How Can We Look Forward to the Second Coming Without Fear?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Joseph Smith-Mathew 1; Matthew 24-25; Mark 12-13, and Luke 21 in a lesson titled “The Son of Man Shall Come.” The lesson was preceded with this counsel: “As you read [this scripture block], you might ask, ‘What messages do these chapters have for me? for my family? for my calling?” The lesson was then introduced with the following information: 

Jesus’s disciples must have found His prophecy startling: the mighty temple of Jerusalem, the spiritual and cultural center of the Jewish people, would be destroyed so utterly that “there [would] not be left … one stone upon another.” Naturally the disciples wanted to know more. “When shall these things be?” they asked. “And what is the sign of thy coming?” (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:2-4).

The Savior’s answers revealed that the great destruction coming to Jerusalem – a prophecy fulfilled in AD 70 – would be relatively small compared to the signs of His coming in the last days. Things that seem even more stable than the temple in Jerusalem will prove to be temporary – the sun, the moon, the stars, the nations, and the sea. Even “the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:33). If we are spiritually aware, this commotion can teach us to put our trust in something truly permanent. As Jesus promised, “Heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away…. And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:35, 37).

It so happened that I was asked to speak on this topic in sacrament meeting, and I feel prompted to share with you the short version of my talk. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a future event that can bring either great fear or great joy to us. We are told that we will go through some difficult times and that we will be praying for the quick return of Jesus Christ.

Mentally, I know that tough times will precede the Second Coming. I try to prepare for them, but I do not worry about them. The amount of fear or joy that we feel depends on our perception. When I was a child, I hoped that the Savior would not come until I was old enough to marry and have children. Now I have grandchildren who are old enough to serve missions, get married, and have children of their own. My original fear has turned to joy, but a continuing fear is that I will not be worthy to meet the Savior.

In my talk today, I will share four actions to help us look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ without fear. They are: (1) check the condition of our hearts, (2) maintain positive spiritual momentum, (3) love, serve, and walk peaceably with one another, and (4) seek the presence of the Holy Ghost.

First Action: Check the condition of our hearts:

Two weeks ago in my research methods class, I had a lesson about the ways that scientists and researchers measure their data. Part of our assigned reading material was a talk by Elder Marvin J. Ashton given at the October 1988 General Conference. The talk is titled, “The Measure of Our Hearts,” and it speaks of several ways that the Lord measures our hearts. 

Elder Ashton reminded us of the scripture in 1 Samuel 16:7. As you most likely remember, Samuel was tasked with the assignment of choosing a king to replace King Saul. This is the criteria given by the Lord to His prophet Samuel: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; … for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” The Lord measures the heart because it is, in the words of Elder Ashton, “an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others… The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance.”

We know that we will be judged for our actions as well as the desires of our hearts. Elder Ashton gave four questions for us to use in measuring the conditions of our hearts: (1) How honest in heart am I? (2) Do I have a willing heart? (3) Do I have an understanding, loving heart? (4) “If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, … can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26).

Second Action: Maintain Positive Spiritual Momentum

In the April 2023 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson taught us how to plant seeds of peace and become followers of the Prince of Peace. He told us that we cannot expect peace to exist in the world unless we are “individually seeking peace and harmony.” He asked us to seek spiritual momentum and suggested five specific actions to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum.” 

·         First: Get on the covenant path and stay there.

·         Second: Discover the joy of daily repentance.

·         Third: Learn about God and how He works.

·         Fourth: Seek and expect miracles.

·         Fifth: End conflict in your personal life.

Third Action: Love, Serve, and Walk Peaceably with One Another

In the April 2022 General Conference, President Nelson also spoke about peace. He reminded us of the commandment of the Savior to His Twelve Apostles to love one another as He had loved them. Then the Savior added, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

President Nelson then said, “The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire – no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers.” 

