Christ’s Return: What Should We Know?

I recently had the privilege of teaching a class on biblical end-times prophecy. It was an enlightening time for all involved, teacher and student alike. Something we learned rather quickly through the course of our eight-week study was how well-saturated so many concepts from end-times prophecy are in our culture.

Most of us, regardless of whether we are practicing Christians, are at least vaguely familiar with end-times imagery. For example, not everyone may know they come from the book of Revelation, but most of us have heard of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Not everyone may know what it means, but the term “rapture” is one most people have heard thrown around at least once. In this same way, some people may not know who the antichrist is or what he does, but they certainly have heard the term several times before.

The same goes for the doctrine that is central to end-times prophecy along with the Bible as a whole: the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Nearly everyone has heard of it. Large swaths of the population have, at bare minimum, some vague idea of what will transpire when Jesus returns and how his return will take place.

However, despite Christ’s return being a rather widespread idea within our society and especially within the Church, in many (most?) instances, our knowledge of it is surface-level—if that. If someone we were discipling were to ask us about it, we may struggle to articulate a thorough, comprehensive thought on the matter.

The nature of Christ’s return is not a doctrine the believer can afford to leave so hazy. We will never have all the answers or learn all there is to know about the matter on this side of eternity, but we can have an informed view on the topic because scripture has a lot to say about it. The purpose of this article is to provide a basic summary of all the major things one must know about the next time Jesus comes to earth.

It Will Be Bodily

Theologians often refer to the coming return of Jesus Christ as bodily and glorious. Let’s discuss the first half of that statement first. When we say that Jesus’ return will be bodily, we mean that he will literally and physically come back to us. He will be there with us in the flesh. Visible. Tangible. Consider these confirming verses:

So Christ, having been offered once 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.

Hebrews 9:28

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Revelation 1:7

In the same way we can have a face-to-face conversation with a friend, or in the same way we can physically embrace a loved one, so it will be when Christ returns. He will dwell among the beloved creation that he has lovingly rescued from death, and this time, he will never leave. We will be able to brush our hands over the holes in his hands and touch the gash in his side.

It is important to emphasize the bodily return of Christ, as over the years (and even now) there are some who have offered alternative, fallacious views of the nature of his return. They may claim that he will return “in our hearts” or that perhaps his return is a metaphor for a widespread societal shift in morality yet to occur. These and theories like them are incorrect. It is worth repeating once more: in his second coming, Jesus Christ will literally and physically come back to us.

It Will Be Glorious

Now we tackle the second half of Jesus’ “bodily and glorious” return.

The second coming of Christ will be glorious in more ways than one. For one, it will simply be a fantastical event that magnifies the beauty and sovereignty of God. Just read!

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

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.

Matthew 24:30

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

You can only imagine the indescribably awesome, glorious sight this will be! It will be a glory beyond words or thought. As previously stated, though, this is not the only way it will be glorious. The Second Coming of Jesus will also be glorious because of the new and glorious body in which Christ will return.

Remember reading about Jesus’ resurrected body in the Gospels? It was clearly a human one; the disciples had no trouble recognizing him as Jesus. He was able to eat and do other normal activities mankind partakes in. And yet, it seemed to be the typical body we would be used to and then some. Like a Human 2.0.

In this glorious form, Jesus could walk through walls (John 20:19). He could suddenly appear out of nowhere (Luke 24:36). Most obvious of all, this form transcended death. Jesus being broken and battered and ultimately slain did not stop it coming to be.

Why does this matter to us? Study these passages from Paul:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

Philippians 3:20-21

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

Jesus Christ’s will return as the first, or the “firstfruit” of all who will follow him. When he returns, those in Christ will be risen up into new and glorious bodies as well, free from suffering and sorrow—they will be like the bodies we had before…but better!

The Second Coming of Christ in his new and glorious form signals to us how he has conquered death definitively. Not just for himself when he rose from the dead, but for us as well.

It Will Be Unexpected

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Matthew 24:36

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:44

Scripture tells us to be ever watchful, for Christ’s return will not be a predictable event. Far from it. He is going to return when he is least expected. This is why we must be on our guard, always being mindful that he will one day return.

It’s a good thing we have this warning, too. Sometimes, if we do not keep our eyes on the prize, then we tend to lose motivation. Jesus Christ’s return reminds us of the awesome inheritance we have to look forward to, and it inspires us to push onward in our discipleship and our mission. We don’t know when it is, and we certainly do not want to be caught slacking when he finally arrives.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 3:3

It Will Be Triumphant

When Jesus Christ comes back, he will be here to stay. He will have complete dominion over the world to rule and cast out evil, and that is precisely what he will do. Upon his return, he will have Satan cast into a prison for a thousand years and reign as the undisputed King of the World with all of his children.

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³ He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. ⁴ I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:1-6

After this thousand-year reign, which a future article will explore more in-depth, Satan will be released from his prison for one final confrontation against Christ. Rest assured, it will never be a close fight. He will lose, and he will lose badly. The power of Jesus will prevail over evil once and for all.

⁷ When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. ⁹ They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:7-10

That right there is why Satan is surely not looking forward to the time when Jesus Christ comes back to earth. His time is limited. When Christ arrives, the destruction of wickedness will be assured. Jesus Christ will have the final word, and he will emerge triumphant.

So…

Anticipate the Future

Ultimately, we should not be seeking to know all this just for the sake of head-knowledge. It is the physical, glorious, and victorious return of Christ that should fuel us in all that we do.

If you feel discouraged in your discipling relationship and are having trouble finding motivation to continue, look at what is to come. Ask yourself if the labor you are struggling through right now is worth the end result of having this person join you in celebration when Jesus returns.

If you feel like your spiritual gifts and the unique talents with which God has equipped you are useless—like they are not actually accomplishing anything—then take a pause. Look to the return of Jesus Christ. God has wired you in a precise, unique way to accomplish his purposes in a way that nobody else can in order to usher in the wonderful end result of Christ’s Second Coming. Take heart in that. What you do for the Kingdom right now matters. Your service to God right now matters.

Jesus Christ is returning one day. In the meantime, roll up your sleeves and get to work!

Appreciate God’s Patience

You may be reading about these wonderful things that will transpire once Jesus returns and thinking “gee, why doesn’t God just hurry up and have Jesus come back already?” An eternity of abundance with God, after all, is infinitely better than our current situation. So why the wait?

Simply put, it is because of God’s loving patience. His desire is that none shall perish, and he wants as many people as possible to come to Christ before the end of days arrives.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

2 Peter 3:9

This waiting period before Jesus Christ’s return is an act of divine mercy that once again demonstrates the goodness of our God. He loves us more than we could understand and wants to pour out mercy upon mercy. Be glad, and use this time as we wait to lead more of the lost to him.