Apocalypse Now?: Understanding the Second Coming of Jesus
- Ray Reynolds, Ph.D.
- Jun 18
- 8 min read

The world is at war. At least most of the world anyway. We can ignore it, or deny it, but it’s an absolute certainty that people are drawing battle lines. Cable news, and social media feeds, are filled with headlines about missiles, fatalities, and deep seated hatred of different nations. The location of these wars are on religiously holy ground. Every time this happens apocalyptic fever hits a new pitch. Books are written. Podcast are launched. YouTube videos are created. Sermons are preached. And “Talking Heads” are everywhere. Religious people will start talking about the antichrist, the rapture, pre-millennialism and other “signs” of the end times.
For centuries, believers have pondered and anticipated the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s a foundational truth of our faith, a promise that ignites hope and guides our walk. But amidst various interpretations and cultural narratives, how can we truly understand what the Bible teaches about this momentous event? A few years ago one of our elders, Billy Lambert, taught an entire series of classes on the end times. Those same messages can be found on the Getting To Know Your Bible website. They are exceptional! He challenged us to lay aside emotion and tradition. We must focus on what the Bible says. So, what does the Bible say?
Let's clear away some common misconceptions and focus on the clear, consistent message of Scripture regarding the second coming of Jesus. Let’s open our hearts, minds and Bibles to find the truth. Maybe we’ll find peace of mind.
One Hope, One Return
Often, you might hear discussions about "the Rapture" – a secret, pre-tribulation snatching away of believers. However, a careful and honest examination of the Scriptures reveals that the concept of a distinct, separate "Rapture" event, happening before Christ's visible return, is simply not found in the Bible. The word "rapture" itself is not in our Bibles, nor is the elaborate theological construct that has been built around it. It’s merely a manmade doctrine conceived by man.
Instead, the Bible consistently presents one future, glorious, and unmistakable return of Jesus Christ. There isn't a "first" secret coming for some and then a "second" public coming for all. There is only the Second Coming, and it encompasses all that God has promised for the culmination of history. No one is “left behind” or given a second chance after Jesus returns.
The Clear Witness of Scripture
For the sake of time I’ll only focus on four primary scriptures. Let's look at what the New Testament actually teaches about Christ's return, focusing on a few key passages:
Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV): "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." This passage is crucial. It describes a single, climactic event that occurs after tribulation (the persecution of the saints). There is no pre-tribulation removal. No mention of Rapture, pre-millennialism or post millennialism. Furthermore, it explicitly states that "all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming." This is a public, universally witnessed event, not a private one. The gathering of the elect happens at this glorious return, not before it.
* Acts 1:10-11 (NKJV): "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'" Notice the clarity: "this same Jesus… will so come in like manner." His return will be a visible, physical event, just as His ascension was. There's no hint of a secret departure. It will clearly affect all of humanity at the same time. There are several other passages of scripture that dive deeper into the events of His second coming. We’ll deal with those in a little bit.
* I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV): "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." This is often the go-to passage for those who believe in a "Rapture." However, when read in context with the rest of Scripture, it describes the resurrection of believers (both dead and living) at the single, final return of Christ. The "caught up" (Greek: harpazo) is not a separate event, but part of the glorious, noisy, and unmistakable return of Jesus, where believers are gathered to meet Him as He descends. It's the glorious resurrection, not a clandestine escape. One single, spectacular event that leads into the Final Judgment.
* II Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV): " But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” The phrase "melt with fervent heat" refers to the destruction of the heavens and earth by fire during the Day of the Lord. This imagery depicts a complete dissolution of the existing world, making way for a new heaven and a new earth. No mention of the Rapture.
The Culmination of All Things
The end of time is not a mistake. It won’t happen because humans destroy the planet with nuclear devices. It has already been prophesied. In fact, when the Bible describes Jesus coming "like a thief in the night," it's a metaphor emphasizing the unexpectedness and suddenness of His return, not stealth or secrecy. Just as a thief's arrival is unannounced and at an unforeseen hour, so too will be the Lord's coming for those who are spiritually unprepared. This imagery, found in passages like I Thessalonians 5:2 and II Peter 3:10, serves as a powerful call to constant vigilance and readiness, urging believers to live lives of faithful expectation rather than being caught off guard by His glorious, yet surprising, appearing.
