The answer is that most (between 50% and 75%) believe that Jesus will someday return to earth.
When asked if he would return in their lifetime, last year’s Pew Research Center survey found that only about 10% of the U.S. Christian community believed that he will.
The Apostle Peter addresses this matter in his second letter to Christ-followers somewhere between 30 years and 60 years after the ascension of Jesus.
My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles. First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.” They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word.
II Peter 3:1-5 The Message
1–hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention
Distractions are everywhere, and the Apostle Peter is saying that in the midst of them, there is a thought that you need to hold onto. Do whatever is necessary not to be distracted from it.
It takes discipline to accomplish such a task. It takes a close personal relationship with the Godhead to be successful. It takes dedicated time in God’s word to get it into your heart and mind.
2– Keep in mind what the holy prophets said
The word of God proclaims the birth, death, burial, resurrection, and return of Jesus. His birth, death, burial, and resurrection happened precisely as they were prophesied. This gives Christ-followers great assurance that his return will happen exactly as it has been foretold.
Jeremiah 33:11 says that the voice of the bridegroom and bride will sing and bring offerings into the Lord’s house.
Isaiah 42:1-4 says that God’s chosen one will bring justice to the nations and establish justice on the earth.
Revelation 21:23-24 says the Lamb will be the light and that nations and kings will walk by it.
We are to hold these things in our minds with undistracted attention.
3– mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings
Isn’t it interesting that humanity is under attack?
+It is no longer acceptable to males or females—as God created humanity to be.
++It is no longer acceptable to be of a particular ethnicity—as God created humanity to be.
+++It is no longer acceptable to be called a Christian—As God sent Jesus into the world to redeem humanity.
These distractions must be thrown aside because they deter you from holding your mind in a state of undistracted attention.
4– what’s happened to the promise of his Coming—life goes on?
Millennia have passed since Jesus ascended into heaven, and Jesus has not returned. Next week’s installment will address this in detail, but understand how this is a distraction. If God spoke—and he has—then what he said will happen the way he said it would happen.
Because it has not happened within a particular time (this too will be addressed in detail in a later installment) is not an indication that God has changed his mind.
5– They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word.
This underscores what the Apostle Peter mentions in the above point, just because life goes on does not mean God has forgotten or changed his mind.
Consider this
What if the earth and galaxy are billions of years old? It is plausible; after all, who (besides the Godhead) was around to validate it? The Bible declares that God spoke and life happened. Who’s to say that it happened immediately? Hollywood is great at depicting magic as happening instantaneously, but how can you be sure that creation happened that way?
This isn’t to create an argument for a seven-day creation but merely to stress a point that God spoke, and things happened precisely the way he spoke them.
The Apostle Peter stresses this point, Creator God spoke, and life happened. In like manner, and through the voice of his prophets, he has told about his Son and his return to earth to establish his kingdom.
You can believe that because the word of God in the Old Testament book of Proverbs says:
“The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”
Proverbs 30:5 The Message
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. I will pass it along as I learn so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.