{"kind":"clesson","id":"bbc","lang":"en","langs":["en","zh","de","es"],"courseTitle":"Basic Beliefs Curriculum","cover":"content/courses/media/3acdfce5ebfd583c.png","n":10,"m":0,"count":10,"lessonTitle":"Coming of Christ","title":"Coming of Christ","blocks":[{"k":"h2","t":"Teaching Guidelines: "},{"k":"oli","t":"You may choose to complete this topic in one session."},{"k":"oli","t":"In this class, we discuss the events that will occur before Christ's coming, the two eternal destinies that await us, and how to prepare ourselves for His return."},{"k":"h2","t":"Presentation slides:"},{"k":"p","t":"▶️ Slides on Coming of Christ for use in class"},{"k":"hr"},{"k":"h2","t":"Eagerly Awaiting Christ’s Coming","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"When Jesus was in the world, He promised that He would come again. He said,"},{"k":"q","t":"“I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)"},{"k":"p","t":"The Bible repeatedly speaks about Jesus’s return and reminds us that this promise is sure. After Jesus had died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven on a cloud, the angels told the disciples that Jesus will return in the same manner. The apostle Paul also wrote about the manner of His return:"},{"k":"q","t":"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)"},{"k":"h3","t":"The Day of Salvation","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"The purpose of Jesus’s coming again is different. The first time Jesus came into the world, He came to pay for our sins and open a way for our salvation. But the second time He comes, He will save those who belong to Him, who have been washed in His blood, and who are eagerly waiting for him."},{"k":"q","t":"[S]o Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)"},{"k":"p","t":"The day of Christ’s coming is the day our salvation is fully realized. Everything that we believe in and hope for will become reality on that day. All the trials and suffering we have endured for the faith will be proven to be worth it. That is when we finally meet with our Savior and will inherit the kingdom that He has prepared for us."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"The Day of Glory","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)"},{"k":"p","t":"As believers of Jesus Christ, this is the reason we desire to be saved: to finally be released from the bondage of our physical existence and to receive a glorious spiritual body like that of Jesus. On that day, we will enter into eternity and death is no more. We will no longer be citizens of countries in this world because all worldly authority and power will have come to an end. Rather, we will be citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Evil will be destroyed, so in God’s new kingdom there will be no more injustice or fear. There will be no more struggle or pain. There will be no more toils or tears."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"The Day of Joy","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"Before Jesus left the disciples to return to God the Father, He comforted His disciples:"},{"k":"q","t":"“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)"},{"k":"p","t":"Jesus assures us that we will reunite with Him. Where He is, we will be also. We can hold onto Jesus’s words, knowing that one day His promise will be fulfilled. Until then, just as Jesus has been preparing for our salvation and guiding us to return to Him, we also need to prepare ourselves to meet Him. For those who do not know Jesus, His coming may seem like a dreadful day. But Christ’s coming should be a joyful day for believers, especially if we are prepared for His return."},{"k":"p","t":"The Bible compares the coming of Jesus to a wedding day. The believers are like the bride of Christ. Christ will come to take us home to be with Him."},{"k":"q","t":"Let us be glad and exult\nand give him the glory, \nfor the marriage of the Lamb has come, \nand his wife has made herself ready; \n(Revelation 19:7)"},{"k":"p","t":"The great joy when we see Jesus is like that of a bride received by her bridegroom. Just as a wedding day is a great day of celebration, Jesus’s coming is the beginning of a new and beautiful future for us with the One who loves and cherishes us most. We will be with Him forever and never again be parted."}]}]},{"k":"h2","t":"When and How Will Christ Come?","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"h3","t":"When Will He Come?","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"Knowing that Jesus will come again, we naturally want to know when. Many people have falsely predicted the time of Christ’s coming. Some fervent followers even sold their possessions to await Christ’s coming, only to awaken to failed predictions."},{"k":"p","t":"Jesus states very clearly: “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). So if we hear people claim to know when Jesus will come, we should not believe them."},{"k":"p","t":"When people asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come, He told them that it would come unexpectedly."},{"k":"q","t":"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:43-44)"},{"k":"p","t":"Jesus compared His coming to the coming of a thief. He wants us to know that that day will be unannounced and sudden. Paul also reminded the believers of what the Lord Jesus had taught, that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” This is why we need to always be ready to face our Lord and be prepared for His return at any time."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Events Before His Coming","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"Even though we do not know the time of Jesus’s return, in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus has foretold the events before His coming. There will be wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, and famine. There will also be a time of great tribulation, the greatest tribulation there has ever been on earth. Jesus said,"},{"k":"q","t":"For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. (Mark 13:19)"},{"k":"p","t":"Believers will be persecuted for their faith, and many will forsake the faith. Though evil will increase and believers will face persecution, God will also show mercy to His own and give them wisdom through the Holy Spirit. Believers will be able to pass through this difficult time by keeping His word (Revelation 3:10)."},{"k":"p","t":"Following the time of tribulation, the sun and moon will be darkened and the stars will fall from heaven."