Second coming of Jesus Christ

The second coming is foretold

In the OT

Daniel 7:13–14 NASB95

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

See also ; ; ;

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 24:30 NASB95

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

By the angels at Jesus Christ’s ascension

Acts 1:11 NASB95

They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

By the apostles

Philippians 3:20 NASB95

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

NT terms for the second coming

“Parousia”

Meaning literally “presence” or “coming”, the term was used in the NT world of a royal visit:

; ; ;

“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:

; ; ; ;

“Epiphaneia”

Meaning literally “appearing” or “manifestation”, the term suggests coming out into view from a hidden background:

; ; ;

Events that will precede the second coming

The universal preaching of the gospel

Matthew 24:14 NASB95

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

See also ;

The persecution of believers

Matthew 24:9 NASB95

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

See also ; ; ; ;

Apostasy, nominal religion and godlessness

1 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

See also ; ;

The revelation of the antichrist

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 ; ; ;

The appearance of false Christs and false prophets

Matthew 24:24 NASB95

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

See also ; ; ; ;

Wars and rumours of wars

Matthew 24:6–7 NASB95

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Famines and earthquakes

Matthew 24:7–8 NASB95

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Cosmic changes

Matthew 24:29 NASB95

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and 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 NASB95

and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

See also ; ; ;

Unexpectedly

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 NASB95

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

See also ; ; ; ;

After a delay

Part of a parable concerning the coming of Jesus Christ who is represented by the bridegroom.

See also ;

Imminently

Matthew 24:30–34 NASB95

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

The manner of the second coming

Jesus Christ’s personal return

Acts 1:11 NASB95

They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

See also ; ;

A visible and glorious return

Revelation 1:7 NASB95

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 over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

See also ; ;

With the sound of a trumpet

; ;

With angels

; ;

The purpose of the second coming

To raise the dead

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 NASB95

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

See also ; ;

To judge all people

Psalm 96:13 NASB95

Before the Lord, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

To restore and renew all things

; ;

To judge the wicked

2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 NASB95

and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

See also ; ; ;

To separate the wicked from the righteous

Matthew 25:31–32 NASB95

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

See also

To destroy all evil and opposition to God’s kingdom

2 Thessalonians 2:8 NASB95

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

See also ; ;

To reward believers

; ; ; ;

To gather the church together

; ;

To bring final salvation

;

To transform the saints into his likeness

; ;

To end the present age

; ; ;

Reactions at Jesus Christ’s second coming

all peoples will mourn; His people will marvel.

Present implications of the second coming for believers

They must always be watchful and ready

Matthew 24:42–44 NASB95

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

See also ; ;

They must be faithful stewards

Matthew 25:14–30 NASB95

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. “Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

They must eagerly expect his coming

1 Corinthians 1:7 NASB95

so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

See also ; ;

They must endure suffering with patient endurance

;

They must wait patiently

;

It is an incentive to holiness

1 John 3:2–3 NASB95

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

See also ; ; ; ;

It is an incentive to mission

2 Timothy 4:1–2 NASB95

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

See also