Why Hasn’t Jesus Returned Yet? Let’s Talk About It!

Good morning, everyone! I’ve got a question for you. Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t know, but Jesus could return at any moment!”? And you’re like, “Yeah, I’ve heard that my whole life, and yet here I am still drinking coffee and scrolling through social media.” Well, you’re not alone! But here’s the thing: Jesus will return—that’s a promise! It’s just that, well, it’s not happening on our timetable.

But why? Why hasn’t He returned yet? He said He would. I mean, the Bible's full of promises, right? So, where is He? Is He just taking His sweet time? Watching the clock? Nope. Jesus is waiting on something… or better yet, waiting on someone. He’s waiting on you. And me. And all of us.

Let’s dive into 2 Peter 3:9. It says:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

"He is patient with you." 

That’s right. God’s been waiting for us to get our act together, to come to Him, to repent, and to accept His love and forgiveness. Why? Because He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He’s not up in heaven going, “I can’t wait to get this over with!” He’s up there with His arms wide open, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I’ll give you rest.”

So, why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? Because He’s waiting for you to choose Him. Every day we live is a day that someone, somewhere has the chance to turn to Christ and be saved. Every day we don’t repent is a day closer to eternal death and hellfire. And that’s serious stuff. You think your coffee’s hot now? Imagine being trapped in a room and set on fire forever. God doesn't wish this on anyone.

The Problem with Procrastination

How many of us have been that person who procrastinates? “Oh, I’ll clean my garage tomorrow, I’ll start my diet on Monday, I’ll call my mom next week…” You know the drill. But with Jesus, there is no “next week.” We are one breath away from eternity, and once the clock strikes midnight on Judgment Day, there is no more time for “tomorrow.”

Let’s take a moment to seriously think about this: What happens when Jesus returns? The Bible says it will be a day of judgment—where those who have repented and accepted Christ will go to be with Him forever, in love, light, and peace. But those who have rejected Him will face eternal separation from God. It’s a choice we all have to make, and, unfortunately, not making a choice is still a choice.

In fact, each day we live and don’t repent is a day closer to being eternally separated from God. A day closer to fire. Torture. Pain. Despair. Sounds intense, doesn’t it? But it’s not meant to scare you—it’s meant to wake you up! Because Jesus doesn’t want anyone to go through that. He’s waiting on us to come to Him.

The Signs Are Everywhere: Wake Up!

Okay, so here’s the fun part (and by fun, I mean seriously sobering): The signs of the end times are already happening. You don’t need a crystal ball. You don’t need to look up at the sky and wait for a “special sign.” The world’s chaos is doing that for us! And the signs are everywhere.

For example, the Olympics. Did you watch the most recent one? Did you notice anything strange? We saw nations come together for this massive event, and the Bible says that in the end times, nations will rise against each other. Did you see all the symbolism in the opening ceremony? The white horse and the nations? It’s like someone was reading Revelation!

You see, the Olympics are a global spectacle, and there’s a lot of focus on the unification of nations. But the Bible talks about how at the end, there will be this massive worldwide unification, but it’s not going to be under the rule of Christ. It’ll be under the rule of the Antichrist. And there’s no guarantee that it’s not happening right under our noses.

Revelation and the Antichrist: What’s Going Down?

Now, I know some of you are going, “Antichrist? Isn’t that a little… dramatic?” Well, yeah, it is. But the Antichrist is real. Revelation talks about him. And no, he’s not some Hollywood character with a red suit and horns. He’s going to be a world leader who deceives millions and millions of people. He’ll be smooth, he’ll be persuasive, and he’ll have the world

hanging on his every word. But let me tell you, he’s going to lead people straight to hell.

In Revelation 13, we hear about the beast who rises up and is given authority by Satan to rule the world. But here’s the kicker: he’s going to promise peace. He’ll get everyone thinking he’s their savior—sound familiar? He’ll do miracles, deceive the masses, and get people to worship him, which, spoiler alert, is exactly what Satan wants.

People are already preparing the way for him. The world’s systems are getting more and more global. Technology is advancing rapidly (hello, 5G!), and the entire world is becoming more connected than ever before. And this is paving the way for the Antichrist. It’s setting the stage for one world government—and if you think that’s a conspiracy theory, I encourage you to take a look around. It’s happening.

The Prophecies in Revelation: Fulfilled and Yet to Be Fulfilled

Alright, everyone, we’re talking about Revelation—the last book in the Bible, the one full of mysterious symbols, images, and predictions about the end of the world. And trust me, it’s not just some distant, far-off future; it’s happening right under our noses! We're going to talk about prophecies that have already been fulfilled and those that are yet to be fulfilled, and how everything points to Jesus’ return being closer than we think.

1. Prophecies Already Fulfilled

Let’s start with the stuff that’s already happened. It’s easy to look at Revelation and think, “Wow, that’s all in the future, right? No way that stuff’s happening now.” But, plot twist! A lot of these prophecies have already come true, and if you’re paying attention, you’ll see that things are lining up exactly as the Bible said they would.

The Rise of Global Communication

In Revelation 11, there’s a description of two witnesses (we don’t know exactly who they are) who are killed and their bodies are left in the streets. The Bible says that people from all over the world will see these witnesses’ bodies lying in the streets—“the inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and celebrate by sending each other gifts” (Revelation 11:10). Well, back in the day, this was impossible—how could everyone in the world see something happening in Jerusalem?

But guess what? We now have global communication. The internet. Satellite TV. Social media. People can literally watch live events unfold in real time anywhere on the planet. This prophecy is no longer some far-off idea. It’s happening today!

