Believers still await the glory of Christ’s Second Coming. While it is hard to put into words what His glory will be like, the Bible gives powerful impressions of it. It will be marked by the following.

Splendor⤒🔗

Mary was told that the Child born would be great, and called the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32). But instead of being born in a palace, He was born in a stable, laid in a feeding trough. In His first coming, His glory was veiled, but in His second, His glory will be veiled no longer.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him...Matt. 25:31

At times His glory was unveiled (e.g., Matt. 17:2). When John, the apostle who had leaned on His bosom, saw Christ in His glory, he fell at His feet as dead. What glory! You can understand that a believer in light of such splendor needs to hear, “Fear not” (Rev. 1:17).

A Shout←⤒🔗

Upon being born in Bethlehem, there must have been cries and whimpers heard from His mouth, as when any baby is born. But in His Second Coming, He “shall descend from heaven with a shout” (1 Thess. 4:16). With this shout He will summon the dead to rise. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth”; likewise, on the last day, “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God” (John 5:25). What a wake-up call that will be!

Separation←⤒🔗

He will not need to win the approval of men to judge.

When He comes, 'then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from his goats.'Matt. 25:32

Sheep and goats may intermingle for awhile, but a time comes when the shepherd separates them. Christ’s sheep will hear, “Come, ye blessed” (Matt. 25:34). The goats will hear, “Depart, ye cursed” (Matt. 25:41). This is reason enough to make your calling and election sure, isn’t it?

Supping←⤒🔗

During His earthly ministry, He had times when He fasted (Matt. 4:2), and thirsted (John 19:28). But at His Second Coming, He will sup with His people at the marriage sup­per of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). This feast will be without the presence of enemies (Ps. 23:5). His soul will not be troubled, as it was during the Last Supper (John 12:27), but in peace He will commune with His people. This is what makes His people long for His coming. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of ... our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). He will not just stay for a short time, but truly abide with His people (Luke 24:29).

These truths of Christ’s Second Coming offer:

1. Comfort for the sorrowing←↰⤒🔗

Christ’s people live in a hostile world. They are assaulted not only from the outside world, but also from within (their evil hearts). They grieve that they are not what they want to be, especially when they walk so far from the Lord and miss His communion. But this will not always be. When He comes, their sinning, suffering, and sorrow will all come to an end (Rev. 21:1-8).

2. Call to the saints←↰⤒🔗

God’s children should not be so bound to this earth. Our tent pegs must not be in too deep. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth ... Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). How else will she be a longing bride if she is flirting with other suitors?

3. Conviction for the sinner←↰⤒🔗

The hour is coming when Christ will return from heaven “in flaming fire tak­ing vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8). Sitting under the gospel is not enough. Postponing your repentance will not do. Those who remain as they are born will hear, “Depart, ye cursed.” But today He does not say that. Today, He still says, “Come, let us reason together.”