When Will Christ Return?
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Brother Bob Pellien: A good day to everyone. Good day. Thank you very much for a nice, warm welcome. We welcome everyone here in the studio audience, as well as all those who are joining us on the internet, maybe watching it by means of incmedia.org on your smartphones, through the Facebook pages that we have or also maybe on Channel 49 INCTV in the Philippines. Thank you all so very much for joining us in this episode of…
Studio audience: That’s in the Bible
Brother Bob Pellien: You know dear friends as people in Africa go through so many trials brought about by massive droughts, intense wars, and other kinds of violence and other kinds of societal challenges. We found a lot of questions coming out of Africa that were sent into our program. There was one that was very, seemed to be very prominent on the mind of our fellow men there in the continent of Africa. There was one common question that we heard and it was voiced out by Brighton in Africa. Let’s take a look at Brighton’s question.
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When is Jesus coming back?
Brighton: I’m very interested to see Jesus come back. My question is, I would like to know, when is He coming back?
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Brother Bob: We’re very thankful to Brighton for his question. But it wasn’t only Brighton who posed that kind of question, the same question was asked by several others in that part of the world. Let’s take a look at just one more.
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When is Jesus coming back?
Jonathan: I just want to know when is Jesus coming? [Because] we are still waiting.
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Brother Bob: Jonathan says, “Well, when is Jesus coming back? We’re still waiting.” Thank you Brighton, thank you Jonathan, and all the others there who sent questions to us here in this program That’s in the Bible.
First of all, we would like to ask, do we have even a reason to believe that Jesus will, in fact, return? Because the question is, when will He return? Should we believe that He’s going to return? Did He have anything to say specifically about that? Let’s turn to the writings written in the book of John where in a very important quote from the Lord Jesus is recorded here, John 14, verses 1, 2, and 3:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
[John 14:1-3 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: So, what do you say studio audience, do we have a reason to believe that Jesus will in fact return?
Studio Audience: Yes
Brother Bob: Sure. Why? Because…
Studio Audience: That’s in the Bible
Brother Bob: Yes, Jesus said it Himself. That’s recorded here is the Holy Scriptures. He said, He’s preparing a place for us and He will come back and He will get us. What does this mean—that He’s just going to come back and get us? Not merely that.
There’s something else we need to know. You know, in the book of Jude, for example, there was a prophecy there recorded in Jude 1:14-15. The Lord said, He would return and He mentioned there the purpose is to execute judgment. That’s also recorded here in the books of Acts 17:31, let’s go ahead and read that:
“because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
[Acts 17:31 New King James Version]
No one knows when Christ will return
Brother Bob: He will return. He will return to execute judgment. Jesus is coming back and He’s coming back to get us. When He comes He’s going to execute judgment upon all. But wait a minute. The question of Brighton and the question of Jonathan, what was the question again? One word—when? They wanted to know, when? Studio audience, do you want to know when also?
Studio Audience: Yes
Brother Bob: Do you want a calendar date? Do you want a date? Do you want me to say October, September, November? I would love to be able to do that. That would really be nice. Again, we open up the Scriptures. Does anyone have a calendar date on the return of our Lord Jesus to execute judgment? Matthew chapter 24, let’s take a look at what’s recorded here. There was a lot recorded here in the book of Matthew about the day of judgment. Chapter 24, verse 36, Jesus said:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
[Matthew 24:36 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Can we give you a calendar date? We can’t do that. Why not? Jesus said, no one knows that calendar date. No one could give a countdown—10, 9, 8, He’s coming. No, we can’t do that. So how are we going to answer the question of Brighton? How are we going to answer the question of Jonathan? How are we going to answer that question to all those around the world that want to know the return of our Lord Jesus Christ?
You know it’s not only Brighton and Jonathan that posed that question. In the first century, the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, they asked that question directly to Jesus themselves. Let’s take a look at where that question was posed. In the book of Matthew chapter 24 verse 3, what did they ask Jesus:
Later, as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, some of His followers went to speak to Him privately. “Tell us,” they inquired. “When will all these things happen? And what will happen to alert us that You are soon coming again, and that the end of the age is near?”
[Matthew 24:3 Last Days Bible]
Brother Bob: The disciples asked that question also. It’s not only Brighton, it’s not only Jonathan and others but there was the Disciples themselves. Did Jesus answer by giving a calendar date when the Disciples asked Him? Oh no, but in verse 33, He did respond:
“In the same way, when you see all these things beginning to happen, realize that the end is near, right at the door.”
[Matthew 24:33 Last Days Bible]
Signs of the end times
Brother Bob: So, Jesus didn’t ignore their question. He didn’t give them a calendar date but you’re going to see certain things and when you see these certain things, you’re going to know that the time of the end is right there—right at the very doors. What were the things that when we see those things happening, we’ll know that we’re living in that time frame referred to by Jesus as the time when the time is at hand. In Matthew chapter 24 verses 6, 7 and 8, the signs giving by Jesus were enumerated like this:
And you will hear of wars, and rumors of more wars, but don’t be alarmed. All of these events must take place, but they do not mean that the end has come. Because when the end is actually approaching, many nations will rise up and war against many other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. And there will be famines, disease epidemics, and earthquakes in various places. “But even these are only the beginning of the birth pangs.”
[Matthew 24: 6-8 Last Days Bible]
Brother Bob: Jesus identified very specific signs. There would be earthquakes in various places, there would be wars, kingdoms in battles against one another, and disease epidemics. He gave a list of circumstances that when we would see those things happening, we would know that the end is at hand.
Now here’s the thing, sometimes people will say and you know rightfully so, “Hey, there’s always been earthquakes. You can look back at history to see all kinds of earthquakes that have taken place over the century. There’s been wars and skirmishes among people ever since history began being recorded. Disease, epidemics, and things like that.”
