Is This the Second Coming? It Feels Like It..

Is This the Second Coming?

I don’t think I need to remind you about all the chaos and uncertainty happening in the world today.  If your mind hasn’t given any thought today to the rioting throughout the nation, then it’s likely you’ve probably been too worried about the coronavirus or the second coming.

Here where I live, we’ve just begun to move past the anxiety brought on by recent earthquakes.  It feels as though one trial piles on top of another, leaving many of us stretched thin and weary.  With the craziness set to high, it’s only natural to wonder when will the Savior, Jesus Christ, return?  how much longer must the world endure before His coming?

When Is the Savior Coming?

I’m not going to be pretending that after an intensive study of thirty different ancient languages, a careful reading of the Bible, and by divining the cryptic writings of Nosferatu, I’ve somehow nailed down the exact date of the Second Coming.

I have done the math, though, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is a 1 in 7 chance that it will happen on a Wednesday.  A benevolent God would choose a Monday morning before work, while a vengeful God would wait until Friday evening right as the workweek ends.

All joking aside, trying to predict the exact date is a very slim branch to be climbing. The scriptures are clear.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” – Matthew 24:36

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. – Mark 13:32

So, if you ever run across anyone claiming to know the date of the second coming, feel free to listen politely, and then walk away confidence that you know something they don’t know…

In 1996, Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke to the student body at Brigham Young University:

Now, with the Lord’s help, I would like to speak to you about a subject that is on a lot of people’s minds. My intention is not to alarm or to frighten but to discuss the significant and interesting times in which we are now living, to consider some of the events and circumstances we can anticipate in the future, and to suggest a few things we can all do to fortify ourselves and our families for the challenges and trials that will surely come into all of our lives at one time or another.

Toward the end of the Savior’s ministry, His disciples came to Him with several questions all centered around one key prophetic event: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).

Two thousand years ago, Christ’s followers were concerned about that. Every generation of believers since then, I think, has been concerned about the last days to one degree or another. So the Lord’s response to His disciples is meaningful to all of us. To the first question—“When shall these things be?”—He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (see Matthew 24:3–4). That is very significant.

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. [Matthew 24:5–7]

I want to pause here for a moment and suggest to you, if you haven’t been aware, that some of these things seem to be occurring with ever-increasing regularity. If you measured the natural disasters that have occurred in the world during the last ten years and plotted that year by year, you would see an acceleration.

The earth is rumbling, and earthquakes are occurring in “divers places.” Human nature being what it is, we don’t normally pay much attention to these natural phenomena until they happen close to where we are living. But when we contemplate what has happened during the past decade, not only with earthquakes but also with regard to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and the like, you would see an accelerating pattern.

So can we use this scientific data to extrapolate that the Second Coming is likely to occur during the next few years, or the next decade, or the next century? Not really. I am called as one of the apostles to be a special witness of Christ in these exciting, trying times, and I do not know when He is going to come again. As far as I know, none of my brethren in the Council of the Twelve or even in the First Presidency know. And I would humbly suggest to you, my young brothers and sisters, that if we do not know, then nobody knows, no matter how compelling their arguments or how reasonable their calculations. The Savior said that “of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36).

I believe when the Lord says “no man” knows, it really means that no man knows. You should be extremely wary of anyone who claims to be an exception to divine decree. But while the exact timing of the Second Coming remains in doubt, there is no question that scriptural prophecy relative to that momentous and sacred event is being fulfilled, sometimes in remarkable ways.

My Second Coming Prediction

Even though we’ve already established that no man knows the day of the Savior’s return, I’m going to venture out on that very thin limb and make a prediction.  The uncertainty caused by the virus, the struggling economy, widespread protests and rioting, and earthquakes can make it feel like this is the end.

So here’s my prediction: not today.  And by that, I mean it’s not happening today as you read this.  If you have time to search out the Second Coming on the internet, I can guarantee you that things have not reached the point of the Savior’s return.

What’s Next?

Every time a prophet or apostle has spoken about the Second Coming, their message has always been one of optimism and hope for the future.  As Jesus Christ reminds us in Matthew 24:6, “see that ye be not troubled”.  We are encouraged to practice our faith every day, trusting the Lord to bless us in ways only He can.  He knows our needs even better than we know ourselves.

It may feel like our lives have been put on hold as we shelter away from society to protect ourselves from illness, but consider the quiet blessings this time has given us.  We are less rushed, giving us space to study the scriptures more deeply.  There is a wealth of uplifting media available online,  and we have the opportunity to reconnect with family member we may have neglected in the busyness of life.

Above all, remember this: while it’s hard to say whether things get worse before they get better, or better before they get worse, ultimately, for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, things will get a whole lot better.  And since the Lord is not coming today, I plan make the best of it, living with faith, hope, and gratitude.

So lift your eyes to God, embrace the blessings around you, and live!

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Image Credit:
Cover Image: Dallas Golden
Second Coming of Christ: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints