Second Coming

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The concept of the "second coming" is primarily a New Testament idea associated with the return of Jesus Christ. However, the Old Testament contains several prophetic verses that Christians interpret as references to the Messiah's coming, some of which they believe have a dual fulfillment—pertaining both to the first and second comings of Christ. Here are a few key verses from the Old Testament that are often cited in this context:

1. Isaiah 11:1-10

   • Verses 1-5: "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist."

   • Verses 6-10: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious."

2. Zechariah 14:4

   • "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south."

3. Daniel 7:13-14

   • "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. 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."

4. Malachi 4:2-3

   • "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty."

These verses, among others, are interpreted by Christians as foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah and, by extension, his second coming.

The Old Testament does not explicitly mention Jesus by name since it was written long before the time of Jesus. However, some verses in the Old Testament are interpreted by certain religious traditions as emphasizing the oneness and uniqueness of God, which can be used to argue against the idea of Jesus being divine according to their interpretations. Here are a few such verses:

1. Deuteronomy 6:4

   • "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

2. Isaiah 43:10-11

   • "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior."

3. Isaiah 44:6

   • "This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God."

4. Isaiah 45:5-6

   • "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other."

5. Isaiah 46:9

   • "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me."

6. Hosea 13:4

   • "But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me."

These verses emphasize the singular nature of God according to the Hebrew Bible. The interpretation of these verses varies among different religious traditions, and the understanding of Jesus's divinity is a matter of theological belief that differs between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

In the Old Testament, various verses describe beasts or evil entities, often using symbolic language. Here are some notable examples:

1. Genesis 3:1 - The serpent in the Garden of Eden:

   • “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”’”

2. Job 41:1-34 - The description of Leviathan, a formidable sea creature:

   • “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? … His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. … Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. … On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear.”

3. Daniel 7:3-7 - Daniel’s vision of four great beasts:

   • “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. … The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings … And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear … After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl … After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly.”

4. Isaiah 27:1 - The Leviathan as a symbol of evil:

   • “In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”

5. Revelation 13:1-2 - While not Old Testament, this verse is often linked with Old Testament imagery:

   • “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion.”

These passages use metaphorical and symbolic language to depict evil or powerful entities, often representing chaos or opposition to divine order.

The New Testament contains several references to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Here are some key verses:

1. Matthew 24:30-31

   • "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send 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."

2. Acts 1:10-11

   • "They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'"

3. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

   • "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

4. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

   • "This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you."

5. Revelation 1:7

   • "Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen."

6. Revelation 19:11-16

   • "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

7. Matthew 25:31-32

   • "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, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."

These passages provide a vivid portrayal of the second coming of Christ and its significance in Christian eschatology.

The New Testament primarily contains texts that affirm the divinity of Jesus, especially in the writings of Paul and the Gospel of John. However, some verses emphasize Jesus's humanity, his role as a servant, and his relationship with God the Father, which can be interpreted by some as indicating that Jesus is distinct from God. Here are a few such verses:

1. Matthew 24:36

   • "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

2. Mark 10:18

   • "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone."

3. John 14:28

   • "You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

4. John 17:3

   • "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

5. 1 Corinthians 8:6

   • "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

6. 1 Timothy 2:5

   • "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."

7. Acts 2:22

   • "Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."

8. Philippians 2:5-7

   • "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

These verses emphasize Jesus's distinctiveness from God the Father, his humility, and his role as a servant. Interpretations of these verses vary widely among different Christian denominations and theological perspectives. Some see these verses as emphasizing Jesus's humanity and his relationship with God the Father, while others interpret them within the context of the Trinity, where Jesus is fully divine and fully human.

In the New Testament, several verses describe evil entities or beasts, often with symbolic or apocalyptic significance. Here are some key examples:

1. Matthew 7:15 - Jesus warns about false prophets:

   • “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

2. Matthew 12:43-45 - Jesus describes an unclean spirit:

   • “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

3. Revelation 12:3-4 - The vision of the dragon:

   • “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.”

4. Revelation 13:1-10 - The beast from the sea:

   • “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion …”

5. Revelation 20:10 - The final defeat of Satan:

   • “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

These verses use rich imagery and symbolism to represent various forms of evil, including false teachings, demonic forces, and apocalyptic beasts.