Fourth Action: Seek the Holy Ghost

All of the above are good actions to take, but my fear of not being worthy to be in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ remained until I heard the following quote in a General Conference talk: “We should seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives that influence away – for we know that if we can be worthy of the presence of the Holy Ghost, we can also be worthy to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” 

The Holy Ghost bore testimony of the truthfulness of this statement, and I no longer fear not being worthy to return to the presence of God. I recognize that I must act to stay worthy, but I also know that I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost regularly and frequently. In fact, I have actually found myself praying for the Second Coming of the Savior. I look forward to His coming because He will usher in a time of peace and rest from the difficulties of this world. It will also be a time when our children, teenagers, and young adults will mature in a time of righteousness instead of the wickedness of this world. We live in a time when only the elect will survive. We absolutely need the guidance of the Holy Ghost to discern between good and evil.

 

When Do YOU Think Jesus Christ Will Return to Earth?

            I have been interested in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ since I was a child. I was taught that He would return, and I understood that it would be about the year 2000. I remember worrying that He would come before the year 2000 and wondering if I would have the opportunity to marry and have children before He came. As it happened, I did marry and have children, and now I am a grandmother with grandchildren old enough to marry and have their own children.

            The year 2000 came and went with nothing out of the ordinary happening. As I matured, my understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ grew, and I was no longer panicked about the Second Coming. However, I look at the signs all around me, and I continue to wonder how much more time will pass before He returns. I believe that the Second Coming is close, but I have no idea how close. It is definitely closer than it was when I was a child or even the year 2000.

            I recently purchased a book written by Gerald A. Lund. It is his second book about the return of Jesus Christ to earth. His first book was titled The Coming of the Lord and was published in 1971. It is only fitting that his second book is the titled The Second Coming of the Lord. The second book was published in 2020, nearly fifty years after the first one and contains more recent statements of the prophets and apostles.

I read a small portion of the book every day because I want to ponder and understand what I am reading. Today’s portion was in Chapter 6 “It is Nigh, even at the Door.” When Christ met with His disciples for the last time, they asked the question that people have been asking for the past 2000 years: When will Jesus Christ return?

Lund reminded his readers that the angel Moroni came to visit Joseph Smith in the fall of 1823. Moroni gave instructions concerning a record that was written on gold plates, and then he cited prophecies from the Bible. This is what Joseph Smith wrote in his history about the visit:

He quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, … He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come … but soon would come. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles was soon to come in” (Joseph Smith-History 1:40-41).

            Moroni told Joseph Smith four times that the Second Coming was close but not yet. However, Moroni was not the only heavenly visitor to bring this message. After the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, Moses, Elias, and Elijah came to bring additional priesthood keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. While he was there, Elijah gave the following message: “By this [the coming of the three messengers] ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:16). The Lord said that His coming was near about fifteen times in the scriptures, according to Lund.

In the parable of the ten virgins, Christ taught that the bridegroom who represents Christ, comes “at midnight” (Matthew 25:6). In a revelation given in October 1830, the Lord declared that it was “the eleventh hour” [Doctrine and Covenants 33:3], a seeming reference to the parable. The Lord added that this would be the last time He called laborers into the vineyard [Doctrine and Covenants 33:3; see also Jacob 5:62-63; Doctrine and Covenants 24:19; 43:28; 95:4].

In the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us that “the days speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth [Doctrine and Covenants 1:35]. The Savior personally declares in numerous places that “I come quickly” [Doctrine and Covenants 33:18; 34:12; 35:27; 39:24; 41:4; 49:28; and multiple others]. He also says, “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” [Doctrine and Covenants 88:73). Early in the history of the Church the Lord said, “The day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:8]. The phrase “soon cometh,” referring to His coming, is found in nine other places.

So it seems we have a dilemma. Over and over the Lord has indicated that the time of the end is near and that the day of His coming will be soon. And yet most of those scriptural passages are now almost two hundred years old, but we are still waiting for their fulfillment. So how are we to interpret words like “close,” “quickly,” “soon,” “hasten,” and “speedily”? …

            So, how do YOU interpret those words? It appears that Jesus Christ and His messengers have a different meaning for the words that mere mortals do. When someone tells me that they will be to my house soon, I expect them in a few minutes if they are locals, or in the near future if they are from out of state. I would not expect them to use the word soon if their visit would take place a few months later or years later.

