The evening before a man was to leave on a long trip, he went into his five-year-old son’s room to tell him good night and remind him that he wouldn’t be there in the morning when the boy woke up. The little fellow was concerned. He asked, “Daddy, how can I know when you’re coming back?”
The father thought a minute and then said, “When you see the leaves on the trees fall to the ground, you can know that I’ll be coming very soon.”
In the weeks that followed, the first thing the boy did every morning when he went out to play was to look up at the trees. Finally, one fall night, there was a strong windstorm, and the next morning, when the lad went outside, the ground was covered with leaves. Ecstatic, he ran through the fallen leaves, shouting, “Daddy’s coming back! Daddy’s coming back!”
when Jesus will come
Shortly before Jesus left this earth, He assured His disciples, “I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:3). For two thousand years, Christians have treasured this promise.
Like the little boy in the story, many Christians wonder, Jesus said no one but God knows the day or hour of His return (Matthew 24:36). However, He gave us several signs by which we can know that His coming is near. Here’s one of them: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14).
Of course, we humans will never know when every person on earth has had a chance to hear the good news about Jesus and His offer of eternal life to all who believe in Him. However, one point is very evident: sharing the good news with every human being is easier today than it has ever been at any other time in human history. Think of it: TV, radio, books, magazines, and newspapers—and now the internet. Under the right circumstances, the whole world could hear the gospel overnight!
The Bible also says that shortly before Jesus returns, the world will be very fascinated with spiritualism and communication with demonic spirits (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; Revelation 16:12–14). Today, we see an increased interest in seances, channeling, and other forms of so-called communication with the dead. This is also a sign of Jesus’s soon coming.
the hope of Jesus’ coming
But is it really important that we know Jesus is coming again?
Absolutely! Are you getting tired of pain and suffering and sickness and death? God promises that, in the new home Jesus is preparing for us, He will wipe every tear from our eyes. “ ‘There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
When Jesus comes, those of your friends and loved ones who were believers and have since died will be raised to life. They will join God’s people who are still alive on earth, “and so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). No wonder the Bible invites us to “encourage each other with these words” (verse 18). The Bible also shows the way to be ready to meet Jesus when He comes. If you haven’t already, make it a point to start reading the Bible every day.
Marvin Moore served as editor of Signs of the Times® from 1994 to 2021.
