Christ's Return and the Believer's Hope in Eschatology
The return of Christ, often referred to as the "second advent," is a central theme in Christian eschatology and a significant aspect of the believer's hope [2, 5]. This event is described using several Greek terms in the New Testament, including apokalupsis (revelation), parousia (presence or coming), and epiphaneia (appearing or manifestation) [2]. Early Christians held a widespread expectation of Christ's speedy return, based on passages such as Matthew 24:29-30, 34 [2].
Christian hope is fundamentally linked to this future return and the resurrection of the dead. It is considered one of the three main elements of Christian character, alongside faith and love [1]. This hope is not merely a wish but a confident anticipation rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself [4, 5]. The belief that Jesus died and was raised to life again provides the foundation for hope in the face of death, guaranteeing the resurrection of believers [4]. As 1 Corinthians 15 indicates, the resurrection of Christ is the basis for the future resurrection of those who believe [4].
The object of this hope is Christ himself, as it is through him that future blessings are anticipated [1, 5]. Believers are described as those who know their true home is in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ, leading them to focus their thoughts on heaven and Christ's return [6, 7]. This expectation is so central that it can designate the essence of Christianity itself [1]. Unbelievers, by contrast, are described as being "without this hope" [1].
The resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous is a hope held by some, as articulated in Acts 24:15 [3]. For those united with Christ, this hope includes sharing in God's glory and blessings, experiencing resurrection both in the present spiritual sense and in a future bodily sense [10]. The coming of the Lord, rather than death, is presented as the primary focus of Christian expectation [9]. The resurrection of believers is often referred to as God "bringing back" those who have died with Jesus [4, 8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation of Christ — The second advent of Christ. Three different Greek words are used by the apostles to express this, (1) apokalupsis (1 Cor. 1;7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7, 13); (2) parousia (Matt. 24:3, 27; 1 Thess. 2:19; James 5:7, 8); (3) epiphaneia (1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 4:1-8; Titus 2:13). There existed among Christians a wide expectation, founded on Matt. 24:29, 30, 34, of the speedy return of Christ. (See [533]MILLENNIUM.)”
- Acts “Acts 24:15 (Rotherham) — Having, hope, towards God, which, even these themselves, do entertain—that, a resurrection, there shall certainly be, both of righteous and of unrighteous:”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:14: 4:14 The central Christian creed, that Jesus died and was raised to life again, is the foundation for hope in the face of death, guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15). • God will bring back refers to the resurrection of believers (1 Thes 4:16).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:18: 1:18 Confident hope for believers is the anticipation of Christ’s return and his future blessings that they will share. Joined with Christ, believers become joint heirs with him of all God’s promised blessings.”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 3:20: 3:20 By contrast, believers who know their home is in heaven (see Eph 2:19) with the Lord Jesus Christ fill their minds with thoughts of heaven (see Col 3:1-2; cp. 1 Cor 15:19; 1 Pet 2:11) and Christ’s return (see 1 Cor 1:7; Titus 2:13).”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 3:20: 3:20 By contrast, believers who know their home is in heaven (see Eph 2:19) with the Lord Jesus Christ fill their minds with thoughts of heaven (see Col 3:1-2; cp. 1 Cor 15:19; 1 Pet 2:11) and Christ’s return (see 1 Cor 1:7; Titus 2:13).”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if--confirmation of his statement, Th1 4:13, that the removal of ignorance as to the sleeping believers would remove undue grief respecting them. See Th1 4:13, "hope." Hence it appears our hope rests on our faith ("if we believe"). "As surely as we all believe that Christ died and rose again (the very doctrine specified as taught at Thessalonica, Act 17:3), so also will God bring those laid to sleep by Jesus with Him (Jesus)." (So the order and balance of the members of the Greek sentence require us to translate). Believers are laid in sle”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 6:14: (Rom 8:11). raised up--rather, "raised," to distinguish it from "will raise up us"; the Greek of the latter being a compound, the former a simple verb. Believers shall be raised up out of the rest of the dead (see on Phi 3:11); the first resurrection (Rev 20:5). us--Here he speaks of the possibility of his being found in the grave when Christ comes; elsewhere, of his being possibly found alive (Th1 4:17). In either event, the Lord's coming rather than death is the great object of the Christian's expectation (Rom 8:19).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”