THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (THE BLESSED HOPE) SEARCH AND SHARE MINISTRY www.searchshareministry.com Overview: The parable of the ten virgins Matt 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. The Blessed Hope Christ second coming is the blessed hope of all redeemed along the ages as it was promised. Christ second coming is the end of the world. The saved will go to heaven with the Lord and will be with Him forever. It marks the end of Satan's power against the saints forever. This is the glorification of the saints and the Lord. Theme: CHRIST, THE COMING KING OF KINGS. Text: Titus 2:13, 14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. I. THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIS'S COMING Jn. 14:1-3 Christ will come again; the most exciting promise to His disciples with the words of assurance for his disciples. He will come again that they may be with Him forever in His home. Acts 1:9-11 The angels assured the disciples of Christ s return.
Dan. 2:43-45 The falling of the rock which destroyed the image represents the coming of Christ and His kingdom. Matt. 24:14,27,30,31,35-39; 25 In Christ long discourse about His coming He gives signs as the assurance of His imminent return. II. THE REASONS OF CHRIST'S COMING 1. To give rest and freedom from the presence of sin, from temptations and annoyances of the devil, and the dead in Christ must be resurrected. And, the Lord wants His people to be with Him forever (1Thes 4:16, 17; John. 14:1-3). 2. The gift of immortality will be given at the second coming of Christ. The saints might experience death, sufferings, persecutions and other things until Christ remove them from the earth (1 Cor. 15:42-57; Dan. 12:2). 3. Christ will come to avenge His people from the evil work of Satan and his followers. While on earth, the saints will have tribulation till the second coming of Christ (Dan 7:25-27; 12:1; Matt 24: 22, 29-31; Rev 6:10, 11; 18:20; 2Thes 1:1-11; Matt 5:11, 12; Deut 4:30; John 16:33). 4.. Christ will execute the decision of the first phase of judgment (investigative-pre-advent judgment); to save the saints from the hands of the wicked (2Thes. 1:7-10; 2:4-8; Rev. 6:14-16; 18:19-21; Dan. 2:34, 35, 44, 45). 5. Christ will give every reward to the saints according to their works and will be given eternal life (Matt. 16:27; 25:14-46; Rev. 22:14, 15). 6. To let the saints review the cases of the wicked in preparation for the executive phase of judgment. Satan's rebellion must be put to an end (1Cor 6:3; Rev 20: 4, 13). III. THE MANNER OF CHRIST'S COMING A. The coming of Christ is personal and literal. 1. Acts 1:9-11 "the same Jesus...shall so come in like manner." (KJV) Note: Christ ascended to heaven literally (with flesh and bones Luke 24:39) as seen by the disciples. The same manner he will come down (riding on the clouds) on earth. 2. 1Thes. 4:16 "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven.." B. Christ coming is visible, and audible. It is not a secret event, every eye will see Him: 1. The coming of the Lord is not secret, it is noisy and fiery (Ps 50:3).
2. There will be sounds of the trumpets, the voice of Christ and there will be resurrection (1Thes 4:16). 3. Every eye will see Him and the whole earth will wail before Him (Rev 1:7). 4. The whole world will see Him as the lightning can be seen from east to west. Christ will not come in the secret places as some will tell to the people to deceive them (Matt. 24:23-28). C. The second coming of Christ is the end of the world. 1. There will be the greatest earthquake that will destroy all the cities and inhabitants of the earth. All classes of men will hide from His glorious presence and will try to hide themselves in the mountains and rocks (Rev 6:14-17). 2. All the wicked will be slained in the presence of the Lord (2Thes 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev 19:11-21). D. The second coming is the time of gathering of all the saints, (dead and alive). 1. There will be resurrection of all the saints. They will be given an immortal body. The wicked will be remain dead on earth for a period of time (1Cor 15:51-54; 1Thes 4:16, 17; John 14:1-3; Rev 20:5). 2. All the elect will be gathered by the holy angels from all corners of the earth to be with the Lord forever (Matt. 24:31, 32; Mk 13:27). E. The second coming will free the saints from tribulations. There will be no secret rapture (Matt. 24:37-51; 25; Dan. 9:25-27). There is no single indication that there will be a secret rapture to free them from tribulation (2Thes 1; John 16:33; 1Thes. 3:4; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3; 8:35; 12:12; 1Cor 1:4; Rev 7:14; Matt. 24:21). IV. THE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING Rev. 6:12-14 There are signs given to tell the coming of Christ is near. A. The signs in the natural world. The darkening of the sun and the moon on May 19, 1780, this happened after the era of papal persecution. The falling of the stars on November 13, 1833, was seen in the great part of the world (Matt. 24:29). B. The signs in the religious world. I. The rise of the apostate system (2Thes 2:4)
1. The rise and fall of the papal power (Dan. 7:23-27; Rev. 13:1-10) (The 1260 years of supremacy). 2. The rise of the United States of America as the super power (Rev. 13:11-18). 3. The resurgence of the papal power (Rev. 13:3) 4. The new world system of government that will unite with the papacy (Rev. 17:12). 5. The religious and moral decline (2 Tim. 3:1-5). C. The great advent movement. 1. The proclamation of the coming of Christ from 1833-1844 A.D.. 2. The unsealing of the book of Daniel (Dan. 12:4). 3. The rise of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Laodecian church, the last days church (Dan. 8:13, 14; Rev. 3:14-22). 4. The understanding of the Sanctuary doctrine unsealed (Dan 10: 21). 5. The universal proclamation of the gospel. (See Matt. 24:14). D. The union of church and state in USA 1. The union of the Protestant churches in America and will unite with the political power of the state (Rev 13: 14). 2. The national Sunday law in USA, then the whole world follows (Rev 13:16, 17). 3. The proclamation of the gospel in the power of the latter rain to warn the world and to testify the Sabbath truth (Rev 18:4). 4. The world will despised the truth and will scoff the truth (2Pet 3: 3-6). E. The wars and calamities intensified. 1. The natural and man-made calamities will become more frequent. (Ex. The 911 terrorism, the tsunami in Asia 2005, Hurricane Katrina in USA, Haiti earthquake 2010, the Swine flu 2009-?) (Luke. 21:10; Matt. 24:7; Mk. 13:7, 8) 2. The great earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal in November 1, 1755 before the falling of the stars (Nov 13, 1833) before the sun and the moon were darkened. Its effect were observed in Europe, Africa, and America, covering an area of about 4 million square mile.-- What People Need To Know 339
