or the date of His return, not even the angels who minister God. Only the Father, God of this universe, Creator and Sustainer of this great and wonderful universe, alone knows the time He has set for the end of the world and the return of Christ for the judgment of the world. Mt.24:36.

In another place, Jesus, after his resurrection warns his disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” Acts 1:7.

He says, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming,” for He will come upon the world as a thief would. If the owner of the house knew when the thief will break in, he would be awake and be ready to deal with the culprit. But no thief announces his arrival and then come. He comes when he is least expected. So also will be the coming of Christ. Luke 12:39, 40.

The understanding that Jesus was trying to impart to his disciples was that they have to be ready any time, because Christ will be returning at an hour when they least expected him. In short, do not speculate, but be ready always for you do not know when he will come.

That is the lesson we need to learn also. Jesus Christ might return today and we will be asked to give an account for all we did during our journey on earth or we might die before He returns and in that case also we will have to give an account before the Judge of the entire world.

So the wise thing to do is to be ready always, so that we are not taken by surprise by the turn of events in our lives. We may die before He comes or He might come when we are still alive. Either way we are to be ready, if not to be taken by surprise, like the people of Noah’s time who perished in the floods, or like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, when fire fell on them and destroyed them. 

Till such time the people of Noah’s generation and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were living as if they were going to live forever, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Mt. 25: 38. Aren’t we doing the same today? Would we be ready?

What is that ‘to be ready?’ It is to repent for our sinful ways and life, acknowledge the need of a Savior, go on our knees to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, seek forgiveness, and then live a life in faith as a child of God, justified by Jesus through what he did for us on the cross.

Are you ready? Can you take Christ as your Savior? Can you trust your life, soul with Him? You better answer this soon. 

Once you do that, you need not worry about the time or day or the year of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It can be today or tomorrow or after another 25 or 50 years or even after some 2000 years! That really doesn’t matter.

What matters most would be the answer to the question, are you saved? Can you live in the assurance of Christ’s love as a redeemed person, who will be taken along with Christ, when He comes and be able to inherit eternal life?

Are you sure of your salvation in Christ? 

If not do something about it now, for there may not be much time left for you to decide.