Well and true, no one can deny that. But the scholars who translated the prophecies of our Lord Jesus into English made note a very important truth regarding those predictions of our Lord Jesus Christ. Which makes the time frame referred to here in these signs very specific. Here’s what the scholars sighted in the footnote to Matthew 24:6-8 which we just read. I quote:
Wars between nations, or even kingdoms, is and has been a common occurrence. History has recorded famines at various times. There have been times of great disease epidemics. There have been earthquakes in the past, but increasingly so in the present day. Jesus tells His disciples, however, to be awaiting a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first time in world history occurred during the years of World War 1 (1914-1918) and immediately following.
[Matthew Footnote 24:6-8 Last Days Bible]
Brother Bob: It may be that the answer to Brighton’s question, Jonathan’s question, and that question posed by so many may not have been given a calendar date in the answer of Jesus. But nearly as a specific calendar date can be, He told them to watch for these signs. And these signs have taken place beginning in 1914, simultaneously the first time in human history. Which tells us, we are living – all of us in this studio audience, all of those watching this program on your smartphone, all of those watching channel 49 INCTV in the Philippines or on incmedia.org, That’s In The Bible program broadcast all over the world—all of us are living at a time when the end is near.
But, one more important evidence before we finish up for today, I would like to read also from Apostle Paul. As I read this, I would like to ask everyone in the audience everywhere to think and consider, have you met, have you experienced people in our time fulfilling precisely the description I’m about to read from Apostle Paul. What did he have to say about the character of people in the times when the end is near. In Timothy, 2 Timothy, chapter 3, beginning in verse 1, we’ll read through verse 5:
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
[2 Timothy 3:1-5 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: What was the prediction of Apostle Paul? He predicted the character of people, the character of people that would be unholy, unthankful, disobedient, loving pleasure more than loving God. You heard and you can see the description. I asked you before I read that, do you know anyone like that? Do you know people in this world who fulfill those kinds of character traits? Sure, all of us do. And what does that tell us? It tells us not only is the Bible true; it tells us that we are living in the time that the Day of Judgment is so very near.
Get ready for the return of Christ
Brother Bob: But here is the thing. Even if we did have a calendar date, if mankind does not know what they need to do while we are waiting for that Day of Judgment. We’re not supposed to just be waiting here waiting for the Day of Judgment while twiddling our thumbs and waiting for it. What should we be doing right now because that moment could come at any time. What’s the instruction of Jesus? Again we turn to Matthew chapter 24 verse 44, Jesus said:
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect.
[Matthew 24:44 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: What’s the expectation of Jesus? Just sit and wait, twiddling our thumbs? What are we supposed to do everyone?
Studio Audience: Get ready.
Brother Bob: Get ready. Be ready. Absolutely, because even if we knew the exact date, even if there was a calendar, even if there was a countdown—10, 9, 8, Jesus is coming, get ready. If we don’t know what to do at that moment, even if we knew the exact moment but we’re not ready for the moment—knowing it would be useless. So we’ve got to know how to be ready for it. Do you agree that’s such a great and valuable knowledge to have- how to be ready for that? Sure! How do we prepare ourselves for that day? Apostle Peter gives to us this instruction in 2 Peter 3:14:
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
[2 Peter 3:14 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: There’s the answer in the Bible, dear friends. How can we be ready for the return of the Lord Jesus? He said be ready, be found at peace, we have to be found at peace on the Day of Judgment. There are a lot of people that are claiming that they will bring you peace. Life coaches, lots of self-help gurus and the like. But the Bible tells us, what peace is referred to here that one must seek, one must be found in that state of peace when the Lord Jesus returns. Colossians 3:15 answers this way:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
[Colossians 3:15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: You’ve got to be found on that day with peace. Those people who are at peace with God are being called and brought into the one body of Christ. Which is why we so often read in this program Colossians 1:18, what’s being referred to as that body into which people are brought so that they can have peace with God. We read Colossians 1:18:
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And He is the head of the body, the church, …
[Colossians 1:18 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: That body is what, studio audience?
Studio Audience: The Church.
Brother Bob: That’s the Church. That’s the Church. We can see plainly written there that the body referred to is none other than the Church. That’s the Church that Christ Himself built. It’s the Church that He Himself is the head of and the Bible teaches it to be none other than the Church Of Christ for which He has shed His blood. Those who are ready then for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is inside the Church Of Christ. When you are ready to learn more about how you too can be inside the Church Of Christ, how you too can be ready for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, we encourage you, visit incmedia.org.
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Learn more at incmedia.org
Brother Bob: There you’re going to find a various series of programs dedicated to answering all of your spiritual questions. There at incmedia.org, you will also find a directory of all the local congregations of the Church Of Christ around the world. You can find the one that is nearest to your home. You can go there to pose these and so many more questions to the ministers that are there waiting for you. They will lead you in Bible studies just like we have begun. We’ve only scratched the surface with a couple of questions that came to us from Africa. Go there, incmedia.org and look up the local congregation there, the address that’s nearest to your home. Go there and join with us in serving and worshiping our Almighty God. You can also email to us your video questions to answers@incmedia.org.
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Email Us Your Questions
Brother Bob: Visit our Facebook pages, Iglesia Ni Cristo Media. Join us here inside the Church Of Christ. We want to thank our studio audience today for joining us in our study. We want to thank everyone who might be watching us on the Internet or Channel 49 INCTV or anywhere else you are tuning from. Thank you for joining us in this taping. I hope you have enjoyed the moments we have shared together but more than that I hope you have learned the truths that we embrace. Why do we embrace these truths? Because…
Studio Audience: That’s in the Bible
Brother Bob: Thank you very much studio audience. Thank you very much. Thank you all. We’ll see you next time!
