One of the fundamental teachings of the Scriptures is that one day Jesus is going to return. During His earthly ministry, Jesus informed His Apostles that He would leave them, but He also told them that He would return (John 14:1-6). Just prior to His ascension into Heaven, Luke records the following statement, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). The return of Jesus is a day for which faithful Christians long to see. When the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus he would write about the return of Jesus. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). As Paul neared the end of His earthly life, He told Timothy about how he longed for this day, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). However, it seems with any doctrine in Scripture, there are those who will twist and teach things that are not found in the word of God. The same is true with the return of Jesus. Let’s consider a few questions about His return.
When Will Jesus Come Again? Throughout the centuries there have been those who have tried to pinpoint the exact day when Jesus will return and every time those individuals have failed. Perhaps, if they would have consulted the Scriptures, they would have read the information Jesus revealed about this day. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32).
Will There Be Any Signs To Look For When Jesus Comes Again? Just like with the previous question, there are those that claim that we will be able to see the signs of the times and these signs are an indication of His return. Many will reference Matthew 24 as their proof text. The first thirty-five verse were signs pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem. However, in Matthew 24, the text will shift at verse thirty-six. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 25:36-39). Furthermore, the Apostle Paul and Peter wrote that Jesus would come like a “thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).
Why Will Jesus Come Again? One reason for His return is to raise the dead. The brethren at Thessalonica had become very troubled over their brethren who died before Jesus returned. To which the Apostle wrote the following words of comfort, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. John 5:28-29). Another reason for His return is to enact judgment (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12). Are you ready for His return?