As of 2022, approximately 55 percent of Americans believe Jesus will return to Earth. Unsurprisingly, this believing group is largely composed of Christians, although they can’t seem to agree on when Christ will come again and what Earth will look like before He does.
Some preach that the world must grow worse before Jesus returns (premillennialism). Others claim that He will only appear after a golden age of peace (postmillennialism). Still others believe that the Second Coming will be entirely unannounced and unexpected. About half of Christians think that we are currently living in Earth’s final stage; the other half isn’t so sure.
Why the split? Which stance is correct? Is this world coming to its prophesied end, or do certain events still need to take place? Can we know for sure when Jesus will come back?
Many who place their hope in Christ’s imminent return don’t know how to answer these questions. They just aren’t sure what to believe. As political strife intensifies and wars accelerate, confusion and fear continue to supersede the assurance and knowledge God has shared with us through His Word.
Don’t fall for the popular chaos when the Bible offers clarity.
Filled with messages of prophetic urgency, not fear, the Bible tells us there are signs of Christ’s return. Yet, as explained by the coming Savior Himself, we cannot predict the exact time of this glorious event; it is known only to One:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
Signs of Christ’s Return in Scripture
Scripture does not provide the exact date of Jesus’ Second Coming, but it does describe clear waymarks that will indicate His return is near.
Biblical signs of Christ’s return include:
The Gospel Witness
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Celestial Wonders
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:29–30)
Catastrophic Natural Disasters and Calamities
“And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11)
Social Unrest and War
“ . . . Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. . . . And on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity . . . ” (Luke 21:10, 25)
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars . . . ” (Matthew 24:6)
Moral Decay
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1–5)
False Prophets and Spiritual Deception
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
A Unified Church-State Power Will Persecute True Believers
“And [the beast from the earth] deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” (Revelation 13:14–15)
Learn more about this future church-state power: Watch David Asscherik present “Who Is the Beast Who Gives the Mark?”
So When Will Jesus Come Back?
Here’s the simple answer: Jesus will come back to Earth soon after all the prophesied signs of His return have occurred.
Because of Scripture and documented history, we know four important details about the timeline of these signs:
The reign of the “man of sin” had to conclude before the message of Christ’s Second Coming could be widely proclaimed. This has already happened.
The apostle Paul wrote: “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, emphasis added)
Writing about when Jesus will return, Seventh-day Adventist founder and theologian Ellen G. White clarified:
“The ‘man of sin,’ which is also styled the ‘mystery of iniquity,’ the ‘son of perdition,’ and ‘that wicked,’ represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years. This period ended in 1798. The coming of Christ could not take place before that time. Paul covers with his caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798. It is this side of that time that the message of Christ’s second coming is to be proclaimed. No such message has ever been given in past ages. Paul, as we have seen, did not preach it; he pointed his brethren into the then far-distant future for the coming of the Lord. The reformers did not proclaim it. Martin Luther placed the Judgment about three hundred years in the future from his day. But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the Judgment near.” (The Great Controversy, p. 356)
Some signs of Christ’s return have already occurred.
Revelation 6 describes four natural phenomena that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus: a great earthquake, a blackened sun, a moon like blood, and dramatic showers of falling stars (verse 12–13).
Many match these four signs of Christ’s return to four events that occurred around 1798, when the French took Pope Pius VI prisoner, and near the Second Great Awakening, an intense wave of Christian revivalism that swept across America in the early 1800s. These four identified signs are:
- The 1755 earthquake that leveled Lisbon, Portugal
- New England’s “Dark Day” in 1780
- The Dark Day’s subsequent blood-red moon
- The 1833 Leonid meteor shower
These astonishing events followed an era of Christian martyrs (as predicted in Revelation 6) and occurred in the order prophesied. However, it is possible that similar events may occur again just before Christ’s return.
We are currently living in the final stage of Earth’s history.
The “man of sin” lost its power more than 200 years ago. The sequence of empires foretold in Daniel 2 has reached its end. Christians are sharing the Advent Message around the world.
When will Jesus come back? We do not know the exact hour, but we do know that we are living in the last prophetic era of this planet’s story.
