What is the second coming of Jesus?
Acts 1:11
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? 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.”
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The second coming is the promised, personal, visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven — the same Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives, now coming back in glory with His angels to raise the dead, gather His people, and bring final judgment and reward.
What Scripture says about it
- He will return in the same way He left. Acts 1:11 — "This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
- Every eye will see Him. Revelation 1:7 — "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." Matthew 24:30 — "they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
- He comes with a shout, the archangel, and God's trumpet. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 — "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God's trumpet."
- The dead in Christ rise first, then we meet Him in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever."
- He comes to receive His own. John 14:3 — "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself."
- He comes to judge and reward. Matthew 16:27 — "the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
- It is the Christian's earnest hope. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 — "to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus."
Why it matters
The second coming is the ground of Christian comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18 — "comfort one another with these words"), the answer to death's sorrow, and the certainty that the work Jesus began at His first coming He will finish when He returns.
About the timing
Right after the ascension, the disciples asked, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Jesus did not give a date — the Father has fixed that in His own authority — but the angels confirmed the event itself is certain: "This Jesus… will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky" (Acts 1:11).
A hymn to carry it
H. L. Turner's Christ Returneth (1878) sings it plainly:
*"It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory
To receive from the world 'His own.'"*
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 7, 2026
The second coming is the promised, bodily, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven to consummate God's eternal redemptive plan. It stands as the climactic hope of the church, assuring believers that the Savior who departed will visibly return to raise the dead, execute righteous judgment, and establish His eternal reign.
The Sure Promise
Christ Promised Personally That He Would Return
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? 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)
Heavenly messengers guarantee that Jesus will physically and visibly return in the very manner He ascended into heaven.
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven, as the two heavenly messengers affirmed in Acts 1:11. His departure from the Mount of Olives was literal, physical, and observed; his return will be no less personal and bodily. The doctrine of the second coming does not originate in human longing or apocalyptic speculation, but in the deliberate, repeated words of the Savior himself. On the night before his crucifixion, Christ calmed his troubled disciples by declaring, 'If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself' (John 14:3). His departure was not an abandonment, but the prelude to an appointed reunion.
Throughout his public ministry, Jesus taught that his first humble appearance would give way to an arrival of unvarnished majesty. He testified in Matthew 16:27 that the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father to repay each person according to what he has done. When placed under oath before the high priest, Christ sealed his earthly condemnation by invoking Daniel’s vision: 'From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven' (Matthew 26:64). Because the exact time of that arrival remains hidden, he issued repeated warnings to watch: 'You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect' (Luke 12:40). Hebrews 9:28 draws the crucial line between his two comings: having appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, he 'will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.' Scripture concludes with this unfailing pledge, as the risen Christ affirms in Revelation 22:20, 'Surely I am coming soon.'
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Acts 1:11 | Two angels declare that the ascended Jesus will return from heaven in the exact same bodily manner He left. |
| John 14:3 | Jesus promises His disciples that after preparing a dwelling place for them, He will come again to receive them to Himself. |
| Matthew 16:27 | Christ affirms that the Son of Man will come in His Father's glory with His angels to judge every person. |
| Hebrews 9:28 | Christ will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring final salvation to those who eagerly wait for Him. |
| Matthew 26:64 | Jesus testifies to the high priest that they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. |
| Luke 12:40 | Jesus urges disciples to be ready because the Son of Man comes at an unexpected hour. |
| Revelation 22:20 | Jesus gives His final promise in Scripture that He is coming soon. |
Visible Glory
Every Eye Will Witness His Glorious Arrival
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
Revelation 1:7 (NIV)
This verse underscores the universal visibility of Christ's return, confronting both those who pierced Him and all the tribes of earth.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, as the apostle John declares in Revelation 1:7. The second coming will not be a private, secret, or symbolic event, but an open, universal reality that arrests the entire creation. The prophet Zechariah looked forward to the culmination of this arrival when the Lord's feet will literally stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). When Christ returns, all ambiguity ends, and every creature on earth will recognize the sovereign King. John notes that even those who pierced him will look upon him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him (Revelation 1:7), realizing too late the magnitude of the One they spurned.
