Is Jesus Coming Soon?

Christians are instructed to sing with the spirit and understanding in harmony with God’s truth (I Cor. 14:15, Jn. 4:24, Jn. 17:17).  To sing with one’s understanding engaged is to sing with an understanding of the songs words and how they relate to the Bible’s teaching on that subject.  Since it is the case that words are our medium of communication, it would have to imply that the words of a song be in harmony with the Scriptures.  However, there are some songs that we sing in the church that are not scriptural.  For example, “Just a Little Talk with Jesus” does not convey the truth of the matter on prayer.  Specifically in this article I am dealing with the song “Jesus is Coming Soon”.  Is Jesus really coming soon?  If so, how soon?  If not, why do we sing this song?  I am persuaded that this song is not scriptural and is sinful for the child of God to sing because it cannot be sung with a proper understanding of the biblical teaching on the Second Coming of Jesus.  I believe this song is not scriptural for the following reasons.

First, this song is not scriptural because of its syntactical meaning.  The subject of the sentence “Jesus is coming soon” is Jesus.  He is the one doing the action.  The words “is coming” are the verb of the sentence.  The word “is” is definite in its action.  For example, if you say “John is coming over” we understand that to be definite.  There is no doubt about John coming over.  Thus far, this phrase is biblical.  Truly, Jesus is coming.  However, here is where this song teaches biblical error.  The adverb of time “soon”, which is used to modify “is coming”, makes this sentence wrong.  Notice what the combined syntax of this phrase means: Jesus (the subject) is coming (the verb of definite action) soon (adverb of time which means shortly). The only way to understand this sentence (by the meaning of its words) is in a short period of time Jesus is definitely coming back.  If you were to call me up and tell me that you are coming by to see me soon, I expect to see you very shortly (within an hour, day, a week maximum).  But soon does not mean that 2000 years later you still have not come. One can not use any adverb of time to describe the Second Coming of the Lord.  It would be just as biblically incorrect to say “Jesus is coming later” as it is to say “Jesus is coming soon”.

Secondly, the song “Jesus is Coming Soon” is erroneous because it contradicts certain clear-cut passages of Scripture.  Jesus himself said, “But of that day (The Second Coming of Christ) and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36).  If Jesus and the angels of Heaven do not know when He is coming, then how can we even claim to know?  Do we not understand that when we say, “Jesus is coming soon” we are claiming to know more than our Lord knows.  The fact is Jesus’ coming is indefinite in time.  How then can we use a definite adverb to describe it?  We must understand that Jesus may be coming soon, or He may be coming later.  No one knows but God.  A second passage of Scripture which this song violates is I Thes. 5:2.  Paul here says, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”  Question: Do you know when a thief is coming to rob you?  Do you even have a hint of an idea (i.e. soon or late)?  No!  A thief does not call you and say, “I’m coming over at ten till two; be ready.”  Again, the idea is that no one knows when a thief comes and no one knows when the Lord is coming.  To say Jesus is coming soon is to say more than the Bible says.  For a Christian to say “Jesus is coming soon” he falls under the condemnation of adding to God’s word.  Christians are not to go beyond what is written (I Cor. 4:6).  If we do, then the woes of Revelation 22:18-19 will be upon us.  Have you ever thought that, in essence, we are no different than the liberals who do things that are not authorized in worship (i. e., add something) when we sing a song that is not scriptural.

A third reason this song is not acceptable to sing is because of the teaching it could express to visitors of the assembly.  The Bible teaches that singing is a method of teaching biblical truth (Eph. 5:19ff, Col. 3:16ff).  If a non-Christian were to come into our assembly and hear us sing this song, what kind of teaching would we be giving?  It is very possible that he could think we believe that within a short period of time the Lord will be coming back.  What if he heard us singing this song and did what the Thessalonians did due to a misconception of the Second Coming of Christ.  The Thessalonians had been taught improperly about Christ’s coming, and as a result they quit working.  What if a person was to hear us sing this song, quit working and start looking for Christ’s coming any day?  Although this is an extreme example, the principle of teaching error through singing is valid.  In the church, we are adamant about marking those who teach error (Rom 16:17), and we should be doing this.  But, do we not realize that we ourselves are false teachers when we sing the song “Jesus is Coming Soon”?  Truly, no false teacher will be allowed into Heaven.

