WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK

Lesson

As the calm blue waters of the Atlantic were interrupted by the cold steel of the Titanic little

did the crew and passengers know what awaited them that fateful night. The captain’s boastful

claim that “God Himself couldn’t sink this ship” wouldn’t go unchecked, for as those aboard

blissfully whisked toward America, the Titanic hit an iceberg and immediately eight compartments began rapidly filling with water.

It wasn’t as though she went unwarned. History records that other ships sent Morse code

warnings to the crew urging them to slow down because there was ice ahead. The result of

unheeded warnings is always the same -- sudden destruction!

Today, planet earth is a lot like the Titanic. While crew and passengers are blissfully sailing

through the waters of life. Somebody is desperately trying to get our attention with a warning

message. In Daniel 2: we read about a stone cut out of a mountain without hands. It smote the

image and broke it into pieces. Will we go down with the earth’s great nations, or will we heed

the warning and be saved?

1. What will the world be doing just before Christ returns and how is His coming described?

Matthew 24:38,39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3

marrying, eating and drinking, (not looking for Jesus’ advent) thinking peace and safety

2. Will God’s people know when Jesus’ advent in near? Matthew 24:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:4

Yes, ... that day (Jesus’ advent) should not overtake you as a thief.

According to 1 Thessalonians 5:4, Christ’s second coming is not to befall His people as a

thief because they are expecting it.

Jesus shared with His disciples what would occur just before He would return. These “signs”

serve the same purpose as street signs on the road. “Stop Ahead,” “No U-turn,” “One Way,”

tell what we can expect traffic to be doing up ahead. It also lets us know what we should be

doing. Jesus share the signs of His coming for the same reason.

3. Matthew 24: lists several signs that indicate when Jesus’ advent is near.

List three that you see today. Matthew 24:3to14 a.many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.wars rumours of wars: b. famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ... hated of all nations for my name's sake.

c. ... iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

4. What will people’s characters be like in the last days before Jesus returns? 2 Timothy 3:1to5

lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God ... Having a form of godliness, but denying the power

5. How is Christ’s return described in the following verses?

“For as the _ lightning cometh out of the east and __shineth

even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” ( Matthew 24:27,30,31)

“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a _shout__, with the

_voice___ of the archangel and with the _trump___ of God; and the dead in

Christ shall rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) (2 Thess. 2:8; Jeremiah 4:13,21to26)

“Behold He cometh with clouds; and ___every eye_______ shall see Him ...”

(Revelation 1:7 compare Mat.26:63,64) (Psalm 68:17; Isaiah 66:15)

The second coming of Jesus is noticeably loud! Every person will see and hear this event.

Revelation 11:18 says God will come to destroy those who destroy the earth. Broadcasting

from Hiroshima in 1945, after the atomic bomb was dropped, William Ripley stated, “I am

standing on the place where the end of the world began.” While the governments are trying to

limit and control nuclear weapons, we still have enough armament to destroy the earth.

6. What catastrophic event takes place when Jesus comes again? 2 Peter 3:10 (Isaiah 13:9,10)

_heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,

Total destruction will come upon this earth. This is real, as real as the destruction of the

Titanic.

7. With these events soon to transpire how should we live in our day? 2 Peter 3:11,12

_persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

8. Will everyone that claims to be a Christian enter into God’s kingdom? Who will?

Matthew 7:21to23; John 5:24

_Not every one, ... He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me,

9. What reassuring words does Jesus share with believers regarding His coming? Luke 21:28

things come to pass, then look up,and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

10. What will Christ bring with Him when He comes? Revelation 22:12

__I come quickly; my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

For those who are waiting for Him for the right reason, Jesus has a very special reward, and will deliver it in a very personalized manner. This delivery will far exceed a presidential

inauguration. The guests are not only invited --- Christ Himself is coming to pick them up as it were, in His limousine, and will escort them as His guests of honor at His inauguration!

Isn’t that an awesome thought? Matthew 25:31

Do you want to do all that you are able and can do to prepare for that inauguration?

___________yes_________________________________________________

Acts 17:11; Hebrews 11:6 __________________________________________

Matthew 6:9 __________________________________________