Foundation Institute Center for Biblical Education Fundamental Beliefs Church of God, a Worldwide Association The Return of Jesus Christ Handouts/Study Material 2013 Church of God, a Worldwide Association
Summary of Fundamental Belief The Return of Christ From the Constitution of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association A t the end of this present evil age, Jesus Christ will visibly return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God and reign forever and ever, beginning with a 1,000-year period commonly called the Millennium. He will sit upon the throne of David, ruling all nations as King of Kings and serving as High Priest to all who recognize Him as their Lord and Master. As prophesied, He will at this time restore all things and establish the Kingdom of God forever. Scriptural support: Daniel 2:44; 7:14, 18, 27; Matthew 24:30, 44; Revelation 1:7; 11:15; 19:16; 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16; John 14:3; Isaiah 9:7; 40:10-11; Hebrews 7:24; Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 1:11; 3:21; 15:16. Summary: 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3). According to Scripture, Jesus Christ will return to this earth as King of Kings and LORD. It is a reality to the believer of The Holy Scriptures, as written in the Old Testament and the New Testament (Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; 19:16; Isaiah 40:10; Daniel 2:44; Micah 1:3). Church of God, a Worldwide Association fully believes in the personal, visible, premillennial (prior to the 1000 year reign) return of the Lord Jesus Christ. His return will not be done in secret (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16). He will make war with the kings of the earth, and overcome them (Revelation 17:14). Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD is coming, for it is at hand (Joel 2:1). He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses (Revelation 19:13-14). And He said, Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning, so rend your heart and not your garments (Joel 2:12); Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest for My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28, 30). Jesus Christ was prophesied to sit on the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5) and establish the Kingdom of God on earth forever (Revelation 11:15). During the Millennium, Christ will inaugurate a time of refreshing, a time of restoration of all things (Acts 3:19, 21). He will be assisted by the saints who will be resurrected upon His return. The saints (those in the first resurrection) will become immortal children of God (1 Corinthians 15:50-53), rising to meet Him in the air (1Thessalonians 4:17) and will join Him as conqueror of this earth s rebellious nations (Revelation 5: 10; 20:6), and establishing the wonderful world tomorrow (Amos 9:13-14; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-5). Page 1 September 23, 1997
Summary of Fundamental Belief The Return of Christ From the Constitution of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association As Savior, Jesus Christ came once to bear the sins of many, and, as promised will appear a second time (Hebrews 9:28; Acts 15:16-17; I Corinthians 15:23). The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever (Revelations 11:15), and the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever (Daniel 7:18). And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work (Revelation 22:12). Yes, Jesus Christ is returning. The King and Savior of the world is coming back a second time! Page 2 September 23, 1997
R E T U R N O F C H R I S T F R O M NT S C R I P T U R E S Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 23:39 For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:35-36 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. Mark 14:62 Jesus said, I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father s, and of the holy angels. Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? Page 1
R E T U R N O F C H R I S T F R O M NT S C R I P T U R E S Luke 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Acts 1:11 Who also said, Men of Galilee, why to you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. Acts 3:19-21 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 1 Corinthians 1:7 So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one s praise will come from God. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death till He comes. 1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ s at His coming. Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 1 Thessalonians 3:13 So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Page 2
R E T U R N O F C H R I S T F R O M NT S C R I P T U R E S 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And when the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Titus 2:13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come, and will not tarry. James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Jude 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints. Revelation 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia; Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne. Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Page 3
R E T U R N O F C H R I S T F R O M NT S C R I P T U R E S Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 16:15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Revelation 19:11-13 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Page 4
R E V I E W S H E E T F O R R E T U R N O F C H R I S T 1. Does the Bible tell us when Christ will return? Will it be before the Millennium or after the Millennium? 2. When Christ returns where will His feet touch down? Provide the scriptural reference for your answer? 3. Is there a rapture? Where in scripture does this idea come from? What is the purpose in a rapture? 4. We are told that when Christ returns He will sit upon whose throne? Provide scriptural reference for your answer. 5. What will it be like on earth when Christ returns? Provide scriptural reference. 6. What did Christ promise to the 12 disciples when He comes in His kingdom? 7. The return of Jesus Christ will be proceeded by what sound? Provide scriptural reference. 8. Which group of people will be resurrected when Christ returns? Provide scriptural reference. Page 1