Bible Answer

What is the meaning of Jesus returning from the east?

Pastor Armstrong has stated numerous times the connection between East meaning bad and West meaning good. But doesn't Jesus arrive from the Eastern sky at His Second Coming?

In the Bible there is a general motif of East vs. West, as you mentioned, but this does not mean that every single mention of "east" or "west" in the Bible carries with it the sense of good or evil. We must allow the context to drive our interpretation. In the case of Jesus' Second Coming, Matthew writes:

Matt. 24:27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Jesus' comment about east and west is not intended to reference evil and good. He is speaking euphemistically to described the speed and brilliance of His return. There is no suggestion in the context of any other intended symbolism.

 

Having said that, we know Jesus does return to Earth moving from east (Petra) to west (Jerusalem), so His comment may be a reference to that direction of movement. 

 

For more information on the movement of Jesus at His Second Coming, please watch our Revelation Bible study on Chapter 19.