Editing Christian eschatology (section)

==The Second Coming==
{{Main|Second Coming}}
[[File:Second Coming by G.Klontzas (16th c.).jpg|thumb|300px|right|''[[The Last Judgment (Klontzas)|The Last Judgment]]'', Eastern Orthodox icon on the Second Coming of Christ by [[Georgios Klontzas]] (c. 1580–1608), [[Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice|Hellenic Institute of Venice]], Italy]]

=== Signs of Christ's return ===
{{See also|Maranatha}}
The Bible states:
::Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." [Acts 1:9–11]

Many, but not all, Christians believe:
# The coming of Christ will be instantaneous and worldwide.<ref>[http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/OnlineLibrary/tabid/106/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/447/IID/82/LNG/en/7/The-Secret-Rapture/SC/R/Default.aspx The Secret Rapture] by Joe Crews</ref> "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." ~ Matthew 24:27
# The coming of Christ will be visible to all.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitehorsemedia.com/articles/|title=Articles|date=July 14, 2015}}</ref> "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30
# The coming of Christ will be audible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/OnlineLibrary/tabid/106/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/447/IID/9/LNG/en/7/Anything-But-Secret/SC/R/Default.aspx|title=Free Book Library – Amazing Facts|website=The Amazing Facts Media Library}}</ref> "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31
# The resurrection of the righteous will occur first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audioverse.org/sermons/recordings/578/rev-14-11-to-15-1-and-16-15.html|title=Rev 14:11 to 15:1 and 16:15 – AudioVerse|website=www.audioverse.org|access-date=2011-06-29|archive-date=2010-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907070458/http://www.audioverse.org/sermons/recordings/578/rev-14-11-to-15-1-and-16-15.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16
# In one single event, the saved who are alive at Christ's coming will be caught up together with the resurrected to meet the Lord in the air.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapturetruth.org/|title=Secret Rapture Truth – Bible Prophecy|website=www.rapturetruth.org}}</ref> "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:17

=== Last Day Counterfeits ===
In Matthew 24 [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]] states:

::For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:21, 24 NKJV]

These false Christs will perform great signs and are no ordinary people "For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14) Satan's angels will also appear as godly clergymen, and Satan will appear as an angel of light.<ref name="The United States In Bible Prophecy">[http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/StudyGuides/tabid/105/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/453/IID/2-21/LNG/en/SC/R/Default.aspx?7=The-USA-in-Bible-Prophecy. The United States In Bible Prophecy] See Item # 15</ref> "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

===The Marriage of the Lamb===
{{see also|Lamb of God}}
After Jesus meets his followers "in the air", the [[Seudat nissuin|marriage of the Lamb]] takes place: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" [Rev 19:7–8]. Christ is represented throughout Revelation as "the Lamb", symbolizing the giving of his life as an atoning sacrifice for the people of the world, just as lambs were sacrificed on the altar for the sins of Israel. His "wife" appears to represent the people of God, for she is dressed in the "righteous acts of the saints". As the marriage takes place, there is a great celebration in heaven which involves a "great multitude" [Rev 19:6].