The Savior Taught About Future Events

In verse 4 of Joseph Smith’s translation of Matthew, Christ’s disciples ask Him questions having to do with His Second Coming.  In verses 5-55, Christ talks about some of the events that are signs that His coming is nigh and some of the blessings that will come to those who remain faithful to Him throughout the adversity and craziness of it all.

Some of the things that Christ warned would happen are that false prophets would come (verses 5-6, 9, 22); Christ's people will be hated and persecuted for their beliefs (verse 7); people will become very rude and nasty to each other and betray one another (verse 8); and iniquity will be the "popular" thing to do (verses 10 and 30).  There will be wars and talk of more wars (verses 23 and 28); famines, pestilences, and earthquakes will abound (verse 29).

Some of the blessings that Christ promised to the righteous are eternal life (verses 11 and 30), understanding of what they read in the scriptures (verse 12), and that their afflictions will seem like a short period of time (verse 20).  The true gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached all over the world (verse 31).

Christ also told of other signs to come before He returns to the earth.  He said that after all of the “…tribulation of [these] days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (verse 33).  He won’t come until all of the things He told us of happen.  He said that, “…whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (verse 37).  We need to be prepared and keep ourselves that way for Him to come back because we don't know when that's going to be (verses 48 and 53).  We need to do all that is necessary to keep ourselves in line with what He would have us do so that we may live with Him again.  If we don’t prepare before He comes back, it’ll be too late when He’s here.

There are a lot of people who are worried about Christ’s Second Coming.  According to 1 Nephi 22:16-22 and Doctrine and Covenants 97: 22, 25, those who are worried about the Second Coming can take comfort in knowing that as long as they are righteous and are keeping the commandments, the Lord will protect them.