What will Jesus do upon His return?

Christ’s Triumphant Return: A Comprehensive Overview

Below is a thorough entry addressing the question: “What will Jesus do upon His return?” Drawing on the consistent testimony of Scripture, archaeological findings, manuscript evidence, and corroborating sources, it offers a multidimensional view of the future events promised by the biblical text.

1. He Will Appear with Power and Glory

The Scriptural foundation for the return of Jesus indicates a public, unmistakable event. Matthew 24:30–31 declares, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

This promise affirms that His coming is neither symbolic nor hidden. Early church writings, such as those found in the Apostolic Fathers, confirm an elevated expectation of a literal, visible return of Christ to bring both judgment and restoration. Archaeological confirmations of early Christian inscriptions (for instance, those referencing Christ’s return found in catacomb art in Rome) support the reality that believers consistently anticipated His visible and glorious second advent from the earliest centuries.

2. He Will Gather His People

Scripture portrays Jesus as gathering believers to Himself at His return. First Thessalonians 4:16–17 states, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God…And the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

This gathering underscores the close relationship Christ has with His redeemed people. It connects directly with the idea that all who place their faith in Him share in the promise of transformation and eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). Early manuscript evidence, such as the Chester Beatty Papyri and Codex Vaticanus, preserves these passages reliably, attesting to minimal textual variation and confirming that Christ’s gathering of His people is an unbroken teaching from the earliest Christian sources.

3. He Will Judge the Nations

Jesus’s return includes His role as ultimate judge. Acts 17:31 affirms, “For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed.” Matthew 25:31–32 further declares, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him…”

This will be a day of final reckoning. Both believers and unbelievers will answer for their deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10). While every individual’s eternal destiny is determined by faith in Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:16–18), believers will stand before Christ’s judgment seat to receive rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12–15), and all who rejected Him will face ultimate separation (Matthew 25:46). Historical writings of the early church, such as those by Justin Martyr and Tertullian, reference an expected universal judgment by Christ, underscoring that Christians, from the earliest times, regarded Jesus as more than a mere teacher—He is the appointed final Judge of humanity.

4. He Will Restore Creation and Vanquish Evil

Upon Christ’s return, evil will be finally vanquished, and creation itself will experience renewal. Revelation 19:11–16 depicts Christ bringing victory over evil forces: “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God…He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” This imagery demonstrates His authority to defeat the powers of darkness.

After this triumph, Satan will face ultimate judgment (Revelation 20:10). Geological and historical evidences for a worldwide catastrophic flood—seen in fossils found on mountain ranges (consistent with the Global Flood narrative of Genesis)—point to God’s historic intervention in judgment and foreshadow the future full restoration. This resonates with the Scriptural theme of divine authority over creation.

5. He Will Usher in the Resurrection and Transformation of Believers

Scripture proclaims that believers will experience bodily resurrection at Christ’s return. First Corinthians 15:52–53 states, “…the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” This transformation addresses humanity’s deepest longing for redemption and eternal life.

From a behavioral science perspective, this hope has profoundly shaped moral outlook and resilience among Christian communities throughout history. Multiple extra-biblical accounts, including testimonies from early martyrs, highlight how belief in the resurrection emboldened them to remain steadfast in their faith.

6. He Will Establish His Kingdom

Biblical passages point to Christ’s reign of peace and righteousness. Revelation 20:4 says, “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Many interpreters understand this as a literal millennium (a thousand-year period), although Christian traditions vary on specifics regarding the timeline.

Evidence for the reliability of the Book of Revelation—found in early Greek manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus—reinforces that believers have from antiquity taken seriously the promise of Christ’s physical rule and the renewal of this world under His authority. This kingdom is characterized by the absence of injustice, complete alignment with God’s will, and the fulfillment of prophecies such as Isaiah 2:4: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

7. He Will Bring About the New Heavens and New Earth

After the final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15), Scripture anticipates a renewed cosmic order. Second Peter 3:13 declares, “But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” Revelation 21:1 echoes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away…”

This new creation demonstrates the culmination of God’s redemptive plan that began in Genesis 1:1. The same God who created life and designed the universe with intricate order, as modern intelligent design arguments propose, will recreate a perfect environment free from death, suffering, and sin. Biblical archaeology—through the discovery of ancient Hebrew texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls—confirms the longstanding Jewish hope for a restored cosmos, a concept the early church also embraced.

8. He Will Fulfill All Messianic Prophecy

Every promise regarding the Messiah’s triumph is realized at His return. Zechariah 14:4 speaks of the Messiah standing on the Mount of Olives, signifying a climactic moment of deliverance and sovereignty. Christ’s first coming fulfilled numerous prophecies (e.g., Psalm 22, Isaiah 53), and manuscript evidence—upheld by scholars like those specializing in textual criticism—demonstrates the remarkable consistency of these prophecies preserved across centuries.

At His second coming, remaining prophecies—such as the complete restoration of Israel and the gathering of the faithful—find their ultimate completion (Romans 11:25–27). Historical data on the early use of the Old Testament in synagogues, combined with Christian appropriation of the same texts, reinforce how seamlessly these prophecies align. The interpretive tradition from the earliest believers positions Christ as the direct fulfillment, with His return capping off every pending biblical promise.

9. He Will Invite Humanity into Eternal Fellowship with God

Finally, those who trust in Christ will dwell eternally with Him in unmarred fellowship. Revelation 21:3–4 reflects, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man…He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…for the former things have passed away.’” This eternal state fulfills humanity’s deepest longing: to be in unhindered relationship with the Creator.

The reliability of Scripture’s record of Christ’s resurrection (documented by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, and historically argued by noted students of resurrection studies) undergirds the promise of eternal fellowship. The same manuscripts that attest to the empty tomb also testify to the future hope of Christ’s return. In philosophical and behavioral terms, this creates a transformative worldview where meaning, purpose, and eternal hope converge in Christ.

Conclusion

Upon His return, Jesus will come in visible power and glory, gather His people, judge the nations, vanquish evil, usher in the resurrection and transformation of believers, establish His righteous kingdom, fulfill all messianic prophecies, and ultimately bring those who have faith in Him into an everlasting fellowship. Archaeological discoveries, manuscript consistency, and historical testimony all support the trustworthiness of these promises. This future event, rooted firmly in Scripture, remains the defining hope of the faithful, inspiring worship, moral living, and enduring expectation until the moment He appears.