},{"k":"q","t":"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)"},{"k":"p","t":"The world as we know it will be in complete chaos because of these cosmic events. However, Jesus tells believers that this is the sign that our redemption is drawing near."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"How Will He Come?","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"Christ’s return will be very different from the first time He came to this world. The first time He came, Jesus was born and grew up with a lowly background. He was tried like a criminal and died a humiliating death. However, when Jesus returns, He will come in great majesty and glory. He will descend in clouds accompanied by angels and the sound of trumpets."},{"k":"q","t":"Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)"},{"k":"p","t":"His coming will be as obvious as lightning flashing across the sky. Everyone will witness His coming from heaven. Many will be filled with terror and great distress. However, believers will be able to stand before the Lord with confidence, as children are happy to see their parents. Those who belong to the Lord will be gathered from all corners of the world."},{"k":"p","t":"At that time, those who have not acknowledged the Lord Jesus or followed Him will be rejected by Him."},{"k":"q","t":"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)"},{"k":"p","t":"On the other hand, those who follow the Lord to the end will be welcomed into the kingdom of God. Whether the Lord Jesus acknowledges us on that day depends on our choices today. May we all be true disciples of the Lord Jesus so we may receive praise from Him and share in His glory when He comes."}]}]},{"k":"h2","t":"Two Eternal Destinies","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"h3","t":"Resurrection and Judgment","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)"},{"k":"p","t":"Jesus foretold that on the last day, the dead will rise to receive judgment. No one will escape this final judgment. Everything we have done will be revealed at that time."},{"k":"q","t":"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)"},{"k":"p","t":"We will receive reward or punishment according to the choices we have made in this life. The Lord Jesus will issue the final verdict, and His judgment will be irreversible."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Punishment or Life","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"What we do in this body determines our eternal fate. There are only two possible outcomes from judgment: eternal condemnation or eternal life."},{"k":"q","t":"And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.(Matthew 25:46)"},{"k":"p","t":"The cursed will be thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil, and the blessed will enter the kingdom of God prepared from the foundation of the world."},{"k":"q","t":"[A]nd to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)"},{"k":"p","t":"Those who have not believed in God and received salvation through Jesus Christ will suffer eternal destruction. They will be eternally separated from God. This is a great anguish and an unimaginable suffering. On the other hand, the righteous will receive eternal life. They are the ones who have received the Lord Jesus and obeyed His words."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"A Glorious Body","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)"},{"k":"p","t":"Those who inherit the kingdom of God will be given a glorious body. They will see the Lord Jesus as He is and have a glorious body like His. This is how the Bible describes the resurrection of the righteous:"},{"k":"q","t":"So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. (1 Corinthians 15:42-43) "},{"k":"q","t":"Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51–53)"},{"k":"p","t":"This new body that we will receive will be immortal, imperishable, and glorious. It will be free from the weaknesses of our current physical bodies."},{"k":"p","t":"Believers who are still alive when Jesus comes will be caught up to meet the Lord."},{"k":"q","t":"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)"},{"k":"p","t":"All of our possessions and accomplishments in this world will come to an end. Our Lord Jesus said, “’For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?’” (Mark 8:36-37). Nothing is more important than for our soul to overcome death and enter eternal life. That is the hope of believers of Jesus Christ. Let’s accept and obey the Lord Jesus today so that we may be raised in glory and immortality at the resurrection."}]}]},{"k":"h2","t":"Preparing for Christ’s Coming","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"As we wait for our Lord Jesus to return, we must make preparations. The purpose of our lives should no longer be enjoyment or accumulation of possessions. Jesus tells us what He expects of us upon His return:"},{"k":"q","t":"It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. (Mark 13:34)"},{"k":"p","t":"Our Lord Jesus is our Master, and He has given each one of us work to do. He has given us the resources to carry out His work and we are stewards of what He has entrusted to us. For those who are given more, more will be expected. When it comes time for us to give an account before the Lord, we want the Lord to call us faithful servants rather than cast us out as useless servants. "},{"k":"p","t":"Let’s look at what the Lord wants us to do."},{"k":"h3","t":"Care for the Believers","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"One charge we are given is to care for other believers in the household of God:"},{"k":"q","t":"And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Luke 12:42-43)"},{"k":"p","t":"The Lord Jesus wants us to fulfill our ministry and to be “faithful and wise managers” over what He has entrusted us. We need to be aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters in order to provide for their material and spiritual needs."},{"k":"p","t":"Some ways that we can look out for our brothers and sisters are: giving our possessions to those who are in need; visiting the sick; lending a listening ear to the sorrowful; sharing a word of encouragement; or praying with those who are suffering. These actions take a lot of patience and require time and energy, but they are what our Master expects of us."},{"k":"p","t":"In the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus taught that He will judge us based on how we have treated others. He said, “’”Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”’” (Matthew 25:40). Our acts of care for our brothers and sisters are done upon Jesus Himself and remembered by Him. So let’s continue to serve our family in Christ with increasing love and without grumbling."