The disciples of Jesus asked him one day, "When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24: 3). Jesus answered this question in two ways.
During the last century, various groups and individuals have set dates for the second coming of Jesus, including dates in 1914, 1964, 1988 and 1994. During the 1990s, many people predicted that Jesus would come in or about the year 2000. But Jesus said: "Of the day and the hour nobody knows, not even the angels of the heavens, but only my Father" (verse 36).
There is no sense in us setting dates for the second coming of Jesus or getting excited when others do. Many people have grown tired of seeing dates come and go without anything happening, and lose all hope in the return of Jesus.
Jesus did say that we can know when his coming is near, just as we know that summer is near when the leaves begin to sprout in the trees (verses 32, 33). He also gave us several signs to be able to know when his coming is approaching.
One of these signs is the global preaching of the gospel. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a testimony to all nations," he said, "and then the end will come" (verse 14).
✟ We humans will never know when each person on this earth will have had the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus and his proposal of eternal life to everyone who believes in him. But one point is very evident: today it is easier than at any other time in human history to share the good news with every human being. Think about it. For several decades we have had television, radio, books, magazines and newspapers; now we have the Internet and modern telephony. Given the appropriate circumstances, the whole world could learn about the gospel from one day to the next.
The Bible also says that shortly before Jesus returns, the world will be fascinated by spiritualism and communication with demonic spirits. For example, Jesus said that before his return "false Christs, and false prophets, will arise, and will perform great signs and wonders, in such a way that they will deceive, if possible, even the elect" (verse 24). In a similar passage in Revelation, John says that "spirits of devils, who do signs," will gather the kings of the earth all over the world, for the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16: 14-16). In addition, Paul says that at the time of Jesus' coming, Satan will reveal himself "with great power and lying wonders and wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2: 9).
Jesus predicted that before he returns, impostors will appear in various places on earth claiming to be the Christ. Be careful! He declared, because many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and many will be deceived. " That is why he warns, "So, if they say to you: Behold, he is in the wilderness, do not go out; or look, it is in the rooms, do not believe it "(Matthew 24: 4, 5, 26).
Fortunately, nobody has to be cheated. There are three ways in which we can recognize the real Jesus when he comes.
The fact is that the coming of Jesus will be the most public event in the history of the world. The Bible says: "Every eye will see him" (Revelation 1: 7), and Jesus himself said: "Like the lightning that comes from the east and shows itself to the west, so will also the coming of the Son of Man" (S. Matthew 24:27).
Not only will the coming of Jesus be visible, it will also be highly audible. Paul says: "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). In addition, he told the Corinthian church that "the trumpet will be blown" at the coming of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:52).
(Matthew 24:30), a detail that is repeated several times in the New Testament. For example, in Revelation, John wrote: "Behold, he comes with the clouds" (Revelation 1: 7). Then, in describing a vision of the second coming of Jesus, John said: "I looked, and behold a white cloud; and on the cloud one sits like the Son of Man "(Revelation 14:14).
"There will come a time when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice" (John 5:28). "Those who have done good will come to the resurrection of life" (verse 29). Jesus did not say when this will happen, but Paul explained that it will happen at the second coming of Jesus: "the Lord Himself ... will descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ will rise first "(1 Thessalonians 4:16).
As a result of this, we know that anyone who claims to be Jesus is an impostor, unless he appears in the clouds of the heavens with the sound of a powerful trumpet and resurrects the dead.
The most important question is: How can you and I be ready for the return of Jesus? The answer is the sixth important detail about his second coming.
Some people who think they are ready for the second coming of Jesus will discover that they are not. He warned: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
First, we must recognize the mistakes we have made and correct them. If we have harmed someone, we must amend it. And although God does not require us to overcome all of our bad habits before he accepts us, he does want us to recognize them and set out to overcome them. The Bible calls this process "repentance" and "confession." In addition, we must accept the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins and ask him to forgive such sins.
When we have fulfilled all these conditions, God does two things for us. First, forgive us. And second, it transforms our minds and emotions so that now we hate the bad things we once loved, and love the good things we once hated. This is known as "new birth".