Jesus himself warned against anyone who claims his return will occur in secret chambers or isolated wilderness areas. Instead, he declared, 'For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man' (Matthew 24:27). His arrival will possess an immediate, blinding universality. Matthew 24:30 records that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, followed by all the tribes of the earth seeing him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Both Mark 13:26 and Luke 21:27 repeat this truth with solemn emphasis: the world will witness the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and magnificent glory. The hidden humility of Bethlehem will be answered by an unveiled divine splendor that floods the skies from horizon to horizon.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Revelation 1:7 | The glorified Lord comes with clouds, seen visibly by every eye, bringing solemn mourning across all tribes of the earth. |
| Matthew 24:30 | The sign of the Son of Man appears in heaven, followed by His visible descent upon the clouds with power and glory. |
| Mark 13:26 | All humanity will see the Son of Man coming in clouds surrounded by great divine power and magnificent majesty. |
| Luke 21:27 | Christ repeats the certainty of His coming in a cloud with awesome power and heavenly glory before all nations. |
| Matthew 24:27 | Christ's coming will be as unmistakable and visible as lightning flashing across the entire sky. |
| Zechariah 14:4 | The Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives on the day of His arrival. |
Gathering and Resurrection
The Saints Are Raised and Caught Up Together
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV)
Paul reveals the cosmic sequence of Christ's descent with command, voice, and trumpet, initiating the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The second coming is not merely an arrival of judgment for the rebellious; it is the great day of gathering and bodily redemption for the people of God. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the apostle details that when this divine summons echoes, the dead in Christ will rise first. Immediately following, 'we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord' (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This gathering is the glorious climax of the church's pilgrimage.
This instantaneous triumph over death is what Paul terms a sacred mystery. In 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, he reveals that 'we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.' The trumpet sounds, the mortal puts on immortality, and corruption is forever swallowed up in life. Jesus affirmed this harvest of redemption in Matthew 24:31, explaining that he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call to gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Paul consoles the church concerning 'the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him' (2 Thessalonians 2:1). In that hour, our redemption is made visible: 'When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory' (Colossians 3:4). As 1 John 3:2 assures us, when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| 1 Thessalonians 4:16 | The Lord descends with a shout, archangel voice, and trumpet call, raising the dead in Christ first. |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:17 | Living believers are caught up together with the resurrected saints in clouds to meet the Lord in the air forever. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:51 | Paul proclaims the mystery that not all will sleep, but all saints will be instantaneously transformed at the final trumpet. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:52 | In a moment, the trumpet sounds, the dead are raised incorruptible, and the living saints put on divine immortality. |
| Matthew 24:31 | Angels with a great trumpet call will gather the elect from the four winds. |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:1 | Paul addresses the coming of Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him. |
| Colossians 3:4 | When Christ who is our life appears, believers will appear with Him in glory. |
| 1 John 3:2 | When Christ appears, believers shall be made like Him, seeing Him as He is. |
Living in Expectation
Waiting for the Lord Shapes Daily Christian Life
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NIV)
Waiting for God's Son from heaven is presented as the core posture and enduring hope of genuine Christian conversion.
To wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come, is how Paul defines the heartbeat of the Christian life in 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Biblical doctrine regarding the Lord's return is never offered as idle trivia, but as an urgent moral anchor that transforms how we live today. Titus 2:13 calls believers to renounce ungodliness and live self-controlled, upright lives while 'waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.' Because our true citizenship is in heaven, we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20).
Scripture constantly warns that the day of the Lord will break upon an unsuspecting world without warning. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 2 Peter 3:10, the apostles remind us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, bringing sudden destruction upon the ungodly. In light of that impending dissolution of the present order, Peter asks what sort of people we ought to be, answering that we must walk in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:11–12). James urges long-suffering endurance: 'Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord... Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand' (James 5:7–8). Abiding in him now ensures that we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming (1 John 2:28). For every faithful believer who walks in this expectation, there is laid up the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award on that day to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| 1 Thessalonians 1:10 | Believers are marked by actively waiting for God's raised Son from heaven, who delivers us from the wrath to come. |
| Titus 2:13 | Christians look forward with joyful hope to the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. |
| Philippians 3:20 | Our heavenly citizenship inspires eager longing for the Savior, who will transform our lowly bodies into His likeness. |
| 2 Peter 3:10 | The day of the Lord comes like a thief, urging holy living as creation awaits its righteous renewal. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:2 | The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. |
| James 5:7 | Believers are exhorted to be patient until the coming of the Lord. |
| James 5:8 | Believers must establish their hearts because the coming of the Lord is at hand. |
| 1 John 2:28 | Abiding in Christ ensures confidence and no shrinking back in shame at His coming. |
| 2 Peter 3:11 | The certainty of the Lord's coming demands holy conduct and godliness. |
| 2 Peter 3:12 | Believers wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God. |
| 2 Timothy 4:8 | A crown of righteousness awaits all who have loved His appearing. |
Judgment and Triumph
Christ Returns to Judge Wickedness and Vindicate His Name
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
Revelation 19:11 (NIV)
This vision presents Christ returning not in meek humility but as the sovereign, righteous warrior-king.
