Christ will return visibly in glory to judge the living and the dead
The Catholic Church solemnly affirms the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (the Parousia), who will return visibly and in glory at the end of the age to judge all humanity—the living and the dead—and to bring the present world order to its final consummation. This is confessed in the Nicene Creed ('He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead') and in the Apostles' Creed at every Mass.
Catholic eschatology emphasizes that the timing of the Second Coming is unknown to all except the Father (Matthew 24:36) and that believers are called to watchful readiness. The Church's liturgical life—especially Advent—expresses this eschatological hope. The Catechism (§§668–682) notes that the Kingdom of God has already come in Christ but awaits its full manifestation at the Parousia. Catholic social teaching also reflects an eschatological orientation: justice, peace, and the care of creation are partial anticipations of the Kingdom.
Key Distinctions
- Return expectation:
- literal, visible return of Christ preceded by signs
- Tribulation view:
- preceded by tribulation; no separate pre-trib rapture
- Parousia nature:
- bodily, visible, glorious return of Christ to earth for judgment
Scripture References
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), §§668–682
- Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381)
- Vatican II, Lumen Gentium (1964), §48