The Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth in two stages after His resurrection and ascension (during His first coming). The first stage is when He will return for the church during the rapture when all believers, dead and alive, will be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thess 4:16-17). The second stage is when He will return as the King of kings and Lord of lords with His saints to make war with the unbelievers that are in this world and to judge all the people of this world (Rev 19:11-16). Revelation 1:7-8 speaks of this second stage of Christ’s return. There are three points we can learn regarding Christ’s return.

(1) Christ’s Return Manifested - Christ’s return will be global and it will be so spectacular that no one can ignore it. It will not be like His first coming when no one was aware of His lowly birth in the manger, except for a few shepherds. In the second stage of Christ’s return, “every eye shall see him” (Rev 1:7a). Man will not be able to take his eyes off the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, no one can turn his back on Christ anymore. Man can choose to ignore the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but he can never ignore His judgment. Christ’s return will end the day of salvation, and start the Day of Judgment. Man is either saved in Christ and will be found in heaven; or he, lost without Christ, will be tormented in hell.

(2) Christ’s Return Responded – When we accept the true/biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be genuine and sincere. This genuineness is reflected as we interact with other people; eg: when we demonstrate patience, kindness, compassion and longsuffering towards others. Man must not procrastinate any longer. Having heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, man must respond by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ now, before He returns. As believers, we acknowledge that we are responsible for Christ’s death on the cross (“they also which pierced him,” Rev 1:7) because of our sins. We must therefore repent of our sins, and live in obedience to God’s Word, anticipating Christ’s return.

(3) Christ’s Return Guaranteed - Jesus is “Alphaand Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev 1:8). He had the first word as the Creator of all things; and He will have the last word when He returns. Only His words will stand. Man has no power over the works of God and can never change God’s will. Christ’s return is guaranteed. We must heed the warning of Christ’s return, not ignore it. Christ’s return is imminent. We must be sure of our salvation. God has given us salvation through Jesus Christ. Unbelievers must take decisive action now: believe and accept Jesus and be saved, before He returns.