How are we to know when Jesus
is coming back?
The Bible does not in any way, instruct us, nor give us
formulas to attempt to discover the timing of Jesus’ return.
Matthew
24:36-44 declares, “No one knows
about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father … Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day
your Lord will come … So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will
come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
No, no one can know when Jesus is coming back. Above verses
do not say that anyone will ever be able to know when Jesus will return.
Bible scholars would say that Jesus, now glorified in heaven,
knows the timing of His return, indicating that the phrase “nor the Son” does not mean Jesus will never know when He will
return.
While above verses indicate
that no one at that time could know the timing of Jesus’ return, it is possible
that God could reveal the timing of Jesus’ return to someone in the future.
In addition, there is Acts 1:7, which states, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority."
In addition, there is Acts 1:7, which states, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority."
This was said by Jesus after the disciples asked Him if He
was at that time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. This would seem to
confirm the message of Matthew 24.
It is not for us to know the timing of Jesus coming back. But
there is also the question of which return these passages are referring to. Are
they speaking of the Rapture or the Second Coming?
Which return is unknowable—the Rapture, the Second Coming, or
both?
While the Rapture is presented as being imminent and
mysterious, the timing of the Second Coming could potentially be known based on
end-times prophecy.
With that said, let us be abundantly clear: we do not believe that God has revealed to anyone when Jesus is coming back, and we see nothing in Scripture which indicates that God will ever reveal to anyone when Jesus is coming back.
With that said, let us be abundantly clear: we do not believe that God has revealed to anyone when Jesus is coming back, and we see nothing in Scripture which indicates that God will ever reveal to anyone when Jesus is coming back.
Matthew 24:36-44
above, while spoken directly to the people in Jesus’ time,
also contains a general principle. The timing of Jesus’ return and the end of
the age is not for us to know.
Scripture nowhere encourages us to try to determine the date.
Rather, we are to “keep watch, because we
do not know on which day our Lord will come” (v. 42).
We are to “be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect Him” (v.
44).
The force of Jesus’ words diminishes if at some point in the
future someone will be able to determine when He is coming back. If the date is
known, we no longer need to “keep watch”
or “be ready.”
So, with the principle of Matthew 24:36-44 in mind, no, it is not possible for anyone to know the date
that Jesus is coming back.
Despite this clear biblical principle, many believers throughout history have attempted to prophesy the date when Jesus is coming back.
Despite this clear biblical principle, many believers throughout history have attempted to prophesy the date when Jesus is coming back.
Many such dates have been proposed, and all of them have been
proven wrong.
There have been two recent, popularly proposed dates: May 21,
2011, and December 21, 2012. The December 21, 2012, date is related to the Mayan calendar, with no biblical data used as evidence.
The May 21, 2011, "Judgment Day" date was proposed
by Harold Camping of
Family Radio. It should be noted that Harold
Camping previously predicted that Jesus would come back in 1994. Obviously,
Camping was wrong.
Camping claimed to have evidence for the May 21, 2011, date
in Scripture. By using a speculative date of 4990 B.C. for the Flood, and then
applying the “with the Lord one day is as
a thousand years” of 2 Peter 3:8 to the seven days of Genesis 7:4, and then counting down the 7,000 years from 4990, the year
2011 was arrived at.
Then, based on “the
seventeenth day of the second month” from
Genesis
7:11 and using the Hebrew calendar, the date of May 21 was
determined.
So, was there any validity to Camping’s methodology?
First, Camping conveniently ignored the second half of 2 Peter 3:8, “and a thousand years as one day.”
First, Camping conveniently ignored the second half of 2 Peter 3:8, “and a thousand years as one day.”
Further, 2 Peter 3:8 is not providing a method for dating the end times. Rather, 2 Peter 3:8 is simply saying that God is above and beyond time.
God is timeless, infinite, and eternal.
Second, nothing in the context of Genesis 7:4-11 indicates that the “seven days” and “seventeenth day of the
second month” are to be interpreted as applying to anything other than what God
was specifically saying to Noah.
Third, the Flood being dated to 4990 B.C. is speculative at
best, with no explicit biblical evidence.
Camping’s calculation of May 21, 2011, fell apart under even
the most basic biblical scrutiny. Now, was it possible for Jesus to come back
on May 21, 2011? Yes, but it is just as possible that He will come back on any
other date.
Did Harold Camping’s particular dating methodology have any
biblical validity? No, it did not. Sadly, Camping and others will surely
calculate new future dates and will attempt to explain away mistakes by “errors
in the formula” or something to that effect.
The key points are
The key points are
(1) the Bible nowhere encourages us to attempt to
discover the timing of Jesus’ return
and
(2) the Bible gives no explicit data by which the
timing of Jesus’ return can be
determined.
Rather than developing wild and speculative calculations to
determine when Jesus is coming back, the Bible encourages us to “keep watch” and “be ready” (Matthew 24:42-44).
The fact that the day of Jesus’ return is unknown should
motivate us to live every day in light of the imminence of His return.
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal
future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your
behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you
and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon
you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner
and my sins have separated me from you. I now want to turn away from my past
sinful life and begin a new life with you.
Please forgive me. I now
receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe
and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the
dead.
I want to receive all that
Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, "Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
(Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes unto the
Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask
You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank you that you have
given me eternal life, and according to your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank you
for the gift of the Holy Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to you.
Use me for your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Related Posts:
“Thy
Loving Kindness”
Maranatha
Maranatha
lyrics
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
Is better than life
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
Unto thy name
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
Is better than life
Thy loving kindness
Is better than life
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
Unto thy name
I lift my hands up
Unto thy name
My lips shall praise thee
Thus will I bless thee
I will lift up my hands
Unto thy name.
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