When Is Jesus Coming Back

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. .... Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ....Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." - Matthew 24:36-39, 42, 44

A lot has been happening recently with respect to weather, seismic events, wars, air disasters, political upheaval. People are wondering what is going on.  I talked to a guy at church and he said rather matter-of-factly, "Jesus is about to come back!"  I thought about taking him to Matthew 24 and then changed my mind. I didn't know the guy and decide to not "bust his bubble".  Besides, I suspected that he would not be swayed. He was looking to the Eastern sky.

Oh - something you might find of interest. When I was in flight school, one of my instructor pilots told me that if I ever lost my compass on an overcast or stormy day and wanted to know what direction North was to fly over a cemetery.  All of the grave stones faced East in anticipation of the dead rising when Jesus returns  and He will appear in the East.

"For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." - Matthew 24:27

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” – Matthew 24:6-7

I did appreciate his hope that all of this would come to end by Jesus return. I mean can it get any worse? Unfortunately the answer to that question is "Yes". Nearly every generation has imagined that Jesus return was imminent because of the calamities happening. Technology has made it seem worse. Before the technology of our age - even as far back as the early 1900's it took months for people in the country to become corporately aware of something that happened in another country. Today it takes minutes. So there is an appearance of increased intensity. So when is Jesus coming back? According to Jesus, don't ask Him - only His Father - our Father knows the answer.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9

For mankind - the Lord's return is slow - from God's perspective not so much.

"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:8-9

I wrote about the time differential between heaven and earth before. A thousand years passes for men and it is only one day in heaven. So the Father waits a few days in heaven before He tells Jesus to return to earth.  2 or 3 days in heaven is 2 or 3 thousand years on earth. 

Why does it matter to you, me and my friend?

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?" - 2 Peter 3:10-12

Like my new friend, we should all be looking forward to the day of Jesus return, but we won't know when that will be. In the meantime we should be standing idle looking to the Eastern skies but conducting ourselves with holiness and godliness in a world that desperately needs to see Jesus - now. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone