What Jesus Taught
Too often, conversations about Christ’s return become confusing lectures about strange-looking beasts, unprecedented plagues, and 666. Christians, including Seventh-day Adventists, tend to view the Second Coming of Jesus in light of our world’s unavoidable doom.
It’s understandable. Prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation zoom in on the apocalyptic nature of the “last days,” the final era of Earth’s history. Jesus Himself outlined many of the catastrophic signs of His Second Coming. Yet, Jesus also asks believers not to be afraid; when we begin to see the signs of His return, we are to “look up and lift up [our] heads, because [our] redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
Ultimately, the signs and prophecies of Jesus’ Second Coming point to the wonderful culmination of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. And no matter what we face on Earth, we can always find peace in Jesus.
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)
Though a hopeful and biblical lens, this article will outline the signs of Jesus’ coming by:
- Diving into what Jesus taught about the signs of His return
- Detailing the prophesied states of the end-time world and church
- Summarizing the complex prophecies of Jesus’ coming provided in Daniel and Revelation
- Explaining the unique Seventh-day Adventist view of the Second Coming
- Discussing how believers are meant to watch for the signs of Jesus’ coming
What Are the Signs of the Second Coming?
God’s authoritative Word has provided us with a clear and definite series of signs in the heavens, on the Earth, and within society to ensure that His followers are not left in darkness regarding the nearness of Christ’s return. These signs do not occur all at once in a single location, but they appear across history, society, and nature.
In summary, the biblical signs of the Second Coming are:
- Supernatural phenomena in the sun, moon, and stars
- Widespread international unrest
- The global proclamation of the Gospel
- The rise of deceptive spiritualism
- A specific moral decline in the last days
What Jesus Said About the Signs of His Return
In the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel, we find an account of Jesus predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (which would occur in A.D. 70). Dismayed and curious, the disciples asked Jesus: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). They didn’t realize it at the time, but in asking that second question, the disciples were actually asking, “What are the signs of the Second Coming?”
In response, Jesus launched into a speech filled with prophetic descriptions of apocalyptic events. Some of the signs He described applied to the destruction of the temple, but most apply to the “end of the age.” Luke 21 contains this same speech and adds certain details.
For a more in-depth look at which signs apply to which event, read “Signs of the Times.”
In Matthew 24 and Luke 21, Jesus laid out the following signs of His coming:
- Widespread persecution against true disciples.
- Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.
- “Wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6).
- Extreme spiritual deception, including false christs and false prophets who “show great signs and wonders” (Matthew 24:24).
- Darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars.
- In terms of morality, the world will be “as the days of Noah were” (Matthew 24:37).
- Just before His coming, men’s hearts will “fail from fear” as the “powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:26).
In both gospel accounts, Jesus compared these signs to the leaves of a fig tree: just as blossoming fig leaves indicate the nearness of summer, these signs indicate the nearness of the Second Coming. Jesus added that we are to watch for these signs and pray for the righteousness of Christ so that we can “stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36)—but we are never to watch in fear!
In the last days, when God’s people are persecuted and brought before “kings and rulers” for His name’s sake, He will give them “a mouth and wisdom which all [their] adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” (Luke 21:12, 15). He will shorten the time of intense tribulation “for the elect’s sake” (Matthew 24:22). He will preserve His people (Luke 21:18). Some will die, but all who have accepted Jesus into their hearts throughout the course of history will enjoy eternal life with Him.
Although Jesus told us that we can identify the signs of His coming in confidence and hope, He also clarified that we cannot predict the exact date of His return, because “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but [His] Father only” (Matthew 24:38).
Note: Mark 13 also records Jesus’ description of end-time events.
Signs Jesus Is Coming in the World, the Church, and Nature
Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, and many other biblical passages paint a detailed picture of what the world, church, and nature will look like before Jesus’ Second Coming.
What the World Will Look Like Before the Second Coming
Nations will turn on each other, erupting in wars. Humankind will become severely distressed, wondering what will happen next. Spiritualism will increase, and this “working of Satan” will trick people into following false prophets and believing they are communing with the dead (2 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:14–15). People will live according to their own selfish desires, completely disregarding God’s truth. Scoffers will ask, “Where is the promise of [Jesus’] coming?” (2 Peter 3:3–4).
What the Church Will Look Like Before the Second Coming
On one hand, Christians will have preached the Gospel to the entire world, and the faithful will announce that the hour of His judgment has come (Revelation 14:6–7).
On the other hand, many Christians will grow spiritually “lukewarm,” unable to discern between truth and lies (Revelation 3:15–16). Even some of the “elect” will be deceived by false teachers (Matthew 24:24), and many will present a “form of godliness” without truly loving God or representing His character (2 Timothy 3:1–5). Finally, apostate religious entities will unite with civil governments to enforce religious laws and persecute those faithful to God’s law (Revelation 12:17; 13:11–18; 17:3–6).
