When Will Jesus Return? What the Bible Says
No man knoweth the day — but the promise is certain and the posture is commanded. Scripture on the second coming.
The Bible is emphatic on the fact and silent on the date: “this same Jesus… shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go” (Acts 1:11), but “of that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matthew 24:36). His coming will be visible, sudden “as a thief in the night,” and the commanded posture is readiness: “Watch therefore” (Matthew 24:42).
The promise itself
The second coming is the New Testament’s constant horizon — mentioned hundreds of times. Angels promised it at the ascension in the plainest terms: this same Jesus, in like manner. He returns personally, visibly (“every eye shall see him”), and gloriously — not the hidden Galilean this time but the King acknowledged. The creed’s “he shall come again” is simply Scripture’s refrain.
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
The date deliberately sealed
Jesus closed the calendar question himself: no man knows, not the angels — a verse that has pre-refuted every date-setter since. The delay has a stated reason: the Lord “is longsuffering… not willing that any should perish.” Every year of apparent slowness is mercy’s extension. The thief-in-the-night image makes the only preparation timeless: be ready always, guessing never.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
How to wait
Biblical waiting is neither panic nor calendar-gazing but occupied readiness: watch, serve, love his appearing. Paul calls the return “that blessed hope” and says a crown of righteousness awaits “all them also that love his appearing.” The Thessalonians were told to comfort one another with these words and get back to quiet work. The last prayer of the Bible sets the tone: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Quick answers
- What are the signs of Jesus' return?
- Jesus named wars, famines, earthquakes, false christs, gospel preached to all nations (Matthew 24) — birth-pang signs marking the whole age, keeping every generation watchful rather than letting any calculate.
- What is the rapture?
- From 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17: the dead in Christ raised and living believers “caught up” to meet the Lord. Christians differ on its timing relative to other end-time events; the shared core is his certain coming and our gathering to him.
- Should Christians try to predict the end?
- No — every prediction contradicts Matthew 24:36. The commanded stance is readiness (Matthew 24:44), faithfulness in assigned work (24:45–46), and comfort in the promise (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
