The words of Jesus make it clear that not even he knows when he will return. How can we know when the Bible tells us that Jesus didn’t know? Those who try to discern when he will return and make predictions about it are engaging in folly.

But yet, there are those who attempt to look for signs in the events of the modern day. People have predicted the Second Coming and have made physical preparation for His return. Those who do so ignore the words of not only Jesus when he said he didn’t know, but also those of Paul and Peter in their letters. Paul wrote: [1 Thessalonians 5:2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [1 Thessalonians 5:3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Those who aren’t ready won’t escape the wrath of God. He then wrote in the next 8 verses: [1 Th 5:4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [1 Th 5:5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [1 Th 5:6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [1 Th 5:7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [1 Th 5:8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [1 Th 5:9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Th 5:10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [1 Th 5:11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  The word tells us that we aren’t to be concerned about the specific day or time but to be ready for his return no matter when it occurs.

Peter wrote: [2 Pet 3:9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [2 Pet 3:10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [2 Pet 3:11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [2 Pet 3:12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [2 Pet 3:13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. [2 Pet 3:14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  Peter essentially wrote the same thing as Paul about the sudden return and the need to be ready by and with continuing faith in Jesus Christ.

No matter how fervently one believes the various teachings about Christ’s coming and the possible attendant signs, the scriptures give us the truth about the return. Read the words of Paul and the reason for looking to Jesus until he returns: [1 Cor 15:50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [1 Cor 15:51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [1 Cor 15:52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [1 Cor 15:53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [1 Cor 15:54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [1 Cor 15:55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [1 Cor 15:56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [1 Cor 15:57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Cor 15:58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

As Jude wrote: [Jude 1:21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Eternal life is the reward you will receive at his coming.

© 06-13-2006 DEC

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