The Doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ
Old Testament prophets saw end-time events from afar. Jesus’ first and second comings merged like two mountain peaks viewed together from a great distance. The Old Testament presented God’s entire timeline. The New Testament explains Jesus’ first and second comings as two distinct events. From where we stand today, we clearly differentiate between the two. We know that Jesus first came to earth to pay for mankind’s sin. Jesus Christ will come again to judge the earth and reign in great glory.
The Bible foretells Jesus’ victorious second coming and offers that certainty as a source of hope for God’s people. The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to the earth in a sudden, physical, visible, and unexpected way. The exact time of His coming remains a secret which “no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).
Without faith in God’s triumphant conclusion to human history, this world seems to careen forward randomly. The chaos we see all around us suggests that society is falling apart. Anxiety takes hold in human hearts. In addition, failure to recognize Jesus’ pending return as victor and judge minimizes any personal sense of accountability to God for sin. With no expectation of God’s involvement in the affairs of earth, the future remains murky and frightening.
The promise of Jesus’ return offers the hope and resolution we so long for. The world is not falling apart, but rather falling into place. God’s irrevocable control of the “end of the story” stabilizes His children when current events or daily life seem confusing or discouraging. Jesus’ return signifies more than His commitment to right wrongs and judge evil. People who turn to Christ for salvation face the future assured that they will not face the condemnation or judgment their sin deserves. Because of Christ, believers await physical and spiritual transformation – an eternal state of glory when they will be unable to sin and unable to die.8 Jesus will reign on earth, bring final judgment, and establish His eternal kingdom where sin, pain, and death cannot enter. Justice and peace (shalom) will reign. The Son of God will come again – this is our greatest source of hope.
Resource: Bible Study Fellowship, People of Promise: Kingdom Divided, Lesson 23
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