The names Christ & Jesus refer to the same person on this page. NIV bible verses are used.
The Second Coming of Christ
After his resurrection Jesus met with his followers on a number of occasions. The last time he met with them something amazing happened.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes,
and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 1:9
Rising up into the air and out of sight of his followers was the way Jesus departed to heaven. It must have been amazing to watch. While his followers were still looking up to the sky two men dressed in white stood beside them. I guess they were angels. They gave his followers a prophetic message.
“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.” Acts 1:11
Jesus spoke very clearly of his second coming. It was part of his testimony that he would return.
Twenty-three (23) of the twenty-seven (27) books of the New Testament make reference to the second coming of Christ. Containing over three-hundred (300) prophetic verses between them. The second coming of Jesus often related to other important Christian doctrines.
We read in Hebrews that it related to his atoning sacrifice.
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring
salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28
Jesus was sinless and died for the sins of the whole world. The proof that he overcame sin was his resurrection from the dead. Because he was resurrected from the dead it means he is alive and can return when the time is right.
We read of his return in 1 John relating to our adoption by God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should
be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason
the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear
friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has
not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ
appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:1-2
So, those who have turned to Christ in this life become God’s children by adoption. This is possible because of what Jesus achieved on the Cross at Calvary and through his resurrection and forgiveness of sins for believers. The great Christian hope is of one day being with Christ and receiving a new body and spending a glorious eternity with God. Christians will be transformed.
And also, in relation to Christ’s resurrection and return,
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came
through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also
through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all
will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;
then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
The book of Timothy says . . .
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, I give you this charge:
2 Timothy 4:1
We see in the above verse that Jesus will appear again and will be coming to establish his Kingdom. Note also that everyone, the living and the dead, will be judged.
Peter the Apostle (one of Jesus’ disciples) preached that Jesus will remain in heaven until the time is right for God to restore this fallen world fully back to himself. Peter wrote . . .
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Acts 3:19-21
Paul the Apostle wrote that Jesus will appear (come back) again . . .
13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Timothy 6:13-14
The Apostle John said the Jesus will come through the clouds (that is the same way he was taken away) and every eye will see him.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[a]
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[b]
So shall it be! Amen.
Revelation 1:7
It says, ‘every eye will see him.’ The return of Jesus is going to be very visible for all to see.
John also wrote,
He who testifies to these things says,
“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20
Jesus himself gave a wonderful promise for his followers . . .
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:1-3
An amazing thing is going to happen when Jesus returns,
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
So, not only will people see Jesus coming down from heaven but also see the dead in Christ (those who were born again and became follows of Jesus whilst alive) come to life again. And there will be a lot of them!
Some people believe Jesus will come again but be born as he was the first time. No way! Jesus is going to return in glory. (And have angels with him)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne
Matthew 25:31
Jesus will also come back with power.
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.
And then all the peoples of the earth[a] will mourn when they
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,
with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:30
Jesus will arrive swiftly.
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible
even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:27
Jesus will therefore come when he is unexpected.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man
will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Luke 12:40
The actual time of the arrival of Jesus back to earth is not known. Only God the Father in heaven knows the time.
“But about that day or hour no one knows,
not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.
Mark 13:32
On his return Jesus will have his own people gathered to himself.
And he will send 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.
Matthew 24:31
Jesus will take his own to a place he has prepared for them.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am.
John 14:3
The followers of Jesus will rise to meet Jesus in the air and be with him forever.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel
and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still
alive and are left will be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Jesus will return and eventually bring about a new heaven and a new earth.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed
by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people
ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look
forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring
about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will
melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth,
where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-11
Warnings and what to watch for leading up to the return of Jesus.
. . . the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
Mark 13:25
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity
at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
Luke 21:25
I watched as he opened the sixth seal.
There was a great earthquake. The sun turned
black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole
moon turned blood red,
Revelation 6:12
Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of
what is coming on the world, for the heavenly
bodies will be shaken.
Luke 21:26
Then the kings of the earth, the princes,
the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every
slave and every free man hid in caves and
among the rocks of the mountains.
Revelation 6:15
How can we prepare for the return of Jesus?
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down
with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,
and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
Luke 21:34
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly
lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed
hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:12-13
Since everything will be destroyed in this way,
what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives
2 Peter 3:11
while we wait for the blessed hope—
the glorious appearing of our great
God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:13
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful
servant! You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matthew 25:21