Jesus Christ, second coming of

Jesus Christ will return visibly and in glory at the end of history to raise the dead, judge the world, destroy all evil and opposition to God and consummate his kingdom. Believers are encouraged to be prepared for his return, waiting with eagerness and joy.

The second coming is foretold

In the OT

Daniel 7:13–14 See also Psalm 72:2–4; Isaiah 2:2–4 parallel Micah 4:1–3; Isaiah 11:4–9, Isaiah 40:5

In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 24:30 parallels Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27 See also Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31; Mark 14:62; Luke 12:40; John 14:3, John 14:28

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

By the angels at Jesus Christ's ascension

Acts 1:11

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

By the apostles

Philippians 3:20 See also Acts 3:20–21; 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Hebrews 9:28

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

NT terms for the second coming

``Parousia''

Meaning literally presence'' orcoming'', the term was used in the NT world of a royal visit: Matthew 24:3; James 5:7–8; 2 Peter 3:4; 1 John 2:28

``Apocalypsis''

Meaning literally unveiling'',apocalypsis'' suggests that the second coming will make visible that which is already true of Jesus Christ but presently hidden from human sight: Luke 17:30; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 4:13

``Epiphaneia''

Meaning literally appearing'' ormanifestation'', the term suggests coming out into view from a hidden background: 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13

Events that will precede the second coming

The universal preaching of the gospel

Matthew 24:14 parallel Mark 13:10 See also Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:7–8

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The persecution of believers

Matthew 24:9 parallels Mark 13:9, Luke 21:12 See also Matthew 24:21 parallel Mark 13:19; Matthew 24:22 parallel Mark 13:20; Mark 13:12–13 parallels Matthew 24:12–13, Luke 21:16–17; 2 Timothy 3:1; Revelation 7:14

Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Apostasy, nominal religion and godlessness

1 Timothy 4:1 See also Matthew 24:10; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; 2 Peter 3:3–4

Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

The revelation of the antichrist

1 John 2:18 The antichrist is a name given to the one who will lead opposition to God's kingdom. It appears to refer to an individual but may denote a corporate movement. See also Daniel 7:20–22; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4; 1 John 4:3; Revelation 13:1–10

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

The appearance of false Christs and false prophets

Matthew 24:24 parallel Mark 13:22 See also Matthew 7:15, Matthew 24:5 parallels Mark 13:6, Luke 21:8; Matthew 24:11; Luke 17:23; 2 John 1:7

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Wars and rumours of wars

Matthew 24:6–7 parallels Mark 13:7–8, Luke 21:9–10

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Famines and earthquakes

Matthew 24:7–8 parallels Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Cosmic changes

Matthew 24:29 parallels Mark 13:24, Luke 21:25–26

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

The timing of the second coming

At God's appointed time

Acts 3:20–21 See also Matthew 24:36 parallel Mark 13:32; Luke 17:20–30; Acts 1:7; 2 Peter 3:9

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

Unexpectedly

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 See also Matthew 24:27 parallel Luke 17:24; Matthew 24:43–44 parallel Luke 12:39–40; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15

Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

After a delay

Matthew 25:5 Part of a parable concerning the coming of Jesus Christ who is represented by the bridegroom. See also Matthew 25:19; 2 Peter 3:3–9

When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Imminently

Matthew 24:30–34 parallels Mark 13:26–30, Luke 21:27–32 See also John 21:22; Romans 13:11–12; James 5:8–9; Revelation 3:11, Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:20

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

The manner of the second coming

Jesus Christ's personal return

Acts 1:11 See also Acts 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

A visible and glorious return

Revelation 1:7 See also Matthew 24:30 parallels Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27; Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:9

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him — even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

With the sound of a trumpet

Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

With angels

Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7

The purpose of the second coming

To raise the dead

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 See also John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

To judge all people

Psalm 96:13 See also Psalm 98:9; Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31–32; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:11–15, Revelation 22:12

before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

To judge the wicked

2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 See also Matthew 24:51; Romans 2:5; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 1:15

and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

To separate the wicked from the righteous

Matthew 25:31–32 See also Matthew 24:40–41 parallel Luke 17:34–35

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

To destroy all evil and opposition to God's kingdom

2 Thessalonians 2:8 See also 1 Corinthians 15:24–26; Revelation 20:10, Revelation 20:14

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.

Reactions at Jesus Christ's second coming

Matthew 24:30 all peoples will mourn; 2 Thessalonians 1:10 His people will marvel.

Present implications of the second coming for believers

They must always be watchful and ready

Matthew 24:42–44 See also Matthew 25:10; Mark 13:35; Luke 12:35–36

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

They must be faithful stewards

Matthew 25:14–30 parallel Luke 19:12–27

They must eagerly expect his coming

1 Corinthians 1:7 See also Luke 21:28; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They must endure suffering with patient endurance

Matthew 24:13; 1 Peter 1:6–7

They must wait patiently

1 Thessalonians 1:10; James 5:7–8

It is an incentive to holiness

1 John 3:2–3 See also Colossians 3:4–5; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Peter 3:11; 1 John 2:23, 1 John 2:28

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

It is an incentive to mission

2 Timothy 4:1–2 See also 2 Peter 3:12

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.