7 Signs of Jesus' Return Your Kids Need to Understand (Before 2025 Ends)

Here's the thing about teaching kids about Jesus' return: it's not supposed to be scary. It's supposed to be exciting.

Think about it. When you were a kid and your grandparents were coming to visit, you didn't hide under the bed in fear. You watched out the window, jumping up and down, counting the minutes. That's the energy we want when we talk about Jesus coming back.

But somewhere along the way, eschatology, that fancy word for end-times teaching, got tangled up with fear. Kids heard words like "tribulation" and "judgment" before they heard "hope" and "reunion." And that's just not how Jesus talked about His return.

So let's fix that. Let's walk through the seven biblical signs of Jesus' return in a way that fills your kids with hope, not anxiety. Because when we get this right, we're not raising fearful children. We're raising kids who live with purpose, knowing their King is coming home.

Sign #1: Wars and Rumors of Wars

Jesus said, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:7). For kids, that just means countries won't always get along.

Here's how to frame it: "You know how sometimes friends have disagreements? Countries do too. Jesus said that before He comes back, we'll see more of that happening. But here's the cool part, it reminds us that this world isn't perfect, and we're waiting for Jesus to make everything perfect again."

See the difference? We're not terrifying them with war stories. We're giving them context. The brokenness they see in the world isn't a surprise to Jesus. He told us about it ahead of time. And He's got a plan to fix it.

For younger kids (ages 3-6): "Sometimes countries don't agree, just like sometimes friends don't agree. But Jesus is coming back to help everyone get along."

For older kids (ages 10-12): "Wars show us that people need Jesus. When we see conflict in the world, it reminds us why His return matters so much."

Sign #2: Earthquakes in Various Places

The earth shakes. Mountains tremble. Things that feel solid suddenly aren't.

But here's what we tell our kids: creation is groaning for Jesus to come back (Romans 8:22). It's not just random destruction. It's like the whole earth is saying, "We're ready for our King!"

My daughter once asked me why earthquakes happen. I told her, "The earth is like a puppy waiting for its owner to come home. It can't sit still. It's so excited that it shakes." She understood that immediately.

Natural disasters are tragic, yes. We acknowledge the loss. We pray for those affected. But we don't stop there. We point to the promise: Jesus is coming to make all things new.

Sign #3: Famines and Diseases

This one's tricky because it touches real pain. Kids see hunger on TV. They've lived through pandemics. They know sickness is real.

So we hold both truths: yes, these things are hard. And yes, they point to something hopeful.

"Jesus warned us that there would be times when food is scarce and sickness spreads. Not to scare us, but to prepare us. These things remind us that our bodies and this world need healing: the kind of healing only Jesus can bring when He returns."

Then we pivot to action: "Until He comes back, what can we do? We can feed the hungry. We can pray for the sick. We can be Jesus' hands and feet right now."

See what we just did? We took something potentially frightening and turned it into a discipleship moment. We're raising kids who don't just wait passively for Jesus: they actively participate in His mission until He returns.

Sign #4: The Gospel Preached to All Nations

This is my favorite sign to teach kids because it's the one they can participate in.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

For kids, this means: "Every person on earth gets to hear about Jesus before He comes back. And guess what? You get to help with that! Every time you tell a friend about Jesus, every time you pray for missionaries, every time you give to church missions: you're helping fulfill this sign."

Suddenly, the return of Jesus isn't just something they wait for. It's something they're part of making happen.

Want to make it practical? Get a world map. Let your kids color in countries as they pray for them. Talk about missionaries your church supports. Explain that one day, every nation, tribe, and tongue will have heard about Jesus. And we get to be part of that story.

Sign #5: Israel as a Nation Again

This one requires a bit of history, but kids love a good comeback story.

"For almost 2,000 years, Israel wasn't a country anymore. The Jewish people were scattered all over the world. But in 1948, something amazing happened: Israel became a nation again. The Bible predicted this would happen before Jesus returned."

For younger kids, keep it simple: "God kept a promise to bring His people back to their land. When God makes promises, He keeps them: including His promise to send Jesus back."

For older kids, you can dig deeper into biblical prophecy and show them how God's faithfulness to Israel demonstrates His faithfulness to all His promises. If He kept this promise, He'll keep the promise about Jesus' return too.

Sign #6: Signs in the Heavens

The sun will darken. The moon won't give its light. Stars will fall from the sky (Matthew 24:29).

Sounds dramatic, right? It is. But it's not meant to terrify: it's meant to announce.

Think about fireworks on the Fourth of July. They're loud, bright, and impossible to miss. That's what these heavenly signs are like. They're God's way of saying, "Pay attention! Something monumentally important is happening!"

For kids: "Before Jesus comes back, the sky is going to put on the most amazing show anyone has ever seen. It's like God's way of making sure nobody misses it. When you see fireworks, remember: those are just practice for the real thing when Jesus returns."

Sign #7: Jesus Returns in Glory

And here's the finale: "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30).

This is where every conversation about the signs should land. Not on fear. Not on speculation about dates. But on Him.

Jesus is coming back. Visibly. Powerfully. Gloriously. And for those who love Him, it's the best day imaginable.

Tell your kids: "Every single person on earth will see Jesus when He comes back. There won't be any confusion. It won't be secret. Everyone will know. And if you love Jesus, that day will be like Christmas morning times a million. You'll finally get to hug the One who's loved you your whole life."

Living with Hope-Filled Expectancy

Here's what we're really teaching when we talk about these signs: Jesus didn't leave us clueless. He gave us road markers so we'd know we're heading in the right direction.

These signs aren't meant to make us panic. They're meant to make us purposeful.

We feed the hungry because Jesus is coming. We share the gospel because Jesus is coming. We love our neighbors because Jesus is coming. We forgive quickly because Jesus is coming.

Every act of obedience, every moment of worship, every prayer whispered in faith: they're all pointing to that great day when our King returns.

A Prayer You Can Pray with Your Kids

"Jesus, thank You that You're coming back. Help us not to be afraid when we see hard things in the world. Instead, help us remember that You're in control and You're keeping every promise. Give us courage to share Your love while we wait. We can't wait to see You face to face. Amen."

Look, I get it. The end times can feel overwhelming. There's so much we don't know, so much scholars debate, so much that feels too big for our kids to process.

But here's what we do know: Jesus loves them. He's coming back. And until He does, we get to live with purpose, hope, and joy.

That's not just good theology. That's good news. And that's exactly what our kids need to hear.

Want more resources for teaching your kids about faith? Check out our collection of children's Bible stories and devotionals designed to build hope, not fear. Because faith isn't about knowing all the answers: it's about knowing the One who does.

Boundless Online Church An outreach ministry of First Assembly Memphis www.boundlessonlinechurch.org www.famemphis.org