We have no reason to fear.
Speaking of the end times, Jesus told his disciples: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Unprecedented turmoil will fall on this world, but God has a plan. He will not allow suffering to persist, He will never abandon us, and He promises peace amid trials.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
What Jesus Taught About Timing and Readiness
Jesus’ words match the prophetic urgency permeating all of Scripture. Although He warned His disciples against setting dates for His Second Coming (Matthew 24:36), He also encouraged them to live in a state of constance vigilance:
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)
Why? Because readiness today, achieved through prayer and Bible study, elevates character, increases knowledge, and prepares you to stand in the presence of your perfect Creator:
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. . . . Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34–36)
Why Prediction-Based Faith Leads to Fear and Disappointment
Attempts to predict the date of the Second Coming:
- Heighten anxiety over the end times.
- Break hearts.
- Damage faith.
- Give unbelievers a reason to mock Christianity.
- Directly oppose Jesus’ clear message in Matthew 24:36: only God knows the hour of Christ’s return.
We cannot know what God has purposely concealed.
Past predictions, such as the 1844 date set by William Miller, have led to indescribable disappointment. God desires the opposite for us. He wants us to experience heavenly hope in the work of preparing for Christ’s return and preaching the Gospel, the story of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Seventh-day Adventist Perspective On When Jesus Will Return
Born in the wake of Millerism, the Seventh-day Adventist movement has always emphasized the study of eschatological events, especially in light of the Investigative Judgment.
When Jesus did not come in 1844, Adventism’s founders realized that the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 did not refer to the cleansing of Earth by fire but to Christ’s final work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary. Jesus is in the Most Holy place right now, mercifully ensuring His blood covers the sins of all who accept Him as their Savior.
Because this judgment is presently occurring, Adventists teach that humanity is living in the final stage of Earth’s history. Jesus truly is coming soon!
However, Adventists intentionally steer away from predicting exactly when Jesus will return, instead focusing on preparation of character, the prophetic urgency of Scripture, and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Prophetic Urgency Without Obsession
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They were undoubtedly tired of the Roman Empire’s oppression and looking forward to Jesus’ ultimate victory. After all, He had just defeated death.
But instead of giving them a clear timeline of God’s plan for Earth, Jesus simply responded: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
God does not call us to predict the hour of Jesus’ return or obsess over end-time events. Instead, He asks us to be watchful servants, students of prophecy, representatives of His character, and missionaries to the world. By spending time with Jesus in prayer and Bible study, you allow His Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for the Second Coming. It’s that simple.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Related Articles:
Start joyously preparing for Christ’s return today! Check out our study guides, videos, podcasts, and more.
Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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When Will Jesus Come Back? Understanding Biblical Hope
As of 2022, approximately 55 percent of Americans believe Jesus will return to Earth. Unsurprisingly, this believing group is largely composed of Christians, although they can’t seem to agree on when Christ will come again and what Earth will look like before He does.
Some preach that the world must grow worse before Jesus returns (premillennialism). Others claim that He will only appear after a golden age of peace (postmillennialism). Still others believe that the Second Coming will be entirely unannounced and unexpected. About half of Christians think that we are currently living in Earth’s final stage; the other half isn’t so sure.
Why the split? Which stance is correct? Is this world coming to its prophesied end, or do certain events still need to take place? Can we know for sure when Jesus will come back?
Many who place their hope in Christ’s imminent return don’t know how to answer these questions. They just aren’t sure what to believe. As political strife intensifies and wars accelerate, confusion and fear continue to supersede the assurance and knowledge God has shared with us through His Word.
Don’t fall for the popular chaos when the Bible offers clarity.
Filled with messages of prophetic urgency, not fear, the Bible tells us there are signs of Christ’s return. Yet, as explained by the coming Savior Himself, we cannot predict the exact time of this glorious event; it is known only to One:
Signs of Christ’s Return in Scripture
Scripture does not provide the exact date of Jesus’ Second Coming, but it does describe clear waymarks that will indicate His return is near.
