They stood there staring at the sky. We can understand why. They thought they had lost Him once. Did they just lose Him again? Then, while they were looking intently at the sky, two angels appeared. They assured them—reminded them—that He was coming back: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
The disciples returned to Jerusalem and soon began a powerful work of spreading the good news: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and He is coming again soon. It was a message they preached with passion and conviction (in fact, it was their main focus).
Unfortunately, that passion and conviction would lessen. According to Peter, in the last days scoffers will come and say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4). Basically, I’ve heard that message so many times, for so long—so, where is Jesus?
Perhaps you have come to feel this way. You can remember when you used to be excited about Jesus’ coming, but so much time has passed and that excitement has passed as well. Sure, you know He’s coming sometime, but it doesn’t feel like it will be any time soon. We have come to a point in Christianity where we have heard that “Jesus is coming soon” so often, that we don’t really believe it—at least, we don’t live like we believe it. Maybe we have forgotten. Maybe we need to be reminded.
First of all, we need to examine what “soon” means to God. Peter said that “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day” (2 Peter 3:8). Before we assume this is some kind of prophetic key for time, we must recognize that Peter said one day is “as” a thousand years, not one day “is” a thousand years. Psalm 90:4 further explains: “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” Simply put: God doesn’t see time as we do. What can seem like forever to beings whose life span averages less than 100 years, will seem like just a moment to a Being who lives forever. Plus, Jesus told us that no one knows the day or the hour of His return except for the Father (Matt 24:), and if you don’t know exactly when, He may seem late even when He’s on time.
So why does it seem like He’s taking forever? According to Peter, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He’s seems to be taking forever because He is patient. He’s not trying to rush salvation. He wants to save as many as possible.
This means we must continue to wait—patiently. It may seem like Jesus is taking a long time to come, but He is coming soon! We can know He is coming soon because He said so: three times in the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus says, “I am coming soon” (Rev 22:7, 12, 20). Why do you say something three times? For emphasis and to help people remember. In other words, yes, Jesus is coming soon!
What a glorious day that will be! He will come “in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). Loved ones will be reunited. The dead will rise and all the righteous will rise to meet Jesus in the air to live with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). We will be raised with, or transformed into, brand new immortal, glorious bodies (1 Cor 15:51–53). Those who have waited on the Lord will receive their reward: eternal life with Him.
But, we do not know the day or the hour, so we wait. That day will come upon the world like a thief, so we wait. Of course, waiting doesn’t mean sitting in the pews doing nothing. While we wait, we finish the work of spreading the Gospel. While we wait, we encourage each other to keep on the journey. And as Peter said, “since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found [in] him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Peter 3:14). While we wait, we should be strengthening and deepening our relationship with Christ so we’ll know Him when He comes.
Friends, I know you have heard this before. I know it may have become just another saying to you, but: Jesus is coming soon. Sometimes it feels like He’s taking forever. Other times, it may feel like He should take His time. Maybe you are still patiently waiting, if so keep waiting! It will be here before you know it. Maybe you’ve become tired of waiting, or distracted from waiting. I want to urge you to, once again, wait on the Lord. Trust Him, He is coming very soon! Regardless of how we may feel at the moment, God is patiently trying to save as many as possible. He may be waiting for you. But know that one day, a day already set by the Father, Jesus will come, whether you choose to be ready or not.
But for those who will wait for Him, “It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God, we have waited for Him that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation’” (Isaiah 25:9).