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Why did early Christians expect the Second Coming of Christ soon?
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Christianity
Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Práxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana basilica, Rome, 401–417 ce.
Early Christians expected the Second Coming of Christ to occur soon because they were deeply embedded in the apocalypticism prevalent in 1st-century Jewish culture. This worldview held that the world was ruled by an evil empire whose collapse would be signaled by divine intervention and the appearance of a savior.12
Following the Crucifixion and Resurrection, early followers viewed Jesus as the promised Messiah who would return in glory to judge the living and the dead, reward the faithful, and inaugurate the kingdom of God. This expectation was fueled by:31
- Biblical Prophecy: Believers found evidence for an imminent return in the Gospels (such as Matthew 24–25 and Mark 13) and the Book of Revelation.31
- Historical Context: The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and ongoing persecution of Christians were interpreted as signs of the Endtime, reinforcing the belief that Christ’s return was near.1
- Eschatological Intensity: As an eschatological sect, early Christians believed they were living in the final days, a conviction that provided hope and a sense of purpose amidst suffering and injustice.12