            There is one thing that we know for sure. No one, not one single person on earth or in heaven – except Heavenly Father – knows when Jesus Christ will return to earth. This means that we should not listen to anyone who claims to know when He will come. President Russell M. Nelson made the following statement:

People often ask the Apostles, “When is the Second Coming going to be? “I’ve got the answer. “I don’t know.” It won’t be today or tomorrow, because there is much work that needs to be done before that can come. All I know for sure is that we are a day closer today than we were yesterday. (Teachings, 351)

            The current prophet of the Lord does not know when Jesus Christ will return. I expect that he will have more information prior to the coming of the Lord because “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). I have no idea how the prophet will know, but I believe that he will know at some point. It may be a simple announcement from the Lord, such as “The work is complete.” Right now, we know that there is much work to do before the Savior returns, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must work quickly to get it done. The world must be prepared for the Second Coming of the Lord.

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

            The Second Coming of Jesus Christ draws nearer every day. Those with “eyes to see” and “ears to hear” are aware that the world is spinning into destruction just as Isaiah and many other prophets have foretold. Here are just a few of the words in Isaiah 24 prophesying of the conditions in the world in the last days as shared by Brent L. Top.

·         The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled (v. 3).

·         The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away (v. 4).

·         The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left (vv. 5-6).

·         All joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone (v. 11).

·         The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly (v. 19).

·         The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again (v. 20).

·         Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed (v. 23).

            There are other scriptures in the Bible as well as in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants prophesizing about the Last Days. We are told that there will be wars and rumors of wars. People will be “weeping” and “wailing.” There will be flies and maggots. Flesh will be falling from bones, and eyeballs will fall from their sockets.

            These prophecies and others tell of terrible times ahead for us, and we have the right to be anxious. However, we need not fear if our faith in Jesus Christ is strong enough. After Top shares the above prophecies, he states the following.

As we see many of the signs of the times fulfilled right before our eyes – “wars and rumors of wars,” “the whole earth … in commotion,” “men’s hearts shall fail them,” “iniquity shall abound” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:26-27) –  it would be easy to become discouraged, even fearful. Yet the Savior has assured us, “Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:6). Despite the deterioration of society, with the rapid decline of long-held moral and ethical values, the full-scale assault on religion and religious people, and the many ways in which family solidarity and happiness are being eroded, we can be optimistic – even joyous.

            If the Lord wants us to be optimistic about the future, why would He inspire His prophets to tell us that there are frightening events ahead? The simple truth is that He gives us these warnings in order that we might be prepared to face them. The prophet Amos explains that “the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God wants us to be aware of what is coming, and He sends the messages to us through His prophets, both ancient and modern day. He has prophets and apostles on earth today through whom He gives us His words. Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of them, and he gave the following counsel while speaking at a devotional at Brigham Young University on August 18, 2015. 

As we find our way in a world less attentive to the commandments of God, we will certainly be prayerful, but we need not be overly alarmed. The Lord will bless His Saints with the added spiritual power necessary to meet the challenges of our day.

Here is my major theme this morning: As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.

To understand better, think of these comparisons: If the world were growing more physically dark, He could give us enhanced night vision. If loud noises were constantly in our ears, He could give us a filtering mechanism to block the unwanted sound. If the race we were running was extended, He could give us increased lung and muscle capacity. If the exam we were taking was more difficult, He could quicken our minds….

My brothers and sisters, as evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory power, an additional spiritual endowment, a revelatory gift for the righteous.

This added blessing of spiritual power does not settle upon us just because we are part of this generation. It is willingly offered to us; it is eagerly put before us. But as with all spiritual gifts, it requires our desiring it, pursuing it, and living worthy of receiving it….

Faith is the muscle of spiritual knowledge and power. Faith is a spiritual gift of God, but it is developed and magnified as we eagerly pursue our journey of embracing and following the Savior….

I emphasize once again: As evil increases in the world, the Lord does not leave us on the same footing. In a world that would diminish or discard or impair belief, there is an added spiritual power for those who are willing to set their course on increasing their faith in Jesus Christ.

