From a biblical perspective, the ultimate “future event” is the return of Jesus and the restoration of all things (the New Heavens and New Earth).
While many believers live with the hope that they might witness this in their lifetime, the Bible teaches that “no one knows the day or the hour” (Matthew 24:36). This creates a unique tension:
- The Desire: Christians long to see the end of suffering, death, and injustice—to see God “wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4).
- The Reality: Statistically and historically, most people throughout the last 2,000 years have died before witnessing the Second Coming.
Biblical teaching focuses on faithful living in the “meantime.” Even if we don’t live to see the final restoration, the Bible promises that those who have died in faith will be raised to witness and participate in it anyway (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). So, in a sense, the Bible offers a “spoiler alert”: even if you don’t live to see it now, you won’t actually miss it.
“I may not know what will happen tomorrow, but I know who holds my future—my God is faithful.”