Has Jesus already returned (Revelation 22:20)?

He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

The One testifying to these things [Jesus] says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

The final words in the Revelation of John and the Bible as a whole.

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

In regards to the exact time [that Jesus returns] nobody knows, not even the heavenly court, nor the Son, but only the Father. Therefore, be on guard and keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

A portion of Mark’s account of what is commonly referred to as Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse” from Matthew (chapters 24-25).

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Since the end of all things is at hand, we should be self-controlled and sober-minded for our prayers. Most of all, continue to love each other earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to each other without complaining.

Peter’s first letter to the “elect exiles” (brethren) that were faced with “various trials” (1:6). He wrote to strengthen and encourage them since they could or likely would be tested by a “fiery trial” (vs 12). This could be a trial peculiar to this particular group of Christians, but it is more likely the general “tribulation” that all Christians are promised during their lives of faithfulness.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will darken, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven causing all on earth mourn, seeing Him coming on the clouds in the sky with power and glory. He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather the saints from the all the earth.

This chapter, along with the next (chapter 25), constitutes a discussion between Jesus and his disciples sometimes referred to as the “Olivet Discourse.” Matthew is the only gospel writer to record the second half (chapter 25), while shorter versions of the first half can be found in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 17:20-27 & 21:5-36. Upon leaving the temple, Jesus comments on its destruction (vs 2). Subsequently, they wanted to know about three things from Jesus: 1) the timing of the temple’s destruction, 2) the sign of His coming, and 3) the end of the age (vs 3). Jesus begins His answer, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.” (vs 4-5)Taking this backdrop and chapters 24 & 25 together it is clear Jesus is addressing God’s judgment on both the nation of Israel and His final judgment on all mankind. We can further contextualize this discussion by looking at other instances when God, through a prophet, would pronounce judgment on a nation. When we read Amos or Hosea regarding Israel’s judgment, Isaiah or Jeremiah regarding Judah’s judgment, or Obadiah regarding Edom’s judgment, we read about not only God’s judgment on that nation (a near-term “day of the Lord”) but also His eventual judgment on all mankind (a longer-term final “day of the Lord”). In fact, often the prophet (e.g. God) will go back and forth between near-term judgment events and long-term judgment events. This is the same with Jesus and how He speaks about God’s judgment in chapter 24. Remember, the disciples had asked about both the timing of the destruction of the temple and His return (vs 3). Jesus shares events (vss 15-28) that will take place in their generation (vs 34) regarding the destruction of the temple (in fact, taking place about forty years later in 70AD). He then speaks primarily about what will happen “immediately after the tribulation of those days” (vs 29), namely His return (vss 29-44), before concluding with three parables and describing what the final “day of the Lord” will look like. Detail of the sequencing of Jesus’ prophecy re: a near-term “day of the Lord” and the final “day of the Lord”:

• 24:4-14 – A broad review of events during the ‘end times’ (both near-term and long-term) when “lawlessness is increased”.
• 24:15-28 – A near-term description of events that they would experience relating to the destruction of Jerusalem. Something that in fact, would happen about forty years later (70AD).
• 24:29-31 – A long-term description of the events of the second coming, the final judgment.
• vss 32-34 – The near-term timing that He relates and explains with a parable about the fig tree for how they would identify the occurrence of “these things” (vs 33) and says, “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (vs 34).
• 24:35-44 – The long-term timing, transitioned by contrasting things that will and won’t pass away (vs 34-35) and with “But…” (vs 36). This timing “no one knows” – not even Himself (vs 36).
• 24:45-25:30 – Three parables about being ready for His coming because we don’t know when it will be:
  • 24:45-51 – The “faithful and wise servant”
  • 25:1-13 – The “ten virgins”
  • 25:14-30 – The “talents”
• 25:31-46 – Description of how it will be on that final “day of the Lord”. A good portion of this is repeated by Jesus in a different setting in Luke 17:20-27.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Brethren, patiently await the coming of the Lord. Learn from how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being nourished by both the early and late rains. Be patient like that, establishing your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Don’t grumble against each other, lest you yourself be judged by the Judge that is standing at the door.

James’ letter throughout is about encouraging and warning Christians to live out the “word of truth” (1:18) in their lives and gives many practical examples of what that looks like.

