What? Why?
Most of the world gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night without even a thought about the Second Coming of Jesus or that He might return in their lifetimes. Some don’t even know about Him. Others don’t believe in Him. Even Christian believers may be dubious about the return of Jesus.
WHAT We Need to Know About the Second Coming of Jesus
When Jesus was on earth physically about 2,000 years ago, He repeatedly said He would be back. The day before His crucifixion He spent the evening preparing His disciples for the crisis of His death (John 13-17). He told them, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3, emphasis added).
Late in His ministry, Jesus began to reveal to His followers that He was going to Jerusalem to die on the cross there, but He added, “For the Son of Man is going to come [again] in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27).
At Jesus’ ascension to heaven, after His resurrection, two angels affirmed His return, “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” (Acts 1:11, NIV).
In His Revelation to John, Jesus introduced Himself with a promise, “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8, emphasis added).
The apostle Peter admonished believers to “set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation [coming] of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13, NASB20).
The apostle Paul, near the end of his life, looked forward to receiving the “crown of righteousness” in heaven which he said would also be awarded to all “who are eagerly looking forward to His coming back again” (2 Timothy 4:8, LB).
This is just the “tip of the iceberg.” Twenty-three of the twenty-seven New Testament books make a total of 318 references to Jesus’ Second Coming. That averages out to an amazing one out of every thirty verses!
WHY Is Jesus Coming Again?
Why is Jesus coming back? The short answer is that Jesus has “unfinished business” to tend to here on earth. Specifically, there are two matters clearly stated in the New Testament.
1. The completion of His promised redemption for those who believe (blessing)
Jesus gave the indwelling Holy Spirit to those who repented of their sin and embraced Him by faith as their Savior (John 1:33; 7:37-39). According to the apostle Paul this was a pledge (“good faith deposit”) guaranteeing that He would return in the future for a “closing” to complete His redemption of believers (their “inheritance”) by taking them to heaven with Him (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The writer of Hebrews also associates final redemption with Jesus’ Second Coming: “…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
This first purpose for Jesus’ return is clearly stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
2. The consummation of His kingdom and the defeat of all evil (judgment)
Jesus and His eternal kingdom (rule and reign) were prophesied in the Old Testament: “One like a Son of Man was coming… And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
As a result, Jesus is declared to be Lord of all: “Therefore, also God highly exalted Him; and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (Philippians 2:9-11).
After Jesus then judges and conquers every evil in the great tribulation, the Bible says: “Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death… so that God may be all in all…”(1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 28, NIV).
The book of Revelation announces Jesus’ future final victory: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
Jesus then describes the glories of heaven which await His own: “…and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4)
This is why Christians through the centuries have called the Second Coming of Jesus “the blessed hope.”
The Blessed Hope
That is a summary of the “what” and the “why” of the Second Coming of Jesus. As I continue to add to this article throughout 2026 (be sure to check back) what the Bible says about the events at the end of the world and the eternal destiny of all humanity, the Bible admonishes all believers how to live their lives: “For the grace of God that beings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13, NIV, emphasis added).
This article will grow in four segments throughout 2026 to the timely and important biblical topic of the Second Coming of Jesus. This is the first installment. Future additions to this article will address many questions, like the following:
- When can the Second Coming of Jesus be anticipated?
- How can the believer prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus?
- Is there a rapture of believers before the great tribulation?
- What will the world be like preceding Jesus’ Second Coming?
- Is the Second Coming of Jesus in two stages?
- Why does the Bible say we are to comfort one another about the end?
- What is the millennium?
- Can I know for certain where I will spend eternity?