The Quran contains references to the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah) and the events associated with it, including the return of Isa (Jesus) as a significant eschatological figure. While the Quran does not detail the "second coming" in the same way the New Testament does, several verses allude to the return of Jesus and the final judgment. Here are some key verses:

1. Surah An-Nisa (4:157-159)

   • "And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in Jesus before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be against them a witness."

2. Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:61)

   • "And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path."

3. Surah Al-Imran (3:55)

   • "[Mention] when Allah said, 'O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'"

4. Surah Al-Imran (3:45-48)

   • "When the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah]. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous.' She said, 'My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?' [The angel] said, 'Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel.'"

These verses indicate the belief in Jesus's significance and his return before the Day of Judgment in Islamic eschatology. The details and interpretations of these events vary among Islamic scholars and traditions.

The Quran explicitly states that Jesus (Isa in Arabic) is not God, emphasizing his prophethood and humanity. Here are several key verses from the Quran that address this:

1. Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:72)

   • "They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary' while the Messiah has said, 'O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' Indeed, he who associates others with Allah—Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers."

2. Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:75)

   • "The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded."

3. Surah An-Nisa (4:171)

   • "O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist—it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs."

4. Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:116)

   • "And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, 'O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, "Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?"' He will say, 'Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.'"

5. Surah Maryam (19:30-35)

   • "[Jesus] said, 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.' That is Jesus, the son of Mary—the word of truth about which they are in dispute. It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is."

These verses emphasize the Islamic view that Jesus is a prophet and messenger, not divine, and affirm the oneness of God (Tawhid).

In the Quran, there are several verses that refer to evil beings, entities, or concepts, but the term "beast" is not typically used in the same symbolic or metaphorical way as in the Bible. Here are some key verses related to evil:

1. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:168 - Warning against following Satan:

   • “O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth, [that is] lawful and good, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”

2. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:275 - Those who consume usury (interest) are likened to those possessed by Satan:

   • “Those who eat ribā (usury) will not stand except as stand one whom the Devil has driven to madness [or insanity] by [his] touch. That is because they say, ‘Trade is just like usury,’ but Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair is with Allah. But whoever returns [to dealing in ribā] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.”

3. Surah Al-Anfal 8:48 - The devil's attempts to deceive:

   • “And [remember] when Satan made their deeds seem attractive to them and said, ‘No one among the people will overcome you today, and verily I am your neighbor.’ But when the two armies saw each other, he fled on his heels and said, ‘I am innocent of you. Indeed, I see what you do not see. Indeed I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in penalty.’”

4. Surah Al-Hijr 15:39-40 - Iblis (Satan) refusing to bow:

   • “Iblis (Satan) said, ‘My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.’”

5. Surah An-Nas 114:4-6 - Seeking refuge from the evil whisperer:

   • “From the evil of the retreating whisperer - who whispers evil in the breasts of mankind - Of jinn and mankind.”

These verses address various aspects of evil, including the actions and influences of Satan (Iblis), the nature of sin, and the importance of avoiding deception and wrongdoing.

Buddhist scriptures do not specifically refer to a "second coming" in the same way as in Christianity or Islam. However, there is a concept of a future Buddha, named Maitreya, who is prophesied to come in the future. Maitreya will appear when the teachings of the current Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), have been forgotten by most people. Here are some references to Maitreya from Buddhist scriptures:

1. Digha Nikaya 26 (Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta)

   • "And in that time of those people, this world will be accessible, and there will appear a Blessed Lord, an Arahant fully-enlightened Buddha, named Metteyya (Maitreya), endowed with wisdom and conduct, a knower of the worlds, incomparable leader of men to be tamed, a teacher of gods and humans, enlightened and blessed, just as I am now."

2. Anagatavamsa

   • This is a Pali text specifically about the future Buddha Maitreya. It describes Maitreya's life and the conditions of the world at the time of his coming.

   • "At that time the ocean will be transparent and clear as a mirror. Then the mighty city of Ketumatī will be filled with people as a mound of sesame seeds is filled with sesame seeds. Then Metteya Buddha will arise in the world."

3. The Mahāvastu (Great Story)

   • This is a text of the Lokottaravāda school of early Buddhism. It contains prophecies about Maitreya.

