Written by: Lucas Bueno
“Jesus is coming soon.” Especially among Seventh-day Adventists, this phrase is special. However, the word “soon” is quite open to interpretation. Jesus told His apostles that He would come again soon, and they, including the apostle Paul, believed that they might live to see His second coming. Yet, here we are thousands of years later, and Jesus has not returned. But still, we say, “Jesus is coming soon.”
Besides simply stating that He would come again soon, Jesus also gave a list of signs regarding the times before His second coming. Signs and prophecies are also given in Daniel and Revelation, and in other prophetic parts of Scripture, so that we might know the nearness of the coming of Christ.
In Matthew 24, most of the signs are listed. Among these are wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. False prophets and Christs are also mentioned. Other parts of the Bible mention the last days being like the days of Noah.
Many of these signs are clearly found today. Each day as we read the news, we find more updates on war,natural disasters and diseases. Christ warned that such things would increase, like childbirth pains, as the end grows near.
However, there is yet another sign listed in Matthew 24. This is the last sign given in a list of signs found in Matthew 23:3-14, and I would argue that it is the most important. As Seventh-day Adventists, we can sometimes have a tendency to focus on all of the other signs with the intent of trying to find out an approximate time for when Jesus might come again. While we do not set dates, since no one knows the day or hour, we still try to determine how the events
of prophecy will play out, when the Sunday law will arrive and who the antichrist will be.
However, let us read Matthew 24:14 ESV, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
This is the last sign mentioned in a list of signs found in Matthew 24:3-14. While all of the signs are important and we should be aware of them, the spreading of the gospel is most crucial. Though we must warn others of other coming deceptions and show them that the increasing evil of the world is heralding the soon coming of Christ, we must also spread the gospel.
Jesus came and died for each person’s sins, and He desires to have a relationship with each individual. When we share this gospel, this good news, we provide everyone with that blessed opportunity. Jesus does not want anyone to be excluded from this incredible chance.
That is why He says in Matthew 24:14 that the end will not come until all have had this chance. Christians were given the Great Commission to help spread this knowledge to others. This is the greatest sign of Christ’s coming, and we have the amazing opportunity to take part in it. Yes, the other signs must also come to pass, and many are coming to pass even now. But may we turn our eyes away from this wicked world and focus on helping all to have the opportunity to meet Jesus.
