Q- When will Jesus return? Can we know? Are we close? What's the real truth?

A - We can know the season that's for sure.

The apostle Paul described it as "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:13).

We will see Him face to face! And, "We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Christ's return is a repeated promise in God's holy Word, the Bible. For example, Jesus said, "I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3).

But just the question -- when? -- causes some Christians to cringe, protest, or even scoff! They quickly point out that Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36) and they do not understand Jesus was not speaking about the Rapture here. They may also mention Paul's words that the day of the Lord will come like "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2) Paul was talking about the non-believers this has been proven to be true. But many believers have so misunderstood these verses that they are oblivious to the times, not watching for the Lord as He commanded, and are often absorbed by the cares of this world and their own agendas. But it's your choice to believe the truth or the lie!

GOD'S PROMISES OF REVELATION

• 1 - It is clear that Jesus will not come as a "thief in the night" for watchful believers, because in the very same passage, Paul tells us, "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief." If we are trusting in Christ and looking for His coming, Paul said that even the very day does not have to surprise us! In fact, Jesus exhorted, "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief" (Revelation 3:3), saying He will come as a thief only to those not watching!

• 2 - Jesus rebuked those who did not understand the signs of the times in His day: "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3).

• 3 - Of the end of the age, Jesus said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28). He said we would know when it is near!

• 4 - God said, "Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing it to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). God said "nothing," and He did not exclude Christ's return. I take Him at His word.

• 5 - God not only knows the end from the beginning, He tells us that He makes it known! "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10). He has already made it known! I personally believe it has been hidden in His Word all along, to be unlocked in His timing.

• 6 - God said, "I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee" (Isaiah 48:5).

• 7 - Jesus said the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things" (John 14:26). He said "all things." Did Jesus make a mistake, forgetting to exclude when He will return? I don't think so.

  There are other such passages. God clearly promised that we would know at least approximately when Christ will return, and even "the day" will not surprise us, as the Holy Spirit reveals through Paul!

  In addition, there is ample precedent for God revealing specific times in advance.

• 1 - He gave Noah notice of when the flood would be (Genesis 6,7).

• 2 - He told Abraham how long the Israelites would be in Egypt (Genesis 15:13).

• 3 - He revealed to many the very day of Elijah's rapture (2 Kings 2).

• 4 - He told Jeremiah how long the Babylonian exile would be (Jeremiah 29:10).

• 5 - He told Daniel exactly when Messiah would come the first time (Daniel 9:25-26).

• 6 - Some, including the brilliant Sir Isaac Newton, believe this same passage holds the key to the timing of His return (see below).

• 7 - There is evidence that the Bible reveals the exact number of years of "the times of the Gentiles" and the exact span of time to Israel's rebirth in 1947 and the recapture of Jerusalem in 1967. 1967 + 50 years = 2017 backtrack 7 years puts the Rapture in 2010.

  Leaving us clueless now would violate God's own established pattern he has never done this in the past and he WILL NOT do it now - God never changes!