*** What
wonderful promise did Jesus make concerning His Second Advent?
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.
*** What will
follow the signs of Christ’s coming?
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with
power and great glory.” Luke 21:27.
*** At His
ascension, how was Christ’s return promised?
“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up,
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10, 11.
*** With what
words does Paul express the blessed hope of Christ’s Second Advent for His
people?
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.
*** What does
Peter say about this awaited event?
“We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made
known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
eye-witnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16.
*** When He
returns, will most of the inhabitants of earth be prepared to meet Him?
“Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of
Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall
see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of Him.” Revelation 1:7.
*** Why will
many not be prepared for this important event?
“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord
delayeth His coming,” and shall begin to smite his fellow
servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant
shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is
not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with
the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:48-51.
*** What will
the world be doing when Christ returns in the clouds of heaven for His
own?
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day
that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took
them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Verses 37-39. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded,” but
the same day that Lot went out of
Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30.
*** Who is it
that blinds men to the message about salvation through Jesus Christ?
“In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4.
*** How
important is it that we now prepare our lives to meet Christ when He
returns?
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be
like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.
*** Will the
return of Christ be a time of reward?
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with
His angels; and then He shall reward every man according, to his
works.” Matthew 16:27. “And, behold, I come quickly; and
My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall
be.” Rev. 22:12.
*** Who will
receive the promised salvation when Christ returns?
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.
*** What
strong motivation should His return have on our lives right now?
“We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we
shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2, 3.
*** To whom
are these crowns of life promised?
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure
is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His
appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:6-8.
*** What will
the waiting ones say when Jesus comes the second time?
“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have
waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for
Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9.
*** Has the
exact time of Christ’s coming been revealed?
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matt. 24:36.
*** In view of
this fact, how does Christ tell us to prepare for that glorious event?
’Watch therefore: for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Verse 42.
*** What
warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise when He
returns?
“And 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. For as a snare shall it come on all
them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.” Luke 21:34-36.
*** What
special attribute should the waiting ones develop?
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the
Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the
Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7, 8.