   • "The Blessed One said: 'I am not the only one who is a protector of beings. In the future, another Tathagata, named Maitreya, will arise in the world, a fully awakened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, well-gone, knower of the world, an unsurpassed trainer of persons, teacher of gods and humans, awakened and holy.'"

4. The Maitreyavyakarana (Prophecy of Maitreya)

   • This is a Sanskrit text that provides a detailed prophecy of Maitreya’s coming.

   • "When the teachings of the Buddha Gautama have disappeared, a new Buddha, Maitreya, will appear. He will teach the pure Dharma, and his followers will number many hundreds of thousands."

5. Lalitavistara Sutra

   • This text also mentions Maitreya and his future role as a Buddha.

   • "In the future, a Buddha named Maitreya, supremely enlightened, endowed with auspicious marks and characteristics, will arise in the world."

While these references to Maitreya do not align directly with the concept of a "second coming," they indicate a belief in the cyclical appearance of enlightened beings who come to guide humanity.

Buddhist scriptures do not directly address the concept of Jesus or his divinity, as they were written long before the birth of Jesus and in a different cultural and religious context. Buddhism primarily focuses on the teachings of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and the path to enlightenment. However, there are general principles within Buddhist teachings that emphasize the impermanence and non-divinity of all beings, which could be seen as incompatible with the idea of any human being being considered God.

Here are some general teachings from Buddhist scriptures that emphasize these principles:

1. Dhammapada 277-279

   • "All conditioned things are impermanent' — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification. 'All conditioned things are unsatisfactory' — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification. 'All things are not-self' — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification."

2. Majjhima Nikaya 22 (Alagaddupama Sutta)

   • "Form is like a lump of foam, feeling like a bubble; perception like a mirage, formations like a plantain trunk, and consciousness like an illusion, so explained the Kinsman of the Sun."

3. Samyutta Nikaya 35:85 (Anattalakkhana Sutta)

   • "Bhikkhus, form is not-self. If form were self, then this form would not lead to affliction, and it would be possible to have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus; let my form not be thus.’ But because form is not-self, it leads to affliction, and it is not possible to have it of form: ‘Let my form be thus; let my form not be thus.’"

4. Majjhima Nikaya 35 (Cula-saccaka Sutta)

   • "Then the Blessed One took up a little bit of soil in his fingernail and said to Saccaka: ‘There is not even this much form, feeling, perception, formations, or consciousness that is permanent, everlasting, eternal, not subject to change, that will endure as long as eternity.’"

These teachings emphasize the core Buddhist doctrine of anatta (non-self) and the impermanence of all phenomena. From a Buddhist perspective, the idea of any individual, including Jesus, being an eternal and unchanging deity would be inconsistent with these teachings.

In Buddhist scriptures, the concept of evil or harmful entities is often represented through metaphorical language rather than literal beasts. The focus is generally on the mind and its afflictions rather than on external creatures. Here are some key examples from Buddhist texts:

1. Dhammapada 1:1-2 - The nature of evil thoughts:

   • “Mind precedes all things. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If one speaks or acts with a corrupted mind, because of that, suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the hoof of the ox.”

   • “Mind precedes all things. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves.”

2. Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish (Sutra of the Dhammapada) - The metaphor of the "beast":

   • “As a bee gathers nectar and departs without harming the flower, or its color or scent, so let the sage dwell in his dwelling place.”

3. Madhyama Āgama 41 - The description of Mara (the evil one):

   • “Mara, the evil one, is like a hunter who disguises himself and seeks to entrap others. He seeks to confuse the mind and lead beings astray from the path of enlightenment.”

4. Sutra of the Lotus Flower (Lotus Sutra) - The metaphor of a "fiend":

   • “Evil beings appear in the world like demons and devils, and their appearance can be terrifying. But those who have attained enlightenment see through these illusions and recognize them for what they truly are—temporary and deceptive manifestations.”

5. Karma and the Effects of Evil Actions (Various Sutras) - The concept of karma and suffering due to evil actions:

   • “Those who commit evil actions will reap the results of their actions, as a seed sown in the ground will eventually bear fruit. Evil acts will result in suffering and rebirth in lower realms.”

In Buddhism, evil is often understood as ignorance, delusion, and unwholesome actions that lead to suffering. The focus is on transforming the mind and overcoming these inner afflictions rather than on external beings or creatures.