The Promise of Christ's Return

READ | John 14:1-3

The return of Jesus Christ is a vital part of God's redemptive plan for humanity. That's why the event was foretold by prophets, proclaimed by angels, and taught by Jesus and Paul. In fact, more Old Testament passages are devoted to Christ's second coming than to His first. And in the New Testament, the Lord mentions His return more frequently than He speaks of His death.

The Second Coming is Satan's final defeat. God prophesied the Devil's end when He said in Genesis 3:15, "He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." Satan appeared to have won a tremendous victory when Jesus was crucified—he bruised a heel. But the Resurrection dealt him a lethal blow. Christ's return will seal Satan's fate because the Lord has promised to remake the Earth. When He is finished, we will live in a world that is as perfect as God intended before the fall of Adam and Eve.

The Father wants us excited and hopeful about Jesus' return because that event is the conclusion of His plan for the world. For centuries, Christians have worked to spread the Gospel. Those efforts are leading to the moment when all those who choose to serve God are gathered together on a new Earth.

To keep our hope alive, He has told us what to expect. We don't know the day or the hour of the Second Coming. But Jesus Christ's final biblical prophecy reminds us to live and evangelize with a sense of urgency. He said in Revelation 22:20, "Yes, I am coming quickly." If we are saved and serving God, we can say—as the apostle John did in that same verse—"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."