The Second Coming of Christ

The Second Coming of Christ
By Creth D. Hopkins

What is the 2nd Coming of Christ? What exactly does it mean? A careful study of the Holy Scriptures unveils a clear understanding as to the manner of Christ’s coming.
I. His return will be personal.

“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.

Over 500 witnesses had personally seen Jesus following his resurrection. He had been personally with the disciples up to and including his personal ascension. The heavenly messengers are promising that He would come again in the same manner – a personal return.

II. His return will be physical.

Acts 1:11 confirms that the same Jesus, who had manifested His physical return to His disciples, and Who was then ascending in the same physical body, will return again in the same resurrected, glorified body in which He ascended:

“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.

III. His return will be visible.

Check every reference of the 2nd Coming of Christ and you will find they all emphasize his visibility.

“you will see the Son of Man (Jesus) seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" Matthew 26:64.

The Apostle John wrote:

“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.

IV. His return will be sudden.

Jesus warned

“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.

A thief steals with a suddenness that always bewilders the victim. The Apostle Paul uses this imagery in describing the day when the Lord will make His appearance:

“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” I Thess.5:2

V. His return will be unexpected.

The 2nd Coming of Christ will not happen at a time when people are looking for it. Again, Jesus warns

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

VI. His return will be terrifying.

Regardless of your station in this life, if you don’t have Jesus as your personal Savior, His 2nd Coming will bring terror to your heart. Why? Because it represents the outpouring of the wrath of God on all unbelievers:

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:15-17?

VII. His return will be glorious.

With all the rest of the saints, all true believers can join the Apostle Paul in

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13.

Are you looking forward to the 2nd Coming of Christ Jesus? I pray that you are. The last recorded words of Jesus were

"Surely I am coming soon." Revelation 22:20a

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20b