But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will befalling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds" with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates ....
But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come (Mark 13:24-29, 32-33).
In the letter to the church in Philadelphia recorded in the Book of Revelation, Jesus said, "I am coming soon" (Revelation 3:11). Almost 2,000 years have passed and Jesus has not come. What did he mean by "soon"?
The early Christians looked for Christ's return daily. They were sure it would take place at least within their lifetime. This seemed to be the plain meaning of Jesus' words recorded inMatthew: "There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom" (Matthew 16:28). So Paul argued that people should not get married or involve themselves in any new relationship which would take their attention away from the task Jesus had given them, because they didn't have much time in which to do this work before he came (1 Corinthians 7:25ff).
But Jesus didn't come when they expected him. And as the years have gone by many have concluded that it won't be any time "soon." Maybe he won't come at all. There were such skeptics even when the second epistle of Peter was written. "Where is the promise of his coming?" they asked. Today too many have given up waiting and don't give a thought to the Second Coming. But Jesus repeatedly warned that we should be ready and waiting for his return. When will that be? Does it make any sense to talk of it as being "soon"?
God's Perspective
When Jesus said he would return quickly, he was speaking from God's point of view. In the perspective of eternity the duration of a few thousand years is insignificant. So in answer to those who scoffed that Jesus would not return, Peter wrote: "But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day" (2 Peter 3:8).
Time is something God has created. Our understanding of time is dependent on the working of our solar system. But God is not confined to our galaxy. God's calendar is not determined by the size of the earth's orbit around the sun or the speed of its journey through space. God is outside time - beyond it.
This aspect of God's nature - which is really impossible for us time-bound creatures to understand - may be suggested by the name God gave himself in speaking to Moses: "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14). God is always in the present tense. This is indicated also by the language in Revelation where God is called the one who is and who was and who is to come, or the Alpha and the Omega. The passage of time doesn't affect God; with God it is always the present moment. Thus what may seem to us to be a long time of waiting is in a sense already over as far as God is concerned. There is no before or after with God, no period of waiting. Everything is right now.
Moreover, as far as we individually are concerned, the word "soon" is entirely appropriate. We could die soon - at any moment. At best our lifetime lasts only a few years. And then we meet God.
The exact moment no one knows; Jesus said even he did not know it. Thus when someone predicts that Jesus will return on a certain day we can be sure he is mistaken.
But given the uncertainty, how can we maintain a state of expectancy so we won't be unprepared at his arrival? Jesus spoke of a number of events or occurrences that would precede his coming. These are signals that the end is imminent. They can serve as reminders of his promise to return and help us to be prepared for that great event.
Some confusion has resulted from attempts to interpret his words. When Jesus spoke about these signs he was answering a double question. He had commented that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. The disciples then asked, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). No doubt they thought that a catastrophe as great as the destruction of the temple would surely signal the end of the world - that these events would be simultaneous.
Although Jesus was responding to two different questions - about the destruction of the temple and the end of the world - the disciples who recorded what he said did not realize two separate occasions were involved. It is not always clear to which event Jesus was referring. The destruction of the temple took place during the lifetime of some of those who asked the question, but not Christ's return and the end of the world.
Most of the signs Jesus gave describe trouble of some kind. Conditions on earth will become progressively more difficult as the end nears. Those who look for a heaven on earth do not get support from the words of Jesus. The Bible talks about a new heaven and a new earth, but as far as the present world is concerned, it says trouble and evil will become more and more prevalent and will affect the whole world, including believers.
Among the signs that Jesus said would precede his coming are wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes and disturbances affecting the heavenly bodies. The trouble with these signs, of course, is that they are so ordinary. Events of this sort are occurring all the time.
More significant than the signs of nature and history are those relating to spiritual conditions. False prophets and false christs will arise, said Jesus. They may do spectacular deeds and will lead many astray. Strong evil forces will ridicule and persecute Christians and there will be a falling away from faith. In the second letter to Timothy we read, "In the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power ... Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 12-13).
A Positive Sign
But in addition to the large number of signs that involve trouble or suffering one positive sign is also given. Before the end comes, Jesus said, the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world (Matthew 24:14).
These are the signs Jesus gave. How are we to interpret them? Have they been fulfilled? The answer is yes - to a degree. The signs he spoke of have occurred. The gospel has been preached on every continent. Yet even today there are people who do not know this gospel although it may have been proclaimed in their country.
What did Jesus mean? Did he mean that every single individual must have been confronted personally with the gospel message? Or did he simply mean that the good news would have been proclaimed in every part of the world? The gospel has been spread throughout the whole earth; but there is no way for us to know if it has been done as thoroughly as God intends.
The same must be said about the other signs. There have been and continue to be wars, earthquakes, and famines. The sun has been obscured by eclipses and volcanic eruptions; meteors of all sizes have fallen to earth. The forces of evil have often overcome the followers of God. Many false prophets have arisen throughout history, including individuals who claim to be Christ. Christians have fallen away from their faith.
Does this mean the signs have been fulfilled so the end will come immediately? Or is there more to come? Some interpreters argue that since the entire world has not been engulfed in catastrophic disasters the end cannot be imminent. Yet this ignores the constant insistence of scripture that we should be ready for Christ's return at any time.
The signs have been fulfilled to an extent great enough so that the end they foreshadow could come momentarily. Yet it is possible that a greater fulfillment is ahead. We cannot say for sure. This is probably God's intention; God does not mean that anyone should be able to figure out exactly when Christ will come. The message of these signs is that no one knows when the end will be. It could be at any moment. Therefore we are to be ready at all times to meet Christ.
How About The Millennium?
But isn't there supposed to be a millennium, a thousand-year period in which Christ and his followers reign, before the end comes? This belief is based on references in the twentiethchapter of Revelation which speak of a thousand-year period during which Satan is bound and Christ and his followers reign before Satan is released to resume his fight against God (Revelation 20:1-8).
Christians interpret this passage in varying ways. The fact that there are only these few references to a millennium in the Bible and that they occur in a book which has the complicated symbolism of what is called apocalyptic literature (no longer common among us) should caution us against insisting that we fully and correctly understand their meaning. Revelation was written not to give a detailed timetable of the events connected with the end of the world (which would have had little value for Christians who lived thousands of years before the event) but to give encouragement to the early Christians who were facing severe persecution - to tell them no matter how many troubles they may have to endure, God will eventually put an end to all evil and take them into a perfect and eternal kingdom.
A major problem in relating this millennium to the end of the world or Christ's return is that Satan is said to be given destructive power afterward. This conflicts with other references to the Second Coming which say Christ will come to destroy evil of all kinds and usher in a perfect world in which there is no opposition. Furthermore, Jesus insisted that his kingdom is not of this world; he discouraged all the hopes of his followers that they would gain some earthly power or glory by following him. Rather, he said they would be persecuted and more so as the end approaches.
What then can these verses mean? The Book of Revelation uses symbolic language, particularly in regard to numbers. Since 1,000 is the product of 10 times 10 times 10 it represents the qualities of 10 - considered the number of perfection or completion - to a high degree. It is thus the perfect period of time - the length of time necessary for God's purpose to be carried out. Since "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years" we have no way of knowing how long this period is.
Furthermore, Revelation uses several sets of symbols to describe the troubles that will afflict the world and especially Christians. This suggests that these difficulties may occur more than once in various places or times. Thus the thousand years could represent periods of time in various parts of the world when God's will - the proclamation of the gospel so that people come to faith - can be carried out in a way that Satan cannot prevent. This interpretation is also suggested in Revelation 11 by the vision of two witnesses who arise during a period of persecution. They are kept from harm until they have completed their witness. The gospel thus is preached to the extent God wants. Only then are the witnesses overcome, and even that defeat is temporary. For when Christ returns they are raised to heaven with him (Revelation 11:3-12).
The message for us then is the same as to the early Christians: After we come to faith Satan will attack us. But we need not fear because Jesus will come again to put down evil and establish his reign. The manner of his coming will be such that all people will be compelled to acknowledge: "Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."
The time until this happens may seem long to us. But Peter suggests that the reason for this is God's mercy: "The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). God may be delaying the fulfillment of the promise of Christ's return in order to give more people the opportunity to repent and believe.
Whether the actual return of Jesus comes soon or late by our measurement, the signs of his coming have been adequately fulfilled so that it could be at any time. In any case, for us as individuals it will be soon - when death comes. Thus we can see the timeliness of the warning Jesus gave for us to be ready at all times by maintaining a relationship of faith in him. For it is faith, not extraordinary signs, that is the important factor in preparing to meet Jesus. So he tells us, "What I say to you I say to all: Keep awake" (Mark 13:37).