What is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?



For centuries, people have asked: Will Jesus return? It’s a question that matters to Christians and non-Christians alike. The idea of Jesus’ return is central to Christian belief, but also a source of confusion and, at times, sensationalism. This article explains what the Second Coming means, why it matters, and how it shapes Christian hope.

Contents

The Second Coming of Christ: what are we talking about?

Terminology

What does this even mean? And what does this mean as a church in Manchester? Jesus’ second coming is how the Bible describes Jesus returning to earth in glory. Redeemer ascribes to the FIEC’s Doctrinal Basis which says: The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.

There are other terms that mean second coming: return of Christ, end times, or parousia if you want to be fancy with Greek.

Jesus’ return isn’t about reincarnation and it’s not some kind of vague spiritual thing. It is Jesus Himself, returning to bring in the new heavens and earth.

Jesus’ Return: background

Early Christianity

Right after the resurrected Jesus went up into heaven we read in Acts 1.11:

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The first Christians lived with an intense sense of anticipation. They didn't just believe Jesus would return someday—they expected it could happen at any moment. This wasn't wishful thinking; it was rooted in Jesus' own promises and the apostolic teaching that followed.

This enables them to endure persecution with joy because they believed their suffering was temporary. The phrase "Maranatha" (“Come, Lord Jesus”) became their rallying cry.

In 1 Thessalonians, there is a whole chapter devoted to Jesus’ second coming. We read at the end of that letter:

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." –1 Thessalonians 5:23

There is a real anticipation of the “coming” of Jesus returning, and that being a motivation for living as Christians ought to as we wait and yearn for this. This is a foundational Christian belief, not something that was made up later.

The Apostles’ Creed summed up the teaching of the Bible in the 4th century. It has this line about what it means to believe in Jesus, that He “will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

Preterism

Preterism is the belief that sees many of the biblical prophecies about Jesus' return as having been fulfilled in the first century, particularly through the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. A preterist would say that when Jesus spoke of his return in passages like Matthew 24, He was primarily referring to his coming in judgment upon Israel, not a future physical second coming. Full preterists believe all prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70, while partial preterists maintain that Christ will still return bodily in the future but see many "end times" passages as already completed. Full preterism conflicts with the clear biblical teaching of a future resurrection, final judgment, and Christ's visible return to establish his kingdom on earth.

The Kingdom of God

When Jesus came to earth the first time, He brought into being the Kingdom of God. Theologians would say that Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom when He was on earth first. The way that Matthew sums up Jesus’ teaching on earth: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” –Matthew 4:17

This Kingdom is not completed and not finished, we’re in the middle of a big building project. During this building phase, the church that was established is growing. But there is an endpoint, a place to where we’re travelling towards. And this building work is finished at Jesus’ second coming.

The Kingdom of God will be completed as Jesus comes back again. Full justice, full peace, full renewal. Things will be the way they ought to be. We will see God face to face and the power and presence of sin will be done away with forever.

Heaven

We’re given a few pictures as to what this looks like, and in Revelation 21 we see Jesus’ return bringing heaven to earth. God’s city in heaven comes down to earth. And there is “…no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” (Revelation 21:4).

Our goal as Christians is not to fly away and escape this world. Our hope isn’t to be disembodied souls out there in some heaven space. God is about restoration. He will come down, remake this world, and be with His people in a way that is different and complete.

Second Coming: modern references

How do we in our contemporary times in Manchester try and make sense of these ancient texts?

In Modern Culture

Christian books and films in pop culture tends to turn Jesus’ return into some kind of disaster film. They focus on the chaos and craziness of Jesus’ second coming and generally don’t tend to focus in on the hope and restoration (the whole point of the thing!).

Books and films that aren’t orientated toward a Christian audience generally poke fun at this crazy idea. The general criticism being that if you have this kind of hope in the future that leaves people not caring about the present. But as we’ve already seen in the 1 Thessalonians passage, it’s this hope that motivates a good life now.

What both groups seem to miss is the reality of Jesus Himself returning as King and Judge to rule His kingdom in the way that only He can. It is scary, it is awesome (as in full of awe and amazement), but Christians also know that Jesus is good. For those in His kingdom already, this gets to be a hope, not a fear.

The Bible teaches that Jesus' return will be personal, visible, and world-changing. It's not just the stuff of fantasy—it’s the fulfilment of God’s promises.

Specific Date Predictions and Claims

If you want to gather a crowd or write a book that sells, you should claim to know when Jesus is returning. Even though Jesus Himself warned us against dates for His return (like in Matthew 24:36), people still try in vain. Nobody has ever got it right and we ought not to try and reach beyond where Jesus tells us to go.

There is crazy speculation from monks in the medieval era to modern YouTubers. One can draw a crowd but this will never work. It’s also not the intention of this doctrine, either.

One of the big aims for understanding Jesus’ Second Coming is a call to watchfulness, to a hope bigger than us and our time. It’s not for speculation.

What does Redeemer teach about Jesus’ Second Coming?

Redeemer’s Belief

Redeemer believes:

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.

At Redeemer, we believe that Jesus will return to earth, personally and powerfully, just as He promised. His return will mark the end of history as we know it and the beginning of a new, restored creation.

Because this is actually going to happen in the future, we are to live lives congruent with it. Not just for us, but for those who aren’t yet in Jesus’ kingdom so that they can be part of the hope as well. Hebrews 4:11 says "Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”

His coming is not something to dread, but something to hope for. It means justice for the oppressed, healing for the broken, and joy for all who trust in Him. This affects how we view the world, it affects how we view and get involved in areas of justice and in mission. Because Jesus is coming back in the future, we live godly lives in the present, as the church now in Manchester.

How do you become a Christian?

The message of Jesus' return isn't just cosmic, it’s personal. If Jesus is returning, the question becomes: Are you ready? Becoming a Christian isn’t about being good and God smiling down on you. It’s about recognising how you are not good and that God is already smiling down on you. To surrender to that kind of love doesn’t mean doing something, it means receiving something. The best gift God has ever given is Himself.

Jesus came down to inaugurate His kingdom, and through his life, death, and resurrection we get to be part of this kingdom of heaven. One day the heavens and earth will be one and through Jesus—only through Jesus—will we get to be a part of it.

You can read more about what it means to be a Christian here.

How do you go to heaven?

How does one go to heaven? As we’ve already seen, heaven isn’t the ultimate destination, it’s the heavens and earth becoming one, what is called the new heavens and earth. The only way one can be there is if they have surrendered to Jesus and follow Him. One must be a Christian, and the entry point is through trust in the One who rules this kingdom: Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Trust in Him—not in your good works, but in His grace.

How to get right with God?

Jesus’ second coming is a call to get right with God. It is supposed to give a sense of urgency to our present lives so that we would re-align ourselves with Him. You cannot do this by yourself. It requires a church. You need people to help you and you need to help others. Why not come along to our church in Manchester? We get right with God by admitting our need, turning from sin, and trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s a simple but life-changing step of faith.

Jesus said He would return. Christians believe He keeps His promises. So we wait—not with fear, but with hope. The Second Coming of Christ reminds us that the story isn’t over—and the best is yet to come.

For Further Study

  • 1 Thessalonians 4–5

  • Matthew 24–25

  • Revelation 21–22

  • Book: Surprised by Hope by Tom Wright

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