We have one more point to make regarding Christ’s return and this point is the most basic of all. As we have seen, this event will include clouds, a trumpet sound, thousands of angels, and glorious light. It will also occur quickly and unexpectedly like a thief in the night, resulting in universal transformation. At its core, however, this event is all about a person—“the Lord himself.” It is the revelation or appearance of Jesus Christ.
- After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “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 1:9-11 NIV)
- Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. (1 Cor. 4:5)
- For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Cor. 11:26)
- But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20)
- When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:4)
- For the Lord himself will come down from heaven (1 Thess. 4:16)
- These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Pet. 1:7)
- “Look, he is coming with the clouds.” (Rev. 1:7)
- “Look, I am coming soon!” (Rev. 22:7)
When reflecting on this doctrine many focus on secondary details: when?, how?, where?, why? But the primary point is who? This can be seen in an ancient Aramaic expression—Marana tha, meaning “Come, Lord!” (1 Cor. 16:22). Imagine first-century believers gathered for worship in small homes, saying Marana tha. They didn’t know when he would return, but they were longing for his appearing. The Bible even closes on this note of promise and longing: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). Does the announcement of Christ’s return produce the same reflex in your heart?
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.