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Is The Lord’s Return Imminent?

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: 2 Peter 3:10

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Recently, someone here approached me noting that he had heard someone teaching that the Lord is going to return very soon, as in this month.  The basis of this “end time date” is related to the feast of trumpets which will occur later this month.  Rooted in premillennialism, it is believed the “rapture” will occur sometime during a 2-3 day period (September 22-24).  NOTE: That is how they get around Jesus’ declaration, “But of that day and hour no one knows” (Matthew 24:36).

This is just one example of attempts to set a timeframe for the Lord’s return.  I recently heard a preacher observe that in the coming few years, since we are approaching the 2000-year mark of the ministry and death of Jesus, that His return is imminent (will happen very soon).  And while He COULD return during this time frame, there are some Biblical considerations to note.  So in this lesson, I want to remind us about what the Bible says about the Lord’s return.   Much of this centers around the question, “Are we living in the last days?”   And that is what I want to talk about.

1. The Bible and the “Last days”
   1. What is often meant by “the last days” is that the return of the Lord is imminent. They see the times and see them as “signs” from the word of God pointing toward His immediate return.
   2. The Bible does speak about the “last days”, but is it about this? Do we have any material warnings in the Bible that tell us the end is near?
   3. In the Old Testament consider:
      1. Isaiah 2:2-4, “It shall come to pass in the latter days…”
      2. Micah 4:1 repeats this passage. Both Isaiah and Micah were contemporaries in the 700s BC who prophesied during the destruction of Samaria.  Both were warnings of judgment AND a future hope.  That future hope was described as “the last days”
      3. Joel 2:28-32 – “it shall come to pass afterward…” We will address this in a moment.  Here we note some things that would happen then.   This is a key OT verse to understanding “the last days”.
   4. Now consider the following verses in the New Testament
      1. Acts 2:17 (16-23). On the day of Pentecost, after Jesus arose and ascended back to heaven, we find the beginning of the church/kingdom.  As Peter and the others are preaching about the miraculous events they were witnessing notice what he says.  “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.”  He proceeds to quote Joel 2:28-32.  Speaking of the “last days”, Peter declared they were now fulfilled.
         NOTE: A study of Isaiah 2:2-4 & Micah 4:1ff also show that these were prophetic of that day of Pentecost.   Thus we see that day as the beginning of “the last days”
      2. Hebrews 1:1-2 – the writer would later declare to us how in times past God spoke in various ways, but “has in these last days spoken to us through His Son.” Notice the declaration that they were then In the last days.
   5. So, in whatever way the Bible speaks of “the last days”, They began nearly 2000 years ago and continue even to this day, and will be such until the Lord finally returns.
   6. So what was meant by the expression, “the last days”? It was a reference to the final age of time. Used in the Old Testament it was looking forward the Christian age.  Prior to that Biblical history records two other ages (or dispensations) – the patriarchal – where God spoke through the fathers (Genesis – Exodus 19), the Mosaic – where God’s chosen nation were under the Law of Moses given at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20 -rest of OT, and up until the day of Pentecost).   We are now living in “the last days” or the last dispensation.  This is it.  We have the completed word of God, and Christ on the throne until the end (Acts 2:33-36, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26)
2. Some observations about the last days
   1. There are some interesting verses that address what the last days are going to be like. And they speak of future times.  Consider the following:
      1. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – perilous times will come. Men will be selfish and ungodly in many ways.
      2. James 5:3 – rebuking the rich he noted that their gold and silver were corroded… “you have heaped up treasure in the last days.” In the time specified there would be great greed.
      3. 2 Peter 3:3 – Peter notes that “scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts” and mocking the delay of the Lord
      4. 1 John 2:18 – the “last hour” antichrists are coming – those who are opposed to Christ doctrinally. They change who He was and either follow that or they reject Him all together.
      5. Concerning such verses, consider that they do NOT specify a time but instead describe frequent periods of wickedness throughout history, INCLUDING during the first century (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 2 Timtohy 2:18).
         For example – consider 2 Timothy 3:5 again, “And from such people turn away” – Timothy AT THAT TIME might experience some of these people.
   2. Are times today unprecedentedly bad? They seem to be, but this is NOT the only such time.
      1. CONSIDER: Is the time we are in so extraordinary it has never been worse, even in our nation? What about the division in our land that led to the civil war?  What about the Spanish flu of the 1920s that killed more than 50 million worldwide and killed more than 675,000 in the US with half the deaths being young adults?   Or various cholera outbreaks of the 1800s that killed between 5-10% of their populations.  What about the great depression of 1929 that lasted for several years?
         What about examples of moral corruption that have peppered the history of our nation?
         And that’s just the US.
      2. And if truth be known, throughout world history we can find far greater corruption in every area that what we are seeing now.
      3. AND, in many of those instances, if you study the history, you will likely find someone saying it is the end of the world and the “day of the Lord is coming”.
