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.

Be Wise

                Have you considered seriously the Parable of the Ten Virgins and how it applies to you?  Do you know how to increase the oil in your lamp?  What do you learn about spiritual self-reliance from this parable?

                “And then, at that day, before the Son of Man comes, shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

                “And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

                “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

                “But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

                “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

                “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

                “Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

                “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

                “But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:  but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

                “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:  and the door was shut.

                “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

                “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

                “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (JST Matthew 25:1/Matthew 25:2-13).

                This parable teaches the importance of being spiritually self-reliant.  It is essential to our eternal well-being that we become spiritually self-reliant.  When we are spiritually self-reliant, we are able to depend on our own testimony.  We seek for opportunities for spiritual growth, and we do this by doing those activities that bring spiritual experiences, such as exercising faith in Jesus Christ by praying daily and studying the scriptures.   We can learn to solve many of our own problems by turning to Heavenly Father and asking for His assistance.  When we are spiritually self-reliant, we have the capability to strengthen others when they are in spiritual need.  What can you do to increase the oil in your lamp?

                Other scriptures mention the Ten Virgins and/or give counsel about becoming spiritually self-reliant.  These scriptures confirm the principle that we are to use our agency to become spiritually strong.

                “O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.  Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mormon 9:27; emphasis added).

                “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

                “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

                “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3-5; emphasis added).

                “And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.

                “Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom –

                “For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:16-18; emphasis added).

                “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

                “And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19).

                Besides the counsel given in the scriptures, latter day apostles and prophets have spoken about the importance of becoming self-reliant.  Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about the Parable of the Ten Virgins and how to apply it to ourselves.  “I now want to use one of many possible interpretations of the parable of the ten virgins to highlight the relationship between testimony and conversion.  Ten virgins, five who were wise and five who were foolish, took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Please think of the lamps used by the virgins as the lamps of testimony.  The foolish virgins took their lamps of testimony but took no oil with them.  Consider the oil to be the oil of conversion….

                “Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed?  Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person?  Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need?  Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge?  The clear answer to each of these questions is no.

                “As the wise virgins emphasized properly, each of us must `buy for ourselves.’  These inspired women were not describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of conversion.  This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time – `line upon line [and] precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and persistently.  No shortcut is available; no last-minute flurry of preparation is possible” ("Converted Unto the Lord," Ensign, Nov. 2012; emphasis added).  

                 President Spencer W. Kimball believed “the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world.  All of the virgins, wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the wedding supper; they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the important day to come….  They were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared….

                “They had the saving, exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives.  They knew the way but gave only a small measure of loyalty and devotion….

                “Rushing for their lamps to light their way through the blackness, half of them found them empty.  They had cheated themselves.  They were fools, these five unprepared virgins….

                “Even the foolish ones trimmed their lamps, but their oil was used up and they had none to refill the lamps. They hastened to make up for lost time….  They had been taught.  They had been warned….

                “… In the daytime, wise and unwise seemed alike; midnight is the time of test and judgment – and offered gladness….

                “The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant.  The wise had to go….  They needed all their oil for themselves; they could not save the foolish….

                “This was not selfishness or unkindness.  The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable.  How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge?  How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission?  How can one share temple privileges?  Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself.

                “The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.  They knew they should have oil.  They merely procrastinated, not knowing when the bridegroom would come….

                “Midnight is so late for those who have procrastinated….

                “For those who heed the warning and make their preparations, for those found at midnight with the oil of righteousness in their lamps, for those with patience, long-suffering, and full dedication, the promise is that they shall sit down at the banquet with their Lord” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 256; emphasis added).

                I know that we must know the truth and become converted to the Lord.  I know that we must hold to truth; we must be firm and steadfast.  We must keep our lamps of testimony burning brightly and have ample oil of conversion and righteousness in reserve.  We must become fully converted in order to strengthen our families, friends, and associates.  I know that we must stop our procrastination for our time for preparation is growing short.  I know that the Lord is hastening His work here upon the earth and that the time of His return to earth is near.  I will continue putting oil in my lamp – drop by drop.  What will you do?