The second coming of Jesus Christ is one of the most frequently mentioned topics in the New Testament. Scholars estimate that for every prophecy about Christ's first coming, there are eight prophecies about His second coming. The Bible speaks of this event with certainty and urgency, calling it the "blessed hope" of every believer. Jesus is coming again—not as a humble baby in a manger, but as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.

The question that has intrigued believers throughout church history is this: when will Jesus return? While we cannot know the exact day or hour, Scripture gives us clear signs to watch for and exhortations to be ready. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Jesus will return suddenly and unexpectedly. The question is not if He will come, but are we ready when He does?

Jesus Promised to Return

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His disciples a clear promise that He would return. John 14:1-3 records His words: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly spoke of His return. In Matthew 24:30-31, He said, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." This is not a secret, spiritual return—it will be visible to all the earth.

Revelation 1:7 declares, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." When Jesus returns, no one will miss it. Every eye will see Him. Those who rejected Him will mourn, but those who belong to Him will rejoice.

The Signs of His Coming

In Matthew 24, known as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus' disciples asked Him, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3). Jesus responded by giving them a series of signs that would precede His return. These signs serve as indicators that His coming is drawing near.

First, Jesus warned of false christs and false prophets. Matthew 24:5 records, "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Throughout history, and especially in recent times, many have claimed to be Christ or have claimed special revelation from God. Jesus warned that these deceivers would arise and lead many astray.

Jesus also warned of persecution of believers. Matthew 24:9 says, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Throughout church history, Christians have faced persecution, and in many parts of the world today, believers are being martyred for their faith at an alarming rate.

Another sign Jesus mentioned is the betrayal and apostasy of many professing believers. Matthew 24:10-12 states, "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." In the last days, we will see an increase in false teaching, moral decline, and a falling away from the faith.

Yet Jesus also said that the gospel would be preached to all nations before the end comes. Matthew 24:14 declares, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." We are seeing this prophecy fulfilled in our generation as the gospel reaches even the most remote peoples of the earth through missions, technology, and translation efforts.

The Character of the Last Days

The apostle Paul described the character of people in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

Second Timothy 4:3-4 warns, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." In the last days, many will reject sound biblical teaching in favor of messages that tickle their ears and justify their sinful lifestyles. We see this happening today as false teachers gain massive followings while those who preach the truth are often rejected.

Second Peter 3:3-4 speaks of scoffers who will arise in the last days: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Many today mock the idea of Christ's return, saying that believers have been expecting Him for two thousand years and He has not come. But their scoffing is itself a fulfillment of prophecy.

We Cannot Know the Exact Time

While we are given signs to watch for, Jesus explicitly stated that no one knows the exact day or hour of His return. Matthew 24:36 says, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Any person who claims to know the exact date of Christ's return is contradicting the clear teaching of Scripture.

Mark 13:32-33 repeats this truth: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." The uncertainty of the timing is intentional—it is meant to keep us watchful and ready at all times.

Jesus illustrated the need for readiness through the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. Five virgins were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the wise virgins were ready and went in to the wedding feast, but the foolish virgins were shut out. Jesus concluded the parable with these sobering words: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 25:13).

His Coming Will Be Sudden and Unexpected

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes that Christ's return will be sudden and unexpected, catching many off guard. First Thessalonians 5:2-3 warns, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

Just as birth pains come suddenly upon a pregnant woman, so Christ's return will come suddenly upon the world. People will be going about their normal activities—eating, drinking, marrying, working—and suddenly Christ will appear. Luke 17:26-30 compares it to the days of Noah and Lot: "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

The Blessed Hope of Believers

For those who belong to Christ, His return is not a fearful event but a blessed hope. Titus 2:13 calls it "that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The word "blessed" means happy, joyful, fortunate. Christ's return is the happy expectation of every believer.

First Thessalonians 4:16-18 describes what will happen when Christ returns for His church: "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."

Believers who have died will be resurrected with glorified bodies, and believers who are alive will be instantly transformed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. We will be forever with the Lord! This is the blessed hope that sustains us through trials, persecution, and the difficulties of this life.

Philippians 3:20-21 declares, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await our Savior's return. He will transform our weak, mortal bodies to be like His glorious resurrection body.

How Should We Live in Light of His Return?

The reality of Christ's imminent return should radically affect how we live. Second Peter 3:11-12 asks, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God?" Since everything in this world will one day be destroyed, we should live holy lives that please God.

First, we should live with urgency, making the most of every opportunity to serve Christ and share the gospel. Ephesians 5:15-16 exhorts, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Time is short. We must use it wisely for eternal purposes.

Second, we should live in holiness and purity. First Thessalonians 3:13 speaks of being "unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." We want to be found faithful when Jesus returns. First John 2:28 counsels, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

Third, we should be watchful and prayerful. Luke 21:34-36 warns, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Fourth, we should be witnessing to the lost. The knowledge that Jesus could return at any moment should motivate us to share the gospel with urgency. Romans 13:11-12 declares, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

Are You Ready?

The most important question you must answer is this: Are you ready for Christ's return? If He were to come today, would you be caught up to meet Him in the air, or would you be left behind to face God's judgment? The time to get ready is now. Once Jesus returns, it will be too late.

Matthew 24:40-41 speaks of the separation that will occur at Christ's return: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Some will be taken to be with Christ, while others will be left to face judgment. Which group will you be in?

The only way to be ready for Christ's return is to be saved. You must repent of your sins, believe that Jesus died for you and rose again, and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Acts 16:31 promises, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 declares, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."