It was around 1980 when my mother wrote an essay at school: 'Communism, the bright future of mankind'.

I don't know if she was really convinced at the time. Today we certainly smile about it. Our expectations of the future have become more modest. We concentrate on the search for personal happiness – we have already given up on world peace.

But the destruction of the environment continues, raw materials are becoming scarce, conflicts are everywhere. Even if we all changed our lifestyles tomorrow, we probably wouldn't be able to stop the predicted environmental disasters. These are uncomfortable thoughts that I do not like to think about.

When Jesus talked about the end of the world, some of it sounds familiar: Wars, earthquakes, pestilence, famine. Only one thing is different: according to the Bible, humanity will not be wiped out by a lack of resources, an escalating terrorist attack, or a collision with an asteroid, but God Himself will take matters into His own hands.

Jesus says clearly that He will come again, this time not to be born as a child, but as a ruler and a king. He will bring world history to a temporary end. The threatening events we are experiencing are only signs of this. Jesus compares them to the pains of childbirth. They come at increasingly shorter intervals and become more intense until the time comes. Jesus does not give an exact time for His return. He says that no one will know the time and hour and that many will even be surprised by it. Why is that?

I don't know about you, but when I have a deadline, the temptation is to wait and procrastinate. God knows us. We would do the same with the Second Coming and only wake up just before. He wants us to be in daily contact with Him now.

Jesus also speaks of other portents: Religious deceivers and false Christs are coming, pretending a false return. We should not be deceived, because there is only one true Christ – and all people will see Him at once (Matthew 24:30). It's hard to imagine, but however God will do it, we will know it is Him.

So, what about my own plans for the future? Many people hope that Jesus will return as late as possible and not destroy their life's dreams before then. The Second Coming doesn't seem to fit into our concept of life. But when Jesus comes, it is not the good things of this world that will end, only the bad things.

Have you ever wondered why God allows so much suffering? Why injustice so often wins? Why we have to get sick and die? How much longer can this go on?

In the return of Jesus, God finally intervenes! And not only will the suffering of the world be over, but so will your personal suffering. There will be no more pain, no more death. There will be a great reunion with those we have lost. All the happiness you still hope for in the world will then become a reality. And it will be uninterrupted and permanent.

So, there are great things ahead and a 'bright future for mankind'. But if that's the case, why isn't everyone looking forward to it?

Whether I look forward to a visit depends entirely on how I feel about the other person. I would certainly not be happy if the bailiff showed up at the door to carry a prized possession out of my home. Nor would I rejoice if the police came to take me away! But it is different if a bridegroom comes to take his bride to the wedding, to use the words of the Bible. When someone you know and love is coming, their arrival can't be soon enough.

The best things we experience in this world are only a foretaste of what is to come when the separation between God and us is finally over.

When we think about the end of the world, many terrible things come to mind. It doesn't feel good that the world is spinning out of control and that we can't do much about it. But those who know Jesus are better off: we don't know WHAT is coming, but we know WHO is coming. That makes all the difference. It gives us strength for the difficult times we live in now. We have reason to look forward to Him. And until He comes, we can get to know Him better and better.

Then this last day will be the best day of our lives – and not the end, but just the beginning.

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Bible texts for in-depth study:
Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:13; Hebrew 9:28; Revelation 1:7; 14:14-16; 21:1-5