In Revelation 19:11, heaven splits open to reveal Jesus Christ seated upon a white horse, bearing the titles Faithful and True, coming in sovereign righteousness to judge and wage war. The Savior who first arrived in meekness and humility returns in overwhelming glory to execute final, holy justice. The Apostle Paul underscores this terrifying and glorious revelation in 2 Thessalonians 1:7, explaining that the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven accompanied by His mighty angels in flaming fire. His arrival brings an end to earthly rebellion, as 2 Thessalonians 1:8 declares He will inflict vengeance on those who willfully reject God and refuse to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. For those who persistently defy the Lord, 2 Thessalonians 1:9 warns that they will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, forever excluded from the presence of the Lord and the majesty of His divine might.
This triumph will effortlessly dismantle every rebellious power that held sway over the nations. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8, the coming lawless one is brought to nothing instantly by the breath of Christ's mouth and annihilated by the sheer brightness of His coming. This righteous confrontation was foreseen from the earliest days of human history; as Jude 1:14 recalls, Enoch prophesied that the Lord would come with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute holy justice. According to Jude 1:15, this day will convict all the ungodly of their impious acts and harsh words spoken against God.
John's apocalyptic vision continues in Revelation 19:15, where a sharp sword proceeds from Christ's mouth to strike down the nations, portraying Him treading the winepress of the furious wrath of God the Almighty. There is no rival to His sovereignty, for Revelation 19:16 displays the name inscribed upon His robe and His thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords. Finally, Jesus Himself described this climactic reckoning in Matthew 25:31, when the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne surrounded by all the holy angels. As Matthew 25:32 confirms, all nations will assemble before Him, and He will separate humanity one from another as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, establishing His righteous reign for all eternity.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| 2 Thessalonians 1:7 | Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire. |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:8 | Christ will inflict vengeance on those who do not know God or obey the gospel. |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:9 | The ungodly will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the Lord's presence. |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:8 | The lawless one will be slain by the breath of Christ's mouth and appearance. |
| Jude 1:14 | Enoch prophesied the Lord coming with holy ten thousands to execute judgment. |
| Jude 1:15 | The Lord comes to convict the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds. |
| Revelation 19:11 | Heaven opens to reveal Christ on a white horse, judging and waging war in righteousness. |
| Revelation 19:15 | From Christ's mouth comes a sharp sword to strike down nations as He treads God's winepress. |
| Revelation 19:16 | On His robe and thigh is written the name: King of kings and Lord of lords. |
| Matthew 25:31 | The Son of Man sits on His glorious throne with all nations gathered before Him. |
| Matthew 25:32 | The returning King separates the peoples one from another as a shepherd separates sheep. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Zechariah | 1 · Zechariah 14:4 |
| Matthew | 7 · Matthew 16:27, Matthew 26:64, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:31, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 25:32 |
| Mark | 1 · Mark 13:26 |
| Luke | 2 · Luke 12:40, Luke 21:27 |
| John | 1 · John 14:3 |
| Acts | 1 · Acts 1:11 |
| 1 Corinthians | 2 · 1 Corinthians 15:51, 1 Corinthians 15:52 |
| Philippians | 1 · Philippians 3:20 |
| Colossians | 1 · Colossians 3:4 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 4 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 |
| 2 Thessalonians | 5 · 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:8 |
| 2 Timothy | 1 · 2 Timothy 4:8 |
| Titus | 1 · Titus 2:13 |
| Hebrews | 1 · Hebrews 9:28 |
| James | 2 · James 5:7, James 5:8 |
| 2 Peter | 3 · 2 Peter 3:10, 2 Peter 3:11, 2 Peter 3:12 |
| 1 John | 2 · 1 John 3:2, 1 John 2:28 |
| Jude | 2 · Jude 1:14, Jude 1:15 |
| Revelation | 5 · Revelation 22:20, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 19:15, Revelation 19:16 |
The story in order
- Jesus Ascends (c. AD 30) · Acts 1:11 · Angels promise His visible return in the same way.
