Second Coming
Introduction:
I have been reading a lot of debate with people about the Second Coming of Christ. This lesson is not to try to prove anyone wrong or to argue. We should all respect one another’s opinions and discuss things in the love of Christ edifying one another and coming to the truth. I think God expects teachers to back up teaching with his word. I want to teach God’s word as his holy spirit leads and guides me. I want my thinking to line up to the truth and what God says. As far as the second coming of Christ, there are those that do believe in it and others that don’t. I began to pray about this and study God’s word and do research on this. I would like to share with you what I found.
Handout: Second Coming
Outline:
1. Hebrews 9:28 “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.”
Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Looking at the handout that goes along with this lesson, we read Matthew 25 and the parable of the ten virgins.
Jesus often referred to Himself as the Bridegroom and we (believers) as his Bride.
Why make the reference to the bride and bride groom and marriage supper of the Lamb as it does so many times in the Bible?
In understanding that Jesus was a Jew and a Rabbi in the time when he was here, we can see and understand better the things he meant by the things he said in his teachings. Jesus seldom answered a question directly; instead many times he would answer with a question of His own. Jesus wasn’t being rude, that was a very common way for a Rabbi to teach and how they debated things. He was a Jew therefore he talked and debated as they would have. The parables and teachings of Jesus sometimes are harder for us to understand in this day and time if we do not understand the culture and timeframe. However, in Jesus’ day, these parables made perfect sense to the Jews.
For us to understand as the Jews would have then, we have to know the Jewish marriage custom. Ok, so why did Jesus refer to himself as the Bridegroom, and to the believer as his bride?
In the Jewish wedding of the first century, The Bridegroom must pay the bride price. Jesus paid our sin debt, the bride price when he died on the cross.
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
1 Corinthians 7:22 “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called being free, is Christ’s servant.”
1 Corinthians 7:23 “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”
After the Bridegroom paid the Bride price, he would then offer the cup of wine signifying the covenant he was making with his bride. Remember the Passover meal or last supper?
Matthew 26:26-28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Later following the offering of wine to his bride, the Bridegroom would return to his father’s house and build on a room or rooms for himself and his bride to live in. During that time when he was preparing this place/home for his bride, she would have to remain at home her father placed her in before watching and waiting for her bridegroom to come and get her and take her to her new home.
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
John 14: 2 “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.”
John 14:3 “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.”
The Bride, she had to be very aware and watchful because she didn’t know how long it would be before her bridegroom would return for her.
Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the say nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
When he left to go to prepare the room, the bridegroom could not tell his bride how long it would be before he came back for her. He must have been so anxious to come back, but it was not up to him. It was up to his father. The son would prepare the place for his bride, but his father was the one who would have the final say when it was time for his son to go and get his bride.
Matthew 24: 30 “And 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 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Don’t you think he must be so looking forward for the time when he can come and take us home to be with him forever, and out of this old sin filled, sorrowful world? I believe he is eagerly waiting for word from the Father to say Son go get my children, go get your bride home forever! Praise the LORD!
2. In the Bible, with this comparison Jesus is showing His love for us and His relationship to us. During the Passover meal, He offered the cup of wine as His covenant to us all as His bride. The next day he paid the bride price for us, with His life. Then He rose from the dead and has gone to his Father’s house to prepare a place for us which in the scriptures is known as The New Jerusalem. What a beautiful home he is preparing for we that believe.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For 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: 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Revelation 1:7 “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. Even so, Amen.
Revelation 19:6-8 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth? Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
3. We that are waiting for Jesus to come back in the clouds to take us home, it’s not that we do not have Jesus. Like every born again believer we have the Spirit of God dwelling inside us. He is the one that leads and guides us daily. Where is Jesus? After Christ died and rose again he went to sit at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for us, we pray in the name of Jesus because he is the bridge, the door to the Father.
Mark 16:19 “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:34 “Who is he that comdemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
However, when he went away he sent the comforter. He knew that we would need guidance and so then the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to dwell in the hearts of the believers while here on earth.
John 14:2 “I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
Before the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in man. Before Jesus died and rose and before the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, The Holy Spirit came only for the sake of empowerment to complete a specific task. We know God would choose someone or a few and empower them with His spirit to get something accomplished, but not everyone had that privilege. Where do I get this? Here are some scriptures that will help you understand.
Numbers 11: 29 “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”
Also we find in Psalms 51:11 David prays “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
In the book of Judges we find many times it says the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson to empower him. So we know then, that the spirit would come and go.
So after Jesus died, rose, and went back to the Father, The Holy Spirit came to live and dwell in the hearts of the believer to lead and guide us. He came on the day of Pentecost and has remained and remains in the hearts of those that are born again.
Acts 2:1-2 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
Acts 2:15 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:”
Acts 2:17 “And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit: and they shall prophesy.”
Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
4. The word of God tells us to watch for the coming of Christ. God the Father sits on his throne in control, God the Son, Jesus, sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us, God the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of the believer and leads us as we journey home and tell the good news of the gospel in order for others to join the family of God and his kingdom.
Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Remember to serve one another in the love and attitude of Christ.
Dear Righteous Heavenly FATHER,
We thank you for your word and for another opportunity to gather together and learn you ways. We thank you for comforting, loving, and protecting us and our families yet another week. We praise you for who you are and we know that you are the one and only Almighty God. We bask in the wander of who you are and in your love and mercy. We wait for the time that we can be with you forever. Thank you for your many blessings. Help us as we go and do your will. Give us yet more wisdom, grace, and understanding as we try to study and learn more about you daily. Help us to love one another and lift one another up as you would have us to. Teach us to have a servant’s heart of love. We ask you to continue to protect, comfort, and lead us. Thank you for providing the things we need. We will ever love, worship, and praise you. In the name of your wonderful Son Jesus we pray…Amen.
~*Cindygirl*~
November 10, 2019