For 2,000 years, the return of Jesus to this earth has captivated the imaginations of millions of Christians. However, many sincere believers still misunderstand this great event. Here are 10 facts from the Bible that can safeguard you against being deceived about Christ’s return.
1. when Jesus returns, every eye will see Him
The second coming of Jesus will be fully visible! “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7).1
Notice that every eye will witness this great event. In fact, the Bible compares the return of Jesus to an explosive blast of lightning bursting across the sky. “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).
2. when Jesus returns, every ear will hear Him
The return of Christ will be fully audible. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The trumpet of God will echo through the sky like claps of roaring thunder. It will be so powerful, it will even wake the dead!
3. when Jesus returns, all of His angels will be with Him
At His first coming, Jesus came as a humble baby, but when He returns, He will arrive as a conquering King, and all His mighty army will be with Him. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31).
Jesus will not return alone. He will be accompanied by all the armies of heaven, a mighty multitude of holy angels!
4. when Jesus returns, there will be a great earthquake
The greatest earthquake in human history will rock this earth to its very core. “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth” (Revelation 16:18). The Bible says that this quake will be so powerful that even mountains and islands will disappear.
5. when Jesus returns, He will have a real body
Some people believe that Jesus will come back as a spiritual being, not possessing an actual human body. But is this true? The Bible does not support this idea because when Jesus left this earth at His first coming, the angels clearly told the disciples that He would return just as He left.
“Now when He [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they [the disciples] watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’ ” (Acts 1:9–11; emphasis added).
Notice that angels said that Jesus would return in “like manner”as He had left. When He left this earth, Jesus had a real physical body. We know this because, after He was resurrected, Jesus drew attention to His physical body. “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39).
The Acts 1 description of Christ’s return discredits the popular teaching known as the secret rapture. The Bible clearly teaches a visible, audible, global, physical return. It will be accompanied by a worldwide, devastating earthquake. There is nothing secret about this majestic event.
6. when Jesus returns, He will bring a reward for each person
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). This verse shows us that Jesus has already made His judgment regarding every human being before His return. God’s final warning to the world in the book of Revelation, known as the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6–12), reveals that the judgment takes place in the end times, before the return of Jesus: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’ ” (Revelation 14:6, 7; emphasis added). God’s judgment is taking place right now!
7. when Jesus returns, the wicked will be destroyed
The popular rapture theory teaches that the evil people will be left alive after the second coming of Jesus, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible says that “at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground” (Jeremiah 25:33).
A passage that is often used to support the secret rapture is Matthew 24:40, 41. “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” However, looking closely at these texts, we see that Jesus is comparing the destruction of Noah’s flood with the time of the second coming of Christ. Speaking of Noah’s day, Jesus says in the preceding verses: “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38, 39; emphasis added). According to the context, the “taken” were the ones who were destroyed by the flood. In Matthew 24, Jesus is making it clear that those who ignore His offer of salvation will be destroyed when He returns, an idea that is in harmony with the rest of Scripture.
8. when Jesus returns, the dead who have been faithful to Him will be resurrected
Those who have been faithful to God and have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord will rise from their graves at the sound of His mighty voice. They have learned to love that voice and will meet their blessed Savior face-to-face. I can only imagine what it will be like to see family members reuniting on that day, tears streaming down their faces as they look up toward their loving King. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
9. when Jesus returns, the righteous who are alive will meet Him in the air
The righteous who are living when Christ returns will witness this spectacular event. “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” (verse 17).
You will notice that the righteous will meet the Lord in the air. Jesus will not touch the ground at His second coming. This is a crucial point that will help you avoid being deceived. The Bible speaks of false Christs in the last days and warns us not to go after them. “And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them” (Luke 17:23).
10. when Jesus returns, many will be unprepared
As we look at the world around us, the signs of the times are being fulfilled before our very eyes. Scripture warns us that these things will happen and tells us to be ready when they do. Of course, there have been calamities since the beginning of time but never with the intensity and frequency with which they are happening today. This world can be compared to a pregnant woman, whose labor pains are becoming more intense and frequent, signaling that she will soon give birth. (See Matthew 24:4–8.)
mockers and believers
In spite of the Bible’s straightforward teaching about the Second Coming, some mock the idea that Jesus is coming soon. “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation’ ” (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Unfortunately, it will not end well for these people because Jesus’ return will come unexpectedly. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
One thing is sure. We can be 100 percent certain that Jesus is coming again—and that He has prepared a place just for us in His heavenly kingdom: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
When Jesus returns, He will destroy sin and anyone who chooses to cling to it. Let us give our lives to Him today so that He can forgive our sins and give us the power to live a victorious life, preparing for His soon return.
At this moment, Jesus invites you to allow Him into your life: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Will you let Him in?
1. Scriptures in this article are from the New King James Version of the Bible.
Dustin Pestlin is president and director of Hope Through Prophecy and hosts a YouTube channel that shares God’s end-time truths with the world. He is a former schoolteacher and has a passion for communicating the Bible’s message of hope in a clear and engaging way. His thought-provoking videos on Bible prophecy are showing millions how they can be a part of God’s eternal kingdom!