- Jesus Promises Return (c. AD 30) · John 14:3 · He will come to receive believers to Himself.
- Son of Man's Glory (c. AD 30) · Matthew 16:27 · He will come in glory to judge.
- Christ Appears Second Time (c. AD 67) · Hebrews 9:28 · He comes to bring salvation to those who wait.
- Visible Descent (c. AD 30) · Matthew 24:30 · The Son of Man appears in heaven and descends.
- Lord Stands on Olives (c. 500 BC) · Zechariah 14:4 · His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.
- Resurrection and Gathering (c. AD 50) · 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 · Saints are raised and meet the Lord in the air.
- Transformation at Trumpet (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 · Saints are transformed instantly at the last trumpet.
- Elect Gathered (c. AD 30) · Matthew 24:31 · Angels gather the elect with a trumpet call.
- Lord's Coming Announced (c. AD 51) · 2 Thessalonians 2:1 · Addresses the coming and gathering of believers.
- Christ Appears in Glory (c. AD 60) · Colossians 3:4 · Believers appear with Him in glory.
- Judgment of Nations (c. AD 30) · Matthew 25:31-32 · Son of Man judges all nations, separating peoples.
- Christ Judges and Wars (c. AD 95) · Revelation 19:11 · Christ returns on a white horse to judge and wage war.
- Eternal Destruction (c. AD 51) · 2 Thessalonians 1:9 · The ungodly suffer eternal destruction from the Lord.
Key words
- Second Coming
- The promised, bodily, and glorious return of Jesus Christ from heaven. · Hebrews 9:28
- Son of Man (ho huios tou anthrōpou, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου)
- A title for Jesus, emphasizing His humanity and role as judge and king. · Matthew 16:27
- Day of the Lord
- A future time of divine judgment and intervention in history. · 2 Peter 3:10
- Gathering
- The assembly of believers to meet the Lord at His return. · 2 Thessalonians 2:1
- Judgment
- The righteous verdict of God executed by Christ upon all people. · Matthew 25:31
- Resurrection
- The raising of the dead to life at Christ's return. · 1 Corinthians 15:52
For every believer, the second coming is not an abstract doctrine but the living anchor of hope and enduring comfort. As we await that day, Scripture calls us to watchful holiness, unwavering faith, and patient endurance, knowing that our King will certainly return to bring us home.
43 passages, each cited once.
How the major Christian traditions read this
All Christians confess together that the Lord Jesus Christ will return bodily, visibly, and in glory to judge the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of His kingdom (Acts 1:11; Matthew 25:31-32).
Catholic
We confess with the ancient creeds that the Lord Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31-32). His return is a single, public, and glorious event that brings history to its consummation. We reject any notion of a literal thousand-year political reign on earth before the end, understanding the millennium spiritually as Christ's present reign in His Church (Revelation 20:4-6). At His coming, the dead will undergo general resurrection, all will be judged according to their deeds, and God will establish the new heavens and new earth (Matthew 16:27; Revelation 21:1).
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-32, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 21:1
Orthodox
We look forward with watchful longing to the Parousia, the glorious appearing of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). As proclaimed in the Nicene Creed, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We do not divide His return into separate stages or look for an earthly millennial kingdom, which the ancient Church rejected. Instead, when Christ returns in the clouds (Revelation 1:7), all creation will be transfigured, the general resurrection will take place, and Christ will triumph definitively over sin, death, and hades (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
Scripture: Titus 2:13, Revelation 1:7, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26
Lutheran
We confess according to the Augsburg Confession that at the end of the world, Christ will appear visibly to judge and will raise up all the dead (Matthew 25:31-32). To the godly and elect He will give eternal life and everlasting joy, while the ungodly and devils He will condemn to torment without end. We reject Jewish opinions that before the resurrection of the dead, the godly shall occupy the kingdom of the world. Christ's coming is a single, climactic event that ends this present evil age and ushers in eternity, comforting believers that our redemption draweth near (Luke 21:28).