3. The World War I and II, Korean war, Vietnam war, Middle East wars, war on terror and the other wars ravaging the nations. 4. The increasing of diseases that impossible for the medical science to cope up. 5. The famines occurred in Africa, China, India and Bangladesh and other part of the world. 6. The increase of food shortage but an increase of quick or instant foods. F. The signs in socio-economic world. 1. The increase of employer-employee relationship problems (Jas. 5:1-6). 2. The increase of lottery and other methods to increase human greed on money and wealth. 3. The depression started in 2008 4. The universal control of economy to enforce religious laws (Rev. 13:16-18). G. The sign in the religio-political system or the coming New World Order (Dan 2 image). The Saviour gives signs of His coming, and more than this, He fixes the time when the first of these signs shall appear: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." {DA 631.2} V. THE COMING OF CHRIST FIRST INTO OUR LIVES No one knows the exact time of Christ coming but there is a need of preparation and watchfulness (Matt. 24:36). Christ image must be reproduced first in the soul to be ready in His appearance (1 Jn. 2:24-29). Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. "If a man love Me," Christ said, "he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23. The spell of a stronger, a perfect mind will be over us; for we have a living connection with the source of all-enduring strength. In our divine life we shall be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. We shall no longer
live the common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in us. His character will be reproduced in our nature. Thus shall we bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit--"some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred." {COL 61.3} VI. THE PROMISE AND WARNING Promise: John 14:1-3 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. Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. The Father will welcome those who are the chosen people during the coming of Christ (Matt. 25:34). Warning: Many false prophets will come and will declare peace and safety for the coming millennium, but a sudden destruction will come (1Thes 5:2, 3). After He had given the signs of His coming, Christ said, "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." "Take ye heed, watch and pray." God has always given men warning of coming judgments. Those who had faith in His message for their time, and who acted out their faith, in obedience to His commandments, escaped the judgments that fell upon the disobedient and unbelieving. The word came to Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me." Noah obeyed and was saved. The message came to Lot, "Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city." Genesis 7:1; 19:14. Lot placed himself under the guardianship of the heavenly messengers, and was saved. So Christ's disciples were given warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who watched for the sign of the coming ruin, and fled from the city, escaped the destruction. So now we are given warning of Christ's second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world. Those who heed the warning will be saved. {DA 634.1} The Tempest Is Coming The youth should seek God more earnestly. The tempest is coming, and we must get ready for its fury by having repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth. We shall see troubles on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions. Fires will break out unexpectedly, and no human effort will be able to quench them. The palaces of earth will be swept away in the fury of the flames. Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent; confusion, collision, and death without a moment's warning will occur on the great lines of travel. The end is near, probation is closing. Oh, let us seek God while He
may be found, call upon Him while He is near! The prophet says: "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."--the Signs of the Times, April 21, 1890. {MYP 89.2} VII. SUMMARY 1. Christ coming is literal. 2. Christ coming is visible. 3. Christ coming is audible. 4. Christ coming is personal. 5. Christ coming is the end of the world. 6. Christ coming is the time of glorification of the saints. 7. Christ coming is the time for the general resurrection of the saints. 8. Christ coming is very sure and very soon! 9. Christ coming requires the preparation of the whole world. 10. Christ coming is the greatest hope. REFLECTION 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Proclaim It in Every Land.--I have been instructed to trace words of warning for our brethren and sisters who are in danger of losing sight of the special work for this time.... In every land we are to herald the second coming of Christ, in the language of the revelator proclaiming: "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him."--Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 116. (1904) {Ev 217.4} The time has come when the message of Christ's soon coming is to sound throughout the world.-- Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 24. (1909) {Ev 218.1}