Is It Possible to Know When Jesus Is Coming Back?
The question “Is it possible to know when Jesus is coming back?” rises again and again in Christian life. People want clarity about the second coming of Christ, especially when the world feels unstable. The Bible speaks often about the return of Jesus, the last days, the judgment of God, and the hope of Christ’s appearing, yet Scripture is equally clear that the exact timing is unknown. Jesus, Paul, and the other biblical writers all present his return as certain but unpredictable. This article explores what the Bible teaches about this longing to know the moment of his appearing, why humans cannot determine the precise timing, and how the people of God are called to watch, wait, and live faithfully.
Speculation has appeared in every era. Some have tried to compute dates from Daniel or Revelation. Others treat global crises as decisive signs. Yet the Bible guides Christians away from prediction and toward trust, obedience, and readiness. This balanced approach protects the church from confusion while anchoring Christian hope in the character and promises of Christ.
What the Bible Says About Knowing the Time of Jesus’ Return
According to Scripture, Jesus explicitly taught that humans cannot know the timing of his return. In Matthew 24:36 he states, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” This statement shapes the entire New Testament view of the second coming.
Acts 1:7 repeats this truth when the disciples asked about the kingdom: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Their desire to understand the last days was understandable, but Jesus redirected them toward their mission.
Paul also emphasizes this in 1 Thessalonians 5:1–2. He explains that believers “have no need to have anything written” about specific timings because “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” This picture of a thief reinforces the theme of suddenness.
Some Christians hope that biblical signs might reveal the precise moment. Jesus did mention signs—wars, famines, earthquakes, lawlessness, false prophets (Matthew 24:6–12). But these events occur in every generation. They point toward watchfulness, not a precise countdown.
To summarize, the Bible answers the question clearly:
What Scripture teaches:
The exact time cannot be known.
The timing belongs to the Father alone.
The signs do not create a timetable.
Jesus’ return will be certain but unpredictable.
Why the Second Coming Will Be Sudden and Unexpected
Jesus and Paul consistently describe his return as a surprise. Matthew 24:43 uses the image of a thief. Luke 17:24 compares his appearing to lightning flashing across the sky—sudden and universally visible.
Paul’s language in 1 Corinthians 15:52 also reinforces this: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Believers will not gradually observe his arrival. His appearing will be immediate and unmistakable.
To show the biblical pattern more clearly, consider the following:
Biblical imagery of the return of Jesus
A thief in the night – sudden, without appointment
Lightning – visible to all at once
A trumpet blast – impossible to ignore
A moment, a twinkling – instantaneous transformation
This suddenness guides Christians to live not as calculators of signs but as disciples prepared for their Lord.
Why People Still Want to Predict the Time
Even though the Bible is direct about the unpredictability of Jesus’ return, many Christians still feel the strong impulse to know when he is coming back. Several reasons explain this desire:
Longing for justice – People want Christ to appear and put an end to evil.
The weight of world events – Global instability feels like a signal of the last days.
Misreading apocalyptic imagery – Some treat symbolic passages as coded countdowns.
Desire for control – Knowing the time would remove uncertainty.
But Scripture consistently directs believers away from speculation. The call is to faithful endurance and holy living.
How Christians Are Called to Live When the Time Is Unknown
The Bible’s purpose in hiding the timing is not to generate fear. Instead, the unknown hour shapes a life of readiness, trust, and perseverance. Jesus repeatedly tells his followers to “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42) and to live as faithful servants who continue doing what he commands.
Many passages describe the way Christians should live during the last days. These instructions form a pattern of discipleship rooted in hope.
1. Watchfulness
Believers are called to be alert, prayerful, and grounded in Scripture.
“Let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
2. Holiness and repentance
The return of Jesus leads to a pursuit of purity.
“What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11)
3. Endurance through trials
The last days include suffering, yet hope sustains God’s people.
Romans 8:18–25 portrays creation longing for redemption.
4. Faith, hope, and love
This triad defines readiness.
1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Thessalonians 1:3
5. Mission and witness
Acts 1 links the unknown timing with the calling to be witnesses. Christians live as signs of the kingdom while they wait.
This pattern reveals that the Bible’s focus is not on predicting the exact day but on shaping a faithful people ready for the appearing of their King.
How the Return of Jesus Connects to the Gospel
The Gospel proclaims that Jesus is Lord, risen from the dead, reigning now, and coming again. His return is the visible unveiling of his reign. The last days began with his resurrection and ascension (Hebrews 1:2), and the church now stands between his first and second coming.
When Jesus returns:
Sin is finally judged.
Evil is defeated.
The people of God are gathered.
Creation is renewed.
This is the hope that shapes Christian life. The Gospel is not merely about going to heaven after death; it is about the reign of Christ over all things and the restoration he brings. His return is the final movement of that story.
Conclusion
Is it possible to know when Jesus is coming back? According to the Bible, it is not. Jesus said the timing is known only to the Father. Paul said the day will come like a thief. The signs encourage watchfulness, but they do not create a timeline. Christians are called to readiness, faith, holiness, endurance, and witness, trusting the wisdom of God rather than attempting to unlock a hidden calendar. When Jesus does return, his appearing will be sudden, visible, and decisive. The church waits in hope, not because it knows the day, but because it knows the Lord who promised to come.
Bible verses about the return of Jesus
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
“He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’” (Acts 1:7)
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)
“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.” (Luke 17:24)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” (2 Peter 3:10)
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me.” (Revelation 22:12)
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time… to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
