Overview
The return of Jesus Christ is a cornerstone doctrine affirmed throughout the New Testament. Christ ascended to heaven after His resurrection and will literally return to complete God's redemptive plan, judge all humanity, and transform creation itself.
Key Scriptures
"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, ESV).
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, ESV).
"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him" (Revelation 1:7, ESV).
Application
Believing in Christ's imminent return should motivate holy living, urgent evangelism, and patient endurance through present suffering.