            As shared by Elder Andersen, there are great blessings in store for those who love the Lord enough to keep His commandments and to prepare for His Second Coming. The only thing that we need to do is to follow Him and watch for Him. As an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Andersen promised that we will receive “added spiritual power” if we will stay on the gospel path and increase our faith in Jesus Christ.

            My thoughts keep going back to the words of the current Prophet of the Lord, even President Russell M. Nelson, in the April 2019 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are the words with which he closed his remarks. 

My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ invites us to take the covenant path back home to our Heavenly Parents and be with those we love. He invites us to “come, follow me.”

Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.

            We have the words of many prophets and numerous signs telling us that the Savior will be returning soon. We can be like the foolish virgins who ran out of oil just as they needed it, or we can be like the wise virgins who took extra oil for their lamps. (See Matthew 25:1-13.) The choice is ours, but His return is coming sooner rather than later according to the signs of the times. 

Best of Times, Worst of Times

            In 1859 Charles Dickens published his famous book, A Tale of Two Cities. The historical novel is set in London and Paris prior to and during the French Revolution, and it shows the conditions that led to the revolution. Dickens begins his story with this famous statement.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

            Dickens was describing conditions in his day, but he could have been describing our day. Americans live in the richest, most powerful nation in the world. The poorest people in America would be considered rich in many other nations. We have one of the highest standards of living in the world and have greater access to education than any previous generation. We enjoy the greatest comforts and the finest of luxuries. We live in the best of times.

            We also live in the worst of times. Our nation and the world face problems and dangers that were not even imagined in prior generations. We have terrible crime, destructive wars, murders, immorality, and corruption in the highest levels of our government. The scriptures compare the wickedness of our day to the time of Noah when he preached repentance for over 100 years without success. The people were so wicked that the Lord flooded the earth to end their wickedness. Only Noah and his immediate family survived.

            We live in the days just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. There is a growing division between the righteous people of the earth and the wicked ones. The good people are becoming better and better, and the bad people are becoming more and more wicked. The division will continue to grow until the Lord returns to earth. He promised that there will be a great fire on the earth when He comes again. The righteous will be saved, and the wicked will be consumed – just as the flood waters drowned the wicked people in the days of Noah.

            The Second Coming of the Savior has been described as both “great” and “terrible.” It will be a great day for the righteous people, but it will be a terrible one for the wicked people. Then-President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Ezra Taft Benson shared some of his thoughts about the events of the Last Days when he spoke at Brigham Young University in 1981. He titled his remarks “Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord.” 

            President Benson tells the students that they “stand close to the great day of the Lord!”

He warns them that they “will live in the midst of economic, political and spiritual instability,” but they should not be troubled when they see signs of the Coming of Christ. He tells them to “stand… in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8). He then explains where we can find holy places.

Holy men stand in holy places and these holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are, as the Lord declares, “for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:6).

Heed the Lord’s counsel to the Saints of this dispensation: “Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:10).

This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the Church. You must learn to be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so you will not be deceived. …

            President Benson reminds the students that the parable of the Ten Virgins would be fulfilled when Christ comes in his glory. The people who will not be “hewn down and cast into the fire” are those who are “wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived….” (See Doctrine and Covenants 45:56-59.)

            The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that we need to receive the truth and invite the Holy Ghost to guide us. President Benson taught that we must learn to receive personal revelation and be obedient to the counsel of the living prophet. This information falls right in line with counsel given by President Russell M. Nelson in the April 2018 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things – that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61). …

            President Nelson encourages us to stretch our spiritual ability in order to receive more personal revelation. Then he tells us some of the things that we must do if we want to see the heavens open to us.

Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you – even miracles – will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.

            Like other prophets, President Nelson is optimistic about the future. He sees many good things that will come into our lives, but he also knows that life is going to become more difficult for us. He tells us that we will see great examples of God’s mighty works, even ones that indicate that the Father and the Son preside over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I am optimistic about the future. It will be filled with opportunities for each of us to progress, contribute, and take the gospel to every corner of the earth. But I am also not naïve about the days ahead. We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious…. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory….

