Introduction

† The phrase Second Coming is deeply embedded in modern Christian language, yet the Bible never uses that exact term.
† What Scripture does speak of is the coming, the appearing, the revelation of Jesus Christ, all addressed to first century believers living in a defined historical window.
† This sermon examines whether the idea of a future Second Coming exists in Scripture, or whether the biblical language points to a fulfilled coming already accomplished within that generation.

Matthew 24:30

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

† Jesus uses Old Testament judgment language drawn from Isaiah 19:1 and Daniel 7:13, where coming on the clouds describes divine judgment, not a physical descent.
† The tribes of the earth refers to the tribes of the land of Israel, consistent with Matthew's Jewish audience and covenant context.
† This coming is tied to Jerusalem's judgment, not the end of the physical world (Matthew 24:1-3).

Matthew 24:34

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

† Jesus places a strict time limitation on His coming, defining it within that generation.
† Scripture doesn't allow this statement to be redefined without violating plain language.
† Whatever the coming is, it had to occur before that generation passed.

Acts 1:11

and they said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

† Like manner refers to covenantal authority and vindication, not physical direction or geography.
† The angels redirect the disciples away from sky watching and back to covenant mission.
† This aligns with Jesus reigning from heaven while coming in judgment through historical events (Acts 2:30-36).

Hebrews 9:26-28

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

† The end of the ages is presented as a present reality for the original audience.
† The second appearance is connected to covenantal salvation, not a global catastrophe.
† This appearance completes redemption by closing the Old Covenant age (Hebrews 8:13).

Revelation 1:7

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

† They that pierced him can only refer to first century Israel.
† This language directly echoes Matthew 24:30, confirming the same event.
† Revelation anchors the coming in the near timeframe declared at the opening of the book (Revelation 1:1, 3).

1 Peter 4:7

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

† The apostles consistently taught nearness, not delay.
† If fulfillment were thousands of years away, this language would be misleading.
† The end in view is covenantal, not cosmic.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: "Death has been swallowed up in victory.

† Paul distinguishes resurrection change from flesh and blood expectations.
† This passage addresses transformation of covenant life, not a physical descent of Christ.
† Resurrection language is never equated with cloud coming language in Scripture.

Isaiah 13:9-10

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,
Cruel, with fury and burning anger,
To make the land a desolation;
And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
For the stars of heaven and their constellations
Will not flash their light;
The sun will be dark when it rises
And the moon will not shed its light.

† This prophecy describes the fall of Babylon, not the end of the universe.
† Cosmic language is used symbolically for historical judgment.
† Jesus and the apostles reuse this established prophetic language.

Historical References

† Josephus records Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70 as divine judgment, fulfilling Jesus' warnings (Wars of the Jews, Book 6).
† Eusebius states that Christ's predictions were fulfilled in the Roman siege of Jerusalem (Ecclesiastical History 3.7).
† Lactantius spoke of judgment falling upon Jerusalem as proof of Christ's authority (Divine Institutes 4.21).

How It Applies To Us Today

† We don't live waiting for Christ to arrive, we live under His completed reign.
† Our faith rests in what He has already accomplished, not in postponed fulfillment.
† Freedom from end time fear allows us to live boldly, faithfully, and confidently in the kingdom now present.

Q & A Appendex

Q: Is the phrase Second Coming found in the Bible?
A: No. Scripture never uses the phrase Second Coming, instead it speaks of the coming or appearing of Christ within a first century timeframe.

Q: Did Jesus promise His coming within the lifetime of His audience?
A: Yes. Jesus explicitly stated that all these things would be fulfilled before that generation passed away (Matthew 24:34).

Q: Does Hebrews 9:28 teach a future return thousands of years later?
A: No. Hebrews places Christ's appearance at the end of the ages, which the writer presents as present reality for his audience (Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 8:13).

Q: Was the coming of Christ a physical descent to earth?
A: No. The coming language follows Old Testament judgment imagery describing covenantal authority and vindication, not bodily relocation.

Q: How should Acts 1:11 be understood?
A: Acts 1:11 affirms Christ's authority from heaven, not a future sky descent, and redirects believers away from sky watching and into covenant mission.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index

† Matthew 24:30, 34; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:26-28; Revelation 1:7; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Isaiah 13:9-10
† Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 6; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.7; Lactantius, Divine Institutes 4.21