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Second Advent

Second Advent

1 9.9
The return of Jesus Christ to earth to judge all people
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkənd ˈæd.vənt/
translation icon : Segunda Venida
  • Christians believe that the second advent of Jesus will bring about the final judgment of humanity.

Examples

  • The whole Scriptural treatment of the Second Advent is, of course, entwined with that millennial hope of the Jews, so alien to modern minds.

    Academic text (2017)
  • During the second advent, it is said that Jesus will return to fulfill the prophecies of the Last Judgment.

  • Many theologians emphasize the importance of being prepared for the second advent of Christ as a time of great change.

Synonyms

end of the world
vsSecond Advent
  • Formal
50 7.9

The final event when God judges all people and decides their eternal fate

is narrower pointing to a person returning to judge rather than the whole event
Judgment Day
vsSecond Advent
19 8.8

In Christian belief, a future day when God judges everyone's life and decides their final place after death

is about the return to earth to judge rather than the general end day
Last Day
vsSecond Advent
  • Literature
16 8.7

A day at the end of time when God judges everyone for their actions

focuses on the return event of the judge not only the final day
Second Coming
vsSecond Advent
9 7.4

The return of Jesus Christ to earth to judge people at the end of the world

is the same idea but expressed in a broader less technical way
Last Judgment
vsSecond Advent
  • Literature
2 9.3

A final day when God decides each person's fate, rewarding good and punishing bad

centers on the judge coming back rather than only the judgment day
Second Coming of Christ
vsSecond Advent
1 6.8

Christians believe Jesus will return to earth to judge people

is the same event but named with a different traditional phrase
Parousia
vsSecond Advent
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The return of Jesus Christ to earth to judge people at the end of the world

is the same doctrine but uses a technical theological term
Advent
vsSecond Advent
1 8.8

The expected return of Jesus Christ to judge the world

is the same belief but emphasizes expectation rather than the event itself

Surface Forms

Second Advent singular

Morphology

2nd + Advent

Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'Second' signals a subsequent occurrence and 'Advent' denotes the prophesied return of Christ, so together they straightforwardly refer to Christ's return (the second coming). This is a regular compositional pattern (cf. 'Second Coming') and would be intelligible to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Second Advent comes from the older religious word Advent, which means 'a coming' and was used for the time before Jesus' first arrival at Christmas. So Second Advent means the 'return' or 'coming back' of Jesus to earth to 'judge' people.