Perhaps there are some people who think that the return of Jesus Christ to earth happens in one day.  The Bible reveals that there are different stages to His return, (although it does not call them stages).  The stages indicate that His return takes place over several months.  Let’s look at these stages.

The Sign of the Son of Man

The sign of the Son of Man is only mentioned in Matthew.  None of the other gospel accounts mention it. 

Jesus said that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven in reference to the end of the age and His return.

Mat 24:30  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.

This sign appears in heaven long enough for the tribes of the earth to mourn.  Clearly, it’s not just going to appear for a few minutes or hours, but it will be a sign that is in heaven for days, maybe months.  For more details of what this sign probably is see, “What is the sign of the Son of Man that appears in heaven?”.

The Last Trumpet

The Last Trumpet is the event that is most obviously associated with the return of Jesus Christ.  There are three passages of Scripture that can be linked together to get a picture of the events surrounding the last trumpet.  The first passage is Matthew 24:30-31.

Mat 24:30  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.
Mat 24:31  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.

Note that Jesus will come on the clouds and at the sound of the trumpet angels will gather His elect (His saints) from the four winds.

The next passage is 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

1Co 15:51  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
1Co 15:52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

From this passage it is clear that the trumpet mentioned in Matthew 24:31 is the last trumpet.

The next passage is 1 Thessalonian 4:14-17.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1Th 4:15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
1Th 4:16  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.
1Th 4:17  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.

Note that Jesus descends from heaven with the trumpet of God, and that the saints meet Jesus in the air. 

From these three passages we see that at the last trumpet:

• the saints are resurrected to eternal life (Mat 24:31, 1 Cor 15:52).
• Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds (Mat 24:30, 1 Th 4:16).
• the saints meet the Jesus in the clouds (1 Th 4:17).

What happens immediately after The Last Trumpet?

At the last trumpet, Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds to meet the saints in the air.  What happens next?  Will Jesus descend immediately from the clouds to the ground, or will He stay in the clouds for some period of time?

To find out we need to look at the book of Revelation which gives more details about the last trumpet.  In chapter 8, seven angels are given seven trumpets.

Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

At the blast of each trumpet another judgment befalls the earth.  The seventh trumpet is mentioned in Revelation 11:15.

Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet as there are only seven of them.  Therefore, the events that happen at the sound of the last trumpet, as described in Mat 24:30-31, 1 Cor 15:51-53, and 1 Th 4:14-17, happen at this point.  That is to say, at this point:

• the saints are resurrected to eternal life.
• Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds.
• the saints meet the Jesus in the clouds.

Revelation chapter 12:1-6 jumps back in time a bit to describe some history of God’s people and the dragon.  The rest of chapter 12 describes war in heaven and Satan being thrown down to the earth and persecuting God’s people—events which happen prior to the sound of the seventh trumpet.  Revelation chapter 13 describes two beasts representing a secular and a religious leader who oppose God.

The 144,000 who Sing before God’s Throne

Revelation chapter 14:1-5 describes 144,000 resurrected saints singing before God’s throne. 

The Messages of the Three Angels

Three angels appear on the scene, each with a message for the inhabitants of the earth.

Rev 14:6  Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—
Rev 14:7  saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

The first preaches the gospel to everyone on earth, warning them to repent and worship God, because the hour of His judgment has come.  God is about to pour out His bowls of wrath on the earth.  In Matthew 24:14 Jesus stated:

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

It looks very much like the church will not be able to complete the task of preaching the gospel to the world, but it will be done by an angel.

Rev 14:8  And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

The second angel announces the imminent fall of Babylon. 

The third angel (Rev 14:9-13) warns people on earth not to worship the beast and his image.  Revelation chapter 14:14-20 describes one sitting on a white cloud, like the Son of Man, harvesting the earth and throwing the harvest into the winepress of the wrath of God.  This is describing what is about to happen when the seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured on the earth.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Rev 15:1  Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Rev 15:2  And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Those on the sea of glass are the resurrected saints. 

Rev 15:3  They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

The resurrected saints sing the songs of Moses and the Lamb in praise of the Lord God Almighty. 

Rev 15:5  After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
Rev 15:6  And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
Rev 15:7  Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Rev 15:8  The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Note that the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth while the resurrected saints are still on the sea of glass in the clouds with Jesus.  At this point Jesus Christ has not yet defeated the beast power, which is described later on in Rev 19:11-21. 

What are the seven bowls of God’s wrath?  The seven bowls of God’s wrath are described in Revelation 16.

