Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 24.09.2000
When will Jesus come?
The date, when Jesus will come, is a great secret! Many have eagerly tried to calculate that date and they have been put to shame. The Bible gives us signs according to which we can know that the date is near. Trusting the Bible will not lead us to shame, if we obey Jesus. Disobedience to Jesus captivates our minds with wrong things, which lead to disappointments.
Deportation and return of Jews
When Jesus told to His disciples about the signs of His return, He set Jews as one of those signs. He predicted the destruction of the temple: "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." Luke 21:6 . He predicted the deportation of Jews among all nations: "They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations." Luke 21:24 He predicted also their return back to their country by saying: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 21:24
In the year 70 His prophecy of the destruction of the temple came true. After that also the deportation happened as Jesus had said. His prophecy of the return of Jews has come true in our times. This is one sign that gives us the knowledge that the coming of Jesus is near.
When Jesus told to His disciples about the signs of His return, He set Jews as one of those signs. He predicted the destruction of the temple: "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." Luke 21:6 . He predicted the deportation of Jews among all nations: "They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations." Luke 21:24 He predicted also their return back to their country by saying: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 21:24
In the year 70 His prophecy of the destruction of the temple came true. After that also the deportation happened as Jesus had said. His prophecy of the return of Jews has come true in our times. This is one sign that gives us the knowledge that the coming of Jesus is near.
Signs of a coming of a summer
Jesus compares the preceding events of His coming with signs that we can see when summer is coming. "Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." Matth.24:32
Jesus refers to the events that he mentioned before this verse by saying "all these things". He draws a parallel between the summer signs in a fig-tree and the signs of His coming. The return of Jews to their own country is only one of those signs. Why does Jesus use a fig-tree in His lesson? Therefore because it pronounces the character of the coming summer.
The fig-tree doesn't mean Israel in this lesson of Jesus. An olive tree, a fig-tree and a vine represent in the Bible the power of God. (Judges 9:8-15) He is a good King who gives good fruits. A thorn bush represents the power of men. When Israel got its independence in 1948, a thorn bush became a king not a fig-tree. The signs promised by Jesus foretell the appearance of God's goodness on the earth and the fall of thorn bush governments.
Jesus cursed a fig-tree, when He didn't find early figs in it. (Mark.11:13-14) In this way He judged the thorn bush government that was to put a crown of thorns on His head, though His life had produced good figs. "There is none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge." Micah 7:1-4
Jews represented the Kingdom of God, but in them were not found its fruits. Therefore Jesus said to them: "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.." Matth.21:43
The independence day of Israel and the day when Jews conquered Jerusalem announce nearness of the coming of Jesus, but it is not possible to use those dates to calculate the date of His coming.
Jesus compares the preceding events of His coming with signs that we can see when summer is coming. "Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." Matth.24:32
Jesus refers to the events that he mentioned before this verse by saying "all these things". He draws a parallel between the summer signs in a fig-tree and the signs of His coming. The return of Jews to their own country is only one of those signs. Why does Jesus use a fig-tree in His lesson? Therefore because it pronounces the character of the coming summer.
The fig-tree doesn't mean Israel in this lesson of Jesus. An olive tree, a fig-tree and a vine represent in the Bible the power of God. (Judges 9:8-15) He is a good King who gives good fruits. A thorn bush represents the power of men. When Israel got its independence in 1948, a thorn bush became a king not a fig-tree. The signs promised by Jesus foretell the appearance of God's goodness on the earth and the fall of thorn bush governments.
Jesus cursed a fig-tree, when He didn't find early figs in it. (Mark.11:13-14) In this way He judged the thorn bush government that was to put a crown of thorns on His head, though His life had produced good figs. "There is none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge." Micah 7:1-4
Jews represented the Kingdom of God, but in them were not found its fruits. Therefore Jesus said to them: "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.." Matth.21:43
The independence day of Israel and the day when Jews conquered Jerusalem announce nearness of the coming of Jesus, but it is not possible to use those dates to calculate the date of His coming.
Calculations of the dates of Jesus' coming
When Jesus had said, "you know that it is near, right at the door", He continues: "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." Believers have been excited to think that it would be possible to find out the time at some point of "the spring" which would start the time period of the last generation. Thus it could be possible to calculate the year when Jesus comes.
When they have considered Israel the fig-tree, they have got the next calculations: 1948+40 = 1988 or 1967+40 = 2007. They have reduced from these times seven years, because they have thought that the coming of Jesus happens seven years before "all these things have happened". In this way they got years 1981 and 2000. If Jesus doesn't come during this year, they have to invent a new year. What is the next one?
After saying "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened" Jesus continues: "No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matth.24:36 Why calculations are made, though Jesus says that it is impossible?
We can know, "that it is near, right at the door", but an attempt to calculate the time of the coming of Jesus is a sin against God. Do believe what Jesus says: "Only the Father knows". It is shameful for the name of Jesus, if His own say that He comes this year and then He doesn't come. Do not get interested in those calculations! They injure the faith of many believers!
When Jesus had said, "you know that it is near, right at the door", He continues: "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." Believers have been excited to think that it would be possible to find out the time at some point of "the spring" which would start the time period of the last generation. Thus it could be possible to calculate the year when Jesus comes.
When they have considered Israel the fig-tree, they have got the next calculations: 1948+40 = 1988 or 1967+40 = 2007. They have reduced from these times seven years, because they have thought that the coming of Jesus happens seven years before "all these things have happened". In this way they got years 1981 and 2000. If Jesus doesn't come during this year, they have to invent a new year. What is the next one?
After saying "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened" Jesus continues: "No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matth.24:36 Why calculations are made, though Jesus says that it is impossible?
We can know, "that it is near, right at the door", but an attempt to calculate the time of the coming of Jesus is a sin against God. Do believe what Jesus says: "Only the Father knows". It is shameful for the name of Jesus, if His own say that He comes this year and then He doesn't come. Do not get interested in those calculations! They injure the faith of many believers!
This generation doesn't pass away
Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple, and it happened in the time of His own generation. When he says, "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened", He means some other generation than His own. That generation will see also the last event that He mentioned. Just after it can be said that "all these things have happened". The last one in the prophecy of Jesus is the event when He Himself comes on the clouds and the angels collect His own to meet Him. (Matth.24:31)
How does Jesus define this last generation? A generation which can say that "it is near, right at the door", is that generation. So read it from your Bible: "Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. ... This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." Matth.24:33-34
Many think that this is too indefinite definition, but it is good enough for me. By observing all signs given by Jesus it is possible to know that it is near. We have already seen something of all the signs which Jesus has mentioned. When "leaves" of all those signs "come out" we will have "the summer". The closer we are to the coming of Jesus the stronger becomes this knowledge in believers: It is near, right at the door!
Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple, and it happened in the time of His own generation. When he says, "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened", He means some other generation than His own. That generation will see also the last event that He mentioned. Just after it can be said that "all these things have happened". The last one in the prophecy of Jesus is the event when He Himself comes on the clouds and the angels collect His own to meet Him. (Matth.24:31)
How does Jesus define this last generation? A generation which can say that "it is near, right at the door", is that generation. So read it from your Bible: "Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. ... This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." Matth.24:33-34
Many think that this is too indefinite definition, but it is good enough for me. By observing all signs given by Jesus it is possible to know that it is near. We have already seen something of all the signs which Jesus has mentioned. When "leaves" of all those signs "come out" we will have "the summer". The closer we are to the coming of Jesus the stronger becomes this knowledge in believers: It is near, right at the door!
The Bible version used in references is NIV