Introduction: After all of these lessons on prophecy, you
may be groaning and say, “Remind me, again, of the reason
for this study?” The reason is to give us confidence as we
see the events that lead up to the Second Coming of Jesus.
This week we finally get to the ultimate object of these
prophecies — the Second Coming. Let’s dive in!
- This Time Around
- Read Acts 1:9-11. Have you ever seen “Star Trek”
where people get “beamed” up or down? Is this how
Jesus left the earth? (No, He did not just
disappear in an instant. The report sounds like a
balloon drifting up until it gets lost in the
clouds.) - I seriously doubt that Jesus kept “drifting”
all the way to heaven. Why not just
“dematerialize” like in Star Trek? (If Jesus
just disappeared, the disciples would wonder
whether and where He had gone. Jesus wanted
His disciples to know that He went to heaven.
By actually seeing Him disappear in a cloud,
that idea was reinforced.) - So, the disciples are all standing there,
their heads cranked back staring into the sky.
They get interrupted by angels. What do you
think about the question the angels asked in
verse 11? - Did the angels just happen to be in the
neighborhood, stumble across this group
staring up, and really want to know? - What point were the angels making?
(The angels did not want to know why
the disciples were looking upward.
They wanted to know why they KEPT
looking up – as if they might catch
another glimpse of Jesus or He might
float lower. The angels wanted the
disciples to know Jesus was going to
heaven. He would return – just not
right now. No need to keep staring.) - Is there a lesson in this for us?
(Yes. Staring is not what we are
called upon to do. We are supposed to
be preparing for the Second Coming.) - Why did the angels say(v.11), “This same
Jesus” is coming again? (This was further
reinforcement that Jesus was God. Their friend
would be the One coming again.) - Next Time Around – The Attitude
- Read Matthew 24:30-31. We just read in Acts 1:11
that Jesus will come back in the same way He left.
Does this seem consistent with Matthew 24? (It is
the same way, but a much larger event.) - Read Revelation 1:7. The disciples were probably
mourning when Jesus left. Who is mourning now?
(Both Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 refer to the
“nations” and “peoples” of the earth mourning.) - Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. What does Paul
believe will be the reaction of the saints? (He
thinks it is an event that encourages the saints!) - Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. What is the reason for
the different reactions to Jesus’ Second Coming?
Why are the unrighteous mourning and the righteous
glad? (The righteous are looking for Jesus to save
them from the wicked. The wicked enjoy what they do
and do not want Jesus to bring evil to an end.) - Read Isaiah 35:4-6. What other reasons do the
righteous have for being glad when Jesus comes
back? (The effects of sin will be gone. Those sick
and disabled will be perfect again.) - Next Time Around – Action
- Read Revelation 19:11-13. Who is the Rider? (Jesus.
Compare John 1.) - What do we learn about Jesus’ activities? Are
they set out in order? (This sets out the
sequence of Jesus first judging and then
making war. His Second Coming involves this
addition factor: war.) - Read Revelation 19:14-16. What else is different
between Jesus’ ascension to heaven and His return?
(He has an army with Him on the return.) - Read Revelation 19:19. We learned before that the
wicked will mourn at Jesus’ Second Coming. What
else are they doing, other than being depressed?
(They are gathering for war.) - Who is leading the opposition? (The beast.
This would be the “Sea Beast” we have
discussed in the last few lessons. We know
that because we learned the “Earth Beast” is
also known as the “False Prophet.” It appears
from the capture scene (v.20) that they are
still working together.) - In texts such as Matthew 24:30-31 and 1
Thessalonians 4:16-17 we have a picture of
Jesus staying in the air while His angels
gather the righteous to meet Jesus in the air.
The whole feeling of this is that Jesus comes
and we are whisked away with Him almost
immediately. How do you reconcile that picture
of the Second Coming with the picture in
Revelation 19:19 of Jesus being here long
enough for the opposition to organize an army
against Him to attack? - Read Revelation 19:20-21. How long a battle
does this suggest? - What do you think is meant by a sword
that comes of out Jesus’ mouth? (If you
recall the account of creation in Genesis
1, you know that Jesus created the world
by speaking. The sword coming out of
Jesus’ mouth probably means that He
simply speaks the destruction of the
wicked. This accords with 2 Thessalonians
2:8. This means that the battle is over
with very quickly.) - Read again Matthew 24:30. What is the
“sign” of Jesus’ Second Coming? (This
suggests that the wicked may have advance
warning of the Second Coming and this may
explain how they are organized to oppose
Jesus. This seems to be the logical
answer to this organization unless Jesus
is here a little longer than we think.)
- I have heard people stress the fact that Jesus
will be in the air and that His FEET will not
touch the earth. That, they assure me, is the
true way to tell the true Second Coming from
the false. I’ve often wondered what happens
if the exact position of Jesus’ feet is not
visible. Based on these texts we have
studied, is there a more obvious way to tell
the true from the false without keeping track
of feet? (It is so obvious. The world hates
the Lord and tries to attack when He comes.
Any false Christ would be welcomed by the
world. You don’t need to see feet, you need to
check if a battle is underway!) - How many battles over Jesus’ coming are there?
(When Jesus comes to get the saints we have the
battle that we just studied. However, when Jesus
brings the saints back with Him from heaven along
with the New Jerusalem, we have another (and final)
battle that is described in Revelation 20:1-10.
Let’s turn to the positive side of that event
next.) - The Third Return
- Read Revelation 21:1-2. Where do the righteous
ultimately live? (In the earth made new!) - Read Revelation 21:3. What is the significance of
God leaving heaven and coming to earth to live? (We
become the “center of the universe.”) - Why does God do this? (I think it symbolizes
His (our) victory over sin. The site of God’s
royal city is now in the former battlefield
between good and evil.) - Read Revelation 21:4. What will life be like for us
in the earth made new? - Does this sound like the Ten Commandments – a
bunch of negative statements – no pain, no
tears, no death, no mourning? - If so, why? (This is because of our
limited understanding of what God has in
store for us. We know the negative things
of life. God says those negative things
will be gone. He cannot begin to tell us
all the positive things that will be in
heaven because we would not understand.)
- Read Revelation 20:7-9. What city does Satan and
his allies surround? (This is the New Jerusalem.
After the 1,000 years in heaven, the New Jerusalem
comes down to earth where the earth is made new.
Jesus and the saints return with the New Jerusalem,
the wicked dead are raised (Rev. 20:4-6), and Satan
rallies the troops for one last attempt to overcome
God and the saints.) - What is the outcome of this final battle?
(Verse 9 tells us the wicked are burned up.) - Friend, Jesus is coming again! There will be a
resolution to the sin problem, and God will reign
with His people here in the earth made new. Would
you like to spend eternity with God? An eternity
that will be so great we cannot grasp it now? If
so, I invite you today to repent and ask Jesus to
save you. - Next Week: Preparing for the Apocalyptic Consummation.
