The Lord Will Return Again

Will the Lord come again? No doubt, many have asked this question in some form or another. This is a valid question which deserves an answer. How can we be sure He is coming again? To understand the answer to this question is to understand the very nature of God. The Hebrew writer said, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18). God cannot lie; whatever God has promised as it relates to the return of the Lord, is true.

The Word of God makes it forever clear that the Lord will return. At the Lord’s ascension, two men (angels) testified of the second coming of the Lord. “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). They testified the Lord would come back in the same manner He left; that is, He would come from above. This agrees with other passages on the same subject, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:16-17). As the Lord left this world in the clouds, He will return in the clouds. Those in the graves who were faithful will rise to meet Him first, and then, those who are still on earth who have remained faithful, will also rise to meet Him.

The Lord also testified of His coming again. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” (John 14:1-4). Throughout His ministry, He often referred to His leaving this world and going back to the Father so that He could set things in order related to the church. This would enable Him to put in order things for His second coming to bring destruction to the wicked world and bring redemption to those who belong to Him.

Not only did the angels and the Lord Himself testify concerning His return, so did the apostles. John wrote much about the second coming of the Lord. He stated at the second coming of the Lord we shall be like Him, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). It will be at His second coming that we will be changed, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

Peter said the Lord would come as a thief in the night. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). Because these things are true, Peter urges us to be steadfast and live in such a manner as to make heaven our home. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:11-14). May God help us be ready at every moment in our lives, for even today could be the day the Lord comes again.