The Second Coming of Jesus
Of all the truths in Scripture, few stir the heart like the promise of the Lord’s return. The Second Coming of Jesus is not just a future event; it is a glorious reality that shapes our present hope and godly living. The Bible speaks often and clearly of this coming day when the risen Christ shall appear, not as a humble servant, but as the conquering King of kings.
The Promise of His Return
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me… I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1, 3).
The first time Jesus came, He came to suffer and die for our sins. The next time, He will come to reign. His promise is sure. His word cannot fail. He told His disciples He would come again, and He will. This hope is not a poetic expression but a literal and physical truth that shapes how we live, worship, and endure.
Prophesied in the Old and New Testaments
“And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee” (Zechariah 14:5).
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The Second Coming is not a new doctrine. It is woven throughout the Scriptures, from the prophets of old to the apostles of the New Testament. It is not a mystical event but a real, literal return. Jesus will come visibly, personally, and powerfully to judge the world and establish His kingdom.
Not the Same as the Rapture
The Second Coming must be distinguished from the rapture. At the rapture, Christ comes for His saints. At the Second Coming, He comes with them.
“Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14).
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
The rapture is imminent; it could happen at any moment. The Second Coming occurs after the tribulation, when Christ returns to the earth to defeat His enemies and set up His millennial kingdom. These events are not the same and must be rightly divided according to Scripture.
Signs of His Coming
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations” (Luke 21:25).
While no one knows the day or hour, the Bible gives us signs of the season. These include wars, earthquakes, false prophets, increasing lawlessness, and the preaching of the Gospel to all nations. As these signs increase, our hope should not fade but grow stronger. The darker the world becomes, the nearer His return must be.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree… when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:32–33).
The Day No Man Knows
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36).
Though we watch for the Lord, we do not set dates. The exact time of His return is hidden from all but the Father. This truth humbles us and reminds us to be always ready, always watchful. We are not called to predict, but to prepare.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).
He Will Come in Power and Glory
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).
At His first coming, Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified. But at His return, He will come with the armies of Heaven, clothed in glory, and crowned with many crowns. The world that once rejected Him will bow before Him.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10–11).
He Will Judge the Earth
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True… and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11).
The return of Christ brings not only hope for the believer, but judgment for the unbeliever. He will return in righteousness to defeat the Antichrist, cast Satan into the bottomless pit, and establish His reign. Every wrong will be made right. Every injustice will be answered by the King of righteousness.
He Will Reign as King
“And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9).
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
The Second Coming ushers in the millennium, a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. He will rule with justice and peace. The curse will be lifted. The lion will lie down with the lamb. And the nations will come to worship the King in Jerusalem. It will be the fulfillment of all Old Testament kingdom promises.
The Longing of the Saints
The early church lived with an eager expectation of Christ’s return. They did not merely believe it; they longed for it. This longing purified their hearts, anchored their souls, and gave them boldness in the face of persecution.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord… shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
To love His appearing is not just to believe He is coming, but to delight in the thought. To yearn for His presence more than the pleasures of this world. It is the heart-cry of every true believer: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Live in Light of His Coming
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).
Christ’s return is not a date to calculate but a truth to live by. The Bible teaches us to be sober, vigilant, and faithful, watching for our Lord’s return. His coming should move us to holy living, bold witnessing, and eager anticipation.
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).
The King Is Coming
Jesus came once in humility. He will come again in majesty. The Second Coming is the climax of redemptive history. It is the hope of the church, the fear of the ungodly, and the fulfillment of every promise of God.
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
Let us watch and wait with joy. Let us preach and pray with urgency. Let us walk in holiness and hold fast to the promise. The King is coming, and He will not tarry.