As believers, the second coming of Jesus Christ is something that we all anticipate. The event was related in the Old Testament prophets, Jesus Himself, and throughout the epistles to the Church. We are to reflect on and encourage each other to look forward to the Parousia, especially during trial and difficulty. For example, in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he encourages his son in the faith to look with anticipation for the Lord’s return. When He returns, both living and dead, who have died in Christ will be gathered unto Him. This glorious reality should be used to comfort one another as we live in a world that stands against God and His Son.
We see clues in the Old Testament that Messiah would have two advents, although the distinction is sometimes obscured. Notable prophecies include Isaiah 9: 6-7, Micah 4, and Zechariah 14:9. Here, we see Messiah as an influential political figure who would reign over the entire Earth as He sat enthroned on the throne of David. However, we certainly did not see this transpire at His first coming. Robust predictions such as Isaiah 53 foretell Messiah as the “suffering servant” who would substitutionally atone for the sins of His people. Many Jewish scholars mistakenly believed that these prophecies were seemingly speaking of two persons: a suffering Messiah and a conquering Messiah. What they “missed in translation” was that only one Messiah would fulfill both roles at different times. Jesus fulfilled the role of one who would provide an atoning sacrifice in His first coming and Israel’s King in His second appearing. Passages such as Zechariah 12:10 describe the second coming, as it recalls Jesus being pierced. Israel, as well as the entire world, will mourn for not having accepted the Messiah at His first advent.
The New Testament speaks frequently of Jesus returning for His people. For example, shortly before Jesus’s crucifixion, He comforted His men with the promise of going away to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. He then added that He would return and receive them to Himself (John 14: 1-3). After His resurrection and ascension into heaven, the angels questioned the apostles, saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).
The apostle Paul in Titus 2:13 encourages the Church to “look for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” The second coming is spoken of most dramatically in Revelation 19:11-16, “ And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns, and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
There is no wonder that we should joyously anticipate such an event! How we long for our Messiah to return and set up an Edenic kingdom that we will enjoy for “a thousand years.”! In our next installment, we will catch a glimpse of His millennial reign on Earth, which was also spoken of extensively by the Prophets.