Jesus on Second Coming

 Would Jesus Have Approved of the Later Belief in His “Second Coming”?

The Christian doctrine of the “Second Coming of Jesus” has played a central role in Christian faith, preaching, and hope for centuries. Yet an important historical and theological question remains: Would Jesus Himself have approved of the later Christian understanding of His Second Coming?

A careful reading of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) suggests a nuanced answer. Yes, Jesus would affirm the core idea behind the Second Coming—but He might challenge many later interpretations of it.

Jesus Did Teach a Future “Coming” of the Son of Man

There is no doubt that Jesus spoke of a future coming. In the Synoptic Gospels, He repeatedly refers to “the Son of Man coming in glory” (Mark 8:38; Matthew 16:27) and “coming on the clouds” (Mark 13:26; Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27). These sayings clearly anticipate a future moment when God would vindicate Jesus, judge evil, and establish divine justice.

These teachings form the biblical foundation for what later Christians would call the Second Coming. The expectation of a future divine intervention is therefore not a later invention; it originates in Jesus’ own proclamation.

The Language Jesus Used Was Prophetic and Symbolic

However, the meaning of Jesus’ words must be understood within their Jewish prophetic context. When Jesus speaks of the Son of Man “coming on the clouds,” He is drawing directly from Daniel 7—a vision filled with symbolic imagery. In Jewish apocalyptic literature, “coming” does not necessarily mean a physical descent from the sky. Rather, it often signifies God acting decisively in history—to judge, to vindicate, and to restore justice.

Thus, Jesus’ language is theological and symbolic, not photographic or literal. The imagery points to divine authority and vindication, not to a precise description of physical movement through space.

“Coming” as the Vindication of Jesus’ Mission

Jesus frequently connects His future “coming” with the validation of His mission. A striking example occurs during His trial before the Sanhedrin, when He declares:

“You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

This statement is not primarily about a distant end-of-the-world scenario. Rather, it means: You will come to realize that God has confirmed my authority and truth. The resurrection, the spread of the Jesus movement, and the judgment on the religious establishment would all serve as evidence that Jesus was right.

Many scholars also link Jesus’ “coming” language in Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. In this interpretation, the “coming of the Son of Man” represents God’s judgment on a corrupt system and the public vindication of Jesus’ prophetic warnings. Here again, “coming” refers to God’s action within history, not necessarily the end of the physical universe.

Did Jesus Also Expect a Final, Universal Judgment?

At the same time, Jesus did teach about a future, universal judgment. Parables such as the separation of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25), His references to the “renewal of all things” (Matthew 19:28), and His emphasis on ultimate accountability all point toward a climactic completion of God’s reign.

This dimension of Jesus’ teaching aligns closely with what later Christians describe as the Second Coming: a final moment when God’s justice is fully revealed, evil is decisively overcome, and God’s kingdom is complete.

Would Jesus Approve of the Later Doctrine?

Taken together, these elements suggest that Jesus would affirm the core conviction behind the Second Coming doctrine:

God will complete His redemptive work.

Evil will not have the final word.

The Son of Man will be vindicated.

God’s kingdom will fully come.

These convictions lie at the heart of Christian hope and are deeply consistent with Jesus’ own teaching.

However, Jesus might challenge certain later developments:

Overly literal readings that imagine a physical descent through the clouds.

Attempts to calculate dates or predict timelines.

Violent or political uses of the doctrine.

Portrayals of Jesus as a conquering warrior destroying enemies by force.

Neglect of the present reality of God’s kingdom in favor of an exclusively future expectation.

Conclusion

In summary, Jesus would likely approve of the essential belief in a future “coming”, understood as God’s final act of justice, vindication, and renewal. But He would also remind His followers that this coming is best understood in prophetic, symbolic, and ethical terms, not as a literal spectacle or a tool for fear and control.

For Jesus, the “coming of the Son of Man” is less about descending from the sky and more about God setting the world right—a process that begins in history, continues in the present, and will one day be complete.