Second Coming of Christ

General Information

The Second Coming of Christ refers to the Christian belief in the future return of Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead, an event that will end the present world order. The New Testament never uses the term Second Coming. It refers instead simply to Christ's parousia ("presence" or "arrival"). In Heb. 9:28, however, the hope of Christ's appearing a "second time" is expressed. This hope originated in the Easter experiences of the first disciples, which communicated a sense of the incompleteness of Christ's work and the promise of its future completion. The early Christians expressed these convictions by identifying the resurrected Christ with the Son of Man (Dan. 7:13) and by combining this text with Ps. 110:1 (as in Mark 14:62).

At first the Christian community expected an imminent return of Christ, but it adjusted itself with remarkable ease to the notion of an indefinitely postponed Second Coming.

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Bibliography
J L Bacci, The Second Coming: Why Christ Became a Carpenter Instead of an Electrician (1981); W J Grier, The Second Advent: A Discussion of Scripture Teaching on the Second Advent (1970); J A T Robinson, Jesus and His Coming: The Emergence of a Doctrine (1953).

Revelation of Christ

Advanced Information

The Revelation of Christ is the second advent of Christ. Three different Greek words are used by the apostles to express this, (1) apokalupsis (1 Cor. 1;7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7, 13); (2) parousia (Matt. 24:3, 27; 1 Thess. 2:19; James 5:7, 8); (3) epiphaneia (1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1-8; Titus 2:13). There existed among Christians a wide expectation, founded on Matt. 24:29, 30, 34, of the speedy return of Christ.

(Easton Illustrated Dictionary)

Second Coming of Christ, Second Advent

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The Second Advent and the General Judgment

The meaning of the expression, "the coming" or "the day of the Lord," as used in both the Old and New Testaments.

For any special manifestation of God's presence
Isa 13:6 Jer 46:10 Joh 14:18,23

By way of eminence

a. In the Old Testament, for the coming of Christ in the flesh, and the abrogation of the Jewish economy.
# Mal 3:2 4:5
b. In the New Testament, for the second and final coming of Christ.

The several terms referring to this last great event are:

His "revelation"
1Co 1:7 2Th 1:7 1Pe 1:7,13 4:13

"Presence," "coming."
Mt 24:3,27,37,39 1Co 15:23 1Th 2:19 3:13 4:15 5:23 2Th 2:1-9 Jas 5:7,8 2Pe 1:16 3:4,12 1Jo 2:28

"Appearing," "manifestation"
2Th 2:8 1Ti 6:14 2Ti 4:1,8 Tit 2:13

"The day of the Lord," or a similar expression
Joh 6:39-54 Ro 2:5 1Co 1:8 html 1:6,10 1Th 5:2 2Th 1:10 2Ti 1:12,18 2Pe 2:9 3:10,12 Jude 1:6 Re 6:17

Christ is called "the coming One" with reference to both advents.
Mt 21:9 Lu 7:19,20 19:38 Joh 3:31 Re 1:4 4:8

Evidence that a literal, personal advent of Christ still future is taught in the Bible.

The analogy of the first advent.

The coming itself, its manner and purpose, are alike defined
Mt 16:27 24:30 25:31 26:64 Mr 8:38 Lu 21:27

The apostles understood these predictions to relate to a literal advent of Christ in person
Ac 1:11 3:19-21 1Co 4:5 11:26 15:23 Heb 9:28 10:37

The exact time declared to be unknown

Mt 24:36 Mr 13:32 Lu 12:40 Ac 1:6,7 1Th 5:1-3 2Pe 3:3,4,10 Re 16:15

The Judge of the world

This will be Jesus Christ, in his official character as mediator, in both natures, as the God-man. This is evident,--

Because as judge he is called the "Son of man"
Mt 25:31,32

and "the man ordained by God."
Ac 17:31

Because it pertains to him as mediator to complete and publicly manifest the salvation of his people and the overthrow of his enemies, together with the glorious righteousness of his work in both respects
2Th 1:7-10 Re 1:7

The subjects of the judgment

The whole race of man. The dead will be raised, and the living changed simultaneously.
Mt 25:31-46 1Co 15:51,52 2Co 5:10 1Th 4:17 2Th 1:6-10 Re 20:11-15

All evil angels
2Pe 2:4 Jude 1:6

Good angels appearing as attendants and ministers
Mt 13:41,42

The moral effect of the Scripture teaching as to Christ's second advent.

Christians ought thereby to be comforted when in sorrow, and always stimulated to duty.
html 3:20 Col 3:4,5 Jas 5:7 1Jo 3:2,3

Their duty also to love, watch, wait for, and hasten to, the coming of their Lord.
Lu 12:35-37 1Co 1:7,8 html 3:20 1Th 1:9,10 2Ti 4:8 2Pe 3:12 Re 22:20

Unbelievers should be filled with fearful apprehension, and should come to immediate repentance.
Mr 13:35,37 2Pe 3:9,10 Jude 1:14,15

Also, see:
Eschatology
Dispensation, Dispensationalism
Millenarianism. Views of the Millennium
Last Judgement
Rapture of the Church, Tribulation
Tribulation, Great Tribulation

Imminence
Adventism

The individual articles presented here were generally first published in the early 1980s. This subject presentation was first placed on the Internet in May 1997.

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