When Will Yeshua Return?

by Stephen Otto

At creation, God established the weekly cycle of seven days. He worked the first six days and “rested on the seventh day” (Gen. 2:1-3), providing us an example (Ex. 20:8-11). Psalms 90:4 states, “For a thousand years in Your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.” 

In Against Heresies (c. 150ad), Irenaeus wrote, "This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed; it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand years.” Other church fathers who shared this belief include Lactantius, Victorinus, Hippotylus, Justin Martyr, and Methodius.

The New Testament writers also support this interpretation. Peter paraphraed Psalm 90:4, writing “But do not forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with Yehovah as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3:8). John, who was inspired to write about the coming era, that will begin with the Messiah’s return to establish His Kingdom, noted that this period will last 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-4). Paul explained that the seventh-day Sabbath is a type of the “millennial” rest (Heb. 4:3-11). Matthew also testified that Yeshua took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain to witness the transfiguration. This event occurred “after six days” (Matt. 16:28 - 17:1-9), symbolizing the resurrection that will occur after the sixth millennial day, marking the beginning of the millennial Sabbath. 

According to Archbishop James Ussher, a prolific church scholar and biblical chronologist who lived from 1581 to 1656, creation occurred in the year 4004 BC. This would place the culmination of the six millennial days around 1995 or 1996. Yet, Yeshua has not returned.

Yeshua declared, "This good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). This prophecy suggests that after the gospel, the good news is proclaimed throughout the world, there will come a time when it will no longer be of any effect. As a result, there will be no reason for Yeshua's return to be delayed, and "then the end will come."