Question:
How Can I Know When Jesus Will Come?
Answer:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
Matthew 24:36
The above verse is what Jesus said to His disciples regarding the second coming and He repeated in verses 42–44 that the hour of His coming is unknown to man, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Jesus Himself was very clear on the subject of the time of His second coming. Ellen White writes just as clearly regarding the danger of trying to determine the specific time, be it day, month and/or year, for Jesus’ return. We find one of these very clear statements in Selected Messages, Book 1, page 188: “Again and again have I been warned in regard to time setting. There will never again be a message for the people of God that will be based on time. We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ.” [Emphasis supplied.]
Here is what matters: Are you in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, today? God decides the number of heartbeats a man has, as well as the number of days allotted to him. And when that point has been reached, there is no more time. Do you want to know when Christ will come? For me, for you, it could be today. It will be the last day of your life on this earth.
That is why Ellen White says, “I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them … ‘Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have. … Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory.’
“Christ is coming with power and great glory. He is coming with His own glory and with the glory of the Father. … To His faithful followers Christ has been a daily companion and familiar friend. They have lived in close contact, in constant communion with God. … They are prepared for the communion of heaven; for they have heaven in their hearts.
“If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.” Maranatha, 98.