There is much confusion about the manner and purpose of His return. Many false predictions have been published. Some take the Lord’s words, “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” to mean that Christ never left and ascended to the Father. They believe that Jesus has been personally present during the entire gospel age. Such reasoning would contradict, “for I go to prepare a place for you.? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” 

It is through the Bible and the holy spirit that our Lord has guided the Church down through the gospel age. The scriptures say, “When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.  … 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.” (Ephesians 4:8, 12-14 CSB) 

The return of Christ will be a personal return.  However, our Lord is no longer the “man” Christ Jesus but an all-powerful spirit. (Matthew 28:18, 1Peter 3:18) He will be invisible to people as He foretold in John 14:19, “a little while longer and the world will see me no more.” 

However, the Lord taught his followers how to recognize His return. The disciples asked, “what is the sign of thy presence (parousia)?” (Matthew 24:3 Young’s Literal Translation) (The Greek word “parousia” means “presence.” In many Bible translations, it is wrongly translated as “coming”).

 A thorough study of the Lord’s return will reveal that: 

  1. His initial return will be quiet and mostly unobserved by the world – as a thief in the night. 
  2. He will gather His bride (his church, his elect) that they may reign over the earth with Him. (Revelation 20:4)  
  3. The results of his presence will bring darkness to light and reveal all things hidden. It will bring about a time of trouble such as the world has never seen.  It is the tearing down of the present evil order that the kingdom for which we are taught to pray may be established. (Matthew 6:10)   
  4. He will establish a new heavens and a new earth wherein will dwell righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)  
  5. He will return restored mankind and the restored earth back over to the father that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:8)                 For a more in depth study about Christ's second advent, download the free PDF : I Will Come Again