I firmly believe that it is a sin for us to sing this song.  In fact, if we do not worship God correctly by singing with a correct understanding of God’s will, are we any different than Nadab and Abihu?  I believe the Bible teaches that Christians who do not sing with the understanding of a song in harmony with God’s word do not please God.  If words have meanings (and they do), and if the song “Jesus is Coming Soon” is unbiblical (and it is), then we are giving false and unbiblical worship to God. When we sing songs to God that violate the Scriptures we are giving “ignorant” worship to God (Acts 17:23).  Has God ever been pleased with false worship???? 

Objections Raised & Answered

The first and major objection that most brethren raise comes from 2 Peter 3:8.  Peter said, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  Brethren will say, “2 Peter 3:8 teaches that a thousand years is one day and a day is a thousand years.”  I agree whole-heartedly.  But this does not prove we can sing “Jesus is coming soon”.  The important thing to realize is that this is not dealing with man’s view of time, but God’s.  Peter says, “with the Lord”, not with us.  This speaks of God’s view of the clock, not ours.  Before man existed there was no idea of time.  God is not bound by nor does he keep time.  Time was created in Genesis 1:1 for man.  Therefore, we can learn from this that we are bound by time.  I must keep time to go to work, to go to worship, to go to bed etc.  Likewise, time applies to me when I read the Bible and sing songs.  I cannot justify a human song, based on human time standards, by appealing to a verse that deals with God’s time frame.  This passage applies to this song in no way whatsoever.  We need to be better Bible students and especially students of the context, before we try to justify the unjustifiable.

Another major objection raised is that this song is powerful.  No doubt, this is a truly powerful song.  To think that Jesus could be coming back any moment should make all of us live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age.  But might does not make right.  Just because this song is powerful does not make it approved.  If we were to approve of things based on their inherent power, we would use many things that are unscriptural.  For example, many people use drama in worship because it is supposed to be a powerful way to teach the gospel.  But does that make it right (I Cor. 1:21)?  Many people use instruments of music in worship because they are powerful, but does that make them right (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)?  Just because humans think something is powerful in worship, does not put God’s stamp of approval upon it.

A third objection that is often raised is poetic license.  Many people think that those who object to this song are being too dogmatic and conservative and can’t see the poetic license of a song, or poem.  What exactly is poetic license?  Poetic license is the right of an author, reader or singer to interpret the words of a poem or song based on its use of figurative or illustrative language.  I agree completely with poetic license.  However, there is no figurative language in this song.  It is meant to express exactly what the words say.  In fact, the man who wrote this song was a “died-in-the-wool” Premillenialist and did not mean for you to interpret it any other way than how he wrote it.  Even if you were to try and use poetic license with this song, you could not make it teach the truth.  The word soon has definite restrictions placed upon it.  Surely no one would say that the word soon means 10,000 years from now.  But, it is possible for Jesus not to come back for 10,000 years.  Poetic license does not prove that one can sing this song.  If we can use poetic license on this song, how long will it be before we use poetic license to interpret passages of Scripture that we do not like.  That is exactly what many people are doing today.

When all the evidence is weighed, I cannot honestly see how a Christian who knows their Bible can sing this song.  However, those who do sing this song are in the majority.  As a result, they think that we are the “weak” brethren of Romans 14. Due to our weakness they are willing to stoop to our level of ignorance so as not to offend us, in hopes that we might be able to finally reach a correct understanding of this song.  However, who is really weak spiritually?  As Paul said, “to the weak, I became as weak that I might win the weak” (I Cor. 9:22). 

Friend, I hope that you will realize that this is not an attack on you as a person or an individual.  I am in no way speaking specifically about anyone.  I am only trying to fight against false doctrine.  I pray that you will honestly consider these things, search your Bible to see if they are true (Acts 17:11), change your view if they are or help me to see the way of the Lord more perfectly if I am missing something. 

“…Love of so many grows cold,

Losing their homes of gold,

This in God’s word is told,

Evils abound. 

When these signs come to pass,

 Nearing the end at last,

it will come very fast,

Trumpets will sound.

Jesus is coming soon,

Morning or night or noon…”