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

My people! Hide yourselves for a little while inside your homes and shut the doors behind you until the fury has passed. Behold, God is coming out from His abode to punish the wicked on the earth which will show all the bloodshed and no longer conceal her dead.

After several oracles/judgments on specific nations such as Cush, Egypt, Moab, Tyre, etc. in the preceding chapters 15-23, Isaiah seems to turn to a broader declaration of judgment on all mankind in chapter 24. This begins a particular concentration of “in/on that day” declarations that are dispersed throughout chapters 24-27. Often, but not always, these declarations are describing circumstances that are fulfilled in the first century and the coming of Christ and His kingdom.

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Brothers, it is the last hour, and many antichrists have come just as you heard would happen. This is how we know it’s the last hour.

The Apostle John is writing to Christians to remain steadfast. After reminding them that they are “not of this world”, he calls to their attention those who are personally antagonistic to Jesus (“antichrist”) and His teaching. He marks those false teachers and implores his “children” to “let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (vs 24). The objective John’s letter is to encourage Christians to continue to “practice the truth” and “walk in the light” (1 Jn 1:6,7). Throughout it, John refers to believers as those who are “born of God”. (2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1, 4) It’s a phrase that he actually introduces in his gospel where he opens, “But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn 1:12-13)

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Just as man’s appointment is to die and then face judgment, so also Christ has already been offered to bear the sins of many and will appear a second time not to deal with sin but to save those still waiting for His return.

The Hebrews writer is in the midst of his argument about why Jesus and the new covenant are better than the old – here specifically arguing about His superiority as a High Priest.

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these people: the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment and convict the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and of the harsh things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.

Jude is writing a brief, but stern letter of warning “to those who are called” (vs 1) to “contend for the faith” (vs 3) and remaining obedient. He also warns about false teachers (vs 4), but continues to give several examples from the Old Testament of those that did not remain faithful (for various reasons) and were condemned as a result. It is these false teachers and generally those “following their own sinful desires” (vs 16) that Jude says Enoch was prophesying about in his statement of judgment for their “deeds of ungodliness” (vs 15).

Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me! So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?

Jesus responded to him [Peter] that it was none of Peter’s concern whether or not it be His will that he [John] remain until His return. Peter only needs to follow Him. As a result, a rumor spread among the brethren that John was not going to die [before Jesus returned], but that’s not what Jesus had said. He had only said that it wasn’t Peter’s business whether or not it was His will for John to remain until He come.

The closing and final appearances of Jesus in John’s gospel account. Jesus has risen and demonstrated His complete bodily resurrection by having breakfast with them, where they all know it is the risen Lord (vs 12). After eating, Jesus is walking with Peter and questions him three times about if he loves Him, concluding with the command to “Follow me”. (vs 19) It’s after this that Peter sees John “following them” (vs 20) and asks Jesus the question, “What about this man?” (vs 21)

And he said to the disciples, The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, Look, there! or Look, here! Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Jesus warned His disciples that a time was coming when they would desire to see Him in their presence (but they would not). He also warns that they would be tempted by others who will tell them He has returned. But they should not listen, since they would certainly know His return as it would be brilliant and obvious.

After being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus elaborates on the coming of the kingdom even further to His disciples (only recorded in Luke). He goes on to repeat portions from Matthew 24 when He tells them that there will come a day when they long it to be like when the Son of Man was with them but it won’t be so (vs 22). He says this would happen between the time He is “rejected by this generation” (vs 25) and “when the Son of Man is revealed” (vs 30).

Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

I (Jesus) tell you a truth that some standing here now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

Near the end of Jesus’ public ministry and six days before (17:1) the transfiguration of Jesus that was witnessed by Peter, James, and John. Jesus is preparing them for His coming death and kingdom. He had instructed them to pray to God that His “kingdom might come on earth, as it is in heaven” at the beginning of His ministry (Mt 6:10). Now He’s just told them that beginning with Peter, they would wield authority for the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” (vs 18). There are parallel accounts in Mark 8:31-9:1 and Luke 9:22-27. Also, Jesus uses a similar statement earlier when He sends the twelve out, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Mt 10:23)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

By the authority of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by the His appearing and kingdom: preach the gospel, being ready at all times whether it’s popular or not to correct, confront, and encourage, instructing with all patience.

The closing comments of Paul’s second letter to the young evangelist Timothy. He feels that his death is imminent (vss 6-8) but is hopeful to see Timothy again (vs 9).