DFD 5-5 - THE RETURN OF CHRIST

DFD 5-5 - The Return of Christ  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Since the time of the first followers of Jesus, the return of Christ has been the promised hope of every believer. Every generation has wondered, Will it be soon? The return of Christ is mentioned by every New Testament writer, and these writers refer to it over three hundred times in twenty different books.
“In the midst of the pessimism, gloom, and frustration of this present hour, there is one bright beacon light of hope, and that is the promise of Jesus Christ: “I’ll go and prepare a place for you, I will come again” (). — Billy Graham, World Aflame

THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN

1. Read . What did Jesus promise His disciples? (Note the three parts of the promise.)

John 14:1–3 NIV84
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:1-3
ANSWER: He’s going to prepare a place for us; He’s coming back; He will take us back with him.

2. After Jesus ascended to heaven, notice how the two angels described His promised return (). How do you think this promise affected the faith of Jesus’ disciples?

Acts 1:9–11 NIV84
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
ANSWER: Made them believe even more.

3. What did Jesus say about His return in the following verses?

3. What did Jesus say about His return in the following verses?

Matthew 16:27 NIV84
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
ANSWER: That He was going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels and that He will reward each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 24:27 NIV84
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
ANSWER: That the coming of Jesus will be like the lightning that we see that comes from the east to the west.
Mark 13:26–27 NIV84
“At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
ANSWER: That Jesus will come in the clouds with great power and glory and that He will send His angels to gather the elect from the ends of the earth.
Luke 12:40 NIV84
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
ANSWER: That Jesus will come in an hour that we do not expect him.

4. How did Paul refer to the return of Christ in each chapter of his first letter to the Thessalonians?

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 NIV84
for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
ANSWER: That He will come from heaven and rescue us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NIV84
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
ANSWER: That the return of Christ is our hope, our joy, our crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 NIV84
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
ANSWER: That Jesus will come with all His holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NIV84
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
ANSWER: That He will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God . . . that the dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air . . . and then we will be with Him forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:2–6 NIV84
for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
ANSWER: That the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night . . . but we are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief . . . but let us be alert and self-controlled

CONDITIONS PRECEDING HIS RETURN

5. In Jesus gives many details and warnings about His return. Read both of these chapters if you have time. The following questions are taken from chapter 24.

a. What events will take place on the earth before He comes again? (Verses 6-7)

What events will take place on the earth before He comes again? (Verses 6-7)
Matthew 24:6–7 NIV84
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
ANSWER: Wars and rumors of wars; nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, famines and earthquakes in various places.

b. In spite of widespread deception and evil, what will true followers of Christ be doing? (verses 12-14)

Matthew 24:
Matthew 24:12–14 NIV84
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
ANSWER: Followers of Christ will be standing firm to the end and the kingdom will be preached in the whole world.

c. How should you respond if someone tells you Christ has returned and is performing great miracles in some city? (verses 23-26)

Matthew 24:23–26 NIV84
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
ANSWER: Do not go out and do not believe it.

d. What signs will be seen in the skies? (verse 29)

Matthew 24:29 NIV84
“Immediately after the distress of those days “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
ANSWER: the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

e. Who knows the exact time of Christ’s return? (verse 36)

Matthew 24:36 NIV84
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
ANSWER: No one except the Father.

f. What will people be doing? (Compare verses 37-39 with , .)

Matthew 24:37–39 NIV84
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Genesis 6:5 NIV84
The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
Genesis 6:11–13 NIV84
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.
ANSWER: eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; having wickedness and evil in their hearts; full of violence.

6. What will characterize people living in the last days?

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NIV84
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
ANSWER: Some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 NIV84
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
ANSWER: People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power.

7. What ideas will be popular in the last days?

1
1 Thessalonians 5:3 NIV84
While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
ANSWER: Peace and safety
2 Peter 3:3–4 NIV84
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
:3-4
ANSWER: Scoffers and following their own evil desires.

Do you see any of these conditions or teaching in the world today? Explain.

ANSWER: Yes, a lot of scoffing at things, people, and ideas.
“It’s not difficult to remind ourselves that this world is a place where we will inevitably experience trouble. We feel the tensions of the world around us and within us on a daily basis. We regularly face the tension of material, sexual, relational, and personal pressures to yield to the pleasures that this fallen planet has to offer.
Yet Christ our King calls us to peace in him and to a confidence that overcomes the pressure and pain of this world. And if peace and confidence are ours then we have nothing to fear and no reason to be discouraged, especially since eternally we will be free from tension and trouble. — Joseph M. Stowell, Eternity

EVENTS AT HIS RETURN

There are many different ideas concerning the order of events at Christ’s return. This study seeks to identify the major events but not to establish their order.

