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THE END OF TIME

1 Corinthians 15:22 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (NKJV)

The Bible teaches about the end of time, end of the world, the last moment of recorded history in four specific topics: [1] The Second Coming; [2] The Resurrection; [3] The Judgment; and [4] The Eternal Destiny of the Righteous and Wicked.

The Second Coming of Christ

1. Its Importance

1. Its Prominence in the Scriptures.

One out of every thirty verses in the Bible mentions this teaching.

The second coming is discussed in 318 places.

Whole books (1 and 2 Thessalonians) are devoted to this subject.

It is common theme of Old Testament prophecy.

Jesus discussed this subject at great length - Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21.

The angles that announced his first coming will announce the second.

Acts 1:11 Hebrews 2:2

The apostles taught this subject often.

Acts 3:19-20 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Hebrews 9:28 1 John 2:28

Jude 14-15 2 Peter 3:12

2. The church of Christ is told to look forward to it with great hope.

Titus 2:11-13 2 Peter 3:12

3. It is the doctrine that will urge consistent living.

Matthew 24:44-46 1 John 2:28; 3:2-3

4. It is a teaching of great comfort to the believer.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

2. What is meant by the Second Coming of Christ

1. A personal and visible coming.

Acts 1:11 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Revelation 1:7

2. Erroneous views concerning the second coming.

That the second coming means his coming at our death

1 Corinthians 15:50-57

John 21:21-23

John 14:3

That the second coming is the coming of the Holy Spirit

John 15:7-13

John 14:1-3

That the second coming refers to the destruction of Jerusalem

Revelation 1:10 and 22:20 were written after Jerusalem.

Lord’s supper has expired? - 1 Corinthians 11:26

3. The Purpose of the Second Coming

1. As it concerns the church

Raise the righteous and the wicked -

1 Corinthians 15:50-52 Philippians 3:20

1 John 3:2 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Become the bride of Christ -

Ephesians 5:23, 32 2 Corinthians 11:2

Revelation 19:6-9 Matthew 25:1-10

Believers will be rewarded for their faithful service -

Matthew 25:19 2 Timothy 4:8

1 Peter 5:4 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

2. As it concerns the unconverted

Revelation 6:12-17 Matthew 25:46

Revelation 20:11-15 Matthew 25:26-30

3. As it concerns the Jews

Romans 1:17-18 Romans 3:23

Romans 3:28-31

4. As it concerns the enemies of God’s people

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Revelation 19:20

Revelation 20:10-15

4. The Time of Christ’s Second Coming

1. No one knows the day or hour

Matthew 24:36-42

Mark 13:32

Acts 1:7

Many are trying to use “spiritual calculators” to figure out the time.

2. We must remember that it is near

Matthew 24:36-42

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

3. There is nothing to prevent his coming at any moment

I am not aware of any event in prophecy that must happen before the second coming of Christ.

A potential objection - Preach gospel to whole world (Matt. 24:14)

ANS. Colossians 1:23 They did!

NOTE: Jesus did not say that the whole world would be converted. He only said that the message would be preached to all men. This was done in the first century of the church.

The Resurrection of the Dead

1. This Doctrine is clearly taught in the Scriptures

1. In the Old Testament

Job 19:25-27

Genesis 22:5 (Hebrews 11:19)

Isaiah 26:19

1 Kings 17 (Elijah)

2 Kings 4:32-35 (Widow’s son)

2. In the New Testament

John 5:28-29 John 6:39-44, 54

Luke 14:13-14 Luke 20:35-36

Acts 24:15 1 Corinthians 15

1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 Philippians 3:11

Revelation 20:6, 13 John 11 (Lazarus)

Matthew 27:52-53 (saints) Matthew 28 (Jesus)

2. The Nature of the Resurrection

1. A literal resurrection of the bodies of all men - a universal resurrection

John 5:28-29

1 Corinthians 15:22

Revelation 20:12

2 Corinthians 5:10

2. The redemption of the body is included in our salvation

Romans 8:11-23

1 Corinthians 6:13-20

Philippians 3:21

2 Corinthians 5:4

3. The nature of the resurrection body

In general 1 Corinthians 15:36-37

The body of the believer Philippians 3:21

1 John 3:2 1 Corinthians 15:49

1 Corinthians 15:50-51 No flesh and blood

Glorious, powerful, spiritual body

The body of the unbeliever

The bible is strangely silent on this subject.

Luke 16 (rich man) is our only passage.

NOTE: There has been much speculation about what we will look like in eternity. Will we recognize each other? How will you know me? Will we retain our physical features? Will we remember our connections and associations from earth?

3. The Time of the Resurrection

1. The resurrection of the righteous

John 6:39-44 the last day

1 Corinthians 15:23

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

2. The resurrection of the wicked

John 5:28-29

Daniel 12:2

Philippians 3:11

NOTE: All will be raised, wicked and righteous. There is no incentive or assurance in the promise of a resurrection. All will be raised from the dead. We must seek to be among the righteous at the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:21-24

Matthew 22:23-33

The Judgment

1. The Fact of the Judgment

“Judgment” is mentioned 188 times in the Bible.

There are several ways the word is used.

Civil or criminal judgment of guilt or innocence
God’s decision or judgment about a tribe or nation
Human judgment – opinion about some matter
Decision making regarding a brother in sin
Final, eternal judgment, Judgment Day

1.As taught in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament “judgment” is most often used in reference to the judgment of God against a nation or civil judgments

Daniel 5:27 “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting”

Psalm 119:84

2.As taught in the New Testament

The New Testament is more focused on the judgment at the end of time.

3.The testimony of conscience

You do not need a preacher or elder to tell you when you have done wrong. Your conscience will speak loudly to you. We judge ourselves and know where we stand.

I cannot judge others, but I can judge myself.

2. The Judge - Christ

Matthew 25:31

John 12:48

2 Timothy 4:1

Acts 10:42

3. The Nature of the Judgment

1. Past - Sin was judged at the cross

2. Present - Taking place in the life of the believer

3. Future - Eternal judgment at the throne of God

Of saints – Matthew 25
Of unbelievers – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
Of angels – 1 Corinthians 6:3
Of Satan and his angels – 2 Peter 2:4

Eternal Destiny

1.Heaven

We have recently studied what heaven is like

2.Hell

Hell is real
Hell is a place
It is a prepared place for Satan and his angels
The unrighteous (all not allowed in heaven) will be there
It is a place of punishment
It is a place of haunting memories
It is a place of pain
Hell is eternal, forever and ever, without end
Hell is smoke
Hell is fire, flame, heat
There are only two places to spend eternity – Heaven or Hell