When Jesus Returns

Background Scripture: Luke 17
Lesson Scripture: Luke 17:22-36

Introduction

The early Christians expected the return of Jesus in their day. Reviewing the historical events of the time immediately following the ascension of Jesus, we can certainly understand why they would have had reason to expect his soon return. Many of the prophecies Jesus gave as signs of his return could have been observed already in those troubled times.

As the sands of time have filtered through the hourglass of human existence, there has always been an awareness of the return of the Lord among true believers. The phrase “signs of the times” has been repeated over and over to verify the surety of this event. At times, faithful brethren have testified that they thought the return would be in their lifetime. These predictions have come and gone while the signs of his return continue to develop and reveal how much closer we are today than in former years.

In which group are we going to be found at the unexpected return of Jesus? Will we be watching and waiting, or will we be encumbered with the things of earthly life and be caught unprepared?

Key Verse

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh (Matt. 24:44).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

When will Jesus return? It is a soul-searching question that has troubled or comforted the minds of men ever since Jesus was here on this earth. He left this earth and ascended to his Father in heaven, promising He would return. Throughout the ages, followers of Jesus have been studiously searching the Scriptures, attempting to predict the time of his appearance. Where can we turn to find the truth that will comfort and reassure our hearts while we watch and wait? There is no safer source than the inspired Word of God. A humble and prayerful study of the Scriptures along with the revealing work of the Holy Spirit will open to us all we need to know for our preparedness and salvation.

The bookstores of our society are increasingly filled with works written by men who try to interpret the meaning of the prophecies of Christ’s return. While many in the Christian world are prospective over the fulfillment of this event, there are many others who have become so immersed in temporal life that they have lost that peculiar expectancy that accompanies a lively hope. How are true seekers supposed to approach this? They need protection from false teachings while being encouraged and prepared for the return of their Lord.

The Scripture is clear that He will return but not clear about when. The disciples asked Him of the time, and Jesus did not respond in a very clear way, or at least not to the satisfaction of their limited human understanding. On the other hand, He did give a description of the evident signs to be observed as the time of his return approaches.

His imminent suffering, rejection, and death were not understood by the unconverted disciples, nor did they likely understand the meaning of his ascension to the Father and his future return at the culmination of time any better. While they were basking in his presence, they enjoyed the blessings of listening to his teaching. They watched as He healed the lepers, made the blind to see and lame to walk, boldly forgave sins, and preached the gospel without fear. They could not fathom how they could live this new life without Him. They had left all to follow this teacher and miracle worker who was doing all that He said He would and could do.

What, then, was the meaning of these words the Master was speaking? What He was saying must have seemed strange to them. He explained that in the coming days they would desire to see Him but would not be able to. The longing in their hearts would be to find Jesus and to experience more of the blessings of his divine presence. They did not yet understand how the Holy Spirit would soon be given to fill the vacancy left by Jesus’s return to his Father.

Jesus encouraged them to not listen to deceptive voices that would falsely claim to be the Christ. The void left in the hearts of the disciples after Jesus left them could have exposed them to the danger of deception. By preying on their pure motive of longing to be with Jesus, evil and deceptive men and spirits would present a way that would imitate the power and miracles of Jesus. Their ultimate design would be to distort and destroy his teachings.

Deception comes in a form of blindness and obscures the reality of judgment and eternity while informing those who will listen that living for the present day is all that is needed to find happiness and fulfillment. This was the condition of those who were deceived at the time of Noah’s flood and that of Lot in the city of Sodom.

Jesus clearly explains that his return will not be evidenced in any specific location on earth but rather will be a universal, worldwide appearance in which all eyes shall see Him. This appearance will be miraculous, the greatest event in the history of the world.

Other signs indicating the return of the Lord seem to emphasize a nonchalant, casual, and independent way of living. It is interesting to note that Jesus describes the condition of the people in the time of both Noah and Lot in the same state of otherwise normal living. What was Jesus trying to bring out? The routine things of life they were experiencing were certainly not wrong. However, they were living for the present without the fear of God and were not expecting to give an account of their lives. Their thoughts and plans did not consider the will of God but were firmly attended by their own will and according to their own thinking.

The suddenness of God appearing on the scene and the immediate judgment upon those who were living in sin are illustrated in the accounts of Noah and Lot. At the end of time, there will not be time to make a sudden change nor an opportunity to find repentance and forgiveness for sin. The day of grace will be over, and the unjust will go to everlasting destruction and the just to their heavenly home.

At this point in his teaching, Jesus brings a relevant description of the daily life of human existence. Peoples of the earth will be going about their daily habits of life, thoughtless of the possible sudden appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be a great and sudden separation as the clock of time stops and eternity envelops what time has wrought.

Today, we have the blessed opportunity to hear these gracious words of warning. Through repentance, faith, and obedience we are mercifully given a renewed mind and spiritual vision. By faith, we can understand what the human intellect cannot fathom (Heb. 11:3). Our spiritual eyes are opened, and the certainty of the sudden appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us the importance of being ready for his coming.

Practical Truths for Today

Try taking a quiet walk through a cemetery before making important decisions. A stroll through the resting place of the bodies of those who once lived can help to adjust our sense of values. Life, only lived and governed within the confines of time, tends to pull us away from the value and veracity of that which is most important. What appears so important from our earthly point of view begins to take on a different hue in the light of eternity. Walking among the silent graves, we begin to think in terms of eternity and the consequences of life’s decisions. No earthly value is worth jeopardizing a peaceful ending of this life and a happy entry into heaven. Perspective will indeed change as one thinks of the purpose of life and its end.

The earthly perspective will definitely be in tune with our natural feelings and mental calculations. Hopes and dreams for life are then measured with these earthly measurements and calculations. Earthly and material pursuits seem very necessary, desirable, and fulfilling. We reach out and grasp for tangible security, spending a lifetime pursuing these earthly values. When and if we attain them, we find out that they are not as desirable as was imagined. It seems as if something is yet lacking by obtaining that which was supposed to bring fulfillment. All of earth’s treasures will only partially satisfy, and that is because they are only for time. In every heart, there is a desire for complete fulfillment, which will never be found in this earth-life. That cry in our soul is the longing for the eternal, which God has put in every man.

Let us resolve to consecrate our lives so we can find and then live with the vision of being able to see beyond this world and all its activity. This will enable us to be among those who will be watching for Jesus’s coming, even while we are living our earthly life up to that moment.

Questions

1. Life has become so involving and time-consuming. How can we retain the vision we need to keep our earthly life in order while maintaining our readiness for Jesus’s return?
2. Where has affluence, covetousness, and pleasure robbed us of the reality of the return of the Lord?
3. What evidence in our life helps us to recognize if we are prepared for his return?
4. How much time are we to give to Bible reading and prayer?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).