For a long time Christian church groups have said in their doctrinal statements that Jesus will come back in a physical body.
This is incorrect.
This is a “belief in a lie”, and it illustrates the delusion that God has given these “men of sin/Lawless men” into.
2Th 2:9 The appearing of the Lawless one will be attended by various miracles and tokens and delusive marvels–for so Satan works–
10 and by every kind of wicked deception for those who are on the way to perdition because they did not welcome into their hearts the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God sends them a misleading influence (delusion) that they may believe the lie;
12 in order that all may come under judgement who have refused to believe the truth and have taken pleasure in unrighteousness. WNT
For generations Christians have been allowed to fall prey to this delusion, in accordance with the truth found in 1 Cor 11:32.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (RSV)
Since there is a Second Coming mentioned in the Bible (Acts 3:20) we should accept it. If the truth is not accepted God will allow a person to believe a lie.
Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you
In the New Testament we see Jesus ascending into heaven after His earthly crucifixion.
As Acts 3:21 says, Jesus will remain in heaven until the restoration.
Jesus said John the Baptist “restored all things”, Matt 17:11.
Matthew 17:11 KJV — And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
John the Baptist preached “repentance”.
Repentance from unbelief is the restoration point when Jesus is sent to the individual.
It also siginals the “restoration” of the kingdom of God in the individuals life, Acts 1:6.
Acts 1:6 KJV — When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
The Father sends Jesus from heaven (through the Holy Spirit) to the person who expresses faith in Acts 3:20.
He is not sent to both believers and unbelievers, as is generally assumed in the unscriptural bodily return scenario.
He is sent only to those who look for His appearing.
If Jesus appears only to believers during their earthly lives and He does not appear to unbelievers during their lives His return cannot possibly be a bodily return.
Hebrews 9:28 KJV — So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus said on the cross “it is finished”.
Mankind’s tradition however says “it is not finished” because Jesus has not come back a second time and in physical form.
Angels said Jesus would return the way He left, Acts 1:11.
He went to heaven and will return from heaven.
Jesus return is spoken of in Acts 3:20.
The Angels did not say He would return in a physical body.
Some parables can be misunderstood, and suggest that Jesus will return bodily. These statements refer to the “judgment” called the “Day of the Lord”.
So either Jesus is right or man is right.
Of course, Jesus is right and mankind is wrong in their traditional opinions.
God’s plan for man’s salvation is “finished”, and it is fully described in the bible.
Tradition’s are incorrect because they do not take into account the difference between the Second Coming and the Day of the Lord.
The Second Coming is not the Day of the Lord | Let Us Reason (brmicke.com)