Will Jesus return literally?
Yes. The New Testament promises that the same Jesus who ascended will return visibly and bodily, with power and great glory, to gather His people, raise the dead, judge the world, and bring the kingdom in full. Until then, we wait, watch, and work.
This question arose from studying What happens when I die? and Where is Jesus now?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
The angels promised it at the ascension
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in like manner as you saw him going into heaven: visibly, bodily, personally. The ascension was not the end of His appearing; it was the guarantee of His return.
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
The Lord Himself will descend
The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Behold, I tell 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 incorruptible, and we will be changed.
Every eye will see Him
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. His return is public, not private.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. 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.
looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
So we wait, watch, and work
Since all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, waiting for the coming of the day of God? Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Worth visiting