When Will Jesus Return? What the Bible Really Says
Quick Answer
The Bible teaches that no one knows the exact time of Jesus’ return (Matthew 24:36), but Christians are called to live in hope and readiness. Jesus promised to return to judge, restore, and reign, but Scripture gives no date. Instead, the New Testament emphasizes faithfulness, endurance, and watchfulness until his appearing.
Introduction
It’s one of the most common questions in Christian conversation, and one of the most searched queries online: “When will Jesus return?” People type it into Google, ask it in Sunday school, and wrestle with it in quiet moments of prayer.
From the first century until today, believers have longed for the day when Christ will come again. The early church, facing persecution, prayed “Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus!” In our own time of wars, pandemics, and cultural uncertainty, the question rises again with fresh intensity.
But the Bible’s answer is both frustrating and freeing: we don’t know when. Jesus said so plainly. Yet the certainty that he will return—and the hope that brings—is enough to shape our lives today.
What Did Jesus Say About His Return?
Jesus spoke often about his return, weaving it into parables, prophecies, and warnings.
In Matthew 24, he described wars, earthquakes, false messiahs, and gospel proclamation. These images echo Old Testament apocalyptic visions (Daniel and Revelation: Twin Apocalyptic Visions). Yet his conclusion was simple: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (v. 44).
In John 14:1–3, Jesus offers words of comfort: he is preparing a place for his followers, and he will return to take them to himself.
In Luke 21, he speaks of cosmic signs, urging believers not to lose heart but to “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (v. 28).
New Testament scholar G. K. Beale comments: “The certainty of Christ’s coming is emphasized, but the timing is deliberately withheld. The church’s posture must always be one of readiness” (The Book of Revelation, NICNT, p. 680).
In other words, Jesus did not want disciples to mark calendars—he wanted them to follow faithfully.
The Apostles’ Witness
The New Testament letters carry forward Jesus’ teaching.
Paul writes with pastoral urgency: “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven…” (1 Thess. 4:16–17). This passage is central to discussions of the “rapture,” a concept later developed in some Christian traditions (What is Dispensationalism?). But Paul’s focus is encouragement: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (v. 18).
Peter addresses impatience: “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s timing is mercy, giving space for repentance.
John’s Revelation culminates with Jesus’ repeated promise: “See, I am coming soon!” (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). His return is tied not to fear, but to worship and hope (The Central Message of Revelation).
Richard Bauckham observes: “The early Christians lived not with a timetable, but with an expectation that demanded readiness at every moment” (Theology of the Book of Revelation, p. 108).
Why We Cannot Know the Exact Time
Throughout history, predictions have abounded: 1000 AD, 1844, 2000, and countless other dates. All proved wrong.
Jesus was explicit: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36). To speculate further is to ignore his words.
Grant Osborne writes: “Date-setting is not only misguided; it is an act of disobedience to the clear word of Christ” (Revelation, BECNT, p. 617).
Instead of calendars, Jesus gave parables:
The faithful servant in Luke 12:35–40 who stays alert, not knowing when the master will return.
The wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1–13, where preparedness is the point, not prediction.
The message is clear: our calling is vigilance, not speculation.
Will Jesus Return this Year?
It’s a question people are actively asking, as search trends reveal. But the biblical answer is consistent: no one knows.
Year-based predictions tap into fear but lack biblical support. Revelation itself was written to a community facing empire-wide persecution, economic pressure, and questions about God’s control (Persecution of Early Christians; Emperor Worship). The hope given to them—and to us—is not a date but a promise: Christ reigns, and he will return.
Signs of His Return
Jesus mentioned “signs”—false messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes, heavenly disturbances. Some read these as specific predictions; others see them as descriptions of the world’s ongoing brokenness.
Craig Keener explains: “Wars and famines were common in the first century. These are not precise timetables but reminders that the world’s travail points us to the coming kingdom” (Matthew, IVPNTC, p. 355).
In Revelation, symbols and cycles echo the same truth (Key Patterns in Revelation): history is marked by turmoil, but God’s purposes prevail.
The signs are not roadmaps—they are reminders. They call us to hope, not hysteria.
Living in Readiness
So, how do we live between Christ’s ascension and his return?
Faithfulness in Daily Life
Like the churches of Revelation, we are called to repent where we’ve grown cold and to hold fast under pressure.
Encouragement in Community
Paul frames the return of Christ not as a threat but as comfort: “Encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).
Hope in Worship
Revelation’s throne room scenes remind us that worship is our posture in the meantime (Worship in Revelation).
The return of Christ is not meant to paralyze us with fear but to energize us with hope, endurance, and mission.
Related Questions (FAQ)
Is the word “rapture” in the Bible?
No. The word comes from the Latin rapturo, translating the Greek harpazō (“caught up”) in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. While some traditions build elaborate end-times timelines from this, the New Testament emphasis is encouragement and hope (What is Dispensationalism?).
What are the “signs of the times”?
They are not countdowns but reminders of Christ’s sovereignty. They urge watchfulness and faith.
How should Christians live as we wait?
By staying faithful, encouraging one another, and worshiping the Lamb who reigns (The Victory of the Lamb).
Conclusion: Between Promise and Fulfillment
The question “When will Jesus return?” will never go away. The Bible’s answer remains steady: we don’t know the date, but we do know the certainty.
The promise of Christ’s return is not a puzzle to solve but a hope to live by. It sustained persecuted believers in the first century. It sustains anxious believers in our own. And it calls us to worship, endurance, and readiness.
As John closes Revelation: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
