Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

When Will Jesus Return?

Christians' Views of the Second Coming

April 9, 2009

For many Christians, Easter is the most important religious holiday of the year -- a time to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and look forward to the Second Coming. According to a 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, fully 79% of Christians in the U.S. say they believe that Christ will return to Earth someday. There is less agreement among Christians, however, over the timing and circumstances of his return. Only 17% of American Christians do not believe in the Second Coming. By contrast,a larger number of American Christians, 20%, believe the Second Coming will occur in their lifetime.

_{Data from a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted July 6-19, 2006, among 2,003 American adults. Graphic based on 1,670 respondents who identify as Christian. For complete question wording, see the full report (PDF).}