Biblical signs of Christ’s return include:
The Gospel Witness
Celestial Wonders
Catastrophic Natural Disasters and Calamities
Social Unrest and War
Moral Decay
False Prophets and Spiritual Deception
A Unified Church-State Power Will Persecute True Believers
Learn more about this future church-state power: Watch David Asscherik present “Who Is the Beast Who Gives the Mark?”
So When Will Jesus Come Back?
Here’s the simple answer: Jesus will come back to Earth soon after all the prophesied signs of His return have occurred.
Because of Scripture and documented history, we know four important details about the timeline of these signs:
The reign of the “man of sin” had to conclude before the message of Christ’s Second Coming could be widely proclaimed. This has already happened.
The apostle Paul wrote: “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, emphasis added)
Writing about when Jesus will return, Seventh-day Adventist founder and theologian Ellen G. White clarified:
Some signs of Christ’s return have already occurred.
Revelation 6 describes four natural phenomena that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus: a great earthquake, a blackened sun, a moon like blood, and dramatic showers of falling stars (verse 12–13).
Many match these four signs of Christ’s return to four events that occurred around 1798, when the French took Pope Pius VI prisoner, and near the Second Great Awakening, an intense wave of Christian revivalism that swept across America in the early 1800s. These four identified signs are:
These astonishing events followed an era of Christian martyrs (as predicted in Revelation 6) and occurred in the order prophesied. However, it is possible that similar events may occur again just before Christ’s return.
We are currently living in the final stage of Earth’s history.
The “man of sin” lost its power more than 200 years ago. The sequence of empires foretold in Daniel 2 has reached its end. Christians are sharing the Advent Message around the world.
When will Jesus come back? We do not know the exact hour, but we do know that we are living in the last prophetic era of this planet’s story.
We have no reason to fear.
Speaking of the end times, Jesus told his disciples: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Unprecedented turmoil will fall on this world, but God has a plan. He will not allow suffering to persist, He will never abandon us, and He promises peace amid trials.
What Jesus Taught About Timing and Readiness
Jesus’ words match the prophetic urgency permeating all of Scripture. Although He warned His disciples against setting dates for His Second Coming (Matthew 24:36), He also encouraged them to live in a state of constance vigilance:
Why? Because readiness today, achieved through prayer and Bible study, elevates character, increases knowledge, and prepares you to stand in the presence of your perfect Creator:
Why Prediction-Based Faith Leads to Fear and Disappointment
Attempts to predict the date of the Second Coming:
We cannot know what God has purposely concealed.
Past predictions, such as the 1844 date set by William Miller, have led to indescribable disappointment. God desires the opposite for us. He wants us to experience heavenly hope in the work of preparing for Christ’s return and preaching the Gospel, the story of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Seventh-day Adventist Perspective On When Jesus Will Return
Born in the wake of Millerism, the Seventh-day Adventist movement has always emphasized the study of eschatological events, especially in light of the Investigative Judgment.
When Jesus did not come in 1844, Adventism’s founders realized that the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 did not refer to the cleansing of Earth by fire but to Christ’s final work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary. Jesus is in the Most Holy place right now, mercifully ensuring His blood covers the sins of all who accept Him as their Savior.
Because this judgment is presently occurring, Adventists teach that humanity is living in the final stage of Earth’s history. Jesus truly is coming soon!
However, Adventists intentionally steer away from predicting exactly when Jesus will return, instead focusing on preparation of character, the prophetic urgency of Scripture, and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Prophetic Urgency Without Obsession
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They were undoubtedly tired of the Roman Empire’s oppression and looking forward to Jesus’ ultimate victory. After all, He had just defeated death.
But instead of giving them a clear timeline of God’s plan for Earth, Jesus simply responded: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
God does not call us to predict the hour of Jesus’ return or obsess over end-time events. Instead, He asks us to be watchful servants, students of prophecy, representatives of His character, and missionaries to the world. By spending time with Jesus in prayer and Bible study, you allow His Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for the Second Coming. It’s that simple.
Related Articles:
Start joyously preparing for Christ’s return today! Check out our study guides, videos, podcasts, and more.
Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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