The New Testament presents Christ's second coming as serving a purpose distinct from His first coming. At the Cross, Jesus offered Himself once for sins and declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30; Hebrews 9:26-28). His sacrifice did not need to be repeated. Yet Hebrews 9:28 says that Christ “shall appear the second time… unto salvation” for those waiting for Him. Jesus also connected His coming with judgment and rewarding people according to their works (Matthew 16:27). From a preterist perspective, His second coming can therefore be understood as Christ's coming in judgment upon the old covenant order, culminating in the events surrounding Jerusalem's destruction. The important distinction is that the Cross accomplished the atoning sacrifice, while the second coming had a different purpose: bringing the promised salvation and judgment to their appointed fulfillment. Thus, “finished at the Cross” does not necessarily mean everything prophesied afterward was already fulfilled.