March 15-21, 2008

THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD

In this lesson you will learn that the prophets foretold Jesus’ first and second coming. Jesus also talked about His return, and if it is important to Him it should be important to us. It is time to raise your level of importance to the coming of the Lord.

I. What Jesus said three times about His second coming – Revelation 22.

A. Verse 7 – “Behold, I am coming quickly!”

B. Verse 12 – “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

C. Verse 20 – “Surely I am coming quickly.”

II. The disciples’ questions and Jesus’ answer – Matthew 24.1-14.

A. Matthew 24:3 – The three questions the disciples asked about the second coming.

1. When will these things be?

2. What will be the sign of Your coming?

3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

B. Matthew 24:4-13 – In His answers Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you” – vs. 4. Then He explained things would be happening on the earth near the end time.

C. Matthew 24:14 – The main verse in this passage is the gospel will be preached: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Three ways to be part of the end-time harvest - pray, give, and go.

III. Other signs of the end time – 2 Peter 3:3-14.

A. Verses 3-9 - Scoffers and mockers will come in the last days and they will willfully forget creation and the flood of Noah’s time. By willfully forgetting the judgment of sin during the flood, these people choose to forget that there will be judgment for their sin.

B. Verse 10-14 – As believers we should be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God and being diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

C. Matthew 24:36-44 – In the end times things will be going on as usual, but we must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• When did you first become aware of the second coming of the Lord?
• What is your part in the end time harvest: praying, giving, going, or all three?
• Does 2 Peter 3:12 describe you: “Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God”?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

This week review all these scripture passages and pray for the end time harvest.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”