Full Truth About the Second Coming of Jesus

Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus was taken up to heaven. While Jesus’ disciples were standing there looking up in amazement, two angels appeared to them and said:
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” – Acts 1: 11 (ESV)

According to God’s Word, here’s what will take place at the rapture: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV)

When Christ returns, the Lord will give us bodies like His glorious body as Philippians 3:21, says, “who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.“

Hope that a child of Jesus has is not a common one. The Bible in Hebrew calls it the “full assurance of hope.” According to the words of Paul, we sinners who believe in Jesus are saved and have eternal comfort and that hope through grace. 2 Thess 2: 16 And a person is born into that living hope through the resurrection of Jesus, when he accepts Him. (1 Pet 1:3)

And through out the Epistles you will see that hope is echoed on the return of Christ. Titus 2: 13 says, “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

When Will it Happen?

Periodically throughout history – some people have been arguing that Jesus has already come, while some others are trying to predict His exact date of return. However the Bible says, If they say to you, “Look, He is in the wilderness,” do not go out. If they say, “Look, He is in the inner rooms,” do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:26)

Further Jesus went on to say that His second coming will be like lightning. “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)

1 Thes 5:1-11 talks about that coming day of the Lord. “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.“

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – Matthew 24:44

Jesus’ first coming to earth 2000 years ago is an undeniable fact of history. His second coming is just as certain. The critical issue is to be ready for Christ’s return.

And no, this is not going to be a secret. The whole world will know about it. Matthew 24:30 says, “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“

What is Jesus Coming Back For?

The second coming of Jesus Christ is the completion of His saving grace. It makes no sense to have Jesus born, die and then resurrect, to be vanished forever. He is coming back again to take back to heaven all those who have believed Him and to judge those who have denied Him.

The Bible says, “The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

The reason we have not yet seen His coming again is because there are yet many who are to know the truth of Jesus. Therefore it is the duty of every believer to spread the truth of who Jesus is.

Hebrews 9: 26- 28 talks about the first coming of Jesus and the second. “Christ has appeared once for all at the climax of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once for all to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.“

The Preparation

It is very clear here that Jesus is coming for those that are eagerly waiting for Him. The question every believer need to ask is if you are eagerly waiting for Him, are you repeatedly pondering about His return? Do you pray for it? Are you preparing your heart and living accordingly?

Even as we prepare for our future in this life, we must not forget to prepare for the life after this life by pursuing Jesus everyday. We need to live this life responsibly and in a way that pleases Him.

Here is what the scripture says about preparing for the great Day that is drawing near.

Hebrews 10: 23-30  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the One who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Yes, it is clear, ‘The Lord will judge His people’ (verse 30). So when the verse says that we have an appointment for judgement after death there will be great act of divine vengeance that has not accepted those who claim to be part of God’s people, but are only Christians by name.

1 Thess 5: 4-11 further encourages us, “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.“

That verse needs to wake us up to the reality, that we may confess our sins; begin to pray for the awakening of our hearts; and set ourselves in preparation of the coming of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: “Our Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of Christ’s return. Thank you for your great grace and salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven for all who believed and accepted you as Savior. Help me prepare for Christ’s return and help me overcome everything that is not of you in my life. I accept your forgiveness and love. Thank you Holy Spirit for empowering me to live this life. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.”

Question: How are you individually and as a church preparing for the second coming of Jesus?

Next in the series: Finally, then, Brothers and Sisters, We Urge You