Second coming of Jesus Christ

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The second coming is foretold

In the OT

Daniel 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

See also Ps 72:2–4; Is 2:2–4; Is 11:4–9; Is 40:5

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 24:30 KJV 1900

See also Mt 16:27; Mt 25:31; Mk 14:62; Lk 12:40; Jn 14:3; Jn 14:28

By the angels at Jesus Christ’s ascension

Acts 1:11 KJV 1900

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

By the apostles

Philippians 3:20 KJV 1900

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

See also Ac 3:20–21; 1 Co 1:7; 1 Co 11:26; 1 Th 1:10; 1 Th 3:13; 1 Th 4:16; 2 Th 1:7–10; Heb 9:28

NT terms for the second coming

“Parousia”

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

Matthew 24:3 KJV 1900

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

James 5:7–8 KJV 1900

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Mt 24:3; Jas 5:7–8; 2 Pe 3:4; 1 Jn 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:

1 Peter 4:13 KJV 1900

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 1:7 KJV 1900

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Lk 17:30; 1 Co 1:7; 2 Th 1:7; 1 Pe 1:7; 1 Pe 4:13

“Epiphaneia”

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

Titus 2:13 KJV 1900

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

2 Th 2:8; 1 Ti 6:14; 2 Ti 4:1; Tt 2:13

Events that will precede the second coming

The universal preaching of the gospel

Matthew 24:14 KJV 1900

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The persecution of believers

Matthew 24:9 KJV 1900

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

See also Mt 24:21; Mt 24:22; Mk 13:12–13; 2 Ti 3:1; Re 7:14

Apostasy, nominal religion and godlessness

1 Timothy 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

See also Mt 24:10; 2 Ti 3:1–5; 2 Pe 3:3–4

The revelation of the antichrist

1 John 2:18 KJV 1900

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

1 Jn 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 Da 7:20–22; 2 Th 2:3–4; 1 Jn 4:3; Re 13:1–10

The appearance of false Christs and false prophets

Matthew 24:24 KJV 1900

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

See also Mt 7:15; Mt 24:5; Mt 24:11; Lk 17:23; 2 Jn 7

Wars and rumours of wars

Matthew 24:6–7 KJV 1900

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Famines and earthquakes

Matthew 24:7–8 KJV 1900

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Cosmic changes

Matthew 24:29 KJV 1900

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

The timing of the second coming

At God’s appointed time

Acts 3:20–21 KJV 1900

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

See also Mt 24:36; Lk 17:20–30; Ac 1:7; 2 Pe 3:9

Unexpectedly

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 KJV 1900

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

See also Mt 24:27; Mt 24:43–44; 2 Pe 3:10; Re 3:3; Re 16:15

After a delay

Matthew 25:1–13 KJV 1900

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mt 25:5 Part of a parable concerning the coming of Jesus Christ who is represented by the bridegroom.

Imminently

Matthew 24:30–34 KJV 1900

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.