The Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth the first time as the suffering servant, the one who had to die as the sacrificial lamb to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He shed his blood so that we can be forgiven (Romans 3:24-25).
He was crucified and on the third day rose to life again, and he was glorified and entered heaven to be a great immortal high priest and mediator for his people (Hebrews 4:14, 8:6).
He also told his disciples he would return to the earth from heaven, to set up the Kingdom of God (Luke 19:11-27). Not only is the second coming of Christ prophesied in the Bible’s New Testament, it is also found in the Old (Psalm 2).
The return of Christ is a necessary part of God’s plan. The first time he was on earth he only completed part of his mission: he first came to be the saviour from sin, for all mankind – ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
But now, his faithful followers look for the day of his promised return.
There are many prophecies that tell of his second coming and of the dramatic events which will take place around that time. An Old Testament example is Zechariah 14, which tells us about the day of the Lord, when the city of Jerusalem is under attack, Jesus returns to stand on the Mount of Olives, a great earthquake occurs and the world is changed.
Jesus in his Olivet Prophecy spoke of a time with ‘people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory’ Luke 21:26-27).
For the world it will be a time of turmoil, but for Christ’s followers there’s a message of hope: ‘Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’ (v. 28).
Those who are ready for him when he returns will be granted everlasting life in that coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 25:31-46).
Grahame A Cooper
Photo credit: iStock.com/Mari Tanaka