When Will Jesus Christ Return to Earth?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 45 in a lesson titled “The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The revelation in section 45 was received, according to the section heading, “to the joy of the Saints.” And there’s a lot to be joyful about in this revelation. In it the Savior gives His tender promise to plead for us before the Father (see verses 3-5). He tells of His everlasting covenant spreading throughout the world, like “a messenger … to prepare the way before [Him]” (verse 9). And He prophesies of His glorious Second Coming. The Savior does all of this while also acknowledging that these are troubling times (see verse 34), in part because of the perils that are to take place before His coming. But that peril, that darkness is not strong enough to extinguish the light of hope. “For verily I say unto you,” the Lord declared, “that I am … a light that shineth in darkness” (verse 7). That alone is reason to receive this revelation—with whatever counsel and warnings and truth He wants to give—with joy.

This scripture block contained several principles, including (1) Jesus Christ is my Advocate with the Father (Doctrine and Covenants 45:1-5), (2) The gospel is a standard to the nations (Doctrine and Covenants 45:9-10), (3) Jesus Christ will return in glory (Doctrine and Covenants 45:11-75), (4) I can “stand in holy places” and not be moved (Doctrine and Covenants 45:31-32, 56-57), and (5) Zion is a place of safety for the Saints of God (Doctrine and Covenants 45:11-15, 66-71). This essay will discuss principle #3 Jesus Christ will return in glory (Doctrine and Covenants 45:11-75).

The Second Coming of the Lord has been described as both “great” and “dreadful” (Malachi 4:5). The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be “great” for the righteous and “dreadful” for the wicked.

According to Harper in “Historical Context and Background of D&C 45,” Doctrine and Covenants 45 “is the finest text in the world for understanding Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.” The author continued:

One could go to any number of commentaries on Matthew 24 and find all kinds of analysis. These would be helpful, perhaps, but section 45 is the only source on earth in which the Savior of the world interprets and applies his own Olivet discourse.

Cowan wrote in Answers to Your Questions, “If we are to ‘prepare for that which is to come’ (D&C 1:12), we need to understand what is ahead of us. Perhaps no other scripture gives a more comprehensive outline of the latter days than does Doctrine and Covenants 45” (p. 62).

Section 45 lists numerous signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Those signs include the following:

·         Jews, who were scattered among all nations, shall be gathered again (vv. 24-25).

·         Wars and rumors of wars (v. 26).

·         Whole earth will be in commotion (v. 26).

·         Men’s hearts shall fail them (v. 26).

·         Love of men shall wax cold (v. 27).

·         Iniquity shall abound (v. 27).

·         A light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and that light will be the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 28).

·         People will not receive the light but turn their hearts away from Christ (v. 29).

·         Christ’s disciples will stand in holy places and not be moved, but the wicked will curse God and die (v. 32).

·         Earthquakes in divers places and many desolations, but men will kill one another v. 33).

·         Signs and wonders in the heavens and the earth (v. 40).

·         Blood, fire, and vapors of smoke (v. 41).

·         Sun shall be darkened, moon turned to blood, and stars fall from heaven (v. 42).

Then Christ will appear “in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels” (v. 44). Those who watch not for Christ “shall be cut off “(v. 44). An angel shall blow his trumpet, and all the Saints who have died will rise up to meet Christ as He comes (v. 46). Christ will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will cleave in two to save the Jews from destruction (v. 48). There will be a great earthquake (v. 48). Satan will be bound (v. 55).

56 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived – verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

58 And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.

In the parable of the ten virgins, there were five wise virgins and five foolish virgins – all of them had received an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. All were given plenty of time to prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom. However, only five were fully prepared to enter into the wedding venue and participate in the wedding.

Those who are prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will have done the right things for the right reasons. They will have attended sacrament meeting because they wanted to worship God and to renew their covenants with Him and not merely to see their friends. They will have been married in the temple because they wanted to be obedient to the commands of God. They keep their covenants because they understand that they can bind themselves to God through keeping and honoring the covenants that they make with Him. They will have become like God.