1. Lesson 13 for September 27, 2014

2. Jesus promised He would come again almost two thousand years ago. Today, we must be ready to answer several questions about the Second Coming:

3. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

4. God kept every promise he made to Israel. Jos. 21:45; 1K. 8:56. The promised of the incarnation was kept. Psalm 40:7; Heb. 10:5-7. Jesus kept His promise of bringing Jairus’ daughter back to life. Luke 8:50; Luke 8:54-55. He promised He would rise from the grave. Mat. 16:21; Mat. 28:5-6. He promised the Holy Spirit would come to His disciples. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4. He promised He would come again… and He will absolutely do so!

5. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27) The Second Coming has three main objectives: 1.To do justice. Matthew 16:27. 2.To resurrect the saints that passed away. 1 Thessalonians 4:16. 3.To gather all the redeemed to live with Jesus forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

6. Suddenly, “as the lightning comes.” (Mt. 24:27) Unexpectedly, “as a thief in the night.” (1Ts. 5:2) Visibly, “every eye will see Him.” (Rev. 1:7) Audibly, “with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” (1Ts. 4:16) Accompanied by “all the holy angels.” (Mt. 25:31) With royal authority, as the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16) Powerfully, “the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1Co. 15:52)

7. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) Jesus didn’t tell us the date of His Coming. He instead told us the events that would happen before it. See Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.  False messiahs.  Wars and rumors of wars.  Pestilences, famines and earthquakes.  The saints being persecuted.  False prophets.  Lawlessness abounds.  Love grows cold.  The Gospel is preached all over the world.  The sun and the moon are darkened.  The stars are shaken.  The sign of the Son of Man appears.

8. The most important idea Jesus wanted to impress on the disciples’ minds was that His coming is near. In a real sense, the Second Coming is never farther away than a moment after our death. We close our eyes in death and, whether one year has passed or one thousand years have passed, the next thing we know is the second coming of Jesus. For each of us, individually, His coming is never more than a moment after we die.

9. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13) By repenting and by confessing our unconfessed sins to Jesus, by renewing our faith in His expiatory death on the cross for us, and by surrendering our wills totally to Him. Walking in communion with Him, we can enjoy the deep peace of being covered by His robe of righteousness. How can we be ready today? Jesus insisted on the need to be ready for His Coming, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

10. “We know not the precise time when our Lord shall be revealed in the clouds of heaven, but He has told us that our only safety is in a constant readiness—a position of watching and waiting. Whether we have one year before us, or five, or ten, we are to be faithful to our trust today. We are to perform each day’s duties as faithfully as though that day were to be our last.” E.G.W. (That I may know Him, December 18)