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The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Christ First And Second Coming

Early Christians widely taught that Christ has two comings: first in humility, suffering, and obscurity, and later in glory, power, and judgment. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Lactantius, and Cyprian all repeat this pattern, often linking it to prophecy and to passages like Matthew 24:30, Mark 14:62, 1 Thessalonians 2:1, Hebrews 9:28, and Revelation 1:7.

Their agreement is broad and strong across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, even though some writers focus more on the first coming and others more on the return. The main evidence is direct and consistent, and the weakest cards are mostly simple Bible cross-references or titles with little extra teaching. A few cards about Advent language or liturgical wording are secondary, but they still fit the same basic two-coming belief.

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Key Passages

Jump into the first references before scanning the full Scripture map.

How to Study Christ First And Second Coming

A tighter path from the primary text into context and application.

Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
Trace the apostolic pattern Compare how the apostles preached, practiced, warned, and applied this topic in the churches.
Connect to witness and formation Use early Christian sources, courses, lessons, and discussion questions only after the Bible map is clear.
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Scripture Map

Grouped passages make the topic easier to scan, compare, and teach.

28 references

Supporting Passages

Luke 21:27 primary

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Son of man in cloud

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Incarnation passage supporting the first coming

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Coming in glory with angels

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Son of man in glory

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Clouds and glory

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Second appearing passage

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Glorified in saints

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Glory revealed background

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Humble king background

And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Glory from the east background

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Son of man coming

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Blessed hope passage

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Coming with clouds and mourning

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Coming of Christ passage

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Supports the lightning-like coming motif

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Antichrist coming passage

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Christ must suffer and rise

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Appearing and coming

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi background for coming

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Elijah comes first background

And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.