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.

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).

Signs of the Second Coming

I believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth. I believe that His Second Coming is near and may 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 comes. 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. There are now tens of thousands of missionaries 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 the 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).