Christ?s Coming: When shall it be?

  This is a soul-searching question that is on many people?s minds these days. It was asked many years ago, when Jesus was still alive, by the Pharisees (Lk 17:20), and by his disciples (Mat 24:1), when they wanted to know when and what would be the sign of Jesus? coming and that of the end of the age.  In both these incidents Jesus? answers leave us wondering whether we will be able to witness this long awaited happening. Jesus warns his disciples to be wary of false prophets who will come in his name. He stresses that it is neither for this generation nor the one to come to know the time nor the day, for no one, even him (Jesus) knows the day except the Father (God) who is the author of everything on earth and in heaven. However, Jesus gives some very understandable, though fearful, explanations as to what all those who claim to be Christians should watch out for.  Jesus says we will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but he comforts us and tells us not to be alarmed.  Nation will rise against nation; there will be famines and earthquakes.  Such things must happen but the end is still to come. (Matt 24:9) ?Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people?And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.? (Matt24:9-14).  This should be a test of all times. In Luke 17:20 Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God does not come as a result of our careful observation.  In Matthew 24:42  we read therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.??The Son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.? (v44).

  Now where is this leading?  The prophet Daniel, the man ?greatly beloved? of God, even pleaded with God in those long gone years, even before the birth of Jesus, to have the mystery of the end of the Age revealed.  God did not tell him because such knowledge is not to be revealed.  The true interpretation of Jesus? answers to this question can, as in Daniel?s prophecies, only be left for us to meditate because we know from Jesus? words that the exact time of his return cannot be known until the final event actually takes place.  What?s left for us now? The explanation is clear.  We should keep watch for all that must happen first ? a time of trouble such as never was ? and then the end will come.  We should not be caught out,  brethren and sisters. Let us go out in full force and preach ?this gospel of the kingdom? to the whole world, then and only then should we look forward to the end.

Bro Thompson Changata (Magunje, Zimbabwe)