The Manner of Christ's Second Coming

The New Testament reveals that Christ will return visibly. All nations will see him, believers and unbelievers, including those who were responsible for his death. He will appear in the unveiled glory and majesty of God, sitting at the right hand of the Father and coming on the clouds of heaven, accompanied by the holy angels (Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Luke 9:26; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7).

When the Son of Man appears in the sky, all the tribes of the earth will mourn (Matthew 24:30). They will call "to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come'" (Revelation 6:16-17). Sinful humanity cannot stand in the presence of the holy God and view his unveiled glory and majesty (Isaiah 6:5). The people of God, however, will raise their heads with joy, knowing that their redemption is drawing near, and Christ will "save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:28; Luke 21:28). Christians also have the Lord's promise that when they see Christ face-to-face and behold him in his glory, he will transform their bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:49).

The Lord's return will be a personal, physical coming. He will be the judge of all humanity, clothed in divine majesty, but in his human nature as the God-man (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31; Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:11). His return will be different, therefore, from his coming as the Son of Mary, from his coming through the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and from his coming through Word and Sacraments. At his last coming Christians shall see him face-to-face.

Jesus' return will be unexpected and will find many unprepared (Matthew 24:37-44; Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:33-37; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Revelation 3:3). The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15). Life will be going on very much as usual. As in the days of Noah and Lot, the world will be preoccupied with the routine things of this life, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, planting and building (Matthew 24:37-41; Luke 17:26-30). Humanity in general will be insensitive to and undiscerning of the signs God provides as reminders of his coming and as means to urge repentance and an attitude of watchfulness.

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