The Second Coming in the NT

  1. Matt. 16:27
  2. Matt. 19:28
  3. Matt. 23:39
  4. Matt. 24-25
  5. Matt. 26:64
  6. Mark 8:38
  7. Mark 13:1-37
  8. Mark 14:62
  9. Luke 12:35-48
  10. Luke 17:20-37
  11. Luke 18:8
  12. Luke 19:13
  13. Luke 21:5-36
  14. Luke 22:69
  15. John 14:1-3
  16. John 21:22
  17. Acts 1:11
  18. Acts 3:20
  19. 1 Cor. 1:7
  20. 1 Cor. 4:5
  21. 1 Cor. 11:26
  22. 1 Cor. 15:23
  23. Phil. 3:20-21
  24. Col. 3:4
  25. 1 Thess. 1:10
  26. 1 Thess. 2:19
  27. 1 Thess. 3:13
  28. 1 Thess. 4:13-18
  29. 1 Thess. 5:2-9
  30. 1 Thess. 5:23
  31. 2 Thess. 1:7-10
  32. 2 Thess. 2:1-12
  33. 1 Tim. 6:14
  34. 2 Tim. 4:1, 8
  35. Tit. 2:13
  36. Heb. 9:28
  37. Heb. 10:25, 37
  38. James 5:7-8
  39. 1 Pet. 1:7, 13
  40. 1 Pet. 4:13
  41. 1 Pet. 5:4
  42. 2 Pet. 1:16
  43. 2 Pet. 3:1-15
  44. 1 John 2:28
  45. 1 John 3:2
  46. Jude 14
  47. Rev. 1:7-8
  48. Rev. 2:25
  49. Rev. 3:3
  50. Rev. 3:11
  51. Rev. 16:15
  52. Rev. 19:11-21
  53. Rev. 22:12
  54. Rev. 22:20

Observations about the New Testament’s usage of the Second Coming

This doctrine is emphasized by its frequency.

  1. Genre: The Second Coming is mentioned in each of the 4 kinds of literature in the NT.
  2. Author: The Second Coming is mentioned by all 8 of the authors of the NT. Since the atonement in its broadest sense is actually not mentioned in James or Jude, the Second Coming is more common among the NT authors than even atonement.
  3. Verses: The Second Coming is mentioned in roughly 50 individual passages, approximately 300 verses. 35 entire books of the Bible have fewer than 300 verses.

This doctrine is emphasized by being recorded at length numerous times.

  1. The Olivet Discourse (recorded three times)
  2. Luke 12 and 17 record two other extended teachings of Jesus on the Second Coming
  3. Paul’s treatment in 2 Thess. 1-2
  4. Peter’s explanation in 2 Peter 3:1-15
  5. John’s record of the Second Coming in Rev. 19:11-21
  6. Not many other doctrines or events are treated at such length—Atonement, justification by faith, and the deity of Christ perhaps.

This doctrine is emphasized by its placement in Scripture.

  1. A few days before our Lord’s death, the night before our Lord’s death, and during the trial of our Lord, apparently because He thought of this doctrine in close connection to His own death.
  2. In each of the pastoral epistles, apparently so that pastors would remember it.
  3. Closely connected to discussions of false teachers in 2 Peter, 1 John, and Jude, apparently because this is a doctrine commonly distorted and of importance.
  4. At the very end of the Bible, apparently because it culminates the story.

The nature of the doctrine itself demands a special priority for the Second Coming.

  1. It is the end of the Story of the NT.
  2. It is the appearance of the believer’s Highest Hope and Greatest Happiness.
  3. It is the beginning of the final judgments.

The modern church speaks relatively rarely about the Second Coming.

Useful and practical applications are directly connected to this doctrine.

  1. Be ready for judgment.
  2. Hope in hard times.

Conclusion

If we honestly review our hearts, our reflections, our prayers, and the sermons we have heard, we may find a great difference between the emphasis of the NT and our own practice.

The Second Coming is a particularly emphasized, important, and useful doctrine of the NT.

(This article was first published on Seth’s blog, Son of Carey).