Second Coming of Christ
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—the promised return of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. Jesus repeatedly called his disciples to watchfulness because the day and hour are not disclosed (Matt. 24:42-44; 25:13; Luke 17:30). At the Ascension the angels declared that the same Jesus who had been taken into heaven would come in the same manner as the apostles had seen him go (Acts 1:11). His first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and service; at his return the Son of Man will come in glory with his angels, gather his people, expose evil, raise the dead, and judge the world (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).