"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13, NKJV.
The Bible is full of promises concerning Jesus' coming (1,518 times). The New Testament alone contains 380 references to Christ's return. That's one verse in every twenty-five.
God's Word describes the condition of the world just before Jesus comes, and it reads like the daily newspaper. Time is running out:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. ..." (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV).
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ... But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 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" (Matthew 24:6, 7, NKJV).
1. What precious promise did Jesus leave for all His followers;' John 14:1-3.
ANSWER: "I go to prepare a place for __________, I will receive __________ unto Myself; that where I am, there __________ may be also."
What Happens When Christ Returns the Second Time?
2. In His last prayer, what did Jesus want for us? John 17:24-26.
ANSWER: "I will that they ... be __________ __________ __________ I am."
3. Will Jesus Himself return, or will it be someone else? Acts 1:11.
ANSWER: "This __________ __________ which is taken up from you ... shall __________ __________ in __________ __________."
4. When He comes, how many people will know it? Revelation 1:7.
ANSWER: "Behold He cometh with __________; and __________ __________ __________ __________ __________."
5. How many will actually see the second coming of Jesus? Matthew 24:27.
ANSWER: "As the __________ cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the __________."
6. Who will be with Him when He returns? Matthew 24:30, 31.
ANSWER: "And He shall send his __________ ... and they shall __________ __________ his elect.
7. What wonderful thing happens when Jesus returns? 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
ANSWER: "The Lord himself shall descend ... and the __________ in __________ shall __________ __________."
8. After the righteous dead are resurrected when Jesus comes, what happens to those living who are happy to see Him come? Verse 17.
ANSWER: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be __________ up __________ with them in the clouds."
9. Who will God's people live with after the joyous return of Christ? Same verse, last part.
ANSWER: "To meet the __________ in the air: and so shall we ever be __________ the __________."
10. Having this hope, how may we cooperate with Jesus to prepare for His soon coming? 1 John 3:1-3.
ANSWER: "And every man that __________ this __________ in Him __________ __________, even as He is pure."
11. How is this kind of character preparation possible? Matthew 19:26; John 6:29.
ANSWER: "With men this is __________; but with God __________ __________ are __________." "This is the work of God, __________ __________ __________ whom He hath sent."
A very thoughtful writer has said: "The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horseraces, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.
"Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: 'Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.' 'Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.'" The Desire of Ages, p. 636 (we will speak of this book later in our study guides).
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7 "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17