            Even with all the miracles and mighty works that we will see, we will have great difficulties. The problems will be impossible to survive without the influence of the Holy Ghost and His guidance in our lives.

… But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.

            President Nelson pleads with us to do the necessary spiritual work to enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost more often. I have read through this talk several times. I studied it again last week, and I was struck by the Prophet’s plea that we increase our spirituality. He says that we must do more than merely be active in the Church. We must do the type of praying, studying, worshipping, etc. that will increase our spirituality.

            It seems to me that as I strive to grow closer to God and more like the Savior that I regularly reach “plateaus” in my growth. I seem to work and work at moving higher, but I do not see much change. Then something happens, and I am growing again. I am currently on one of those plateaus, and I keep pleading and asking questions, “What changes do I need to make in order to feel closer to my Savior?” Where do I need to obey more exactly? How can I improve my personal study of the Book of Mormon and feel the Spirit more often? How can I become more spiritually in tune through my temple attendance?

            The heavens seem to be closed to me right now, and I do not know why. However, I know that I must continue to seek the Lord in my daily activities in order to have them open to me. I encourage you to do the same. We all must increase in spirituality in order to be prepared to meet the Savior when He returns to earth.

           

Second Coming of Christ

            Over the past few months I have read several articles about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Among them are two articles by Robert L. Millett. One is titled “7 Things That Still Need to Happen before the World Ends,” and the other one is titled “5 Things You Should Know About the Second Coming.” I may have even used one or both in my blog because both of them have some interesting information and the subject is never far from my thoughts.

            My mind has been on the things of eternity in recent weeks because I have another brother who appears to be close to death. After suffering serious health problems for more than two years, he recently learned that he has brain cancer. Although he appears ready to face whatever comes, I have shed many tears – probably for myself but also for him and his family – since I received the latest news. I thought about his reunion with my mother and father and how they will say to him, “Well done, Son!” I also thought of his reunion with his daughter who passed away more than 40 years ago and his reunion with our two brothers who have already graduated from this life. I am sure that he, along with our father, will have all of them working on family history and doing all that they can to get our family all sealed together.

            With this type of thought going through my mind, I studied 1 Thessalonians this afternoon. The two Thessalonians in the New Testament were written by the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonian saints. Paul had previously performed missionary work in Thessalonica while on his second missionary journey. However, he and his two missionary companions were forced out of the city by Jewish leaders. While on his third missionary journey, he stopped in Corinth and sent Timothy to check on the saints in Thessalonica.

            Timothy returned to Corinth with a good report. The saints in Thessalonica were living the gospel and being good examples to all who knew them. Timothy also brought some questions from the saints to Paul, and Paul sent the answers back to them in his letters.

             In the first three chapters of 1 Thessalonians, Paul expresses great love for the people and appreciation for their faithfulness and missionary work. He counseled them to grow in unity and love one for another.

            In the last two chapters Paul calls on the Thessalonian members of the Church to be pure and holy and to sanctify themselves in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Paul taught them that the Saints who remain faithful in their testimony of Jesus Christ until death will rise with Him, and that the righteous living on the earth will meet the Lord and the risen Saints. He reminded them of the need to prepare and watch for the day of the Savior’s return.

            The teachings of the Apostle Paul about the Second Coming are confirmed in latter-day revelations, such as Doctrine and Covenants 88:96-98. Elder Dallin H. Oaks summarized these teachings as follows.

Four matters are indisputable to Latter-day Saints: (1) The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace. (2) At the time of His coming there will be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. (3) No one knows the time of His coming, but (4) the faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, May 2004, 7). 

            Elder Oaks spoke about the destruction of the wicked. Elsewhere, the Lord has said that the destruction will begin in His house, meaning The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those members who have not prepared spiritually to meet him will be destroyed - at least the most wicked of them.

            Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 that the Savior will as a thief in the night, and Elder Oaks confirms that no one knows the time when the Savior will return. Paul, however, makes an exception for the followers of Jesus Christ who “are not in darkness” (verses 4-5). These disciples will be awake, alert, and watching for the Savior. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) adds the following information.

