|
The second coming of the Lord
has been in all ages the hope of His true followers.
The Savior's parting promise that He would come again, lit up
the future for His disciples, filling their hearts with joy and
hope. Even sorrow and
trials could not quench this hope.
From the dungeon to the
stake, saints and martyrs witnessed for the truth.
Down through the centuries come the utterance of their faith
and hope. They looked
for the Lord to come from heaven in the clouds with the glory of His
Father, this blessed hope burned within their hearts.
The
Reformers of old longed for this day.
“This aged world is not far from its end,” said Melanchthon.
John Calvin urged Christians, “We must hunger after Christ, we must
seek Him with the whole heart, till the dawning of that great day,
when our Lord will return in all of His glory.”
If death is the last
enemy to be destroyed at the resurrection, we may learn how
earnestly believers should long and pray for the second coming of
Christ, when this full and final victory will take place.
This is the day that all believers should hope, and wait for,
because it is the fulfillment of all the work of their redemption.
May the blessed day of the Lord come quickly!
1.
At Jesus’ trial, just before
His crucifixion, what did He predict?
Matthew 26:63-64
____________________________________________________
Note:
Jesus predicted His coming
again which would be in power.
His power is the message of the cross which has freed the
captives of this world from the slavery of sin.
2.
What is God’s promise to us?
John 14:1-3
_________________________________________________________
Note:
The Second Coming of Christ
is the great promise for every Christian.
Our home is in heaven.
Until then we must realize,
and constantly keep reminding ourselves, that we are pilgrims here
waiting for the day when He returns.
3.
Who is going to come again
the same way he was taken up into heaven?
Acts 1:9-11
_________________________________________________________
Note:
This same Jesus, who was
crucified for our sin will return in like manner.
This same Jesus who was buried and resurrected will come to
redeem His children from earth, to live and reign with Him forever.
4.
What are Christ’s followers
to continue to proclaim until He comes?
1 Corinthians
11:25-26 ______________________________________________
Note:
Christ’s death, burial, and
resurrection is the power for all Christians who live in this sinful
world. “Always carrying
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
5.
What will God’s end time
people be looking for?
Titus 2:13-14
_______________________________________________________
Note:
All heaven is busily engaged in preparing for the day of
the Lord. The time of
waiting is almost over. The
pilgrims and strangers on earth who have been seeking a better
country are almost home. It
makes you feel like crying out, “Homeward bound!”
Rapidly we are nearing the
time when Jesus will come to gather His redeemed.
6.
What influence does this
hope have on the life?
1 John 3:2-3
________________________________________________________
Note:
With the realization of Christ’s soon return, the
Christian will seek Jesus to cleanse his life from all things that
would cause separation.
7.
Who will see Jesus come?
Revelation 1:7
______________________________________________________
Note:
Here are the very men who
placed upon Jesus the purple robe, who placed a thorny crown upon
His head, and bowed before him in blasphemous mockery.
The men who struck and spit
upon the Prince of life, now turn from his piercing gaze, and seek
to flee from the overpowering glory of his presence.
The unrepentant ones who
drove the nails through His hands and feet, behold these marks with
terror and flee.
8.
What influence does the
second coming have on those who reject it?
Revelation
6:14-17 __________________________________________________
9.
What awesome event takes
place at the second coming?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
_____________________________________________
Note:
Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on
the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire.
He gazed on the graves of
the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and
cried, “Awake! Awake! You
that sleep in the dust, and arise.”
The graves opened, and the righteous dead come up clothed
with everlasting life. They
shout "Halleluiah!" as they recognize their friends and family who
had been torn from them by death.
10.
When Jesus comes again what
will the redeemed say?
Isaiah 25:9
_________________________________________________________
Note:
With such a glorious hope
before us, with a redemption that Christ has purchased for us with
His own blood, can we be silent? We
should praise God with a loud voice.
We have tasted the power of the world to come, and long for
more.
11.
How many need to make a
decision for Christ now?
Joel 3:14
___________________________________________________________
Note:
Our attention must be
focused on Jesus. Multitudes
are in the valley of decision. Before
the second coming of our Lord a voice is crying out "If the Lord is
God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him."
12.
When will the end of the
world come?
Matthew 24:14
_______________________________________________________
Note:
“Prepare to meet your God.”
The Gospel will prepare the world to meet Jesus.
It is the message of the cross, the total destruction of sin,
that will prepare the believers to meet their God.
|