Jesus’ Second Coming and Judgment Day
Most Christians commonly believe that when Jesus comes a second time, this world will be destroyed right away, and God’s people will go to heaven. However, this thinking contradicts both the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Himself.
“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27–28
When Christ comes a second time, Jesus explains that redemption—the day to go to heaven—is a future event. Thus, the Bible teaches that Christ’s second coming and the Last Judgment take place at different times. Delving deeper into biblical descriptions confirms this:
“This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction...”
At the Last Judgment, Jesus appears with fire to bring about final destruction upon those who do not obey Him. If these events take place at the same time, they should be described similarly. Let’s see how Christ speaks about His second coming:
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
The explanation of His second coming (Mt 24:3) drastically differs from the description of the Last Judgment. This means Jesus’ second coming and the Last Judgment are two separate events—with Christ coming a second time to this earth in the flesh (Jude 1:12, Pr 25:14) before the last day. Therefore, we must receive the Second Coming Christ as He gathers His people before the pending judgment.