What Nature Will Look Like Before the Second Coming
Natural disasters will ravage the planet. Following a period of severe church-led persecution, a horrible earthquake will occur, the sun and moon will darken, and the stars will fall (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Revelation 6:12–13). Seventh-day Adventists often match these four signs of Jesus’ coming to four events that occurred around 1798, when the French took Pope Pius VI prisoner and dealt papal Rome a “deadly wound” (Revelation 13:3). Similar cataclysmic events will occur again just before Christ’s return.
Learn more about these four natural disasters and how they indicate Jesus’ soon coming.
Directly before Jesus appears in the clouds, the sky will “recede as a scroll when it is rolled up,” shaking “every mountain and island” out of their places (Revelation 6:14).
Prophecies of Jesus’ Second Coming in Daniel and Revelation
Seventh-day Adventists often view end-time events and the Second Coming of Jesus through a prophetic lens shaped by the companion books of Daniel and Revelation. While Daniel primarily deals with the history of the world’s nations, Revelation focuses on ecclesiastical or church history. Together, they tell the story of the great controversy between God and Satan that will end with the joyous, never-ending kingdom of God.
Through Daniel and Revelation, God gave us these prophecies about Jesus’ Second Coming and the last days:
- The succession of world powers outlined in Daniel 2 and 7 will result in a “little horn” power that speaks “pompous words against the Most High,” persecutes His followers, and intends to “change times and law” (Daniel 7:25). This is papal Rome, the same entity described in Revelation 13 as the beast from the sea. Revelation 13 also tells us that papal Rome will rise again in the last days and will receive homage from the entire world (verse 3).
- Revelation 13’s lamb-like beast represents the United States of America, which will, in the last days, enforce the mark of the beast by commanding the world to worship the first beast (papal Rome) and its image, a union of religious and civil authority that mirrors medieval church-state power.
- The 1,260-year period described in both Daniel and Revelation (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:14) ended in 1798. The 2,300-year period presented in Daniel 8:14 ended in 1844 when the investigative judgment, described in Revelation 11:18–19, began. This means Jesus is concluding the work of the heavenly sanctuary, judging the dead and cleansing believers of their sins: we are currently living in the final period of Earth’s history.
- As the prophecies of Daniel 11 reach fulfillment in the last days, the world will be stirred into war. Michael (Jesus) will stand up, “and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1). God’s wrath will pour onto Earth through horrible plagues (Revelation 16). Nations will gather to war against Christ at His coming (Revelation 19:19), but He will prevail. He will deliver His people and resurrect dead believers; the righteous will enter into joyful eternity with God (Daniel 12:1–3; Revelation 21:3–4).
Dig deeper into these prophecies of Jesus’ Second Coming:
The Adventist View of the Second Coming of Jesus
The interpretations of prophecy detailed above represent the Seventh-day Adventist view of last-day events and the Second Coming of Jesus—a view shaped by in-depth Bible study and continued faithfulness to the authority of Scripture.
The investigative judgment, for example, is a unique Adventist doctrine. Adventists also believe that observance of the seventh-day Sabbath will become a central issue at the end of time, since Revelation characterizes God’s faithful people as those who “keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 12:17).
But most importantly, the Adventist movement upholds Jesus Christ as the center of the Gospel. Because of God’s unending love and grace, Jesus died on the cross, taking our place and granting us eternal life. Jesus is the reason we can face the future with hope.
Discerning the Signs Without Obsession or Speculation
Despite the eternal hope Adventists and other Christians hold because of Christ, many struggle watching for the signs of Jesus’ coming without falling into complete obsession with the end of the world.
Here’s what the Bible says about leading a life that looks forward to the return of Jesus, inward to Christ who lives in us, and outward to the concerns of daily life:
- Participate in God’s mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20a)
- Allow your knowledge of Jesus’ return to activate your love for others: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
- Remember that salvation comes by grace alone, not by biblical expertise: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
- Remember that you cannot know the date of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:38)
- As you watch for the signs of Christ’s return, focus on why He is returning. Remember God’s mercy. Draw close to your Savior and be changed right now: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11–14).
Why the Signs Are Meant to Create Readiness, Not Panic
The last days will not be easy, but Scripture never tells us to fear the signs of Jesus’ coming. Instead, we are called to study these signs, watch for them, and prepare ourselves for heaven by deepening our relationship with God:
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. . . . Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 6)
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)
When we remain ready for Jesus’ return, we represent His character to others and live daily in the greatest hope available to humankind. For those who wake each day and rest each night full of faith in God’s future kingdom, fear remains a distant stranger:
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:16–18a)
Remember what Jesus taught:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1–3)
Related Articles:
The Second Coming of Christ Explained for Today’s Believers
How Christians Are Called to Live in Light of Jesus’ Return
Parousia Revealed: Signs and Prophecies of Christ’s Return
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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
