When He Comes If kings, rulers, presidents arrive with parades, television coverage, shiny limousines preceded by bands, soldiers and flags, how do you suppose the King of the universe, Jesus Christ, will return? Out of nowhere, suddenly appearing upon a mountaintop or in a city auditorium? Or on television? Or maybe nobody will see Him at all, but suddenly Christians will be taken to a secret rendezvous with Him?
HOW WILL JESUS COME? How does the Bible say Jesus will come again? Psalm 50:3 Who will come with Jesus? Matthew 25:31 Jesus came quietly to earth the first time. Not so, the second time. He comes as a king with glory and power. His first coming when He was born as a baby, was unnoticed by most people. How many will see Him when He comes the second time? Revelation 1:7 "Every eye shall see Him." You will see Him. Your neighbours will see Him. Around the globe, every eye will be on the returning, victorious King Jesus. His coming will not be a "secret rapture" known only to a few Christians. It will be an open event. He will not steal upon earth to snatch away the righteous without anyone else knowing of it. In fact, Christ warned against the teaching that He would come secretly. What did He say? Matthew 24:23-26 The apostles clung to the hope of Christ's coming and believed they'd actually see Him return. Over and over again they used the words "appear" or "appearing" when the wrote about the second advent of Christ. (Titus 2:13, Colossians 3:4, 1 Peter 5:4, 1 John 2:28, Hebrews 9:28) You needn't worry about missing the second coming of Jesus. You'll see Him when He comes!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE COMES? The second coming of Christ will affect every person who has ever lived on earth. Everyone will fit into one of four groups of people: 1. Christians who are alive Each group will be affected in a different way by the return of Jesus. Christians who are alive when Jesus comes What happens to Christians who are living when Jesus comes? 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (especially verse 17)
Christians who have died before Jesus comes What happens to Christians who have died? 1 Thessalonians 4:16 The Bible says that all Christians will get a new body, one that will not be subject to death. (1 Corinthians 15:42) What will these bodies be like? Philippians 3:20-21 Christ will give all His followers a perfect body like His resurrected body. What was His resurrected body like? Luke 24:39 You will not be just a spirit. You will also have a body; however, you body will be perfect and sinless. No disease or death will every destroy it. Non-Christians who are alive when Jesus comes What will be the experience of those who have chosen not to follow Christ? Revelation 6:15-17 People who do not love Christ, will not want to see Him when He comes. The Bible indicates that the brightness and power of Christ's coming will destroy the unsaved. What happens to the wicked? 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 People who do not want to see Jesus when He comes again, will receive the result of their choice; they will be shut out from the presence of God forever. The destruction of the wicked is not God's choice. He says "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked," (Ezekiel 33:11) yet they will be destroyed. This is a subject often misunderstood and there's not pace in this lesson to cover it adequately. Please refer to lesson 6. Non-Christians who have died before Jesus comes The Bible mentions no change in the status of the wicked who are dead. Apparently they stay dead.
WHY IS JESUS COMING AGAIN? Why is Jesus coming? Matthew 24:31 He wants you to be with Him; that's why Hes' coming back! Love is the reason for His return. Besides a place with Him forever, what else will Jesus bring when He comes again? 2 Timothy 4:8 A crown of righteousness is a symbol of the complete victory over sin which will be yours, not because you defeated the enemy but because Christ did. The battle with sin will be over. You'll never be tempted again. You'll wear the victor's crown! Unbelievable, isn't it, that Jesus loves you so much that:
ASK YOURSELF Am I glad Jesus is coming again soon? Why? |
Stay Alive Bible Studies Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8 Lesson 9 Lesson 10 Lesson 11 Lesson 12 Lesson 13 Lesson 14 Lesson 15 |
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