The Second Coming of Christ
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 we read a description of the Second Coming: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
The Second Coming is a literal, global event. We’re told in Luke, “For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other,” Luke 17:24.
We do not know when Christ will return, but we know He will. As Matthew recorded Jesus saying in Matthew 25:13, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
In vivid word pictures and poetry, the Bible tells of the triumphant coming of Christ in Revelation 19. When Jesus comes, He will lead an army of heavenly beings, also riding white horses and wearing clean, pure white robes.
Many of the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs were discovered after in-depth studies following the Great Disappointment in 1844 in which William Miller helped the world understand that Christ’s Second Coming was a literal promise, but made the mistake of setting an exact date. And as Christians learned more about scripture and God’s truth, they were more motivated to follow the Word and continue studying it.
The Second Coming is so important to Seventh-day Adventists that it’s part of the name—the word Advent means “arrival.” It is the blessed hope of Adventists that Christ’s future return will be the climax to our story on earth.
To prepare for the Second Coming, read the Bible daily so that you can meditate on God’s Holy Word. Bible study and prayer through the Holy Spirit is our direct connection to the Savior we’re waiting for.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church rests its hope in Christ alone, in His promises and in His return.
We encourage you to take a closer look at this fundamental belief with your pastor or Bible study group or online at Adventist.org/second-coming.