I do not know when he is going to come. No man knows. Even the angels of heaven are in the dark in regard to that great truth [see Matthew 24:36-37]. But this I know, that the signs that have been pointed out are here. The earth is full of calamity, of trouble. The hearts of men are failing them. We see the signs as we see the fig tree putting forth her leaves; and knowing this time is near, it behooves me and it behooves you, and all men upon the face of the earth, to pay heed to the words of Christ, to his apostles and watch, for we know not the day nor the hour. But I tell you this, it shall come as a thief in the night, when many of us will not be ready for it (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56], 3:52-53 as quotedin the New Testament Student Manual, Religion 211-212, p 450). 

            There is little doubt in my mind that the Second Coming is near. President Smith said that the signs of His coming are here. It is not too late – yet – to learn the signs of the times and to prepare to meet the Savior. Ancient and latter-day apostles and prophets have warned us. If we do not pay attention to them, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Blood Moon

                I experienced a rare sight last week when the moon turned red as did millions of other people.  We were told that the red moon was a “blood moon” because of the “reddish color that results when the Earth comes between the sun and moon….”  We were also told there will be a “rare series of four total lunar eclipses that occur over two-year periods,” with the added information that these “`blood moons’ … are tied to major events involving Israel.”

                I do not remember seeing a red moon at any time previously in my life, but I have read many places in the scriptures about the moon turning to blood just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  “But, behold, I say unto you that before this great day shall come the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in heaven above and in the earth beneath” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:14).

                I was anxious to see the red moon because of the above prophecy.  I was just curious but not concerned about the end of the world or anything fearful.  I found the red moon fascinating, but I could not help wondering if it is the same type of red moon that will appear when Christ comes.  Will that sight be caused simply by a lunar eclipse?  Of course, none of us know what will cause it – at least not at the present time, but it is an interesting idea to ponder.

Second Coming of Christ

                    The Second Coming of Jesus Christ draws great interest.  We want to know when it will be and how we can know when it is happening.  People have looked forward to the time when Christ would return to earth ever since He ascended into heaven.  The followers of Jesus Christ continue to look forward to His coming back to earth.

                    Jesus Christ and His Apostles gathered together on the Mount of Olives forty days after His Resurrection.  Jesus had completed all of His assignments for that time, and He was ready to leave the earth to return to the presence of Heavenly Father.

Christ instructed His Apostles and then ascended into heaven.  While the Apostles stood there looking heavenward, two angels stood beside them and 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” (Acts 1:11). 

There are several actions that Jesus Christ will do when He comes back to earth, including the following:  1) He will cleanse the earth from evil and sin.  2) He will judge His people.  3) He will usher in the Millennium.  4) He will complete the First Resurrection.  5) He will take His rightful place as King of heaven and earth.

When Jesus comes again, He will come in power and great glory.  At that time the wicked will be destroyed.  All things that are corrupt will be burned, and the earth will be cleansed by fire (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:24-25).

When Jesus comes again, He will judge all nations and will divide the righteous from the wicked (see Matthew 25:31-46).  John the Revelator wrote about the judgment:  “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:  and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”  He saw that the wicked “lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:4-5; see also Doctrine and Covenants 88:95-98).

When Jesus comes again, He will usher in the Millennium, the thousand-year period of time when Jesus will reign on the earth.  The righteous will be caught up to meet Jesus at His coming (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:96).

President Brigham Young said, “In the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth in power, glory and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that has so long prevailed is subdued, the Saints of God will have the privilege of building their temples, and of entering into them, becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God [see Revelation 3:12], and they will officiate for their dead.  Then we will see our friends come up, and perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here….  And we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them.  Then [children] will be sealed to [parents] until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of Priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Brigham Young [1997], 333-34).

When Jesus comes again, He will complete the First Resurrection.  All people who have earned the privilege of coming forth in the resurrection of the just will rise from their graves.  They will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes down from heaven.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:97-98.)

