The Angels Teach About the Second Coming

Even the angels testified to a literal Second Coming of Christ on the clouds in glory, just as Daniel spoke about (Dan 7:13). After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared among his Disciples and taught them more about the Kingdom of God. And at the last they gathered around him as he ascended into heaven.

“6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the needs of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him form their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken form you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11, NIV)

!3 In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 he was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Dan 7:13-14, NIV)

As Jesus is literally taken up into Heaven in a cloud tow angels appear and tell the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way. The angels do not say Jesus will return in an allegorical way, rising up spiritually in the hearts of new believers in every generation, influencing world leaders through the philosophies and values of Christianity, nor in working through governments throughout history to bring about a fairer and more just world. No, the return of Christ is a literal single event. A singularity that will occur in the future.

Like Jesus, Paul, and Peter, the angels speak of specific literal events to take place in the future, not of secret allegorical teachings about an inner experience in new believers, nor in events that repeat throughout history.

Like Jesus, Paul, and Peter, the angels speak of specific literal events to take place in the future, not of secret allegorical teachings about an inner experience in new believers, nor in events that repeat throughout history. The apostle’s creed bears witness to this, for “We believe that Jesus will return to Judge the living and the dead” and “We believe in the resurrection of the body and in the life everlasting.” The Bible, and even early church tradition, views the Hebrew Bible prophecies as describing literal events of the future, not as already fulfilled events of the past, and not as allegories of secret hidden spiritual meanings for all believers in all generations throughout history.