When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples were told that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Only the Father knows the “day and hour” of Jesus’ return. It will be “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west.” His return will be swift and unmistakable.

Christ is “risen from the dead” and has “become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Those “that slept” are identified as those “in Christ” and as “they that are Christ's.” When he returns to raise the dead, “then cometh the end” when “He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.” He shall reign until he has “put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Death shall not be victorious nor stop the Lord from divinely quickening the last heir of promise. Until then, Jesus reigns.

Jesus shall make only two bodily appearances to earth. His first appearing came “in the end of the world…to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” He now appears “in the presence of God for us” in Heaven where “he ever liveth to make intercession for us.” When “he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father,” then he “shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Anyone who hungers and thirsts after righteousness shows that they have been drawn to Him, and Jesus “will raise him up at the last day.” The last day is when this material world “shall be burned up.” None of His people shall perish or be lost for “the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish…” All that the Father gave Him, he shall not lose one but raise them up “at the last day.”

When He returns the second time, then shall be “the resurrection at the last day.” On that day, “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” Not only will the righteous be raised up the last day, but the wicked, too. The last day is when Jesus shall return to raise “the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

On the last day, Jesus “shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them.” The Lord shall not step foot upon the earth when he appears the second time. All the righteous shall meet the Lord in the air and “so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The Lord reigns now. He awaits the last day when He shall return to earth to raise the dead, both the just and unjust. The unjust shall be consigned to the place of everlasting woe and misery. The righteous shall be brought to live forever in Heaven where they shall live in peace forever more.