Lesson 29 - What the Bible Says about the Last Days

Transcription

1 Principle Workbook Lesson 29 - What the Bible Says about the Last Days Aim * to learn what the Bible says about the last days * to know what Christians think will happen in the last days * to understand that some parts of the Bible are written in symbols and cannot be taken literally Materials * Visual aids about the last days * A Bible for each child * Bible passages about the last days * memory cards * Children s worksheets Lesson Outline 1. What the Bible says about the last days 2. What Christians think will happen 3. Principle Explanation 4. Activities - worksheet, memory game 5. Review the aims 6. Prayer... 1) What the Bible says about the last days When Jesus ascended into heaven he said he would return. The disciples were expecting him to return in their lifetime. Now 2,000 years have passed. The time when Christ returns is called the last Days. In the Bible there are many predictions about what will happen in the last days. We can start by reading what Jesus said about it Give each child a Bible and read from Matthew chapter 24, verses These are Jesus words. Ask the children the main points that Jesus made. Write the answers on the whiteboard: 1. Many people will claim to be Christ - Matthew 24: There will be wars, famines and earthquakes - Matthew 24: Many will lose their faith - Matthew 24: The sun and moon will become dark and the stars will fall down - Matthew 24:29 Read the other Bible passages and add to the list. Show large pictures that illustrate them. 5. Jesus will return and bring believers to a place he has prepared - John 14: Jesus will return in the way he left, from the sky - Acts 1: The whole world see Jesus - Revelation 1:7

2 8. Believers who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him - 1 Thessalonians 4: The earth will be destroyed - 2 Peter 3: A new heaven and earth will be created - Revelation 21:1 2) What Christians think will happen Many Christians believe literally what is written in the Bible, so they believe all these things will actually happen. This leads to a wrong understanding about the last days 1. Many people will claim to be Christ and there will be many false prophets 2. There will be wars, famines and earthquakes 3. Many will lose their faith 4. The sun and moon will become dark and the stars will fall down 5. Jesus himself will return because he said he would 6. Jesus will come down to earth on the clouds, because when Jesus ascended up to heaven, two angels appeared and said Jesus would return in the same way that he left 7. The whole world will know. Every one will see Jesus on the clouds 8. Believers who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him. Those who are still alive, will join them. Unbelievers will suffer the judgment of God 9. The earth will burn up and melt 10. A new heaven and earth will be created 3) Principle Explanation God intended to build a world of goodness, not destroy it. Predictions of the end of the world cannot be literally true. Many parts of the Bible are written in symbols. The Principle explains what the symbols mean. The next lesson will give a full explanation 4) Activities * Worksheet 1 - What the Bible Says about the Last Days Write 10 things the Bible says about the Last days * Worksheet 2 Look for 4 Bible passages in the Bible. Cut and paste each Bible verse onto the worksheet * Worksheet Find the correct Bible verse for each Bible passage. Choose one Bible verse and make your own illustration * Play the memory game to learn what the Bible says will happen in the last days 5) Review the aims * to learn what the Bible says about the last days * to know what Christians think will happen in the last days * to understand that some parts of the Bible are written in symbols and cannot be taken literally 6) End with a prayer

3 Jesus Speaks about the Future Matthew 24: (New International Version) Signs of the End of the Age As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. " Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,'spoken of through the prophet Daniel let the reader understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in

4 the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. " Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation[e] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Day and Hour Unknown "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. " Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him

5 Bible Passages about the Last Days (New International Version) 1. Many will claim to be Christ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. - Matthew 24: Jesus words 2. There will be wars, famines and earthquakes You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. - Matthew 24: Jesus 3. Many will lose their faith At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, - Matthew 24: 10 - Jesus 4. The sun and moon will become dark and the stars will fall down. Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. - Matthew 24:29 - Jesus 5. Jesus will return and bring believers to a place he has prepared "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. - John 14:1-3 - Jesus 6. Jesus will return in the way he left, from the sky They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1: Luke 7. The whole world see Jesus Look, he is coming with the clouds,and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! - Revelation 1:7 - John 8. Believers who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him One day the Lord Jesus will return to earth from Heaven, just as He promised. He will come suddenly when people do not expect Him. Believers who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him. Those who are still alive, will join them. Together they will meet the Lord Jesus in the air. They will be with Him in heaven for ever. Unbelievers will be left behind. They will suffer the judgment of God - 1 Thessalonians 4: Paul

6 9. The earth will be destroyed... as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. - 2 Peter 3:12 - Peter 10. A new heaven and earth will be created Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. - - Revelation 21:1 - John...

7 Bible Predictions about the Last Days 1.Many people will claim to be Christ 2. There will be wars, famines & earthquakes 3. Many will lose their faith

8 4. Sun & moon will become dark & stars will fall down. 5. Jesus will return and bring believers to a place he has prepared 6. Jesus will return in the way he left, from the sky

9 7. The whole world see Jesus 8. Believers who died will rise from their graves to meet Him 9. The earth will burn up and melt

10 10. A new heaven and earth will be created Principle Main Points Unit 4 - The Last Days (30) What the Bible says about the Last Days 10 pairs

11 (29) What the Bible Says about the Last Days (1) Write a list of ten things the Bible says will happen in the Last Days

12 (29) What the Bible Says about the Last Days (2) Look in the Bible for 4 verses. Cut them out and paste them below the correct picture......

13 ......

14 "Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.. 2 Peter 3:12 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Matthew 24:29 Revelation 21:1

15 (29) What the Bible says about the Last Days (3) Write the correct Bible passage 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Revelation 1:7, 2 Peter 3:12, Acts 1:10-11, Revelation 21:1, John 14:1-3, (New International Version) 1)... Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 2)... They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. 3)... Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4)..... as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat 5)... Look, he is coming with the clouds,and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! 6)... One day the Lord Jesus will return to earth from Heaven, just as He promised. He will come suddenly when people do not expect Him. Believers who have died will rise from their graves to meet Him. Those who are still alive, will join them. Together they will meet the Lord Jesus in the air. They will be with Him in heaven for ever. Unbelievers will be left behind. They will suffer the judgment of God

16 Illustrate one of the Bible verses about the Last days......