When is Jesus coming back?

Dear Chaplain: When I look at the local and national news, I see so many horrible things going on in the world and it really disturbs me. It makes me think that Jesus has to be coming back soon, as I’ve heard about all of my life in church. What signs are we to look for to know that he’s truly coming, and the time is almost here? Signed, On His Way

Dear On His Way: Thank you so much for writing. Throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible it is predicted that Jesus will return to earth for a second time. Many call this return “The Second Coming”. As Christians, we believe that Jesus will literally come back to the city of Jerusalem, specifically to the top of the Mount of Olives, to govern the entire world and establish God’s kingdom on earth. The Lord did not want his people to be ignorant about the things that would take place, but rather he wants us to be ready. He wants us to be prepared that there’s coming a day and time where this age will come to an end and Jesus will return to the earth. We will know when this time is near when we hear about wars and rumors of wars, when nations rise up against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms (Matthew 24:6-7). There will be lawlessness and a lack of love (Matthew 24:12). 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 (2 Timothy 3:1-5). There will be droughts and deadly diseases (Mark 13:8 and Matthew 24:7). There will be great troubles, that have not been since the beginning of the world (Matthew 24:21). And there will rise up a great false religious leader who will exalt himself above God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Bible says when we begin to see these things happening, we are to understand that these are like the birth pains of a woman in labor. They are the very painful times we will experience before he appears.

Paul of the Bible, and the greatest evangelist of all time, tells us we are not to get upset about what’s to come or to worry when we see these things begin to happen all around us. But rather, we are to watch and pray. We are to pay attention to the things that are going on in this world so we can understand where we are in history. And we are to also be in constant communication with the Lord so that he can guide us, direct us, and protect us during these difficult times. We are not to fear as unbelievers do; but we are to understand that these things must take place. And most of us are thankful for the mercy and compassion God has for us, that he did not leave us unaware, without hope and help. But rather, he explained to us what was to come, so despite what we see, we could have faith and we would be a light, a source of encouragement and hope, in the dark and dilapidated days that are ahead of us.