Rev 16:1  Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

The bowls of God’s wrath are punishment for sinful and unrepentant mankind.

Rev 16:2  So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

The first bowl is sores on those associated with the beast.

Rev 16:3  Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

The second bowl is the turning of the sea to blood and every sea creature dying.

Rev 16:4  Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

The third bowl is the turning of fresh water sources to blood.

Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.
Rev 16:6  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
Rev 16:7  And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

God turns the waters to blood in the second and third bowls of wrath because they shed the innocent blood of the saints.

Rev 16:8  Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.
Rev 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

The fourth bowl is scorching with great heat.  Since the bowl is poured on the sun, the indication is that the sun will burn much hotter.

Rev 16:10  Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
Rev 16:11  They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

The fifth bowl is darkness and pain.

Rev 16:12  Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

The sixth bowl is the drying up of the Euphrates river.

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14  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.
Rev 16:15  “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
Rev 16:16  And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Three evil spirits go out to gather the kings of the earth to fight Jesus Christ in a place called Armageddon.

Rev 16:17  Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
Rev 16:18  And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
Rev 16:19  Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
Rev 16:20  Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Rev 16:21  And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

The seventh bowl is a great earthquake and huge hail.  The earthquake is the greatest in mankind’s history, and destroys cities, islands, and mountains.

Clearly, these seven bowls of God’s wrath cannot take place in just a few hours.  They must take place over several weeks or months.  Consider the sixth bowl, the drying of the Euphrates river to make way for the kings of the east.  Mobilising armies and moving men and equipment takes time. 

Note that during this period of time when the seven bowls of God’s wrath are being poured out on earth, Jesus Christ is with the resurrected saints on the sea of glass in the clouds.

Continuing with the flow of events in Revelation, chapter 17 describes the great harlot sitting on a scarlet beast. 

The Fall of Babylon

Revelation 18 describes the fall of Babylon.  Presumably this happens at some stage during the seven bowls of God’s wrath.

Rejoicing in Heaven

Revelation 19:1-5 describes rejoicing in heaven for God’s judgments on the great harlot. 

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:6-9 describes the marriage and marriage supper of the of the Lamb.  His bride is the resurrected saints. 

Rev 19:6  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Rev 19:7  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.”
Rev 19:8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Rev 19:9  Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

At this point in time, Jesus Christ is still on the sea of glass in the clouds.  So presumably, that is where the marriage and marriage supper take place. 

Jesus Stands on the Mount of Olives and Fights the Nations

Earlier, we asked the question: What happens immediately after The Last Trumpet?  We have seen that a number of events happen immediately after the Last Trumpet, but before Jesus stands on the earth and fights the nations.  To recap, these events are:

• The 144,000 who Sing before God’s Throne
• The Messages of the Three Angels
• The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
• The Fall of Babylon
• Rejoicing in Heaven
• The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The stage is now set for the climactic battle.  The nations have gathered together at a place called Armageddon.

Rev 16:16  And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

What takes place next can rightfully be called The Battle of Armageddon.

Rev 19:11  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
Rev 19:13  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Jesus Christ (The Word of God) rides on a white horse with the armies of heaven following him on white horses.

Rev 19:15  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus Christ comes down to earth to fight the nations.

Rev 19:17  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
Rev 19:18  that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Jesus Christ will slaughter the armies opposing Him.  So many people will die, it is described as a feast for all the birds.

Rev 19:20  Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21  And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

The beast and the false prophet, that is the secular and religious leaders described in chapter 13, are captured and killed.  This same event is also described in the last chapter of Zechariah.

Zec 14:3  Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4  And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. …

Notice that Jesus Christ has at this point descended from the clouds and is standing on earth, on the Mount of Olives, as He fights against the nations opposing Him.

Summary of the stages

In summary, this is the order of the stages of Jesus Christ’s return we have discussed.

1. The Sign of the Son of Man, probably a period of several months.
2. The Last Trumpet, at which point:
   • the saints are resurrected to eternal life.
   • Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds.
   • the saints meet the Jesus in the clouds.
3. A period of time, probably several months, that Jesus and the resurrected saints are in the clouds on the sea of glass, during which the following take place:
   • the 144,000 who sing before God’s throne.
   • the messages of the three angels.
   • the seven bowls of God’s wrath.
   • the fall of Babylon.
   • rejoicing in heaven.
   • the marriage and marriage supper of the Lamb.
4. Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives and fights the nations.

From this we can see that the resurrection of the saints to eternal life precedes the return of Jesus Christ to the earth’s surface, probably by several months.