Daily Devotional

The Second Coming of Jesus

The Story of Salvation: Day 8

Through this new eight-day devotional series based on the short iBIBLE film The Real Story of Jesus, explore Jesus’ presence in all of God’s Grand Narrative. If we are to believe in Jesus and share Him with others, we must first understand the foundational elements of our faith.

Why Does the Second Coming of Jesus Matter?

Regardless of what you believe the Bible says about the timeline for Jesus’ return, there are three scriptural truths all Christians believe in:

1. The visible and audible return of Jesus to earth

2. The physical resurrection of the dead

3. The final judgment of all people

Jesus Himself says these things will happen in passages like Matthew 24–25, Mark 13, and Luke 12:35–56, 17:20–37 where He describes the signs of the end of the age. And why does He tell us this? So that we might “be on guard” and “stay awake” and be ready to greet our Master when He arrives (Mark 13:23a, 35a, ESV). 

Oftentimes we find discussing the end of the world to be a distressing topic as we read about wars and the persecution of Christians in the final days. But because Jesus assures us that “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13b), we can have great joy as we study the ending of God’s Grand Narrative!

Because Jesus assures us that “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13b), we can have great joy as we study the ending of God’s Grand Narrative!

The Second Coming of Jesus in Scripture

The ending of the story of the world is both a sobering topic and a joyful one. We know that all who believe in Jesus will be saved and will live and reign with Him forever, and this is the great hope of Christianity (see 1 Peter 1:3–9)! But we also know that those who do not believe will be condemned to eternal punishment for their unforgiven sins (see Matthew 25:31–46). 

There is no in-between stage at the final judgment. Jesus will separate those who know Him from those who do not. 

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”

—Matthew 25:31–34

When Jesus separates His people from those who chose to follow Satan, He will resurrect all our bodies—even those of unbelievers—and judge us all. Those of us who have called on Jesus’ name will be accepted as children of God because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, but those who have rejected Jesus will be resurrected to eternal condemnation.

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” —John 5:28–29

God will not allow evil to go unpunished. This can be a hard truth for some of us, as we have friends and family who are not believers and will be among those who belong to the “goats” on Jesus’ left. But Jesus has not yet come, and if you have someone who came to mind who is not yet saved, there is still time to share Jesus with them.

Jesus has not yet come, and if you have someone who came to mind who is not yet saved, there is still time to share Jesus with them.

Jesus talked about His second coming in terms of hours and days, not in thousands of years. He wants us to keep watch as though He is coming back today! This sense of urgency is what fueled the disciples in the book of Acts. Right before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He told them to tell all the world about Him in the Great Commission. 

We should have the same sense of urgency the disciples had. After Jesus ascended, two angels said to the disciples: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The disciples immediately gathered and began praying, and soon the Holy Spirit came to them and gave them the power and the words to spread the Gospel.

Suddenly the disciples understood everything Jesus had been telling them all along about why He must be betrayed and be handed over to be crucified, and that He would die and on the third day rise from the dead. And Peter, who had three times denied that he even knew Jesus, began to testify to all the Jews in Jerusalem that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and their long-awaited Messiah (see Acts 2:14–41, 3:11–4:12). 

Even though many of these disciples faced the same persecution Jesus did and eventually were killed for their witness, they preached the Good News boldly. Why? Because they had seen, understood, and accepted the message Jesus taught. And no doubt the message that Jesus would one day come again was a great encouragement in all kinds of trials!

So why do we delay? It has been nearly two thousand years since Jesus walked on this earth, and still the whole world has not heard about Him. Are we ready to boldly preach the Good News to everyone who needs to hear it, accepting all the trials that come as a result of doing our Father’s will? Jesus will return soon! Will you be ready?

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” . . . Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! —Revelation 22:12–13, 20b

Looking Forward

Now that you have heard the real story of Jesus, you’re ready to share it with everyone you meet! This is our mission here on earth before we meet our Lord someday, and we can look forward to the fact that one day every trial and awkward conversation will be worth it as we store up treasures in Heaven!

Prayer for This Week

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise to return! You have given us the hope of total restoration and redemption for those who believe and assured us of the final defeat of evil and Satan. Help us to always remember our final home is with You when this world feels overwhelming. You are the only One in Whom we place our hope for the future. In Your powerful name we pray. Amen.