In Christian theology, such as the Nicene Creed, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus from Heaven to earth, an event to fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy, such as the general resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment of the dead and the living and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth (also called the "Reign of God"), including the Messianic Age. Views about the nature of this return vary among Christian denominations with some Christians claiming it has already taken place.

The original Greek of the New Testament uses the term parousia (παρουσία from the Greek literal meaning of parousia: presence or arrival, derived from 'para-': beside, beyond, and 'ousia': substance) the "appearance and subsequent presence with" (in the ancient world referring to official visits by royalty). The Second Coming is also referred to as the Second Advent, from the Latin term "adventus", for "coming". Teachings about the last days comprise Christian eschatology.

Terminology

Christians use a range of names for this concept of Jesus Christ's second coming or return, drawing on a range of Biblical images. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on General Judgment:

The phrase Second Coming is not used in the Bible. It comes from the life or incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth as being his first coming to earth. Some Christians refer to the Second Coming as the last coming because of scripture referring to him as being the "First and the Last", "The Beginning and End", "The Alpha to Omega". and others do not define it by number, highlighting Christ's coming as an ongoing process.

The Greek word parousia is used in the Bible 24 times. The Thayer's Lexicon definition gives the first meaning as presence, and includes this information: "In the N.T. especially of the advent, i.e., the future, visible, return from heaven of Jesus, the Messiah, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God." According to the Bauer lexicon: "of Christ, and nearly always of his Messianic Advent in glory to judge the world at the end of this age."

The Bible itself lends understanding to the meaning of parousia at 2 Corinthians 10:10, where the writer Paul uses parousia to describe his being with the believers in Corinth:

"For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." (King James Version)

Jesus Christ, the Son of Man

In the Bible, the synoptic Gospels contain several examples of Jesus referring to himself as the Son of Man or talking about the climactic role of the Son of Man coming (often in "glory" or in "his kingdom") and Jesus' own impending suffering and execution, and similar persecution of his disciples: , , , , , ; the apocalyptic chapters set on the Mount of Olives called the Olivet discourse ( , , ) and The Sheep and the Goats or "Judgement of the Nations" ( ); and again when he was on trial before the Jewish high priests ( , ); and the "Twelve thrones of judgment" ( , ). Most scholars interpret Jesus' use of the title Son of Man as self referential – applying to himself a significant messianic image from the apocalyptic sections of the book of Daniel, see also Daniel 7. refers to a "human one" who will come on the clouds in "glory" and in "his kingdom" and be given dominion to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. This is presented as the eschaton and an end of the world: