Introduction

The New Testament contains numerous statements by Jesus and New Testament authors that seem to suggest that Jesus was coming back soon, in their lifetime! But two thousand years later here we still are. How do we handle this apparent "failed prophecy"?

Did Jesus and his followers get it wrong? Did they miscalculate the timing of Jesus' return? Or were Jesus and the authors of the New Testament anticipating something else?

The purpose of this book is to examine this issue by looking in detail at the New Testament texts that seem to promise that Christ is coming back right away. It will provide a possible answer to these questions in light of the tension between the promised imminent return of Christ and its delay.