Christ's second coming is the grand culmination of God's redemptive plan. Once Jesus returns, there is no turning back. It signifies four primary things.
* The Final Judgment: A foundational truth of biblical eschatology is that every human being, without exception, will one day stand before Christ for judgment. The Apostle Paul affirms this plainly, stating, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10 NKJV). This comprehensive judgment encompasses both believers, who will be evaluated for rewards based on their faithful service, and unbelievers, who will face condemnation for their rejection of God and their deeds. It will be a moment of ultimate accountability, where every thought, word, and action is laid bare before the perfect justice and omniscience of Christ. All humanity will stand before Christ for judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).
* The General Resurrection: On the Day of Judgment, the earth will yield up all its dead, and both the righteous and the unrighteous will be raised to stand before Christ. Jesus Himself declared in John 5:28-29 (NKJV), "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." This universal resurrection underscores God's perfect justice, ensuring that every soul will receive its due, whether eternal life in His peaceful presence or eternal separation into everlasting torment.
* The Destruction of Creation: At the glorious Second Coming of Jesus, the very fabric of the cosmos as we know it will undergo a fiery transformation. As II Peter 3:10 (NKJV) vividly describes, "the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." This cataclysmic purification signifies an utter annihilation of all perishable things. It’s a radical cleansing that prepares the way for the "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (II Peter 3:13), where God's eternal kingdom will be fully established (Revelation 21:1).
* The Consummation of God's Kingdom: Christ's reign will be fully and eternally established. He will usher in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells. There is no earthly millennial kingdom to follow His return; His return brings the immediate eternal state. In fact, one would have to look outside the Bible for source material, or twist the context of the Revelation of John, to believe Jesus would return several times before the end. The biblical narrative consistently points to a single, definitive Second Coming of Jesus Christ, marking the culmination of God's redemptive plan. There is no scriptural basis for multiple distinct returns or separate "raptures" prior to His final, glorious appearance. Passages like Acts 1:11, which states "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven," clearly indicate a singular event—a visible, undeniable return that will be universally witnessed. It will be the end.
Living in Light of His Coming
Given the certain, yet unexpected, nature of Jesus' singular return, the Scriptures repeatedly exhort believers to live in a state of constant preparedness. Matthew 24:44(NKJV) directly commands, "Therefore you also be ready, for in an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man is coming." This readiness isn't about knowing a specific date, but about living a life of faithful obedience, spiritual vigilance, and active anticipation. It means cultivating a genuine relationship with Christ, pursuing holiness, and diligently serving Him, so that when He appears, we will be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (II Peter 3:14). Understanding the true nature of Christ's second coming has profound implications for our lives today. It calls us to at least four things:
* Watchfulness & Readiness: We should not be caught off guard by His coming, but live faithfully and prepared for His public return (Matthew 24:42-44). He is coming back!
* Spreading the Gospel: The urgency of His coming motivates us to share the good news with a world that will one day see Him face to face (Matthew 28:18-20). The good news must be shared with the world.
* Holy Living: The promise of His return should inspire us to live lives of purity and devotion, eager to be found blameless at His appearing (I John 3:2-3). God will divide the good from the evil.
* Perseverance: Knowing that Christ will return encourages us to endure faithfully, trusting in His ultimate victory (Revelation 2:10, 7:14-17). We must be faithful to the end.
Let us fix our eyes on the clear teaching of Scripture. Jesus is coming again – not in secret, but in power and great glory, to judge the living and the dead, to make all things new, and to usher in His eternal kingdom. This is our blessed hope, a hope that transcends fleeting doctrines and rests firmly on the unshakable Word of God. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds, PhD
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