How do the time periods in the bible reveal the time when Christ will return?
This teaching clarifies biblical prophecies about Christ's return, revealing that while the exact "day or hour" is unknown, God's providence unfolds in discernible numerical patterns. It shows that historical periods, such as the 2,000 years leading to Jesus, parallel the 2,000 years for the Second Coming, whose time came between 1917 and 1930. Prophecies of coming "on clouds" are metaphorical, signifying a return in the flesh, and the "Last Days" represent a transitional period towards a God-centered world, not global destruction.
The Bible contains numerous prophecies about the end times and the second coming of Christ, often presented symbolically or without explicit timelines. This has led to diverse interpretations and confusion. The Divine Principle offers a systematic framework for decoding these biblical time periods, revealing a profound and consistent truth about the timing and nature of Christ's return, thereby completing our understanding of God's providential history.
The Biblical Foundation
The Bible contains many references to divine timelines and the Second Coming of Christ, yet these are often shrouded in mystery. Jesus himself states, "But about that day or hour no one knows" (Matthew 24:36), and that "the Lord comes as a thief in the night." This statement has historically led to a belief that the timing of the Second Advent is entirely unknowable, fostering both fervent expectation and prolonged confusion. However, other passages hint at identifiable periods. For instance, Amos 3:7 states that "the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." This indicates that God will reveal His plan to the faithful. Daniel predicted "one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven" (Daniel 7:13), which was later understood as a metaphorical coming in the flesh, similar to how Elijah, prophesied to return (Malachi 4:5), came as John the Baptist, born of a woman, not literally on clouds. Luke 17:25 also states that the Lord "must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation" upon His return, revealing he will come in the flesh rather than a universally visible, glorious appearance that would preclude suffering.
Divine Principle's Clarification
The Divine Principle systematically clarifies these biblical time periods, demonstrating that God's providence unfolds according to definite numerical courses, even if humanity is initially unaware of them. It explains that the "day and hour" truly refers to the exact specific time known only to God, but not the general period or conditions for Christ's return. The Divine Principle unveils the laws of restoration, showing repeating patterns in God's history, such as the 400-year periods. For example, there were 400 years from Noah to Abraham and 400 years of Israel's suffering in Egypt (Genesis 15:13). These patterns are crucial for understanding God's providential timeline. God's history of restoration follows the rule of creation based on the number six, mirroring the six days of creation, and the rule of three stages (formation, growth, completion). These periods include the 2,000 years from Adam to Abraham, 2,000 years from Abraham to Jesus (the Age of the Providence of Restoration), and a subsequent 2,000 years from Jesus until the present (the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration). These periods culminate in the preparation for the Messiah. Specifically, the 400-year period for the preparation of the Second Coming concluded at the end of World War I. This parallel pattern of history sets the time between 1917 and 1930 as the beginning of the new era of Christ, the time of the Second Advent.
The Completed Understanding
When the Bible and the Divine Principle are integrated, a comprehensive and profound understanding of the timing of Christ's return emerges. The scriptural injunction that "no one knows the day or the hour" (Matthew 24:36) is understood not as an absolute block to all knowledge, but as a caution against pinpointing an exact date. Simultaneously, God's providential plan unfolds according to discernible, repeating patterns. The Divine Principle reveals that God works through numerical courses, which are not arbitrary but reflect the Principle of Restoration. The 2,000-year history leading up to Jesus served as a model of preparation for the Messiah, establishing a national-level foundation. The subsequent 2,000 years, centered on Western Christianity, established a worldwide foundation, concluding the 400-year preparation period for the Second Coming around the time of World War I. This indicates the Second Advent's commencement between 1917 and 1930. This understanding clarifies that biblical prophecies of coming "on the clouds" (Daniel 7:13, Revelation 1:7) are metaphorical, as evidenced by Jesus' birth and John the Baptist's arrival, signifying a return in the flesh. The "Last Days" are not a literal destruction of the Earth (Ecclesiastes 1:4) but a transitional period from a Satan-centered world to a God-centered one, bringing joy and the realization of God's ideal. This understanding transforms the seemingly vague biblical prophecies into a coherent, divinely ordered timeline, revealing the purpose of history and the imminence of God's final providence.
Living the Principle
1. Study God's providential history: Actively engage in studying both the Bible and the Divine Principle to understand the repeating patterns of God's providence and prepare for the next stage of human history. 2. Discern the signs of the times: Observe global developments through the lens of God's providential timeline, recognizing the spiritual significance and the transition from the old to the new era. 3. Embrace the truth of the Second Advent: Understand that Christ returns in the flesh, not literally on clouds, and that the "Last Days" signify a period of hope and transition for humanity, not literal destruction. 4. Hasten the Kingdom of Heaven: Recognize your role in God's providence by actively working to establish God's ideal on Earth through individual and collective efforts of restoration and unification, living as a true child of God.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
Last reviewed:
Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.