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“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
Jesus gave the urgent call, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42) If Jesus came today, would you be ready, waiting, and watching for Him? Do you long to be forever with the One who loves you more than you can imagine? Are you ready for Jesus to come?
Preview
Preview
You’ve grown up in a world of “Star Wars” and TV invasions from outer space. How can you be sure that the dazzling being appearing in the sky is not fiction or, as the Bible says, another of Satan’s deceptions? Can you really believe Christ’s wonderful promise in John 14:1-3?
When Jesus returns, how will you know it is really Jesus? Does the Bible give you enough information so you can be sure? Who will He take with Him? He would love to take all His created family back to heaven with Him. But if He did, it wouldn’t be heaven. It would be ugly and sinful—filled with people who hate, hurt, destroy, and kill—just as on our earth now.
Jesus told us how to stay prepared. (Hebrews 10:23).
Points to ponder
Points to ponder
How will I know this is really Jesus when He comes and not the devil working miracles to deceive? Jot down the positive proof from the Bible in the blanks provided.
1. You can believe Jesus’ promises. Jesus, His disciples, and the prophets said He is coming again. We can believe these promises, as recorded in the Word of God.
a. Revelation 22:20
b. Jude 14
2. The return of Jesus is real, literal, and personal. When He ascended, He sent angels to declare that this same flesh-and-blood Jesus would return as He went up.
Acts 1:11
3. Christ’s return will be visible to all people everywhere. Wherever you are on the earth, if you are alive, you will see Him come.
a. Revelation 1:7
b. Matthew 24:30
c. There will be nothing secret. His coming will be “as the..." (Matthew 24:27).
Standing on a Singapore beach, a family watched a spectacular display of dazzling forks of lightning flashing from the clouds to the sea below. They closed their eyes and covered them with their hands, yet they could see the beautiful array of glorious patterns across the dark sky. Much more so, when Jesus returns with all the angels. Then every eye will see the splendor of His glory.
4. Christ’s return will be audible.
a. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
b. Matthew 24:31
5. Christ’s return will cause a glorious resurrection.
a. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
b. Matthew 16:27
c. Describe the glory referred to in Revelation 19:11-16.
Satan can’t counterfeit this worldwide resurrection of the faithful from every land and every generation.
6. Christ’s coming will gather all the saints to be with Him.
a. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
b. What will happen to the living believers? They will be given new, perfect bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:53)
7. What devastating terror happens to the lost—the unbelievers?
a. 2 Thessalonians 2:12
b. Romans 1:32
c. Revelation 6:16, 17 speaks of the horrible cry of the lost.
Nuts & Bolts
Nuts & Bolts
(This is a Questions and Statements section condensing the SDA Believe chapter The Second Coming of Christ. Make sure you read the chapter first.)
How can we know when Christ’s coming is near? Does the Bible give us definite and important signs?
1. Signs in the natural world.
a. Revelation 6:12: earthquakes.
b. Matthew 24:29, 30: Signs in the sun and moon. Give the date when this sign occurred.
c. Revelation 6:13: Falling of the stars. When did this phenomenon occur?
2. Signs in the religious world.
a. Great religious awakening. Gospel preached throughout the earth. (Revelation 14:6, 7; Daniel 12:4)
b. Moral and spiritual decline, increase in crime, sexual sins. From 2 Timothy 3:1-5, list some of the sins of the last days.
c. Decline of religious freedom. (Revelation 13:15-17)
3. Disasters, calamities, and wars.
Read Luke 21:10, 11 and list some of these signs.
Words to Remember
Words to Remember
Resurgence: To rise or appear again in power.
Elect: Those saved by God through their faith in Him.
Translation: The living saints who will be taken up to meet Jesus, without seeing death, when He returns.
The Difference Between
The Difference Between
First Advent: Jesus born as a baby in Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago to die for the sins of humanity.
Second Advent: Jesus coming the second time in glory with all the angels to take all who have accepted Him as the Saviour to be with Him in heaven.
I Truly Believe
I Truly Believe
After reading the statements below, check the boxes that reflect your commitment:
At the time of Christ’s second coming all the world will be praying. I must now choose which prayer I will pray then.
“And [they] said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:16, 17)
“And it shall be said in that day, behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)
When Jesus comes, what words will He say to me?
“And then I will declare to them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23)
“Then the King will say. . . Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
Have you ever wondered why Jesus delays His coming?
A silversmith melted the ore to 1,761 degrees Fahrenheit. Gradually, the impurities in the ore rose to the surface, and he skimmed them off. Over and over, he carefully worked with the molten mass. When he could see his face reflected with perfect clarity, he knew there was only pure silver left.
Jesus is now doing the same thing with you. “Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple” (The Desire of Ages, p. 827). Yes, dear friend, “when the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69).
If you have any questions following this lesson, please use the form to receive a Bible based answer.
If you have any questions following this lesson, please use the form to receive a Bible based answer.
Q&A Form: My question is...
My Prayer
My Prayer
Dear Father,
Please remove from my life anything that mars, blurs, or spoils the reflection of Jesus. Fill me with Your love, holiness and meekness, so that I may perfectly reflect You. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Amen.
Moving to Fundamental Belief #26
Moving to Fundamental Belief #26
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