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the beginning of the first resurrection.  His Resurrection was followed by the resurrection of other righteous people who had previously died.  These people appeared in Jerusalem and also on the American continent.  (See Matthew 27:52-53; 3 Nephi 23:9-10.)  Other people have been resurrected since that time.  Those who have already been resurrected and those who will be resurrected at the time of His coming will all inherit the glory of the celestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-70).

The candidates for the terrestrial kingdom will be resurrected after the resurrection of all those who will inherit celestial glory.  These two events will complete the First Resurrection.

The wicked people living on earth when the Savior comes will be destroyed in the flesh.   They and all wicked who are already dead will have to wait until the last resurrection.  They will either inherit telestial glory or be cast into outer darkness with Satan (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:32-33, 81-112).

When Jesus comes again, He will establish His government on the earth and take His rightful place as King of heaven and earth.  Christ will rule all the people of the earth in peace for 1,000 years.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will become part of His kingdom.

When Jesus Christ came to earth the first time, He was born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger filled with hay.  He did not come in glory or with great armies as the Jews expected their Messiah to do.  Jesus came humbly and lived humbly.  He said, “Love your enemies,… do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44).  He was despised, rejected, and crucified.  When He comes the second time, He will not be rejected but “every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess” that Jesus is the Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 88:104).  He will be greeted as “Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14).  He will be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

There were only a few people who knew when Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born.  When He returns to earth, everyone will know who He is.  No one knows the exact time of His coming:  “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36; see also Doctrine and Covenants 49:7).

The Lord gave the parable of the fig tree to tell us how we can know when His coming is near.  He taught, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree;  When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

“So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors” (Mark 13:28-29).

After the Lord gave us some signs to let us know when His coming is near, He cautioned:  “Watch therefore:  for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come….

“… Be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42, 44).

We can prepare for the Savior’s coming by accepting the teachings of the gospel and making them a part of our lives.  When He was on earth Jesus taught us that we should live each day in the best way we can – better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today.  We have a modern-day prophet to whom we can look for guidance and counsel.  We can also have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to guide us if we live worthy of His presence.  As long as we live righteously, we can look forward to the Savior’s return with happiness instead of fear.  The Lord taught:  “Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come.  Behold, I come quickly.  Even so.  Amen” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:27).

Signs of the Second Coming

                    The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth has been foretold for hundreds and thousands of years.  No person besides Heavenly Father knows when the Savior will come back to the earth to rule and reign, but God has revealed through His prophets how we can know when the coming of the Savior is near.  The Savior likened His return to the earth to a pregnancy.  Women recognize the signs that foretell the birth of their babies, but they do not know - unless surgery is scheduled - the exact day, hour, or minute that their babies will be born.  The key in any of these situations is to watch for the signs.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He will return to earth to rule and reign for one thousand years.  I believe that His Second Coming is near and may even occur during my lifetime.  I look forward to this event with great excitement and wonder.

The Savior told Joseph Smith, “I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory … and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:11). Jesus has also given numerous signs and events that will warn us when the time of His coming is near.

Followers of Jesus Christ look forward to His coming again and have done so for thousands of years.  We expect it to be a time of peace and joy and yet understand that we will experience great trials and calamities before He returns.  Heavenly Father has forewarned us about these difficult times because He wants us to be prepared to survive them.  He also expects us to prepare ourselves spiritually in order to be ready when the Savior comes in His glory.  This is the reason He has revealed these signs to His prophets throughout the ages.  He said that all of the Savior’s faithful followers will know what the signs are and will be watching for them (see Doctrine and Covenants 45:39).  Studying the scriptures will help us to know the signs and to be obedient and faithful.

Some of the signs of the Savior’s Second Coming have already been fulfilled or are in the process of being fulfilled.  The rest will be fulfilled in the future.  These signs are always revealed through the prophets, and many of them will be dreadful and terrifying.  We have been warned that the earth will experience great turmoil, wickedness, war, and suffering.  The prophet Daniel said that the time before Christ comes again will be a time of trouble such as the earth has never previously known (see Daniel 12:1).

The Lord said, “The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:27).  “And all things shall be in commotion; and … fear shall come upon all people” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:91).  We can expect earthquakes, disease, famines, great storms, lightning, and thunder (see Matthew 24:7; Doctrine and Covenants 88:90).  Hailstorms will destroy the crops of the earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:16).

