Bible Question:

When will God return?

Bible Answer:

That is a great question Jesus’ disciples asked 2,000 years ago. But God does not want us to know when Jesus or God will return. However, many individuals have claimed they knew when He would return. While Jesus lived and walked on this earth before His death, He implied that He did not know saying that only the Father knew (Matthew 24:36). Later after His death and resurrection and just before He returned to heaven, Jesus’ disciples asked when He would return. Listen to the answer Jesus gave.

And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; (NASB) Acts 1:6-7

This time Jesus did not say that He did not know the time of the end. He merely said we cannot know, but we do know that He will come some day.

Jesus’ Second Coming

Jesus tried to encourage His disciples just before He was going to be betrayed by Judas. So He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them and then return to get them.

Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (NASB) John 14:1-3

Jesus was very clear that He will return. He also said the Father had given Him a kingdom and He promised His disciples that they will reign with Him.

My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (NASB) Luke 22:29-30

How soon will Jesus come?

Saints down through history have been waiting for Jesus to return. It started in the Old Testament. These saints were told the Day of the Lord was near (Isaiah 13:6). The New Testament saints have been told the same thing.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (NASB) 2 Peter 3:9

I find this wonderful. It reveals something about the character of God that I have not fully understood. It gives me insight into God. The fact the Old Testament saints were told the Day of the Lord was near and yet nothing happened by the time Jesus arrived reveals that time is relative to God. Our long periods of time are short to the Lord. He really is eternal. He is timeless.

Conclusion:

Here is the conclusion of the book of Revelation.

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. (NASB) Revelation 22:12

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (NASB) Revelation 22:20