Is the End of History Imminent?

Are we living in the final days? Is Jesus about to return? According to Hebrews 1:2, we entered the last days with Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. This means the last days have already lasted for 2,000 years. Moreover, we’re not just in the last days; we’re in the final hour, as John states, “It is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). So, this final hour has been ongoing for two thousand years. The end of the age began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is “the firstfruits” of our future resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20).

Can we say we’re in the last of the last days, or the final moments of the last hour? Could Jesus come in our generation? What does the New Testament tell us? Jesus emphasizes that he’s coming soon (Rev. 22:20), and we’re told that “the time is near” (1:3). To understand when he’ll return, it’s crucial to interpret these verses correctly.

No One Knows the Timing

God has revealed his truth in a thought – provoking way. We can’t figure out the exact day, hour, year, or even century of Jesus’ return. Many people have tried to set a specific date, but we know how those attempts have ended. Similar to a book written in 1988 about Jesus’s return, we could list numerous reasons against pinpointing an exact date for his coming.

There’s a reason we’re tempted to set dates, though. A major factor is Jesus’ statement that he was coming soon. Additionally, Jesus taught us to be prepared and watch for his appearance (Matt. 24; Mark 13). As we eagerly await Jesus’ return, we might be inclined to be more precise than what the Bible allows. But the fact is, no one knows that day or hour—even Jesus, during his time on earth as a human, didn’t know when he’d return (Mark 13:32). It’s ironic that throughout history, many who set a date effectively claimed to know more than Jesus himself.

The End Is Always Near

I believe that God, in his wisdom, has structured history in a way that makes it right for every generation to think, “The end is near. Jesus is coming soon.” We pray as Revelation 22:20 says, “Come, Lord Jesus!” However, we can’t determine exactly when the end will arrive. We long for Jesus to come and wait expectantly, but we can’t say precisely when he’ll appear. As a result, every generation in church history has correctly thought, “All the signs suggest the end is coming in our generation.” From the first generation until now, Christians have tried to understand the times and seasons, and they’ve rightly considered that Jesus could return at any moment.

The apostle John’s words in his first letter are insightful. John predicted that before the end, there would be “many antichrists” (1 John 2:18). Among these, there will be one ultimate and decisive antichrist, whom Paul refers to as “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3).

Since we don’t know who the final antichrist is, we need to be vigilant, aware that one of the many antichrists in our time could be the final one. Every generation of believers has been right to consider this possibility. But they’ve made a mistake when they set an exact date for the end.

Come, Lord Jesus

How does this apply to us today? Are there signs in our generation that the end is approaching? There are indeed.
The gospel remains the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16). The good news is spreading around the world, and many people are converting. Faithful churches are proclaiming God’s Word and strengthening their congregations. This isn’t a time for despair or defeatism. We’re not called to hide and wait for Jesus’s coming. We serve a Christ who rules over the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5), and the gates of hell won’t overcome the church (Matt. 16:18). Jesus’s words to persecuted churches still hold true today: “Do not be afraid” (Rev. 1:17, NIV). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

However, false teachings are a threat on all sides. Many people deny the final judgment, the truth of God’s Word, justification by faith, and the sexual morality clearly taught in the Bible. We may be living in the time when the restrainer is removed and common grace is withdrawn (2 Thess. 2:5–6). When we look at our world, we see that evil is having more influence, and Christian moral teachings are being condemned as harmful to society. The moral decline of our era and the strong opposition to the gospel are signs of the end. Given the existence of nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, dangerous diseases and pandemics, and the negative impacts of social media, it’s reasonable to think that the end could be near.

We’re reminded that this world isn’t our permanent home; our destination is the heavenly city. Paradise isn’t on this earth. We think, “Jesus is coming soon.” But still, we can’t set a date. We can’t be certain. God keeps us alert, waiting, longing, hoping, and expecting. He will fulfill his promise in his wisdom, at the right time and in the right way. In the meantime, we continue our work: preaching the gospel to a lost world, living in a way that reflects our identity as citizens of the kingdom, and praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”