As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, let me tell you why I believe, probably more so than a person who lived in 1000 AD, that the second coming is very near. First and foremost I believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Secondly, the Book of Revelations is a revelation that takes us up through the end of mortal existence on this earth. Gaining more understanding of that revelation is critical in understanding events that lead to the second coming of Christ, the millennium, and the end of this mortal world. In the Book of Revelation, starting in chapter 5, John sees a book that is sealed on the back with seven seals. The rest of the Book of Revelation consists of what is written in the book under each of the seven seals. As we go through each seal, we progress through time until we reach the end of this mortal world. The Prophet Joseph Smith received revelation on the meaning of the book and its seven seals:
Doctrine and Covenants 77:6-7
6 Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was
sealed on the back with seven seals?A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
7 Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
So according to this revelation, the Book contains all the works of God during the seven thousand years of this earth's temporal existence. This tells us that this earth's temporal existence will only be 7000 years. I believe what is meant by temporal existence is the earth in its fallen state. Thus we entered into the fallen state of this earth when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. By taking note of the time from the fall of Adam and Eve in the Bible up until the time of Christ, we see that it was approximately 4000 years. That would leave us just 3000 years from the time of Christ. We are now in the year 2025. So approximately 2000 more years have already transpired. So approximately 6000 of the 7000 years have already transpired. According to the Book of Revelation, Jesus second coming is to occur after the opening of the 7th seal or in the final 7000 year period. When Christ comes he will open up the age of the Millennium and will dwell on earth for a thousand years. So if you do the math, we are either right at the end of the 6th seal or the beginning of the 7th seal. In other words we are somewhere around the end of the 6000 years or the beginning of the 7000 year period.
Yes, there are still other prophesies that need to be fulfilled but they could be fulfilled within a short period of time. My personal belief is that before the year 2100 I believe the Lord Jesus will have made his second coming on the earth. That would be within the next 75 years. That is within 1 persons lifetime. In other LDS scripture it tells us that Jesus was born and died in the meridian of time. To me, I believe the Meridian of Time refers to the 4th seal or the 4th thousand year period of this earth's temporal existence since it is the middle time of the 7000 years of the earth's temporal existence. I believe Jesus died at the very end of the 4th seal. I believe Jesus died in the year 33 A.D. Thus the 5th seal would go from 34 A.D. to 1033 A.D. and the 6th seal would go from 1034 A.D. to 2033 A.D. Thus the 7th seal would open in 2034 A.D. Jesus is to come again after the opening of the 7th seal. These are just my personal thoughts on the second coming and not the church's.
Yes people have looked for the signs of Christ's coming over many past years but if Joseph Smith is a true prophet, then the second coming would not have come in their days but only after 6000 years of the earth's temporal existence. However, the signs of the times are not just to occur the day before Christ's coming. We don't know how many years prior to his coming that many of the signs will occur. To me one of the major signs before his coming is the two prophets that will appear in Jerusalem who will perform many miracle. Their ministry will last 3.5 years and then their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for 3.5 days and then they will resurrect into the clouds to meet Jesus at his coming. But if that is the only sign we wait for, we must ask if we will have time to get our lives in order. It is best to look for many signs and all the while repent of our sins and prepare to meet him at his coming.