4. FOUR STUDIES ON CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

[3 pages when printed]

[These studies were compiled by Marian Coekin]

There are inevitable overlaps between the subjects that are raised in Bible passages on the Second Coming. Thus some verses appear in more than one study, but the issue being examined will be different. Acknowledgement is made to the influence of some material which appeared in 'Design for Discipleship' and 'Studies in Christian Living'  both by Navpress.

STUDY ONE:  THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN

The New Testament mentions the Second Coming of Christ over 300 times in 20 different books; so the material is vast.

1. Let's first see what Jesus Himself taught about His return in Matt.24:27 and 29-31. (Mark 13:24-27 is the parallel passage) What did the angel say about this at Christ's Ascension in Acts 1:11? How would you describe the nature and extent of this event?

Noting the second half of v.31, what will follow immediately? See Matt.25:31-46*

* Note that the 'sheep' were already sheep (v.34). Their actions in life showed who both the sheep and the goats belonged to. The righteous showed they had spent their lives in serving Christ. The others showed they had no concern for serving him - note how in vs 35,36 and 42,43  Jesus personalises their action or lack of action to himself. So the key issue is attachment to Christ. This passage does not teach salvation by works.

2. How do we prepare for Jesus to return? See Luke 12:35-40. What did Jesus mean by the instruction to be 'ready'? From this passage and Jesus' reply in vs.40-48 how would you describe a Christian who is prepared?

3. What three things does Jesus promise us in John 14:2,3?

4. Examine the following references from each of the chapters in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians: 1:9,10 - what went with their service for God?  2:19,20 - what was Paul so looking forward too? 3:12,13 - what will Jesus be pleased to find when He returns? 4:16-18 - what encouragement can we draw? 5:2-6 - how will Christians and non-Christians differ at the time Jesus comes?

"In the pessimism, gloom and frustration of this present hour, there is one bright beacon of hope, and that is the promise of Jesus Christ 'If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me.' (John 14:3) Billy Graham in 'World Aflame'.

STUDY TWO: CONDITIONS PRECEDING CHRIST'S RETURN

In Matthew chapters 24 and 25 Jesus gives many details and warnings about His Return.

1. From vs.3-8 what events will precede Christ's Return?

From vs.9-14 in spite of widespread evil what should true Christians be doing; why so much hate against them, and what will happen to some? How do we ensure how we will respond to the situation?

We see from vs.23-27 that impostors will 'perform great signs and miracles'. How are God's people to exercise correct discernment (a) in this instance and (b) in general?

Read 2 Thess. 2:8-12. It has been said that when people no longer believe in God they will believe in anything. How is the lawlessness spoken of in these verses seen in our present day?

2. How do you conceive of the signs that will precede Christ's Return - see Matt. 24:27,29 and 2 Peter 3:10 for example? What will people be doing -see Matt. 24:36-41?

3. What will characterise people living in the last days - see 1Tim.4:1,2 (note who they were!) and 2 Tim.3:1-5? Look also at 2 Thess. 2:1-11 - what characterises the man of lawlessness?

What ideas according to 2 Peter 3:3,4 will be popular in the last days? (1 Thess. 5:3a)

STUDY THREE: EVENTS AT CHRIST'S RETURN

1. Please read 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and list the events given here that will take place. What will be the destiny of the believer?

2. At the Second Coming what will happen to believers? See the following verses: 

1 Cor.15:22-24,  Phil.3:20,21,  Col. 3:4  1 John 3:2 and 2 Pet.3:13. Wow!

3. From 1 Cor.15:42-44 compare your earthly and heavenly body.

4. What will God do when His Son returns - see 2 Thess.1:5-10?

5. But please see 1 Cor. 4:5 and 2 Cor. 5:10. The judgement of believer's works is surely the time for reward or loss of reward. See Rom. 8:1 and 1 Cor. 3:12-15.

6. For a truly frightening portrayal of the final judgement see Rev.20:11-15. Of course, the reference to what the dead have 'done' (vs. 12 and 13) must include what they have done about Jesus Christ - believed in Him or not!

Pray for those close to you as family or friends who do not yet believe in Christ, appealing to God to send His Holy Spirit to wake them up.

STUDY FOUR: WHAT CHRIST'S  RETURN MEANS TO US NOW

What will it be like in the presence of God - Rev.21:4?

1. So what attitudes should we have towards Christ's Return? Please read 2 Tim. 4:8 James 5:7,8 and 1 Pet. 1:13. What do you think?

2. What difference should the prospect of the Return have on our attitudes to life now? Look at  2 Pet. 3:10-12 (v.11 what do holy and godly lives look like?) and 1 John 3:2,3 (what does John mean by 'purifies himself'?) In what sense can our holiness 'speed' Christ's second coming (2 Pet. 3:12)? In this connection how do you view Matt. 24:14?

3. How do you regard the example of Paul's life; see for instance, 2 Cor.11:23b-28? Was there a measure of 'recklessness for Christ' in his life? How reckless or risky are you prepared to be in the light of all we have learned about the implications of Christ's Second Coming?

Perhaps you'd like to comment on the words of C.T.Studd - the famous English cricketer and missionary "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then nothing can be too great for me to do for Him."

END

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