Malachi 3:1 – 3, The coming of the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist, is referred to as “the day of his coming.”

Matthew 16:28, Jesus said, “Assuredly I say to you, there are some here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 24:3, 27, 30  The disciples ask, “What will be the sign of your coming?”  Jesus response in verse 4 – 34 gives the answer: the destruction of Jerusalem, which would happen before that generation passed away.  Included in the answer was a reference to Daniel 7:13 – 14 in which the Messiah is pictured coming to heaven, not coming to earth.  Further, the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem were several, but there would be no signs of the end of time (Matthew 24:36 – 25:46, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11, 2 Peter 3:3 – 12).

Matthew 24:37, 39  In His answer to the second question posed by the disciples in 24:3, Jesus begins to answer the second question in 24:35.  In this case, His coming was at Judgment.

Matthew 26:64  In His trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus cited Daniel 7:13 – 14 in response to the question by the high priest, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Clearly, they understood the reference.  The scene in Daniel 7:13 – 14 is about the Messiah returning to heaven after His time on earth to receive His eternal kingdom.  This “coming on the clouds” was not coming to earth, but of coming to the “ancient of Days,” heaven.

Mark 13:26  This passage is parallel with Matthew 24:30, the reference to Daniel 7:13 – 14.

Mark 14:62  This passage is parallel with Matthew 26:64, referencing Daniel 7:13 – 14.

Luke 21:27  This passage is parallel with Matthew 24:30 and Mark 13:26.

Acts 7:52  Stephen used “the coming of the Just One” to describe the earthly career of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:23  Paul was describing resurrection day, so this coming of the Lord was at the end of time.

1 Thessalonians 2:19  Paul’s hope for the faithful of Thessalonica was that they would be in the presence of Jesus “at His coming.”  The context appears to refer to Judgment, but could also be applied to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  If a context is not clear, the author probably meant both.

1 Thessalonians 4:15, 5:3  The passage from 4:13 – 5:11 clearly is about Judgment Day, especially because of the “thief in the night” image (5:4).

2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2:8  “Our gathering to Him” could refer to the “gathering together His elect from the four winds,” the establishment of the eternal kingdom which was completed in 70 AD.  This application fits better with the “man of lawlessness” theme, since the paragraph implies that the audience knows who this is and will see this event.  However, an application to the end of time works also, albeit less well, so Paul probably had both scenarios in mind.

James 5:7 – 8  Although Judgment Day could be envisioned in verse 7, verse 8 clearly puts the event close in time to the original audience.  So, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple were the reference for this “coming of the Lord.”

2 Peter 1:16  Peter was referring to the earthly ministry of Jesus, as evidenced by his reference to the mount of transfiguration.

2 Peter 3:4, 12  The context clearly is Judgment Day, including the end of all physical things and the appearing of the new heaven and new earth.

1 John 2:28  John’s reference is ambiguous, so probably refers to both the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and to the end of time.

In summary, the “coming of the Lord” was used to refer to the ministry of John the Baptist, the earthly ministry of Jesus, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, and the end of time.  The context in each place determines the meaning.