Many people have tried to calculate the date of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As they awaited that day, people purchased thousands of billboards to spread their message. Some of them quit their jobs, emptied their bank accounts, and gave up all their possessions, certain they would no longer need them. But that day passed, and clearly, the end of the world did not happen.

All these false prophecies provided atheists with grounds for mockery. They organized mock parties for the “end of the world,” and one atheist group even offered to take care (for a fee!) of the pets of those who were “taken.” People who set a date for the Second Coming have done great harm to this teaching, making it seem ridiculous by announcing a day that came and went without anything happening.

But the Bible warns us that the number of false prophets will increase as a sign of the last days, when Jesus will return: “False prophets have arisen among the people, and among you there will be false teachers who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, deny the Master who redeemed them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1).

Regarding the event of His return, the Lord Jesus said: “But about that day and hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36). In the next chapter, He says: “Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 25:13).

The Apostle Paul tells us that we should continue to live normally and “work with your own hands” so that you “may not be a burden to anyone” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12). Christians should, as far as they are able, support themselves and their families through the income earned from their work. The apostle Paul goes on to say: “For when I was with you, I gave you this rule: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’” But we hear that some among you are living in disorder, doing no work at all, but meddling in other people’s business. We urge and exhort such people, in the Lord Jesus Christ, to earn their own living and eat their own bread in quietness.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 11, 12).

In modern society, there are many people who cannot work for valid reasons: age, illness, or a lack of jobs; but for someone capable of earning a living, giving up one’s possessions based on the prophecy of the Second Coming is folly and disobedience toward God.

 In the Epistle to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul tells us more about the time of the Lord’s coming: “For the Lord Himself, with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. As for times and seasons, you have no need to have them written to you, brothers and sisters. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman; and there will be no escape.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–5:3).

 The Thief in the Night

The coming of the Lord is compared to the coming of a “thief in the night.” If we could calculate the date of His coming, the essence of His teaching would be lost. .” As the apostle John also wrote to us in his epistle, since we do not know the date of the Second Coming, we should be prepared at all times: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3). The expectation of Jesus’ imminent second coming—or our longing to be with Him until the end of our lives—should serve as an incentive for us to pursue holiness through the Holy Spirit, so that we may be ready to meet Him. Peter wrote about this: “Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14). We want to be found in the right place, doing what pleases Him, and not in a place of which we are ashamed. Since we do not know when He will return, we should set our goal on always being in the right place, doing what pleases Him.

When the Lord comes like a “thief in the night,” those who are still alive will be “caught up” to meet Him in the air. These are the ones who believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead—those who will take part in the event known as “the rapture of the Church.” They will join those who died before this event took place and who will later be raised from the dead.

We do not know when the Rapture will take place; it will be unexpected, and those who believe in Jesus and live holy lives will be taken from the earth and will meet Him—the One who is returning—in the air. True Christians will vanish suddenly, leaving behind a world heading toward disaster, chaos, and confusion. A great period of tribulation will then follow, during which the Antichrist will assert his power, promising peace and security, but in fact leading the world toward a catastrophic end (Revelation 6–19). Jesus compared these events to the days of Noah. People were going about their business, unaware of the flood that was to come and destroy their world, but Noah believed that God had prepared a place of safety for him and his family. Today, this place of safety can be found through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus (Luke 17:26–36). 

The second phase of Jesus’ coming will consist of His physical appearance, along with that of the believers who have been raptured to meet Him in the air. He will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and will defeat the armies of the Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. Those who returned with Him and those who returned to Him during the Great Tribulation will accompany Him into the Messianic Kingdom, where the Lord Jesus will reign over the nations, bring peace, and establish justice in the world (Zechariah 14, Jude, verses 14–15; Revelation 19–20). Then the nations will “[…] beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; no nation will lift up a sword against another, nor will they learn war anymore.(Isaiah 2:4).” “[…] the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.(Isaiah 11:9)” These will be humanity’s most glorious times on this planet, just as the period of the Great Tribulation will be the most terrible time ever experienced by humankind.

The Woman in Labor

The Epistle to the Thessalonians refers to the woman in labor (1 Thessalonians 5:3). This is an illustration used in both the Old and New Testaments to depict the last days, and three observations can be made regarding it. First, when a woman begins to experience labor pains, she feels spasms called contractions, which become increasingly intense as the moment of birth approaches. These pains that a woman feels represent the tribulations the world will endure, which will become increasingly difficult before the Second Coming, as the world draws near to its end.

Second, once a woman begins to feel the pains of childbirth, this is an irreversible process that culminates in the birth of the child. Once the pains of the last days begin to be felt, no religious or political leader will be able to reverse this process. Things may unfold more slowly or more quickly, but no one will be able to prevent these events from occurring, which will lead to the final outcome prophesied in the Bible.

Third, when the child is born, the woman no longer thinks about the sorrows and pain she has endured but rather about the joy of childbirth and the new life that has just entered the world. This illustration has an important application in the Bible’s prophecy regarding the last days. The birth of a child corresponds to a great event: the powerful and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will bring an end to the present age of sin and weakness and establish the Millennial Kingdom on earth—a time of peace and righteousness that will bring joy to humanity.   Thanks to the Lord’s goodness and the greatness of His Kingdom, they will forget the sufferings they have endured.

Although we do not know the exact date of Jesus’ return, there are nevertheless certain signs, specified by Him in the Bible, regarding the state of the world at the time of His return.The Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples about these things, warning them: “When these things begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28). It is interesting to note that He used the word “begin” here. This indicates that a certain process has begun—a process that will also have an end, in this case, the second coming of Jesus. In conclusion, although the Lord does not want us to waste our time worrying about calculating the exact date, He does want us to be aware of the signs of His return.

The major signs mentioned by Jesus regarding His second coming can be found in the Bible. They point us toward a great event: the glorious return of the Lord Jesus. Here are some of the most important signs:

• Wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes will increase and bring great tribulation upon the earth. Luke 21:10–11.
• The earth will be filled with violence “as in the days of Noah,” and many people will be afraid of what is about to happen. Luke 17:26–27; Luke 21:25–26; Genesis 6:11.
• “As in the days of Lot” (Sodom and Gomorrah), there will be widespread sexual immorality. Luke 17:28–29, Matthew 24:12; Romans 1:24–27; 2 Timothy 3:1–9.
• Pollution will spread across the earth, and there will be environmental problems. Isaiah 24; Revelation 8:6–11.
• Israel will be recognized as the Jewish homeland. A conflict involving all the nations of the world will take place in Jerusalem. Ezekiel 36–39; Zechariah 12–14; Luke 21:20–24; Revelation 16:16.
• A process of globalization will take place, bringing all nations together. The result will be the creation of an anti-Christian world government. Revelation 13.
• Technology and the ability to travel will advance. Daniel 12:4.
• There will be false prophets who will cause confusion and lead people away from God and salvation. Matthew 24:5, 24:23–27; Revelation 17:1–6.
• The basic truths of the Bible will be attacked, and there will be opposition against those who preach the Gospel. Matthew 24:10–11; 2 Timothy 4:2–5; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 2:18–23.

However, despite persecution and opposition, the message of the Gospel will reach all nations. Matthew 24:9–14; Matthew 28:18–20.

Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to be reconciled to God by unconditionally accepting His will in your life. Through faith and repentance, you will enter the coming Kingdom of God and be caught up with the Lord Jesus to a place of safety, far from this world of sin and violence. If you haven’t taken this step yet, you can do so now by praying sincerely to God.