Table of Contents
Nowadays many people turn their eyes to Bible prophecy and rightfully so, as prophecy is a light in a dark place. 2 Peter 1:19.
The knowledge of prophecy protects the believers from delusions and deceptions regarding the events of the times. This is its significance – to prepare men for the final and most important events which will put an end to this world’s tragedy.
Prophecy of the glorious Second Coming of Christ
This was the event to which all the Old Testament prophets pointed, it was the hope of true Christians through the ages.
The great Teacher and Savior of the earth, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven, promised that he would come back. He said: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16:27.
When he parted with his sorrowful disciples, he told them the cheering 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.” John 14:1-3.
When is Jesus going to come?
We cannot know the exact day and hour of Jesus’ coming, but we can know the period, which is given to us in the prophetic word.
In the Revelation, God showed the different stages of the church, the battles and the apostasy in it until the Lord would come in the clouds of heaven.
In the letters to the seven churches, God’s Spirit predicted the work of the apostles, their labors and their patience, the persecutions and the sufferings of the martyrs in the first ages, the rise, and reign of the papacy for 1260 years, the great Reformation of the 16th century, the religious movements in our days, the proclamation of the gospel to all nations, as well as the major events of the present time and the future.
In the record of the seven trumpets, the prophetic word predicted with amazing accuracy the barbarian conquests. History confirmed these prophecies. Some characters which are mentioned include: the Goths under Alarich, the Vandals under Genezerich, the Huns led by Attila, the Heruli led by Odoacer, the Mohammedans headed by Mohammed, the Ottomans led by Ottoman, the time of the four sultanates.
It also predicts the anger and the wars among the nations even to this day, America’s role, the near future with the coming seven last judgments, the battle of Armageddon in which all nations that dwell on the earth will take part, huge earthquakes, heavy hail, up to 50 kg, the resurrection of the dead, the thousand-year kingdom, the judgment on the wicked which will be followed by the dissolution of the earth and the punishment of Satan, his angels, the wicked, thus putting an end to all sin.
Through the message of three angels for the end times, Revelation 14:6-12 predicts the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, for a testimony to all nations, and then the Son of Man will appear, with a crown of gold on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.
What will be the manner of Christ’s Coming?
Regarding the way in which Christ shall come, we need not have any doubt, because when he ascended to heaven from The Mount of Olives, two angels in white raiments assured the disciples that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 10:10-11.
To remove any false representations regarding the manner of his coming, the Lord said: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24:27.
The time of Christ’s Coming
Regarding the time of his Coming, the Lord said that the day and the hour no man knows. But he has given enough indicators by which we can know the nearness of the end, and they have been fully affirmed by history.
Daniel the prophet was given a symbolic representation, in which 600 years before Christ God predicted the rise and development of the four kingdoms of the world – Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and also the large and small states that would rise after the division of the Roman Empire, and which exist to this day. Speaking of our days, he says:
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Dan. 2:44.
In addition to Daniel 2, chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the same book give some details about the character, length, and fall of those world kingdoms that would come one after another, even to the glorious appearance of Christ.
Regarding the end, the prophecy says: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” Dan. 7:17.
Though God has hidden the day and the hour when the Son of Man shall appear, he has still given enough signs by which we can know the nearness of this event.
Signs of the nearness of his coming
To the question as to what is the sign of his coming and the end of the world, asked by his disciples, the divine Teacher answered:
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places… 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.”
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24:1-14; 36-39.
All these and many more signs that are mentioned in the Scriptures show that we have come to the time of the end. The religious, political, social, and economic state today give an exact fulfillment of the Bible predictions. When trees blossom we know that summer is near. When we see the signs of the times, shall we not believe that the Lord is near?
Just a little more time, and “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev. 1:7.
The wicked will hide in the caves and the crevasses of the rocks, and they will say to the mountains: “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:16, 17.
The true believers who have been persecuted for his name’s sake, will give the joyful cry: “This is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.