8. Read

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NIV84
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NIV84
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
ANSWER:

a. List the events that will take place when Christ comes. (Verses 16-17)

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NIV84
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
ANSWER: The Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. The dead in Christ will rise first. Then, those who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We will be with the Lord forever.

b. How long will we be with Him? (verse 17)

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV84
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
ANSWER: Forever!

c. What should we do with these truths? (verse 18)

1 Thessalonians 4:18 NIV84
Therefore encourage each other with these words.
ANSWER: Encourage each other with these words.

9. Read , . What kind of person is the Antichrist (“the man of lawlessness”), and what will happen to him?

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 NIV84
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV84
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thess
ANSWER: A man doomed to destruction. He is an opposer and prideful over everything that is called God or is worshiped. He sets himself up in God’s temple proclaiming to be God. JESUS WILL OVERTHROW WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH AND DESTROY BY THE SPLENDOR OF HIS COMING.

10. At Christ’s coming, what will happen to believers?

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 NIV84
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
ANSWER: All will be made alive
Philippians 3:20–21 NIV84
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
ANSWER: Our lowly bodies will be transformed into glorious bodies.
Colossians 3:4 NIV84
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
ANSWER: We will appear with Him in glory.
2 Timothy 4:8 NIV84
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
ANSWER: Believers will receive the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award us.
1 John 3:2 NIV84
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
ANSWER: Believers will be made like Him and we will see Him as He is.

11. From , compare your earthly and heavenly bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 NIV84
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
EARTHLY
ANSWER: Perishable, dishonor, weakness, natural
HEAVENLY
ANSWER: Imperishable, Glorified, powerful, spiritual

12. Read

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 NIV84
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

a. What will Christ’s return mean for unbelievers?

ANSWER: Punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power

b. For believers?

ANSWER: He will be glorified in His holy people and be marveled at among all of us who have believed.

c. For you?

ANSWER: I will marvel at Him as He is glorified because I believe.

13. What else will happen to believers at Christ’s return?

1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV84
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
ANSWER: Light will be brought to those things hidden in darkness and the motives of men’s hearts will be exposed.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV84
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
ANSWER: We will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive what id due for the things that we have done while in the body whether good or bad. ***** BEMA or BIMA seat.

The judgment of believers’ works has nothing to do with eternal salvation. It is a time of reward for service or loss of reward for services not done.

14. How will unbelievers be judged ()

Revelation 20:12–15 NIV84
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
ANSWER: Anyone who was not found in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.

WHAT HIS RETURN MEANS TO YOU

15. What will it be like in the presence of God? ()

Revelation 21:4 NIV84
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
ANSWER: No more tears, no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

a. What is the scope of the people who will be there? ()

Revelation 5:9 NIV84
And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
ANSWER: Every tribe, language, people and nation.

b. How does this reality influence your view of God’s heart, purposes, and plans?

ANSWER: He loves the world and wants everyone to be saved and walk in His perfect plans for their lives.
“Heaven, in a very real sense, is a continuation of all that was begun on this side. A continuation of the same soul that is me and a body reengineered for eternity. Released from the ravages and bondages of sin, we are set free in unfettered liberty to worship and praise the God of heaven and His Son, our Redeemer. . . . We will experience the unhindered joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment that God intended for us before there was sin, disappointment, and despair. — Joseph M. Stowell, Eternity

16. What attitudes should you have toward Christ’s return?

James 5:7–8 NIV84
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
ANSWER: Be patient and stand firm.
1 Peter 1:13 NIV84
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
ANSWER: Prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled; set our hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus is revealed.

17. Compare with and write a short paragraph on the effect Christ’s return should have on you.

2 Peter 3:10–12 NIV84
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
1 John 3:2–3 NIV84
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
ANSWER: The end is coming when nothing will be the same and everything will be destroyed by fire. Because of this we should live holy and godly lives and be a witness to everyone we can that they might be saved.

18. As you look back over questions 16 and 17, what emotions stir in your heart?

18. As you look back over questions 16 and 17, what emotions stir in your heart?

a. In what ways would you like God to strengthen your heart even more?

ANSWER: Give me a boldness and courage to speak in love to all that I can.

b. How can you keep the hope of Jesus’ imminent return in your daily thoughts?

ANSWER: Think on these things that we have studied in this lesson and remember.

c. How could you become even more ready to see Jesus face-to-face when He returns?

ANSWER: Continue to study His Word and live it.

19. Compare with . What reason can you see for Christ to delay His return?

Matthew 24:14 NIV84
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
2 Peter 3:9 NIV84
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
ANSWER: He does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance and know Jesus.

20. Read .

Mark 13:33–37 NIV84
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

a. What does Jesus urge us to do?

ANSWER: Be on guard and be alert . . . keep watch!

b. After meditating on this, write down several specific ways you can practice this in your life.

ANSWER: Study the Word, pray, be aware of the times that are surrounding us.

21. If you live in obedience and fellowship with Jesus now, what will be true of you when He comes? ()

1 John 2:28 NIV84
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
ANSWER: That we will be confident and unashamed when He comes.

SUGGESTED VERSE FOR MEDITATION AND MEMORIZATION

John 14:2–3 NIV84
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
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