The Rise of the One World System

Revelation talks about a beast, the Antichrist, who will rule over a one-world government. Revelation 13:7 says that the beast will have authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. Now, back in the first century when John wrote Revelation, this would have sounded crazy. How could one man control the whole world?

But now? We’ve got globalization. International organizations like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and global economic systems like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are all moving us toward a more unified world. It’s not hard to imagine a time when a single leader (whether political, religious, or otherwise) could rise to power and unite the nations under one banner.

Now, let’s take a step back. I’m not saying the Antichrist is some world leader today, but all the pieces are being set up for that one-world system.

Persecution of Christians

Revelation talks about how Christians will be persecuted in the end times (Revelation 6:9-11). Worldwide persecution of believers? Sounds harsh, right? Well, it’s happening in some parts of the world already. According to organizations like Open Doors, there are countries where Christians are being killed, jailed, or oppressed for their faith.

In some places, it’s illegal to own a Bible or even worship in public. Think this is in some foreign nation and not relevant to us here in Canada? Well Trudeau this year has passed Bill C-367 which classifies Christian's speaking in public as hate speech and those who do will be jailed. And the social pressure to conform to secular ideologies is growing.

The truth of the Bible is being attacked more and more, and Christians are increasingly marginalized in societies around the world. So, while we might not see the full-blown global persecution just yet, the groundwork is being laid.

2. Prophecies Yet to Be Fulfilled

Now, let’s shift gears and look at the prophecies yet to be fulfilled. These are the ones that are still in the future, but they are fast approaching.

The Mark of the Beast

We’ve all heard about the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-18). It’s this mark or sign that the Antichrist will force everyone to take in order to buy or sell. You won’t be able to do business, shop, or survive without it. For years, people speculated about what it could be. “Maybe it’s a tattoo, maybe it’s a computer chip.”

But now? Technology is on the rise. We already have things like RFID chips (that’s radio frequency identification), biometric scans, and digital currencies. Some companies are already implanting chips in employees for easy access to their offices or even as payment systems. It's not outlandish to imagine a day when the Antichrist might mandate a digital mark, especially as the world leans more and more toward cashless societies and digital economies.

Now, you might be thinking, “Oh, it’s just technology. It's not the Mark of the Beast.” But think about this: We’re already living in a world where people are conditioned to rely on technology for everything. And one day, technology could be used to control our ability to buy or sell. If that’s not a setup for Revelation’s prophecy, I don’t know what is.

The Great Tribulation

The Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:14) is a period of time where there will be intense suffering on Earth, especially for those who follow Jesus. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 24 and in Revelation, we see the intensity of this period with earthquakes, famines, wars, and natural disasters. Now, we’ve seen wars. We’ve seen famines. But the Bible says that this period will be unlike anything the world has ever seen.

While we might not be in the Great Tribulation just yet, the Bible is clear that things will get worse before they get better. And when Jesus comes, it’ll be over. There will be no more suffering, no more tears, and no more pain. But until then, we must endure.

The Battle of Armageddon

Revelation 16:16 describes a final battle—the Battle of Armageddon—where the forces of good and evil will clash. It’s going to be a battle like no other, with the Antichrist and his followers going head-to-head with the armies of heaven. But the beauty of this prophecy is that Jesus wins. Armageddon is the final showdown, and when the dust settles, it’ll be Jesus reigning as King.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, “Wait, there’s going to be a battle? I don’t have a sword. I’m not ready for a fight.” But don’t worry! Jesus is the one who does the fighting. We just have to be on the right side of the battle—His side.

3. The Return of Christ and the New Heaven and New Earth

In the final chapters of Revelation, we read about the new heaven and new earth that will be created (Revelation 21-22). After the dust settles from all the judgment, the wars, and the chaos, God will make everything new. No more sin. No more death. No more pain. It’s going to be the place where God dwells with His people forever.

And here’s the good news: We can start experiencing a taste of that now. While we wait for the full fulfillment of God’s promises, we can walk in the peace, love, and joy that comes from knowing Jesus. We have a relationship with Him, and He gives us hope for the future. The world might seem crazy, but we know that we’re headed to a place where everything will be made right.

Jesus Is Coming!

Here’s the good news. Jesus is coming! He’s just waiting for you. He’s waiting for people to repent. Jesus is coming to bring us into eternal life with Him. We don’t know the day or the hour, but He is coming. And when He does, He’ll make everything right. No more pain, no more sickness, no more evil. Just eternal peace and love with Him. But the time to decide is now. You don’t want to wait until it’s too late.

The Seriousness of Salvation

I know this is heavy stuff, and I know it’s easy to shrug it off or pretend that Jesus is “coming later.” But the truth is, we’re closer than ever. And every moment you wait is a moment you can’t get back. Every day we live without repentance is another day closer to eternal death.

But there’s hope! Jesus came to save you from that. His sacrifice on the cross is the bridge to eternal life. And He’s holding out His hand right now, saying, “Come to Me. Repent, and I’ll give you life. I’ll give you eternal love and light. I’ll give you peace that passes all understanding.”

Conclusion

The truth is: Jesus is coming. The question is, Are you ready?

So, let’s make the most of today. Don’t wait for tomorrow to give your heart to Jesus. Don’t wait for another “sign.” The signs are already here. Get right with God today.

Let’s pray,

“Lord, we know You’re coming back, and we know You are waiting for us to come to You. We repent of our sins and turn to You. Please forgive us and help us to live each day with the urgency of Your return in mind. We don’t want to wait until it’s too late. We want to be ready. Thank You for Your grace and Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Now, go and live as though Christ could return any day, because He just might!