What does one think when they hear that the Lord will be returning to earth? The sad thing is, most do not even think about it or consider it when concerning their daily walk with the Lord. Yet, the second coming of Christ is the single most important promise that we have in the entire work of Scripture. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 24 of them speak of the return of the Lord. Also, there are 260 chapters in the New Testament with an astounding 300 references to the return of Christ. The return of Christ is predicted, described, and pre-warned on how to be prepared for it all throughout scripture and other references. As the final promise that the Immortal King will return triumphantly to the earth, one must long to be as knowledgeable and prepared for His coming as possible.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the arch angel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet with the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The scriptures do not beat around the bush, “the Lord himself will come down from heaven”. The word “will” does not imply chance. This prediction of Christ returning again to rule and to judge the earth is not something that “might” happen or “could” happen depending on circumstances, etc, it “will” happen. Also, some might ask if the Lord actually means Jesus in this case. “By the words ‘the Lord himself’ Paul emphasized that it would be the same Jesus who had ascended through the clouds (cf. Acts 1:11)” (Ed. Walvoord and Zuck 704). Scripture is the definition of truth and honesty even if Christians like to look over the future coming of Christ in all of His glory to reign. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Not only does this passage point to the validity of the prediction of the Lord’s return, but it also explains that in knowing these truths that Christians might be equipped to do good works. Is it not considered a good work to be mindful, knowledgeable, and prepared for the immaculate and powerful second coming of Jesus Christ? While this essay has not yet dived into the scriptural descriptions of how to be prepared for this second coming, it is noteworthy to accept the fact that Christ is and “will” be returning and that it should be something that Christians are both wary of and excited about. For as it says in Matthew, “‘No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’” (vs.36). “‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. […] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him’” (Matthew 24:42, 44). Scripture, being true and God-breathed, almost exhaust the exclamation of the second coming of Christ. Predictions, warnings, prophecies, promises, etc concerning the second coming of Christ are not only mentioned, but repeated over and over again. The repetition and urging Christians to be prepared allows the reader to fully understand that this is the one promise that Christians can stand on. Why believe in a savior who is not going to come back to reclaim His throne and His earth? The name “Christian” would then lose its power. One must truly believe in Christ’s second coming in order to have faith and hope in the eternal Kingdom and eternal life in heaven with an all-powerful Lord.
So, what will this second coming look like? What situations will there be on earth when Christ returns, and how will Christ appear in His return according to the scriptures? “‘As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen […]. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other one left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other one left’” (Matthew 24:37-41). For even in the Old Testament account of Noah, the Lord is anguished at the evil that was engraved on the hearts of man. The tie between the account in Matthew and the one in Genesis seem very different at a first glance. Who actually thinks that eating, drinking, and marrying are sins? Yet when one looks at the actual text in Genesis, it is obvious that there was violence, corruption, and wickedness fully living in the nature of man at that time before the flood (Ed. Walvoord and Zuck 37). According to scripture, not only will mankind be unaware and unknowledgeable of Christ’s return, but they will also completely disregard the legitimacy of it by continuing to have evil grow in their hearts. Peter lays reference to describing earth’s state and appearance when Christ returns. It is short yet packs true conviction and meaning concerning earth’s condition during the time of the completion of this very important covenant. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). So this we know to be true of the earth, there will be a “loud command”, a “trumpet call”, “dead in Christ will rise”, the remaining Christians alive will be called up in rapture, the earth will be “destroyed by fire”, and “the day of the Lord will come like a thief”. Authority, judgment, destruction, surprise, and supernatural are just a few ways to describe, according to scripture, the picture of earth during the exact moment of the second coming of Jesus. But what about Jesus? How will He return and what will it look like? Scripture is filled with descriptions of Christ returning to earth in all of His glory. For example, in Mark 14, Jesus tells a high priest who was interrogating Him that He would be sitting at the right hand of God and “coming on the clouds of heaven” (v.62). Matthew 16 describes that Christ will come back in God’s glory surrounded by His angels. Given the full description of the second coming of the Lord, what can one expect? One should expect Christ to descend to earth in all of God’s glory. How is God’s glory defined? Sometimes this aspect of Christ’s return can be overlooked as well. One instance where God in all of His glory descends on a cloud presents itself during the transfiguration in Matthew. “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified” (vs. 5-6). God’s glory caused them to be terrified. Peter, James, and John could not even lift their faces in the presence of it. John MacArthur describes the situation with the apostles falling on their faces as, “a common response to the realization that the Holy God of the universe is present” (1424). Next, Christ will return with the heavenly beings called angels, a loud, command, and the sound of a trumpet. In other words, Christ will not come down incarnate and mortal as before. His return will be authoritative, powerful, frightening, and glorious. The earth shall see Him in all of His splendor. The earth will experience His presence and power as part of the Triune God.
Finally, what warnings are given about how Christians should be prepared for the second coming of Christ? “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12). When one looks at the preparation for Christians as a holy nation in the New Testament, one scripture truly stands out as a testament to how Christians should conduct themselves in the end times; therefore, being prepared for Christ’s return. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of you ministry”
(2 Timothy 4:1-5). There are so many similarities between the people described in this passage, Noah’s time, and today. How was Noah saved, and what does 2 Timothy encourage? Yes, there are specific warnings and instructions on how to be prepared for the end times. But one word is consistent in scripture. That word is obedience. Noah was surrounded by evil but was obedient to what he was commanded. The same goes with the saints who are in waiting for the glorious return of Jesus. Humble oneself and be obedient to the commands of the scriptures and the rest will follow: patience, awareness, faith, evangelism, etc.
The promised, predicted, and described return of the Lord and destruction of the earth will happen. God shows His grace through the scriptures in allowing His children the opportunity to fall before His throne in humility and obedience.
“I believe that much of the American churchgoing population, while not specifically swimming downstream, is slowing floating away from Christ. It isn’t a conscious choice, but it is nonetheless happening because little in their lives propels them towards Christ” (Chan 95). In waiting for the triumphant return of Christ, may believers adhere to the scriptures, long for Christ, and be obedient to His Word. This will propel them towards Christ and create readiness for His second coming.
