Very soon! Jesus mentioned a number of signs that would let us know His return is near, along with the general state of the world.
Signs of His coming, and of the end of the world
Many will come in His name, and false prophets will lead people astray.
And there will be wars, famines, pestilences (disease), and earthquakes in various places:
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.
Matthew 24:7
Jesus said when you see all these things happening, we can know His return is near:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:33
When you see all of the signs mentioned in Matthew, not just one or two, and visibility of them on a global scale, then you know the end is truly near.
With recent technological advances, such as the Internet and smartphones, this is now finally possible. The entire world can see the signs of the end and the gospel can now go to all the world in a short time.
No one will be able to stay on the fence, everyone will see what’s going on, have been told the truth, and have to choose a side.
The Bible likens the end to birth pains – they become more frequent and intense as the time of birth approaches.
People will be expecting life to return to normal at some point, however that will not be the case.
There will be some semblance of normal life however, because the Bible states it will be like the days of Noah at the end:
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:37-39
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.