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Do God’s Will","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)"},{"k":"p","t":"The Lord Jesus taught that on the last day, He will reject many people who claim to know Him. These are people who believed in Jesus and called Him Lord. They may have even preached in Jesus’s name and performed miracles in His name. But Jesus will not welcome them into His kingdom at His coming. Jesus will say to these people that He never knew them and even call them workers of lawlessness. What was the reason? It was because they only appeared to be Christians on the outside but did not obey God’s will."},{"k":"p","t":"The Lord Jesus once asked the people, “’Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I tell you?’” (Luke 6:46). The Lord Jesus has commanded us to be baptized for salvation. Have we done so? He commanded His disciples to wash each other’s feet. Have we received footwashing administered by the church so we may have a part with the Lord? The Lord Jesus has taught us to ask for the Holy Spirit and promised that He would send the Holy Spirit. Have we prayed for and received the promised Holy Spirit? It’s important that we spend time studying the Bible to be sure that we are obeying the commands in the Bible regarding salvation, rather than follow popular opinions or our own biases."},{"k":"p","t":"In terms of what the Lord has commanded about how we live our lives, do our actions live up to Jesus’s teachings? Do we harbor hate or envy in our hearts? Are we honest in our speech and actions? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? Claiming that we know Jesus is not enough. To be His disciples, we must also carry out what He has taught us in the Bible."},{"k":"p","t":"At the Lord’s coming, those who did not act according to His will will be punished."},{"k":"q","t":"And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. (Luke 12:47)"},{"k":"p","t":"What the Lord Jesus will look at when He comes is not whether we confess His name. He will ask us whether we have acted according to His will. If we are diligent in our work and obedient to His commandments, we will be validated by His words of praise. And it will be our greatest honor and joy to hear Him acknowledge us as His good and faithful servants as He welcomes us into the heavenly kingdom."}]}]},{"k":"h2","t":"Be Watchful Until He Comes","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"Since we do not know when the Lord Jesus will come, we must be ready at all times. The Bible teaches us how we must be alert while we prepare for His coming."},{"k":"h3","t":"Guard Against False Teachings","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)"},{"k":"p","t":"In the end days, people will come in Jesus’s name, even performing great miracles. But their teachings are contrary to the truth of the Lord Jesus."},{"k":"q","t":"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)"},{"k":"p","t":"False teachers will rise up even within the church. As believers, let us be alert so that we will not naively fall for teachings that are different from what Jesus taught."},{"k":"p","t":"Even now we have already witnessed the rise of many false teachings. One example is the teaching that churches are just human institutions and so we don’t need to belong to any church as long as we believe in Jesus. Some preachers use the name of Jesus to guarantee that their followers will find success in this world and financial security. Many Christians today have accepted behaviors directly contrary to the Bible, such as adultery and homosexuality."},{"k":"p","t":"The power of deception will be great before the Lord Jesus comes. That is why we must be on guard."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Watch and Pray","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"The Lord Jesus has told us what we must do in order to escape all the deceptions and trials that will threaten our faith in the end time."},{"k":"q","t":"“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap… But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34, 36)"},{"k":"p","t":"The pleasures and worries of this life can make us lose sight of the duties the Lord Jesus has entrusted to us. The Lord teaches us to stay awake at all times while praying to God to give us strength. Through watchful prayer, we will not fall prey to the trends or ideologies that are against the faith. Instead, we will stay focused on carrying out the words of the Lord Jesus."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Be Holy and Blameless","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"q","t":"Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness… Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (2 Peter 3:11, 14)"},{"k":"p","t":"As morality continues to decline in the world and as people become more and more accepting of sinful lifestyles, we as believers must not be conformed. If we believe Jesus’s words that He will come again soon, we will want to be holy and blameless before the Lord. We know that we will all stand before His judgment seat. Only if we strive to live each day to keep His word will we be able to meet Jesus with peace and confidence."}]},{"k":"h3","t":"Encourage One Another","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"p","t":"We are not alone in our preparation for the Lord’s coming."},{"k":"q","t":"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25)"},{"k":"p","t":"Being in the fellowship of believers is important because when we gather together, we can support one another with God’s word. We can see the good works and love of our brothers and sisters, and that motivates us to continue doing good works ourselves."},{"k":"p","t":"Finally, we need God’s help to do what we cannot do. He is faithful to continually forgive our sins when we repent before Him and give us power through the Holy Spirit. He is the author and finisher of our faith and protects us for that day of salvation."},{"k":"q","t":"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)"},{"k":"p","t":"God will sanctify us and establish our work so that we can meet Him in joy at His return. As we wait for that day, let us hold fast to our faith to the end. Then we can receive glory, honor, and praise from God when we see Him face to face."}]}]},{"k":"h2","t":"FAQ","fold":true,"c":[{"k":"oli","t":"How should we act in response to the apparent delay of the Lord’s coming? How is this different from the way many people react to the apparent delay? Answer"},{"k":"oli","t":"Why must Jesus come again? Answer"}]}],"pages":[],"prev":{"n":9,"title":"Church"},"next":null}