The Second Coming Of Christ SS1 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is the expectation of many Christians based on the teachings of Jesus after his resurrection and his ascension, he would go and prepare a place or spiritual home for the children of God and he would later return and rapture them.

SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD (1 Thess. 4: 13-18, 2 Thess 2:1-12)

St. Paul in his epistle to the Thessalonians described the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ and showed how it would involve the living and the dead. He also showed some of the preparations that Christians should make for his second coming through good conduct and righteousness.

Paul started by first of all giving warnings to the Thessalonians that they should not be deceived by word or letter purported to have come from him, for the second coming would not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

The mystery of lawlessness is already at work although it is yet to be revealed. The lawless one will

Operate with the power of satan and produce pretended signs and wonders with all wicked deception for those who are to perish because they refuse to love the truth and be saved. Therefore, God will send upon them a strange delusion to make them believe what is false will be condemned. Paul said the appointed time, the lawless one would be revealed, only to be destroyed by Christ’s breath.

St. Paul further warned the Thessalonians not to be grieved for those who are dead in the lord as he declared:“But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may grieve as others do who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this, we declare to you by word of God, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with the cry of command with the archangels’ call and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive who are left shall be caught up together with them in the cloud to meet the lord in the air, so we shall always be with the lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. “( 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18)

Thessalonians embraced the doctrine of the second coming of Jesus Christ with all their minds and they thought it was going to be immediate. So they were afraid of their brethren who died before the resurrection and the second coming of the lord. But Paul made it clear to them that as long as you are in Christ, death cannot separate the person from him. As Jesus resurrected from death so will they rise again.

Paul went further to outline the signs of the second coming as:

1. Christ will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the archangel’s call and with the sound of the trumpet.
2. The dead in Christ will rise first; those who are alive shall be with them in the clouds (in their spiritual bodies) to meet the lord and remain with Christ forever.
3. There will be certain destruction for the unprepared.

Lessons To Learn On The Second Coming Of Christ

1. Christians should live in readiness knowing fully well that the second coming of Jesus is in reality
2. Christians should watch and pray to study the Bible psalms and observe their fasting
3. They should Live in obedience and righteousness
4. Christians should not give much about their boyfriend who died for the will rise again on the Resurrection day
5. Christians should engage in evangelism and preach to others about the reality of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. What form of iteration should Christians make for the second coming of the Lord?

2. Describe the second coming of the Lord according to Paul’s teaching and what this teaches us as Christians (SSCE, November 1990).