Jesus Could Have Returned by Now!

Jesus Could Have Returned by Now!
The lesson makes the comparison between the first century audience contemporary to the author of Hebrews and the readership of Hebrews today. It notes that the author of Hebrews, believes that he is living in "the last days," not unlike what we believe today. The lesson also points out that the author of Hebrews compares the believers' experience in the first century with the experience of those on the verge of the promised land in Moses' day. Interestingly, Ellen White did the exact same thing in her writings in regard to the experience of the SDAs of her day.
Many have noticed that quite a few prominent people in the movement of God throughout the ages have thought they were living in the "last days."

First, as the Sabbath School lesson points out, we have the author of Hebrews believing this, as written in Hebrews 1:1-2 which reads,
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these **last days** spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." [Hebrews 1:1-2]
But we can see this in other places as well. Peter in Acts 2 clearly applies Joel's prophecy concerning the "last days" to the experience that the 120 in the upper room were having at the third hour of the day on Pentecost.
John the Revelator also seemed to believe that Jesus was coming in his day. In Revelation 20:22 even Jesus himself is recorded as saying,
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen." [Revelation 20:22]

Ellen White also clearly thought she was going to experience the second coming of Christ in her day. In "Last Day Events," pages 36-37, there is compiled a collection of her statements that indicate that she was under the impression that Christ was to come in her day.
So, what accounts for the fact that all these thought Jesus was going to return in their day, and yet he didn't? Were they just wrong, or is there some other reason? Well, as we've evidenced in other videos (which we will link in the description), history unfolds in a free, or undetermined, way. Too often, people think that God has already planned exactly how and when everything in history is going to happened, as though the exact date of the second coming was predestined before the world was even made. In reality, God interacts with the humanity in a very dynamic and genuine way. Our choices actually make a huge difference, even to such an extent that we can hasten or delay the second coming. There have been times in the past when the second coming was genuinely close to happening, but then was delayed through.
Just like the author of Hebrews, Ellen compares the Advent experience with that of the ancient Israelites. But beyond that, Ellen speaks of a rejection of the third angel's message by many Millerites. Many Adventists from the Millerite movement did not receive these messages as they should have, and therefore they did not finish the gospel work and Christ did not "come quickly" back in the years following the Great Disappointment as He obviously wanted to.
And I think all will admit that according to Revelation, Jesus wanted to come again very soon to take unto himself his church in the first century. But as we all know, apostasy was taking root, and the very truths that formed the pillar and foundation of the faith of Jesus and the apostles were being corrupted and ultimately rejected. This rejection of the light of truth is what delayed the second Advent and instead brought about the dark ages. Light and darkness are constantly battling. Light to hasten the completion of the plan of redemption and darkness to delay it. In fact, this has been going on since before Christ's first advent and is an important part of why Christ came.

For a deeper study, see:
The King of Crises in the Seventh-day Adventist Church," by Trent Wilde,
https://www.bdsda.com/the-king-of-crises-in-the-seventh-day-adventist-church-2/?highlight=king%20of

Did God Create Time?
https://youtu.be/Xe03xY4JEk4

Sabbath School Q1 2022: In These Last Days: The Message of Hebrews - Week 1
A Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist perspective on the Sabbath School lesson.
www.bdsda.com
Email us at bdsdalit@gmail.com for comments and literature requests.