When the disciples of Jesus Christ asked Him about His Second Coming, the Lord told them, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars….  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7).  The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Be not discouraged when we tell you of perilous times, for they must shortly come, for the sword, famine, and pestilences are approaching.  There shall be great destructions upon the face of this land, for ye need not suppose that one jot or tittle of the prophecies of all the holy prophets shall fail, and there are many that remain to be fulfilled yet” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Joseph Smith [2007], 252).

Many of these signs are currently in the process of being fulfilled.  Wickedness is everywhere – in every city, state and nation of the world.  At any given time, two or more nations are at war.  Earthquakes and other calamities are occurring regularly.  Millions of people are now suffering from terrible storms, drought, hunger, and diseases.  These calamities will certainly become more severe before the Lord comes.

Some of the events of the Second Coming bring joy to the world.  Some of the joyful events are:  the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached in the entire world, the coming of Elijah, the Lamanites becoming righteous and respected, and the building of the New Jerusalem.

The Lord explained, “Light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:28).  Prophets of old foretold the Restoration of the gospel, and the Apostle John saw in vision that the gospel would be restored by an angel (see Revelation 14:6-7).  The angel Moroni and other heavenly beings brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith and fulfilled this prophecy.

When Jesus Christ visited the Nephites, He gave them another sign of His coming:  the Book of Mormon would come to their descendants (see 3 Nephi 21).  The Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel foresaw the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (see Isaiah 29:4-18; Ezekiel 37:16-20).  These prophecies are being fulfilled in our day.  The Book of Mormon was brought forth and is currently being taken to the entire world.

Jesus Christ told His disciples that the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14; see also Joseph Smith – Matthew 1:31).  He has also revealed that all people will hear the fullness of the gospel in their own language (see Doctrine and Covenants 90:11).  Ever since the Restoration of the Church, missionaries have been preaching the gospel, and tens of thousands of missionaries are now preaching the gospel in many countries of the world in many different languages.  Before Christ returns to earth and during the Millennium, the truth will be taken to all nations.

The prophet Elijah held the sealing power during his life on earth, and the prophet Malachi prophesied that Elijah would bring that power back to earth before the Savior comes:  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Elijah the prophet came to Joseph Smith in April 1836.  Soon after his visit, people began to take greater interest in genealogy and family history.  Sealing ordinances are performed in the temples for both the living and the dead.

The Lord said, “Before the great day of the lord shall come, … the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose” (Doctrine and Covenants 49:24)  He meant that the Lamanites would become a righteous and respected people when His coming was near.  There are great numbers of the descendants of Lehi who are receiving the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As the coming of Jesus Christ draws near, faithful Saints will build the New Jerusalem – a righteous city of God where Jesus Christ Himself will rule.  (See 3 Nephi 21:23-25; Moses 7:62-64; Articles of Faith 1:10.)  In the latter-days, the Lord revealed that the city would be built in the state of Missouri in the United States (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:2-3).

There are many signs given in the scriptures for the Second Coming, and these are just a few of them.  I encourage you to go to the scriptures and find other signs.

The exact time of the Second Coming has not been revealed.  The Lord said, “The hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven” (Doctrine and Covenants 49:7).  Christ taught this principle when He gave the parable of the fig tree.  He explained to His disciples that when we see leaves coming out on a fig tree, we can know that summer is near.  He then explained that we can know that His coming is near when we see the signs described in the scriptures.  (See Matthew 24:32-33.)

I believe that Heavenly Father loves all of His children and wants us to be prepared.  Because we know these signs, we can put our lives in order and prepare for those times yet to come.  We know that we must be prepared spiritually in order to survive the calamities of the great and dreadful day, but we can also look forward with joy to the coming of the Savior.  The Lord said, “Be not troubled, for, when all these things [the signs] shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:35).  He said that those who are righteous when He comes will not be destroyed “but shall abide the day.  And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; … and their children shall grow up without sin….  For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:57-59).