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-32, Luke 21:28
Reformed & Presbyterian
We hold that our Lord Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly at the end of the age (Acts 1:11). Most among us understand Revelation 20 amillennially—that Christ currently reigns from heaven over His church—though some hold a postmillennial expectation that the gospel will flourish across the nations prior to His arrival (Matthew 28:18-20). When He appears, the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised simultaneously (both the just and the unjust), and Christ will execute final judgment (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father, putting all enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
Scripture: Acts 1:11, Matthew 28:18-20, John 5:28-29, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25
Anglican & Episcopal
We stand upon the historic creeds, confessing that Christ ascended into heaven and there sitteth until He returns to judge all men at the last day (Article 4 of the Thirty-Nine Articles; Acts 3:20-21). While historical Anglicanism predominantly reads the end times through an amillennial lens—seeing Christ's return as the immediate prelude to the general resurrection, final judgment, and new creation (Matthew 25:31-32)—our formularies allow liberty regarding the precise chronology of the millennium. Above all, we maintain the blessed hope of His personal, visible appearing in glory to wipe away every tear (Titus 2:13; Revelation 21:4).
Scripture: Acts 3:20-21, Matthew 25:31-32, Titus 2:13, Revelation 21:4
Baptist
We believe in the personal, visible, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7). Baptists hold varying views on the millennium: historic Baptists often held amillennial or historic premillennial convictions, while many modern Baptists embrace dispensational premillennialism, expecting Christ to rapture believers before a time of tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Regardless of the specific framework, we confess together that God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, raising both the saved to eternal life and the lost to everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46).
Scripture: Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Matthew 25:46
Methodist & Wesleyan
We proclaim that Christ will return visibly in triumph to judge the living and the dead and to renew the universe (Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:10-13). Wesleyan teaching has generally favored amillennialism or postmillennial optimism, holding that through the preaching of the gospel and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, God's grace transforms communities until the end (Matthew 24:14). When Christ returns, our mortal bodies will be raised, the final judgment will vindicate God's righteousness, and His redeemed people will fully experience entire sanctification in eternal glory with their Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Scripture: Acts 1:11, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Matthew 24:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Pentecostal & Charismatic
We teach the imminent, personal, and premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Fundamental Truths 15; Titus 2:13). We look first for the blessed hope: Christ descending to catch up His Church, both the living and the resurrected dead, to meet Him in the air before the wrath of the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following this, Christ will return visibly with His saints to earth to defeat His enemies and establish a literal thousand-year reign of righteousness and peace (Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4-6), fulfilling all prophetic promises made to Israel and the nations.
Scripture: Titus 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6
Non-denominational & Evangelical
We hold firmly that Jesus Christ will return bodily to the earth just as He left (Acts 1:11). Within our churches, many hold to a dispensational premillennial view, anticipating a pretribulation rapture of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) followed by Christ's physical return to reign on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). Others embrace historic premillennial or amillennial understandings. Across these viewpoints, we emphasize readiness, holy living, and urgent evangelism, knowing that no man knows the day or the hour when the Son of Man comes (Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:44).
Scripture: Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:44
Where they differ
The millennial reign
- Catholic
- Christ reigns spiritually now through His Church before His final coming.
- Orthodox
- The millennium is a spiritual reality representing Christ's present heavenly reign.
- Lutheran
- Christ reigns spiritually now; no future earthly millennial kingdom exists.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Generally amillennial, though some foresee earthly gospel victory before Christ returns.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Predominantly amillennial, viewing the kingdom as spiritual until the general resurrection.
- Baptist
- Views vary widely, including amillennial, historic premillennial, and dispensational premillennial.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Generally amillennial or postmillennial, expecting gospel renewal prior to Christ's return.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Christ returns before establishing a literal thousand-year earthly reign.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Predominantly premillennial, expecting a literal thousand-year reign after Christ returns.
Scripture: Revelation 20:1-6
The rapture of the Church
- Catholic
- Believers are gathered simultaneously with Christ's one, public, final return.
- Orthodox
- Believers meet Christ at His single, glorious coming at history's end.
- Lutheran
- Meeting the Lord in the air coincides with the general resurrection.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Christ gathers believers at His singular return for universal judgment.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Christ gathers His saints at His one visible return in glory.
- Baptist
- Divided between a pretribulation rapture and gathering at the final return.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- The saints meet the Lord at His singular, public final coming.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Believers are raptured before the tribulation prior to the public return.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Commonly views the rapture as an imminent event preceding the tribulation.
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Matthew 24:30-31
Your pastor can tell you where your church stands.
Scripture cited
- Acts 1:11
- Revelation 1:7
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16
- John 14:3
- Matthew 24:30
- Matthew 16:27
- Daniel 7:13-14
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18