Will Jesus return literally?
Yes. The New Testament promises that the same Jesus who ascended will return visibly and bodily, with power and great glory, to gather His people, raise the dead, judge the world, and bring the kingdom in full. Until then, we wait, watch, and work.
This question arose from studying What happens when I die? and Where is Jesus now?.
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Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
The angels promised it at the ascension
'This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.' He will come visibly, bodily, personally. The ascension was not the end of His appearing; it was the guarantee of His return.
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
The Lord Himself will descend
'The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.' So we will be with the Lord forever.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
Every eye will see Him
'Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him.' And 'they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.' His return is public, not private.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
So we wait, watch, and work
'Since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God?' And then the warning: 'Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.'
Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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What is the resurrection of the body?→“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.”What is the new heaven and new earth?→“I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.””What signs should we look for before Jesus returns?→“This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”What will we do in the new creation?→“I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.””What does the Bible say about animals and heaven?→“God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.”What is the rapture?→“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”What is the great tribulation?→“for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.”What is heaven like?→“I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.””Will we recognize each other in the resurrection?→“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.”What is the abomination of desolation?→“He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate.”Is there a second chance after death?→“Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
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