WHEN WILL CHRIST COME AGAIN?
(History Repeats Itself)
The Divine Principle reveals the exact time of Christ’s return, clearly shown in this chart. It tells us of God’s work of salvation or “restoration".
For most Christians, the question of when Christ returns has no answer. In fact, some consider it heresy to pinpoint the exact time of Christ’s return. This is because the Bible itself says that no one knows of his return, not even the angels, but the Father Himself alone.
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
When will the second coming of Christ happen? According to this verse, no one knows. However, the Divine Principle explains that we will know the time of Christ’s return to the earth. Although the Bible says that no one knows, it also says that God reveals His secrets. Amos 3:7 says, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." God, who knows the day and hour, will surely reveal all the secrets about the Second Advent to His prophets before He carries out His work.
What about what John says in Revelation 3:3 that Christ will come like a thief in the night? Within that same verse is a warning: “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Christ will not come like a thief if we live in accordance to the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 5 gives us many hints of what we should do to be aware of the time of the coming of Christ. We are not to be like others, who are asleep, but we are to be awake and sober. We are to put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. We are to encourage one another and build each other up. We are to acknowledge those who work hard among us, who care for us in the Lord and who admonish us, and hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. We are to live in peace with each other, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. We are to make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. We are to pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, not quench the Spirit, not treat prophecies with contempt, hold on to what is good, and reject every kind of evil.
At the events at Jesus' first coming, he came like a thief to the priests and scribes who were in darkness, but to the family of John the Baptist, who was in the light, God plainly revealed Jesus' birth beforehand. When Jesus was born, God announced this secret to the three wise men, Simon, Anna, and the shepherds.
Jesus warned us to be careful so that we can prepare for his return:
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:34-36)
Jesus taught us that the secret of the time, place, and manner of his return would be revealed to the faithful people who are vigilant and in the light.
So, when will Christ come again? There is a saying that history repeats itself, and it is true. We learn from the Bible that the period from Adam to Abraham was approximately 2,000 years. From Abraham to Jesus was also approximately 2,000 years, and from Jesus to this present age is approximately 2,000 years. These ages display similar occurring events, and they happened not by accident or without reason.
Similar incidents have occurred throughout human history. For Unificationists, history is God’s story, hence the phrase, “His story.” God labored to restore humanity all throughout the history of humankind.
Note: This content is an excerpt from the book, UNIFICATIONISTS: WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
When will the second coming of Christ happen? According to this verse, no one knows. However, the Divine Principle explains that we will know the time of Christ’s return to the earth. Although the Bible says that no one knows, it also says that God reveals His secrets. Amos 3:7 says, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." God, who knows the day and hour, will surely reveal all the secrets about the Second Advent to His prophets before He carries out His work.
What about what John says in Revelation 3:3 that Christ will come like a thief in the night? Within that same verse is a warning: “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Christ will not come like a thief if we live in accordance to the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 5 gives us many hints of what we should do to be aware of the time of the coming of Christ. We are not to be like others, who are asleep, but we are to be awake and sober. We are to put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. We are to encourage one another and build each other up. We are to acknowledge those who work hard among us, who care for us in the Lord and who admonish us, and hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. We are to live in peace with each other, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. We are to make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. We are to pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, not quench the Spirit, not treat prophecies with contempt, hold on to what is good, and reject every kind of evil.
At the events at Jesus' first coming, he came like a thief to the priests and scribes who were in darkness, but to the family of John the Baptist, who was in the light, God plainly revealed Jesus' birth beforehand. When Jesus was born, God announced this secret to the three wise men, Simon, Anna, and the shepherds.
Jesus warned us to be careful so that we can prepare for his return:
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:34-36)
Jesus taught us that the secret of the time, place, and manner of his return would be revealed to the faithful people who are vigilant and in the light.
So, when will Christ come again? There is a saying that history repeats itself, and it is true. We learn from the Bible that the period from Adam to Abraham was approximately 2,000 years. From Abraham to Jesus was also approximately 2,000 years, and from Jesus to this present age is approximately 2,000 years. These ages display similar occurring events, and they happened not by accident or without reason.
Similar incidents have occurred throughout human history. For Unificationists, history is God’s story, hence the phrase, “His story.” God labored to restore humanity all throughout the history of humankind.
Note: This content is an excerpt from the book, UNIFICATIONISTS: WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
Recommended reading: THE LAST DAYS (Another look at the concept of "rapture")