Calvary Chapel strongly affirms the literal, bodily, visible return of Jesus Christ as a foundational eschatological doctrine. Calvary Chapel's teaching is shaped by classic dispensationalism: Christ's return will occur in two stages — first the Rapture of the church (pre-Tribulation), then the visible Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation to establish his millennial reign.

Calvary Chapel's extensive teaching on biblical prophecy — particularly Daniel, Revelation, and the Olivet Discourse — has made eschatology a distinctive emphasis of the movement. Chuck Smith was known for his confident premillennial, pre-tribulation teaching, which created a strong expectation of Christ's imminent return within the movement.