      4. ALSO, consider that in our electronic age, we have instant access to information. We see and hear about EVERYTHING in our country and world.  It was not always that way.  News spread much slower and every little detail was not documented.  I believe this contributes to seeing the times today as worse than ever before.
3. What does the Bible say about WHEN the Lord will return?
   1. WE do NOT know!
      1. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 – it will come as a thief in the night
      2. 2 Peter 3:10 – He will come as a thief in the night.
      3. Matthew 24:36 – where I believe contextually Jesus transitions from judgment against Jerusalem to the day of His return, He notes no one knows that day. He then proceeds to describe how things would be normal – eating and drinking, marrying, etc.
         Jesus concludes this warning with verses 42-44 – you do not know the hour when the Lord is coming,… then basically Jesus said to always be prepared.
   2. What about the speculations?
      1. How often do we hear of date setters (those who try to pinpoint exactly when the Lord will return, including the date and some cases the time)?
      2. Even more, people may not set a specific date but they are warning, “the end is near” by which they mean it will happen very soon (notice how date setters almost always include this generation). I believe the reason for this is because they WANT to be part of a time that is Biblically special.
      3. Speculations have always been around – some of the more recent examples:
         1. William Miller of Seventh Day Adventists set the year of His return as 1843
         2. Charles T Russel, a founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses said the Lord would return in October 1914. When it did not occur, he said the Lord did return but invisibly.
         3. Herbert W Armstrong predicted the rapture would occur in 1936. After failure, he changed the date 3 more times  (1943, 1972 and 1975).
         4. Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel predicted that the world would end by 1981.
         5. James Usher (1625-1656) whose dating system is used for the beginning of the world (~4004 BC) predicted the world would come to an end in October 1997 exactly 6000 years after it began (October 23).
         6. Edgar Whisenant predicted the rapture to occur between 11-13 September 1988 (he wrote and circulated a brochure called “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988”. After that failed date, he modified it to October 3.  Then September 30, 1989.  He then moved it to the outer limit of prediction – 1993.  When that failed, he said 1994.
         7. Harold Camping said the Lord would return in 1994 or 1995. He set 4 specific dates.  Then he said on May 21, 2011.  After several failed attempts he recanted trying to figure out the time.  He died shortly thereafter (December 15, 2013).
         8. John Hagee speculated the Lord would return on sometime in 2014 or 2015 based upon the cycle of 4 blood moons. The final one was September 28, 2015.
         9. By definition of their failures, they are FALSE prophets and false teachers.
      4. Consider another list. According to Wikipedia.com,[1] The following are SOME future predictions of the end of the world.
         1. Messiah Foundation Internation predicts that the world will end when an asteroid collides with earth in 2026.
         2. Said Nursi, a Sunni Muslim, predicts the world will end in 2129.
         3. The Talmud, according to opinion the Messiah will come within 6000 years of the creation of Adam which will be 2239.
         4. My point, considering previous FAILED predictions, why should we believe future predictions most of which are based on complicated mathematical formulas that twist Bible passages?
4. What will happen when the Lord returns?
   1. AGAIN, be reminded it will happen as a thief in the night – we do NOT know when.
      1. Life will be normal. Matthew 24:38 tells us as in the days before the flood, people will be eating, drinking, marrying, given in marriage, etc.
      2. There WILL be rumors of wars, disasters, civil unrest, lawlessness, gross immorality, rejection of God, Jesus and the gospel. BUT, that describes EVERY generation of history.  Is it worse now than ever before?  I cannot answer that.  Will it get worse than it is now?  I am NO prophet, but if things do not change, that is the likely scenario.  BUT even then we do not know if THAT will be the end.
   2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up in the air to be with Him FOREVER. (NOTE: There is no mention of Jesus returning to establish His literal throne in Jerusalem).   Acts 1:9-11 notes He will return as He went up.
   3. 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 tells us that our bodies will be changed from mortality (corruptible, subject to decay) to immortality – an eternal body.
   4. 2 Peter 3:10-13 tells us when that day happens the elements will melt with fervent heat.
   5. We will then ALL face judgment for our response to the gospel and faithfulness to Him. 1 Corinthains 5:10.  John 5:28-29 – whether we have done good or evil, we will be judged.   NOTE: The Bible teaches there will be ONE judgment for all.
   6. Jesus will deliver the kingdom to God and death will be destroyed – 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.
   7. We will then face our eternal destiny – cf. Matthew 25:46.

Conclusion: God’s word is clear that the Lord is going to return.  But it is equally clear that we do not know when.  Whether we are living in the days just prior to our Lord’s return or not is something we cannot definitively answer based upon God’s word.   However, in uncertain times like these, it is certainly worthy to think about the Lord’s return AS IF it is imminent and thus examine ourselves to see if we are ready.  Another way of saying that is, live AS IF it is the end times, but with the wisdom to live on in case it is not.  What about you?  Are you prepared?   Think about it!

[1] Wikipedia Contributors. “List of Dates Predicted for Apocalyptic Events.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dates_predicted_for_apocalyptic_events.  Accessed 9/4/2025.