Second Coming of Christ

The prophesied return of Jesus Christ to earth in power and glory to judge the living and dead, defeat evil, and establish God’s eternal kingdom. This future event (Greek: parousia, “presence” or “arrival”) is central to Christian eschatology and hope.

The New Testament describes Christ’s return as visible, sudden, and unmistakable—“as lightning comes from the east and shines to the west” (Matthew 24:27). Unlike his first coming in humility, he will return as conquering King riding a white horse, with the armies of heaven following (Revelation 19:11-16). At his appearing, the dead in Christ will rise first, then living believers will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Christ will judge all nations, separating sheep from goats based on how they treated “the least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46). He will defeat the forces of evil, cast Satan into the lake of fire, and usher in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (Revelation 20-21). The timing remains unknown—Jesus himself said, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36).

Christians are called to live in watchful expectation, for Christ will come “like a thief in the night” when least expected. As the angels told the disciples at the Ascension: “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). The promise of his return sustains Christian hope through persecution and suffering.