When will Jesus return?

Several years ago, a man came up with a detailed plan of Christ’s return. He had it figured out to the last detail including dates and places. He produced a small book and sent it to every church. Some folks took this as truth, even to the point of changing their lifestyle. Some thought there was no point in making plans for the future or even taking care of daily responsibilities.

I don’t remember the man’s name or the details of his thick little book. All I remember is that it didn’t happen. I also remembered then and now that Jesus said:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only, . . . Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming . . .  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:36; 42; 44)

The first century church in Thessalonica didn’t receive that little book but they did hear that the day of the Lord had already come or was eminent and feared that they were going to experience the wrath of God. Paul wrote to them a second time with reassurance:

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way . . . .” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–3)

Their angst makes a little sense because they didn’t have the New Testament Scriptures that I have. They heard things from the Holy Spirit and even from evil spirits. Rumors floated. Paul indicates other letters also were passed among them. He told them not to be quick to listen to any false alarms. He went on to describe what would happen before that ‘day of the Lord’ would come. While no one could pin it down or mark it on a calendar, God’s people would not be totally clueless.

As for the booklet with its unfulfilled predictions, most Christians that I knew at that time simply tossed it in the garbage. They knew what the Bible said. Even those who read the booklet, myself included, could see that the man’s ideas, as solid as they sounded, did not match the words of Jesus. No one believed it and no one panicked.

The saddest were those who read and believed it. They ‘sold everything’ including their common sense. The Word of God did not say, “no one knows except the author of a certain book that will be written in the 1980s.” Their panic was unwarranted and their reaction must have been embarrassing later when all those predictions did not happen.

Paul wrote good advice to a young pastor, advice that applies to all of God’s people. He said: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) False teaching seldom dupes those who follow this advice!

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Lord Jesus, You remind me today to keep learning and reading. I need to be careful how I handle the Word of God, but also watch my attitude as I listen to the news. The world is in a mess and it is possible this is a sign of the beginning of the end as some say, but history has many periods when all seemed bleak and Your return seemed eminent. Also, when I hear Christians saying things about Your return, I need to be biblical in my response. You know the debates about it. You also tell me to obey whatever give me to do, faithfully trusting You to show up when the time is right rather than getting involved in speculation that runs contrary to “no one knows.” I look forward to seeing Your face yet right now I am content that this will happen — even without knowing when or where. Your very last words recorded by John in Revelation are: “Surely I am coming soon” to which John replied, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)