When Will Jesus Return? Signs and How to Prepare

We eagerly await Jesus' return, which will occur at a time known only to God the Father. It is a future, definite, literal, and visible event, and while the exact day and hour are not revealed, many signs indicate its nearness 🙏 Matthew 24:36GC88 370.2+1.

No Man Knows the Day or Hour

Jesus Himself explicitly stated that "of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" Matthew 24:36GC88 370.2. This divine prerogative means that no one can precisely predict the moment of His coming. Despite this, we are instructed and required to know when His advent is near, and disregarding this warning can be as perilous as it was for those who lived before the flood Matthew 24:38-39GC88 370.2+3.

Signs of His Coming

We are encouraged to watch for signs that indicate the approaching end. These include:

• Widespread Proclamation of the Gospel: The everlasting gospel "shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come" Matthew 24:14+1HLv 426.1+1. This global proclamation prepares people for His comingPTUK June 23, 1898, page 389.20.

• Abounding Iniquity and Lukewarmness: Iniquity will abound, causing the love of many to grow cold Matthew 24:12HLv 426.1+1. Many self-proclaimed Christians will be satisfied with the present state of things, indifferent to the Lord's returnARSH December 26, 1865, page 26.7.

• Increase of Scoffers: In the last days, scoffers will emerge, questioning the promise of His coming 2 Peter 3:3-4ARSH October 18, 1853, page 115.7.

• Political and Social Unrest: We will hear of wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, along with famines, pestilences, and earthquakes Matthew 24:6-7EMTF 15.1+1.

• The Reign of the "Man of Sin": The great apostasy and the long reign of the "man of sin" (the papacy) for 1260 years had to conclude before His advent 2 Thessalonians 2:3GC88 356.1+3. This period began in AD 538 and ended in 1798EVRR344+5. The prophetic time periods relating to these events ceased in 1844EVRR224.

How We Should Live in Expectation

Knowing that His coming is near, we are called to:

• Repentance and Humiliation: A deep searching of heart and humiliation before God are necessaryGC88 339.1.

• Vigilant Working and Waiting: We should be vigilantly working and earnestly waiting, keeping the door of our hearts open to Jesus Revelation 3:2014MR 308.2+1.

• Persevere in Faith: We must "hold fast" to the truth and endure until the end Revelation 3:20HST July 3, 1844, page 174.16.

• Love His Appearing: Loving and longing for His appearing is a key characteristic of His saintsARSH October 7, 1862, page 146.25+1.

• Personal Acquaintance with Jesus: The most essential preparation for His coming is a personal acquaintance with HimPTUK June 23, 1898, page 389.20.

• Obey God's Commandments: Living in obedience to God's commandments is crucial for those who claim to abide in Him John 15:10+2STJ 59.3+1.

Though we do not set a specific time, the clear signs in the world around us demonstrate the nearness of His glorious revelation in the clouds of heavenGCB May 28, 1913, page 163.16. We are not only to look for but also to hasten the coming of the day of God 2 Peter 3:12HLv 426.1+2.