Understanding the Return of Christ

People say Jesus will come again, but will He really? How can we know for sure? What does the Bible say conditions will be like when He comes?

If you ask people about the return of Christ or try to research that topic, you will quickly find there is almost no end to the opinions about it. Some deny that Christ will return to the earth, while others say He has already returned and is working through the Church to set up the Kingdom of God.

Still others say He will return secretly sometime in the future to gather the true believers to Him. One group even teaches that a man in Persia in the 1840s had a revelation that he was the "promised one" and that Christ had therefore returned in human form. It can be pretty confusing, so is there a way to know the truth on this subject?

The place to begin is with proof that Jesus Christ will return, so let's go to the source. You can't get much closer to the source than His own words, so what did He say? During His earthly ministry Jesus repeatedly spoke about His return to establish the Kingdom of God. A direct and clear statement about His promise to return is found in John 14:2-3 [2] 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.
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

See All... where He said He was going to prepare a place for His followers. He promised that if He went, He would also "come again."

No wonder every writer in the New Testament spoke about His coming. His return as king over all the earth is a vital part of the gospel message found in the Bible and anticipated by saints since the first century. So we have the direct word of God, who we're told cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
See All...), promising Christ's return. You can't get any greater guarantee than that about something happening. So the question to address in the rest of this article is not will He return, but how will He return?
Olivet Prophecy and Revelation

The question of when and how Jesus Christ will return has been on the minds of Christians throughout the centuries--beginning with the apostles themselves. Before Jesus was crucified they came to Him asking what those events would be like. Three of the gospel writers recorded that exchange in what is called the Olivet Prophecy (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).

When we compare the events spoken of in this prophecy to the general outline of end-time events described in the book of Revelation (recorded at the end of the first century) there are many striking parallels as shown in the following chart. For simplicity's sake, only Matthew's account will be shown.
Scipture in Matthew Christ's Description of Events Scripture in Revelation Events Described in Revelation
24:3 Apostles ask for signs of Christ's returen 1:1, 19 John is shown things about the future
5:1-9 The Lamb of God is deembed worthly to remove the seals on the book John sees
24:4-5,11,24 Jesus says don't be deceived because many will come in His name and deceive many people 6:2 The white horseman of the Apocalypse has a bow and a crown (trying to impersonate the righteous ruler Christ)
24:6-7a There will be wars and rumor or wars between nations (or ethnic group) and kingdoms 6:3-4 The rider of the red horse has a sword and takes away peace (many wars have been fought in the name of religion)
24:7b There will be famines 6:5-6 The black horseman carefully weighs out food items (famine also goes along with war)
24:7c There will be pestilence 6:7-8 The pale horseman is called death (disease and pestilence often follow famine)
24:9-12, 21-22 The saints will be persecuted and many will turn away from the truth in a great tribulation 6:9-11; 12:14 The fifth seal is persecution of the saints/ a woman (the Church as a whole) is protected from Satan 3 1/2 years
24:23-27 Don't believe those who say Christ has come secretly
24:29 Immediately after the tribulation the sun and moon will be darkened and other great heavenly signs will occur 6:12-17 The sixth seal involves tremendous signs in the skies
24:30 All people on earth will see Christ coming with power and great glory 19:6-21 Christ returns on a white horse coming out of heaven with an army of angels and risen saints to fight and defeat the army of the beast and false prophet

This simple chart leaves out many aspects of prophecy from Revelation about the end-time beast and false prophet who will dominate a world-ruling empire. If you want to learn more about those events, request a free copy of our booklets, The Book of Revelation Unveiled and You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. However, putting the similar passages in Matthew and Revelation together does make a number of things very obvious about what the Bible says concerning the actual return of Jesus Christ.
Visible events

Jesus' coming is yet in the future because it is associated with a huge battle against the armies of this earth prior to the establishment of God's rule on earth. The prophet Daniel was given the understanding that in the days of the final revival of a fourth world-ruling government, God will set up a kingdom (Daniel 2:44-45 [44] And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
[45] Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

See All...). The saints will rule in this kingdom forever (Daniel 7:18But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
See All...) when the Ancient of Days comes (verse 22) and all people will serve and obey Him (verse 27).

Jesus' return will not be a secret event that only a few will recognize. Just like lightning is quite visible all across the sky (Matthew 24:27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
See All...), so everyone on earth will see Him as He returns. His return will be accompanied by a great shout and a loud trumpet blast, at which time the dead saints will rise from their graves all over the earth and the saints who are alive will be changed from mortal to spirit (1 Corinthians 15:52-54 [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

See All...)!

But before this, as we saw on the chart, there will be a great tribulation and incredible miraculous signs in the heavens preceding the return of Christ. That tribulation is described as the worst there has ever been or ever will be (Matthew 24:21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
See All...). The early Church faced some terrible persecutions at the hands of the Roman government in the early centuries after the death and resurrection of Christ. In the last century, two world wars had devastating effects. Anything that reaches a magnitude greater than those events will be impossible to hide from public view.

Some saints will indeed be called on to give their physical lives for their convictions (Revelation 6:11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
See All... and Luke 21:12-16 [12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
[16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

See All...), but the Church, as a whole, will be protected (Revelation 3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
See All... and 12:14). Christ said we are to pray that we might be part of those counted worthy to escape those things (Luke 21:36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
See All...).

Those who teach about a secret coming contradict the plain words of the Bible. This includes the "Left Behind" series of books, which has become immensely popular in recent years among those professing Christianity. Many things in that series contradict the plain Bible teaching we've just seen, so the books are based on wrong premises. Anyone who wishes to remain faithful to the teaching of the Bible would do well to avoid those books and others like them, which add confusion.
Truth is available

God has not left us to our own speculations and conclusions about the return of His Son. He not only clearly prophesied it from the mouth of Jesus Christ and all the authors of the New Testament, He also provided many detailed signs that will identify Christ's second coming. Paul calls those who are aware of and soberly looking for these signs "children of light" who will not be caught by surprise at the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

See All...).

Revelation 13, 17 and 18 tell us of a great power that will exist just before the return of Christ. These chapters show the false prophet will be the spiritual representative of that government and he will be able to perform surprising miracles by the power of the god of this world, Satan the devil. Satan is actively preparing the world to accept those miracles by increasing interest in the spirit world. Many books and movies are being written about angels and even witchcraft, such as the Harry Potter series (see the first question in this issue's Questions and Answers section).

You have knowledge that can keep you from being taken in by forces contrary to the truth of God, as revealed in the pages of the Bible. We hope you will be helped by this knowledge as the events of the future begin to unfold.