Where is the Promise of his Coming?
About 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ promised that he would be coming back one day (John 14:3). The angels told the disciples as they watched the Lord ascend back to heaven after his resurrection that Jesus would return in the same way he left (Acts 1:1). Centuries have come and gone. And many use this as an occasion to mock and ask, “Where is the promise of his coming?”
Apostle Peter prophesied that this would happen in the last days. It is one of the signs of the end: an increasing disbelief, even among Christians, about the Lord’s return. Peter wrote:
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (desires), and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:4
To scoff is to mock and ridicule. Many who mock messages about the Lord’s return claim that all things continue as normal. They say that Jesus’s return is a sham because it has taken too long, in their estimation. In their minds, Christians sound like a broken record.
Behold, I am coming soon!
Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon! (Revelation 22:12).” In the King James Version, it says, Behold, I am coming quickly! What is ‘soon’? This is the main reason why scoffers scoff. When Jesus said he was coming soon, in human terms, it probably seemed like a few years or months. In fact, in the lifetime of the disciples, many false prophets claimed that the Lord had already returned (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Peter said that in the last days, scoffers would say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” In their minds, Jesus has taken too long for his promise to be true.
A few months ago, I had a dream where the voice of Jesus echoed like thunder and said to me, “I am coming back.” I asked him when, and he said, “NOW!” What does ‘now’ mean to God? Time does not mean to God what it does to us. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) When God uses words like ‘now’ or ‘soon’, he doesn’t mean it in human terms because he is not human. But he does mean imminent. Because he is alpha and omega, all things are now to him.
A day to God is like 1000 years
What is ‘soon’ to God? Apostle Peter goes further in 2 Peter, 3, to say:
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8
If we use Peter’s reasoning here, then, as far as God is concerned, it has only been about 2 days since Jesus rose from the dead. What Peter was trying to reveal here is that God is outside time. He does not count days like we do since he is eternal and dwells in eternity. God is not late. He is right on time. It is we humans, stuck in the realm of time and limitation, who think that 2,000 years is a long time. Peter says that 1000 years is a day to God. Jesus has not delayed in coming as we think.
Jesus’s seeming delay in coming is God’s long-suffering
“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.” 2 Peter 3:9
Peter tells us that the Lord is not slack or slow concerning Jesus’s return as we count slowness. Instead, what seems like a delay to us, is a demonstration of God’s long-suffering. He is giving mankind time to repent because he is not willing that anyone should perish. If Jesus had come back yesterday, last year, last month, 10 years ago, how many of us would have perished? I know I would. And so his seeming delay in coming back is a grace many of us have been given to repent. God is long-suffering. But we should remember that even his long-suffering has an ending. That end will come.
“The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” 2 Peter 3:15
The Lord will come as a thief: suddenly!
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10
The Apostle Peter goes on to say that the day of the Lord WILL COME as a thief. After explaining why the Lord is not slow in coming, he gives an assurance that he will come. And he will come as a thief. How does a thief break into a house? One, he comes unannounced. Two, he comes suddenly. Three, he comes with great sorrow. Jesus will return, and he will come suddenly when no one is expecting him except those who are watching. He told us to watch! This means he expects his children to be watching for the signs he gave and looking for his return. We may not know the day, but we can know the season.
The generation that will see his coming
Jesus gave us signs of his return in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, Luke 21, and the book of Revelation. He spoke about a generation that would be the last, the generation that would see his return, and he gave distinct signs of this generation. God does not lie. Jesus promised that he would return, and he will. As a result, he told us to always watch and pray. The truth is, there is a generation that will be the last, and I believe it is ours. He said of this generation, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” Matthew 24:34
Jesus said that this last generation would have events taking place that happened in the days of Noah and the days of Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah). Apostle Paul also spoke of signs of the last days in 2 Timothy 3 and 1 Timothy 4.
The signs are all around us. No other generation has seen such a prophetic culmination of what the Bible records as this one. Jesus told us to watch lest that day come upon us unexpectedly (Luke 24:34). Jesus expects us to be watching and not scoffing. And if he does not come in our lifetime, we still should watch and stay ready so that we can be prepared to meet him when we die. There is no excuse for any of us to be sleeping.
“What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Jesus
Every generation should watch for his coming and be ready. The word of God was written for each generation until the final one. The command to all is “watch!” Are you watching? Are you prepared to meet your God? Jesus is coming! His promise is sure and will come to pass. Do not be one of the scoffers, but one of the watchers; prepare yourself so that he does not come to you as a thief in the night!
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Jesus, Mark 13:35-37
If this article blesses you, please share it with your friends, on your socials, and with anyone who needs to know Jesus Christ. Please subscribe below to get more articles regularly straight to your inbox!
Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
To find out how to be born again click here
Subscribe below to join my email list and receive my posts and updates straight to your inbox. Never miss a thing!
