This article discusses what the New Testament says about the timing of Jesus’ second coming.
We are often reminded by teachers that Jesus said “about that day or hour no one knows, not even angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mat 24:44) as if that should end any further discussion.
But there are a surprising number of passages referring to the timing of his coming. Let’s check them out.
First. Matthew 10:23. “But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
Jesus was speaking to his disciples as he sends them out to preach and heal in their mission to the Jews.
The phrase “the Son of Man comes” is a clear reference to Jesus’ Second Coming. Jesus was telling his disciples that their mission will not be completed before his return, and that they should not be discouraged by persecution, but instead to flee to another city of Israel and continue their work. They are only to go to cities of Israel, to Jews, not to Gentiles.
This passage also emphasizes the urgency of the disciples’ mission, as they are to proclaim the gospel in all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes, a huge task taking several decades. The time was very short and that they must work to spread the message before it is too late for the hearers to repent and believe the gospel. We read about this activity in Acts, Paul preaching first to the Jews.
This is a 1st century Jewish setting and cannot fit any other historic period, let alone 2000 years in future.
Second. Mat 16:27-28. 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus was speaking to His disciples and making a profound statement about His Second Coming and the final judgment. This is a 1st century setting and cannot possibly fit any other future historic period.
Though some interpret this as referring to the Transfiguration (Mat 17:1-8), where 3 disciples witness Jesus in a glorified state. That was an important preview of Christ’s role as supreme prophet and king. But there was no mention of his Return or judgment and it was only a few days after the Matthew 16 statement.
Third. Mat 23:38-39. ‘Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’
Jesus declared that the temple will be left desolate, abandoned.—a prophecy of its destruction which we know came by the Romans in 70 AD. Jesus’ body will replace the temple (see John 2:13-21).
The people of Jerusalem will not see Jesus again until they acknowledge and bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord—Jesus himself, as the One who was to return. The Jews will not recognize him as such until they use this phrase to greet him. This was spoken only a few days before they crucified him.
Fourth. Mat 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world (Greek oikoumenē) as a testimony to all peoples (Greek ethnos), and then the end will come.
Jesus was speaking to His disciples discussing the signs of the end and His coming and on the spread of the gospel before the end of the age; the time of his return is linked to the completion of their task.
Note Strongs G3525 oikoumenē can exclude ‘whole earth’ e.g., Luke 2:1, Luke 21:26, Acts 24:5, Rom 10:18.
Note also Strongs G1484 ethnos can meana company, troop, swarm, people group not just ‘nations’
Fourth. Mat 24:15-20: “when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ . . . . then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains . . . Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
Jesus said the disciples would see the Abomination of Desolation the signal to get out of Judea and escape the Great Tribulation. Note the reference to Sabbath and the limits of travel—all purely a Judean context.
Fifth. Mat 24:32-34. “ . . . . lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
‘All these things’ they see include the Abomination of Desolation, the Great Tribulation, the destruction of the temple and the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens and his return must have happened. If they did not happen then Jesus was at best mistaken (a decision reached by C S Lewis) or worse a false prophet.
The word ‘near’ and the phrase ‘right at the door’ can only mean his coming was quite imminent. It cannot possibly mean centuries in the future. It must be within the generation of his hearers, the disciples.
Sixth. Mat 24:44. “about that day or hour no one knows, not angels . . . nor the Son, but only the Father”
Notice Jesus used the terms hour or day of his coming—not that year, century or millennium.
Seventh. Acts 1:10-11. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. The two men in white said to the disciples “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
taken up before their eyes into a cloud: They quickly lost sight of him straining to see him, because it was not a rain cloud but a cloud of God’s glory—see Dan 7:13, Mat 17:5-8, 24:30, 26:63-64;, Rev 1:7, Rev 11:12.
just the same way as: This Greek construction occurs in Mat 23:37. Greek tropos: like as, in the same way.
How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings . . .
Jesus said he was like a hen–not a hen! Jesus’ return is similar to his departure. He disappears in the cloud and when he returns he will come hidden in clouds of God’s glory, clouds hiding him like when he left.
When he came in judgment destroying the Temple he came in the clouds, just as He promised (Mat 24:30), and just as the same clouds of glory that shrouded Him as He ascended. Why should people believe that he could be seen bodily, he who dwells in the splendour and glory of Almighty God?
This passage strongly suggests that his coming was to occur within the lifespan of those present. His coming is not a “coming” that will occur in our future, for indeed, it has already occurred.
How could the apostles be so sure?
There are over one hundred passages in the apostles’ letters showing how the first believers were more than confident of his return in their lifetime. Just as these ‘timing’ passages confine Christ’s Second Coming to the first-century generation, they saw the end of the age squarely in that generation as well. See e.g.
-Phil 3:20. . And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
-Titus 2:11f. we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, J
-2 Thes 2:1. . . about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.
James 5:8-9. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
I conclude: Jesus must have already returned! Please comment and explain if you are unconvinced
Ian Thomson 