As we cross the threshold into a blessed 2026, the simple turning of the calendar inevitably triggers a profound and priority question in the mind of the believer: When will the Lord return?,. This inquiry is entirely appropriate, as we have just concluded a month-long season celebrating Christ’s first coming and now naturally look expectantly toward His second,. While the specifics of this event often spark controversy and division within the church, the Holy Spirit commends us to look toward this day with hope and expectancy, often captured in the ancient prayer Maranatha—”come quickly, Lord Jesus”,.
Theological Frameworks of the Second Coming
In considering whether 2026 could be the year of His arrival, it is helpful to outline the various theological camps that interpret the scriptural timing of this event,. The first primary view is that the return of Christ is imminent, meaning it could happen at any moment, even before a simple conversation or podcast can reach its conclusion. This perspective is often fueled by the observation that the world appears to be in great trouble, having turned its back on the Lord, leading many to believe He will gather His angels very soon.
A second perspective suggests that specific conditions must be fulfilled before the end comes, most notably the requirement that the Gospel must go out into every tribe, tongue, and language. This view posits that the Lord is ensuring that all those purchased on the cross are gathered in from every people group across history before heaven is fully established on earth. Consequently, one might attempt to use the progress of the Great Commission as a measuring stick for the Lord’s return.
A third alternative, derived from the systematic theology of Wayne Grudem, offers a compelling synthesis: while there are conditions to be met, such as global evangelization, these could be fulfilled with supernatural empowerment far more quickly than humanly expected,. Much like the unforeseen and rapid collapse of the USSR, the final conditions for the Lord’s return could be buttoned up in a matter of months, making His arrival practically imminent despite the necessary precursors,.
The Measuring Stick of World Missions
As those who love world missions, the idea of using the Great Commission as a gauge for the second coming is enticing, yet it requires a significant caveat of humility. While organizations like the Joshua Project have done a great service by attempting to categorize the world’s 7,416-plus ethnic groups by language, culture, and geography, we cannot be certain that our human “missiological” categories align perfectly with how God understands these divisions,.
Leaders such as Ralph Winter and Donald McGavran provided a vital gift to the church by bringing analytical tools to the mission calling, measuring Bible translations and the establishment of local churches,. These efforts allow the church to participate in God’s revealed will in an organized and measurable way, even if we acknowledge that the final timing remains within the Father’s sovereign authority,.
The “So What” Question: How Then Shall We Live?
The most critical aspect of contemplating the Lord’s return in 2026 is not the “when,” but the “so what”,. If we truly expect the Lord to return, it must result in an ethical and spiritual transformation of our lives as husbands, fathers, and servants, rather than a life focused on mindless entertainment or fleshly resolutions,. It is a theological cop-out to claim the timing does not matter; in reality, your conclusion regarding the end times directly affects how you pray, evangelize, and prioritize your life.
The Apostle Peter addresses this “so what” question with pragmatic lifestyle instructions in two key passages,. In 1 Peter 4:7, we are told that “the end of all things is at hand,” a statement that remains theologically true as the entire period between the first and second comings is defined as the “end times”. Because our time is short, the Bible commands us to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. This means maintaining a serious side to life, thinking soberly about our priorities, and practicing hospitality without grumbling as a fundamental way to live out the Gospel in the community,.
Furthermore, 2 Peter 3 reminds us that while the Lord may seem slow by human standards, He is actually being patient, desiring that none should perish but all should reach repentance,. Since the physical world is destined to be dissolved and the works of man exposed, we are called to live lives of holiness and godliness,.
Hastening the Day through Radical Obedience
A startling concept found in 2 Peter 3 is that believers can actually hasten the coming of the day of God. This does not suggest that God is waiting on us to fix His calendar, but rather that He has ordained that certain things—such as radical obedience, sharing the Gospel, and personal sanctification—will occur through human agents before He returns,. By participating in these ordained works rather than standing in the way of them, we actively engage in the unfolding of His sovereign will,.
When we contemplate the return of Jesus in this light, it makes us regret every wasted moment and fuels a desire to be “co-conspirators” with God in His global purposes. For 2026, this means adopting a worldview that rejects the “flitting through social media” and instead embraces an intentional, power-filled Christian life,.
Passion Life’s Global Strategy for 2026
In light of the potential return of Christ, Passion Life’s mission for 2026 is focused on driving the Gospel of Life into the neediest places of the world. We recognize that we have a short time to make our lives count, and our remaining time will be spent teaching God’s people to prioritize the scriptures and advance reconciliation in broken places,.
Drawing from our ongoing work, our 2026 objectives involve specific, life-saving interventions where the crisis is most concentrated:
- In India: Having opened the first “Nest” (Neighborhood Empathy in Special Times) in Eastern India in 2025, we are now aggressively targeting a $250,000 mission goal for 2026 to address the “new number one” location for abortion and infanticide.
- In China: We are moving forward on “level ground” to expand the model of pregnancy help offices inside public hospitals, capitalizing on the government’s new focus on “fertility protection” to save millions of innocent lives.
- In Cuba: We will continue to fan the flame of a movement that has already seen the nation drop from the number one abortion rate in the world to number four, supported by over 50 churches with organized ministries.
- In Azerbaijan and Egypt: We are following up on exploratory trips to establish “beachheads” in Muslim-majority countries where abortion culture is often hidden in the darkness of nominal faith and progressive modernism.
The goal is to bring the light of the Gospel into dark places—whether that involves the imprisoned, the sick, or the most vulnerable being led away to slaughter,. We seek to help mothers and babies, encourage marriage, and ensure the Word of God is known so that the innocent are rescued.
A Call to Recalibration
As 2026 is “brand spanking new,” this is a time for the global church to fall on its knees and allow the Holy Spirit to recalibrate our hearts. We must not make empty commitments, but rather throw ourselves into the blessing of the work God is already doing. We are called to live each day soberly, focusing our mission on the fundamentals of prayer and the Word.
To support this radical, ordinary Christian life, we must be willing to make the Gospel a top priority, showing the world Christ in us, the hope of glory. This may involve simple acts, such as the “Coffee Cup Challenge,” where individuals sacrifice a small daily luxury to provide the monthly support necessary to sustain pregnancy help centers in high-risk nations.
Conclusion: Living in the Light of His Return
Whether the Lord returns in 2026 or His coming is further in the distance, our mandate remains unchanged. We must live in a way that values the Word of God as hidden treasure, much like the wise men who followed a single sliver of revelation across a continent to worship the King. We must be like the pregnancy help movement—the “pastoral wing” of the church—that stands in the gap to protect those whom the Herods of this world seek to destroy.
In 2026, let us not waste our lives. Let us instead live intentionally, recognizing that every act of hospitality, every shared Gospel message, and every baby rescued from abortion is an achievement of eternal significance,. By focusing on these fundamental Christian things, we live out the true “so what” of the second coming, remaining ready for the day He arrives like a thief in the night,.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.