What Happens When Jesus Comes?

When the Scripture says the coming of the Lord is near, we must understand near in relation to the entire scope of all the ages. Many ages have past since the creation of man. The age in which you and I live is referred to as "The ends of the ages" (1 Cor. 10:11), “The consummation of the ages" (Heb. 9:26), and the "last hour" (1 John 2:18). It’s also referred to many times in Scripture as the last days. In other words, it's almost over for mankind here on this sin cursed earth. When compared to all time, His coming is near! James says believers are to live with "Patience." “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7).

Why? What’s going to happen when the Lord comes?

1. He’s coming with all His saints who are now in heaven (1 Thess. 3:13).

2. He’s coming with an angelic shout and a trumpet call. The bodies of the saints will rise first. It’s called the resurrection. Then the living saints will then be changed and up they will go (1 Thess. 4:16-17). All this takes place in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52).

3. Not just believers, but all unbelievers will also rise at the coming of the Lord (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-32).

4. The lawless one will also be killed by the appearance of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8).

5. The earth and all its works will be burned up and melt with fervent heat. The context of this passage is the second coming of our Lord (2 Peter 3:9-11). He's not slow concerning His promise to come.

6. The angels also come with the Lord, then judgment day occurs for all mankind. All peoples are placed into their eternal dwelling place – the lake of fire, or heaven (Matt. 25:46).

Matt 25:31-32
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him;

All the preceding occurs at the second coming of Christ.

In other words, the ages will culminate, the ages will end at the second coming of Jesus Christ. We now live in the last days. How then should we now live?

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (1 John 2:28).