Today, many people believe that when Jesus comes a second time, it will be Judgment Day; the world will be destroyed and God’s people will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. However, Jesus’ teaching about His second coming is different from their belief.
“I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Lk 18:8
Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” By asking that, Jesus emphasized that no faith would be found on the earth when He comes a second time. If Jesus comes as the Last Judge in this faithless world, who would be saved on earth? Therefore, it is wrong to believe that the world will be judged immediately when Jesus comes again.
Last Judgment
The prophecies in the Bible clearly distinguish the Second Coming from the Last Judgment. It is because Christ‘s appearance and purpose are different each time.
See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD. Isa 66:15–16
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the LORD God would come with fire when He came as the Judge on the last day. The purpose of His coming is to bring judgment upon all people. The same prophecy is found in the New Testament.
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 and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes . . . 2 Th 1:7–10
2 Thessalonians 1 describes how Jesus comes as the Judge. When He is revealed in blazing fire, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel. The Bible consistently prophesies that God, the Last Judge, will appear in blazing fire and judge the world.
Second Coming of Christ
Then, what is the purpose of Christ coming a second time and how will He appear?
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, 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.” Mt 24:30–31
When Christ comes a second time, He will come on the clouds, not in blazing fire. This is completely different from His coming as the Last Judge. He also said that He would not bring judgment and punishment at His second coming but gather His elect from the four winds. Therefore, the Second Coming and the Last Judgment are different.
Moreover, the Bible says that the Second Coming and the Last Judgment are not fulfilled at the same time, but that the Second Coming takes place before the Last Judgment.
“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.” Lk 21:27–28
Explaining about His second coming, Jesus said, “When these things begin to take place, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” He meant that because the time to go to Heaven is near, His people should prepare themselves to receive salvation. Therefore, the Second Coming is not Judgment Day when God’s people enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When Judgment Day is near, Jesus comes a second time on the clouds. There must be difference in timing between the Second Coming and the Last Judgment.
Second Coming Christ Leads His Elect to Zion
The Bible even prophesies about the place where Second Coming Jesus will gather His elect. The prophet Micah prophesied that in the last days God would teach His people in Zion.
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Mic 4:1–2
The mountain of the LORD’s temple where God’s people gather in the last days is Zion, where the temple of God is built. In the Bible, Zion refers to the church that keeps the feasts of God (Isa 33:20). It was also prophesied that God Himself would teach His ways in Zion. It meant that Second Coming Christ would build up the faith of His people in the last days so that they could be saved through the word of truth.
Just as Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” there was no one in the world who had faith worthy to receive salvation until Christ came again. It was because after the ascension of Christ, the world was filled with lawlessness sown by Satan and the truth disappeared (Mt 13:24–43; Da 7:25). That is why Christ comes again to this faithless world and gather God’s people to Zion, leading them with the truth of salvation. All humanity must receive Second Coming Christ, who appears in the last days, and follow His guidance to Zion. Only then can they have faith worthy of salvation when God comes in blazing fire as the Last Judge.