How long should one wait for the second coming of Christ?

Question

What is the cutoff date when Christians say, "You know Jesus ain't coming."

2008? 2012? 2030? 2100? 2200?

What if mankind settles other planets or moons?

Does anyone have a cutoff date in their head where if Christ hasn't come yet it kinda means he ain't coming?

In the past the early Christians (1st and 2nd century), 7th day adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses all place claims on a certain year. Those years came and went. But the religions continiued.

Will Christianity persist forever if Jesus doesn't return or will it fade as hope for his return seems unlikely?

PS. I actually believe that a second coming will occur, I just want to see what ideas people have out there.

Answer 1

You wait until it happens, the whole concept of Christianity relys on Faith.

Even if 100 years from now and we are living on Saturn, Christians will still be looking for his return because he has promised to return and we all believe he keeps his promise.

However, I do not believe we will have to wait that much longer. Look at what is happening in the world today and you can see biblical prophecy unfolding.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach that Christ's "return" is better described (and translated from the original Greek) as Christ's "presence" since it will not be a short-term event.

Note the events described at Matthew chapter 24 that must occur DURING that PRESENCE: wars, earthquakes, tribulations, stumblings, false prophets, increasing lawlessness, and global preaching. All these signs would take decades to be established as a clear pattern of difference from earlier centuries of human experience. A review of those signs indicates that Christ's presence began in the autumn of 1914.

(Matthew 24:3) The disciples approached [Jesus] privately, saying: “Tell us, [1.] When will these things be, and [2.] what will be the sign of your presence and [3.] of the conclusion of the system of things?”

The real question is when the "GREAT tribulation" will begin, and what each person can do to assure that they make it through!

(Matthew 24:21) [Jesus said] ...THEN there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again [caps added]

(Revelation 7:9-14) I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues... These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation

Learn more:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/lmn/article_10.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/dg/article_09.htm

Answer 3

I have referenced this before, but I once heard a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer, one of the 12 Apostles or top 15 leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that was given in 1987 to Seminary-aged youth (say age 14 to 18) that there was plenty of time before the Second Coming to get married, have children (he joked that would serve you right) and even have grandchildren. Now considering that I was 18 in 1987, and I haven't had children yet, I assume we have at least 15 to 20 years to go, as a rough guess. No one is allowed to know the year or time, so all we can do is guess. Some will say it is taking too long, but the wicked will say it came too fast when it does happen. The important thing is to prepare and stay prepared and be willing to do whatever God's will is for us.

Answer 4

Acts 1:9-11

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

2 Peter 3:2-10

I want you to remember and understand what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. This will be their argument: "Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created." They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood. And God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment, when ungodly people will perish. But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.

Answer 5

As Christians, our focus shouldn't be on Christ's second coming but on our daily lives and living out our beliefs and faith in God. If God wanted to us to know the exact date, He would have made it clear.

I think if we knew the exact date, some people might be encouraged to live a lifestyle that isn't conducive to their faith believing that "they have time to get right with God."

Matthew 24 says it best:

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

2 Peter 3:8-10
...With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.[

Whether we settle other planets, moons, galaxies, etc, is irrelevant. God is everywhere!

Hope this helps! Peace!

Answer 6

Well, only God knows the day and the hour, right? I don't have a cut-off date in mind... the way its going, it seems unlikely that humans will migrate to other planets any time soon... or maybe we'll start migrating to other planets *after* the second coming, when we'll all be whole and more capable of experiencing the wonders of the universe... this is a surprisingly complex question!

Answer 7

even though I personally dont follow Christianity, I do have a good opinion on this. Humans are extremely impatient. When Christ comes he will come. He will come in his own time, when the time is right. And since nobody could possibly know what the perfect tiem will be, then we should just be happy to sit back and relax and enjoy our time on Earth, what time we do have left. Nobody knows or could possibly know how the mind of the lord works. The lord (whichever one you follow) is infinite beyond our grasp. According to my religion, we have a little over 5,000 years left before the earth will be purged of evil again.

Answer 8

Maybe he already came, but you weren't paying attention?

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." (Matthew 24:42-44)

Answer 9

Christ wasn't Jesus' last name. Rather the title "Christ" indicates that Jesus became perfect, fully transformed into God's image, i.e. "saved".

Jesus said that he wanted us to become like him in the same way that he is like the father. That is, he wants for us also to become "Christ".

The 2nd coming of Christ, therefore will occur to each of us individually when we, like Jesus did, complete the inner transformation of the Holy Spirit. But there will be no collective "2nd coming of Christ" per se, (Note that I believe this process is an ongoing one that we work towards both during our time here on Earth, and even after our death).

Answer 10

You should live your life as if the Lord is coming now. If you don't have this attitude, then you are deceiving your self. Why should you wait for Christ at a certain date. Christ advised us not to wait for him at a certain time because no one knows the time, not even the Son in human form. So why don't you listen to Christ and be like the wise 5 virgins who had their lamp ready to meat their Husband. Christ is the Groom, we are the Bride. Are you ready to meat him now? If not, then you (and I should include myself instead of being a hypocrite,) should get our self prepared now. What if you die tomorrow? Can any one guarantee his life and be sure he won't die tomorrow. I f you die now, you will meet the Lord immediately after your death provided you have been cleansed by the blood.