Jesus Will Return Again: 10 Reasons to Believe
- Pr Enos Mwakalindile
- Aug 6
- 6 min read
Is this a real hope or just a religious dream?
Faith Built on Truth – For Christ, Through Scripture, For Life
Introduction
Humanity aches for justice. We see wars and brokenness, and deep inside we cry out, “This is not the way it’s supposed to be!” For centuries, prophets, poets, and everyday people have longed for the day when God will set everything right. The Christian claim is staggering: Jesus, who died and rose again, will return to make all things new.
Is that naïve optimism? A religious daydream to soothe fearful hearts? Or is it a hope rooted in history, Scripture, and the living Christ? Here are ten reasons to believe that Jesus will indeed return—reasons that invite not just debate, but transformation of how we live today.
1. Jesus Himself Promised His Return
On the night of betrayal, knowing the cross was hours away, Jesus said: “I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:3). This wasn’t a vague statement about “spiritual comfort.” It was a concrete promise within Israel’s story of covenant faithfulness, where God always comes back for His people (Exodus 6:7; Hosea 2:19-20). Jesus claimed to be the climactic fulfillment of that pattern—the God who rescues.
He had no earthly reason to make such a bold promise—He was heading into death itself. Yet He spoke with confidence because His life, death, and resurrection were all part of God’s unstoppable new creation project. His return is not an optional add-on to Christian faith; it is central to the gospel story itself (Matthew 24:30-31).
Think of someone whose word you trust because you’ve seen them keep every promise. That’s Jesus. His life of sacrificial love, His miracles of compassion, and ultimately His resurrection are the track record that makes His promise credible. If He was faithful in dying for us, we can trust Him to return for us.
2. The Resurrection Guarantees His Return
Paul writes, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). In the agricultural world of Paul’s day, firstfruits were the initial crop that guaranteed the rest of the harvest was coming. The resurrection is not an isolated miracle; it is the beginning of God’s restoration of the entire cosmos (Romans 8:19-23).
Jesus’ resurrection was bodily, physical, and witnessed by hundreds (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). If death couldn’t stop Him, then His promise to return and complete what He started is ironclad. This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s like seeing the sun rise and knowing the day has already begun.
Think of early spring: one flower pushes through the snow, signaling the thaw is here. You don’t doubt the rest of spring is coming—you’ve seen the evidence. Jesus’ resurrection is that first flower. His return is the full bloom of God’s garden.
3. The Kingdom Vision Remains Incomplete
When Jesus walked the earth, He announced, “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). He healed the sick, forgave sinners, confronted injustice, and welcomed outcasts. Yet clearly, the world is not yet what God intended. Poverty, violence, and death still ravage creation. Jesus’ first coming launched the kingdom; His second coming will bring it to full completion (Revelation 11:15).
It’s like a builder who lays a firm foundation, framing a beautiful house, then steps away to gather final resources. Would you assume the project is abandoned? No—you’d expect completion. Jesus’ death and resurrection laid the foundation for God’s new world; His return finishes the job.
4. The Early Church Lived in Expectation
From the moment Jesus ascended, His followers lived with eager anticipation: “This same Jesus… will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). This expectation didn’t make them disengage from life; it propelled them into radical love, justice, and mission.
Like sailors navigating by the North Star, they oriented everything toward that future. They sacrificed comfort, faced persecution, and crossed cultural barriers because they believed history was headed toward a day when Jesus would rule in perfect justice. Their lives show that this hope is not a dream for escapists—it is a compass for courageous living now.
5. The Prophets Spoke of a Final Day
Long before Jesus, the Hebrew prophets spoke of “the Day of the Lord” when God would judge evil and renew creation (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:9). Jesus rooted His teaching in this prophetic hope, but centered it on Himself as the Son of Man who would come on the clouds of heaven (Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30).
Think of reading an unfinished symphony score, its final notes missing, only to hear the composer say, “I will return and play the rest.” The prophets gave us the theme; Jesus promises the crescendo. His return isn’t a new idea—it is the final movement of a song already begun.
6. The World Cries Out for Justice
Even those who reject faith still cry, “Things are not how they should be.” Wars devastate nations, ecosystems collapse, and communities fracture. Scripture tells us even creation itself “groans” for redemption (Romans 8:22). The return of Jesus is God’s ultimate answer to that universal ache for justice and peace.
It’s like children crying out when a absent parent is away and the house descends into chaos. Eventually, the parent steps back in, restoring order and healing wounds. Jesus’ return is not about punishing the world but about putting it right—about wiping away tears and ending oppression.
7. The Holy Spirit Is a Down Payment
Paul calls the Holy Spirit “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Believers already experience a foretaste of God’s coming world—the Spirit who comforts, empowers, and transforms us now is proof of what’s ahead.
It’s like an engagement ring—it doesn’t just symbolize love; it promises a wedding. The Spirit’s presence is God’s engagement ring to His people, signaling that the final celebration—the return of Christ and the marriage of heaven and earth—is on the way.
8. History Shows God’s Faithfulness
The God of Scripture has a flawless track record of keeping His promises. He told Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved but then delivered (Genesis 15:13-14)—and centuries later, Israel did indeed descend into Egypt and was dramatically rescued through the Exodus (Exodus 12:31-42). He promised to gather His scattered people from exile, and Israel returned from Babylon just as foretold (Ezra 1:1-4). The prophets envisioned a renewed covenant with hearts transformed and the gift of God’s own Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-29), and this promise was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Spirit came not only to Israel but also to people from all nations (Acts 2:1-11).
If God has consistently delivered on promises through centuries of world history—rescue from slavery, regathering of exiles, renewal of the covenant, and the gift of the Spirit—why should we doubt His promise about Christ’s return? It’s like trusting a guide who has already led you safely through every dangerous path. If He has never failed, why question His next promise?
9. The Return of Jesus Brings Ultimate Healing
The end goal of Jesus’ return is not to whisk souls to a disembodied heaven but to heal the whole creation: “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:5). This means bodies healed, relationships restored, and creation renewed.
It’s like watching a master artist restoring a vandalized masterpiece. Each stroke removes damage, revealing the intended beauty. Jesus’ return is the final stroke that will unveil God’s masterpiece—the union of heaven and earth.
10. Hope Shapes How We Live Now
This hope is not about passive waiting but active transformation. Paul writes that we “say ‘No’ to ungodliness… while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of… Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). Hope trains us for love, service, and courage because we know where the story is going.
Think of an athlete who trains differently when a championship is ahead. The hope of Jesus’ return inspires integrity in business, patience in suffering, and generosity toward others. Our lives now become a preview of His kingdom.
Conclusion
These ten reasons are not religious wishful thinking. They are rooted in Scripture, anchored in the historical resurrection, and confirmed by the Spirit’s presence among us. Jesus’ return is not an optional doctrine—it is the climax of the gospel itself.
The question is no longer only theological; it is deeply personal: Will you live as though history is random, or will you trust the One who holds it and promises to finish it?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You promised to return and make all things new. Teach us to live with hope and love, to wait not passively but faithfully. Fill us with Your Spirit to reflect Your kingdom now and to long for Your appearing. Amen.
Next Steps
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