The second coming is the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth to judge and to reign. Every Christian tradition confesses it. The Nicene Creed says, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.”
This page gathers what the Bible says about Christ’s return, the events that surround it, and where Christians differ. See where this fits on the interactive end times timeline.
What the Bible says about the second coming
- Daniel 7:13-14: one like a Son of Man comes with the clouds and receives an everlasting kingdom.
- Zechariah 14:3-5: the Lord fights for Jerusalem and His feet stand on the Mount of Olives.
- Matthew 24:27-31: the Son of Man comes on the clouds with power and great glory.
- Acts 1:9-11: Jesus will come back in the same way He went into heaven.
- Revelation 1:7: every eye will see Him.
- Revelation 19:11-16: the rider on the white horse, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Events around Christ’s return
On the pre-tribulation, premillennial timeline, these events follow one another:
| Event | What happens | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Armageddon | The nations gather against God and are defeated by Christ’s word | Revelation 16:12-16; 19:17-21 |
| The second coming | Jesus returns visibly with His saints | Revelation 19:11-16; Jude 14 |
| The beast and False Prophet judged | Both are thrown alive into the lake of fire | Revelation 19:20 |
| The sheep and goats judgment | Christ judges the people alive at His return | Matthew 25:31-46 |
| Satan bound | Satan is locked in the Abyss for a thousand years | Revelation 20:1-3 |
| The millennial reign | Christ reigns on earth for a thousand years | Revelation 20:4-6; Isaiah 11:6-9 |
| The final rebellion | Satan is released, deceives the nations, and is defeated | Revelation 20:7-10 |
| The Great White Throne | The final judgment of the dead | Revelation 20:11-15 |
Three views of the millennium
| View | Order of events |
|---|---|
| Premillennial | Christ returns, then reigns on earth for a thousand years |
| Amillennial | The thousand years is symbolic of Christ’s present reign; His return brings the final judgment and the new creation |
| Postmillennial | The gospel transforms the world in a long golden age, then Christ returns |
How to live while you wait
Jesus’ teaching on His return always ends in practical instruction: stay awake, be faithful with what He has given you, and care for the least of His brothers and sisters (Matthew 24:42-25:46). John adds that everyone who hopes in Him purifies himself (1 John 3:2-3). The second coming is meant to fill you with hope, not fear.
Watch: Be Ready! The Coming of the Lord Is Near
A sermon by Paul T. Barham (August 24, 2025) on the nearness of Christ’s return and the prophetic markers Jesus gave.
Frequently asked questions
When will Jesus come back?
No one knows. Jesus said, “of that day and hour no one knows” (Matthew 24:36), and He told His followers to be ready because He will come at an hour they do not expect (Matthew 24:44).
What are the signs of the second coming?
Jesus named deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, lawlessness, and the gospel preached to all nations (Matthew 24:4-14). He called these “the beginning of birth pangs,” signs that grow in frequency and intensity rather than dates on a calendar. Paul’s book For the Love of God includes an appendix on the signs of the end times.
Where will Jesus return?
Zechariah 14:4 says His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, and the angels at the ascension said He would return “in the same way” He left (Acts 1:11).
What is the millennium?
The millennium is the thousand-year period in Revelation 20:1-6. Premillennial Christians see a literal reign of Christ on earth after His return; amillennial Christians see Christ’s present reign from heaven; postmillennial Christians see a gospel golden age before His return.
Is the second coming the same as the rapture?
In the pre-tribulation view they are two phases of one coming, seven years apart. In other views they are one event. Read more: What is the rapture?
The book behind this guide
This guide draws on Paul T. Barham’s upcoming book, The Bible’s Prophetic Timeline: A Beginner’s Guide to the End Times, the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, and the Book of Revelation. The book walks through every event and every major person in Bible prophecy, sets out what each Christian tradition believes, and gives the pre-tribulation view a full chapter.
Join the email list on the home page to hear when the book releases. Until then, Paul’s book For the Love of God includes a Scripture-based appendix on the signs of the end times, and Salvation 101 explains how to be ready to meet Jesus.