Articles
Are There Signs of the Second Coming?
People seem to be fascinated with finding some signs pointing toward the Lord’s return. When Jesus ascended back into heaven, it was predicted He would return again. Acts 1:11 says, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (NKJV). Hebrews 9:28 tells how Christ, “will appear a second time” (NKJV). The second coming of Christ is an event Christians ought to be eagerly awaiting. 2 Peter 3:12 speaks about us, “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (NKJV). Titus 2:13 speaks about us, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (NKJV). Realizing Jesus is going to return again leads some to want to know the answer to the question of when will He return. When a person wants to know when Jesus will return, it becomes natural to ask, “are there signs of His coming?" or, “what are the signs of His coming?” Does the Bible teach there are signs telling us when Jesus will return again?
For those in the first century there were things which had to take place before the Lord would return. However, the timing of the Lord’s return could not be determined based upon when these events happened. Jesus in Matthew 24:1-34 would speak of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. There were things Jesus points out which would take place prior to this event. Matthew 24:6-7 says, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (NKJV). These things which are often appealed to as signs the Lord is about to return were things Jesus said would take place actually before the temple was destroyed and really these were not the signs that destruction was even about to take place. Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (NKJV). Before Jerusalem would be destroyed the gospel would be preached in all the world and it was (Colossians 1:6, 23). Obviously such events had to take place before Jerusalem was destroyed and therefore before the Lord would return but one could not view these events as signs for when Jesus was going to return again.
Paul in writing to the Thessalonians assures them the Lord has not already returned by reminding them a falling away must take place before the Lord returns (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). A person who looks at the history of the church will recognize there certainly has been a falling away. Again, such had to take place before the Lord returned but really was not a sign He was necessarily going to return soon.
Some people think the Lord will return whenever the remnant of faithful individuals reaches a certain low number. Such individuals might think back to God’s judgment in bringing the flood or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:5-8). While God certainly was longsuffering in the past and continues to be longsuffering today (2 Peter 3:9), we cannot assume because there is a certain number of Christians upon the earth that the Lord will not return nor can we assume because there are so few Christians upon the earth the Lord will be returning soon.
The Bible plainly teaches there are no signs by which we can determine when the Lord will return. Jesus stated about the timing of the day of judgment, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36, NKJV). Jesus instructs, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42-44, NKJV). See also Matthew 25:1-13. The Lord’s return is described as being like a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). A thief does not announce or give warning signs for when he is about to steal something. In a similar way, there will be no warning signs for Jesus’ second coming. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 says, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (NKJV). The Lord’s will come without signs warning of its arrival. It will catch many sadly in a state where they are unprepared. Let us make sure we are constantly watching and prepared for that day to come (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8).
