Eschatology: The study of last things – the Second Coming of Jesus

Acts 1:6-11
6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”

Key Bible Passages Relating to the Second Coming

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Revelation

Daniel

Joel

Amos

Isaiah

Zechariah

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

SPECIFIC CHAPTERS

Matthew 24-25

Mark 13

SPECIFIC VERSES

Titus 2:11-15 HCSB
11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Philippians 3:18-21 HCSB
18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

I John 3:1-3 HCSB
1 Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 HCSB
51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery:
We will not all fall asleep,
but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we will be changed.

Key Terms Relating to the Second Coming

PROPHECY

Forthtelling more than foretelling, athough it included foretelling also.

MILLENNIUM

1000 years where Satan is bound and Jesus reigns with His church on Earth.

PRE-MILLENNIALISTS

POST- MILLENNIALISTS / A-MILLENNIALISTS

TRIBULATION

Suffering, great affliction or distress.

RAPTURE

To take out.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 HCSB
15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive 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 Corinthians 15:51-52 HCSB
51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery:
We will not all fall asleep,
but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we will be changed.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OR TRIBUNAL OF CHRIST

Where believers will be given their rewards for faithful service.

2 Corinthians 5:10 HCSB
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 HCSB
11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

For unbelievers.

Revelation 20:11-15 HCSB
11 Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
13 Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

DANIEL

Principal theme: The sovereignty of God over individuals, nations, and history.

REVELATION

Greek word – apokolupsis: to unveil, disclose or reveal.

What to do Until Jesus Comes

Titus 2:11-15 HCSB
11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

1. KEEP SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. (V.14)
   
   
2. KEEP GROWING IN YOUR FAITH. (V.12)
   
   
3. KEEP FAITHFULLY SERVING. “EAGER TO DO GOOD WORKS.” (V.14)
   
   
4. KEEP LOOKING EXPECTANTLY WITH YOUR EYES ON THE SKIES! “THE BLESSED HOPE AND APPEARING OF THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST” (V. 13)