The Bible teaches that the soon return of Jesus Christ is mankind’s best and most blessed hope. It is our settled determination to prepare to meet our Savior in peace, as well as to help others get ready for the Lord’s glorious appearance.

1.  The Bible tells us that no one can know the exact or of Jesus’ return.  Matthew 24:36.

2.  Luke 21:36 tells us to and for the Lord’s return. 


We must watch for events in the world that point to Jesus' return and "pray" that we will receive His grace and the Holy Spirit's power that will enable us to be ready for that great day.

3.  Matthew 24:3-14 lists nine signs that would point forward to the Savior’s return. List these nine signs below.

All of these signs are being fulfilled with increasing intensity as the world approaches its ‘last days’!

4. What did Daniel the prophet say would ‘increase’ in the last days?  Daniel 12:4.

Answer: .


Today, man’s knowledge in all fields is increasing at a phenomenal rate!  Man today is toying with things that no other generation before has tampered with!  Also, there has been an increase of knowledge in the Word of God and in the prophecies contained therein.  As you continue these lessons, your knowledge in the Word of God will increase too!  The above verse also tells us that in the last days men would "run to and fro."  Today, with the supersonic jets and advanced communications techniques, men are running "to and fro" at a frightening pace!  Surely we are living in the last days of earth's history!

5.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 informs us how people's characters would be in the "last days."  Do you think that this description depicts modern society today? 

Answer: . 


Does this not accurately describe the people of this generation? We truly are living in "perilous times"!   Pride and blasphemy seem to be among the favorite sins of this generation.  Television, movies, and music highlight these evil traits of character, and sad to say, many professed Christians partake of the same!  It seems to be ‘cool’ for young people to rebel against their parents and against moral standards and God’s laws!  Rock groups sing about these evil traits of character with abandon. Child abuse is at an all time high.  Many people seem to be "without natural affection" towards their own children!  The present generation of pleasure seekers rivals the generation of people living in Noah's day!  To many people, religion is merely a "form," and their formal rituals have no power to change their lives and characters!  No doubt the judgments of God will be revealed against all those who love what is evil and hate what is good!

6.  Into what ‘valley’ will all the world be called before Jesus returns?  Joel 3:14-16.

Answer:  The valley of .


The world will be called to make a decision between Yahweh’s ways and laws, and the ways and laws of Satan and his earthly representatives.  We must take a decided stand on one side or the other!  It is impossible to be a neutral party in the great controversy that is going on between Christ and Satan!  Jesus said, "He that is not with Me is against Me."   Matthew 12:30. 

7.  Who did Peter say would come in the last days, and what doctrine would they especially ridicule?  2 Peter 3:3-4.

Answer:  He said that would come and they would ridicule the doctrine of Jesus' .


The second coming of Christ is ridiculed by many living today.  But Bible prophecy must be fulfilled!  There are some two hundred prophecies in the Bible predicting Jesus' first coming to this earth, and He fulfilled them all with His birth, life, death, and resurrection.  There are over 2000 references and prophecies regarding His second coming!  How foolish it is for "scoffers" to doubt this truth!  "Ready or not, here He comes" is what the signs of the times and the Bible say!

8.  In John 14:1-3 we find recorded Jesus' personal that He would return again!


Jesus said, ‘I will come again.’  He said, ‘If it were not so, I would have told you.’  Believe Him, friends.  He is no liar!  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords will return just as He said in His Word!

9.  Who will see Jesus return?  Revelation 1:7.

Answer:  Every will Him.


This text is very plain.  Jesus' return will be no "secret"!  It will be a catastrophic event witnessed by the whole world!  Matthew 24:30 tells us that "Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

10. The Bible says that Jesus will return in " " as He ascended up to heaven!  Acts 1:9-11.

Jesus will return "in like manner" as He went up into heaven after His resurrection!  This is the plain testimony of the Word of God! He did not ascend secretly or in a way which was invisible, and He will not return secretly as so many today teach!  See also Matthew 24:29-31.

11.  What did Jesus compare His return to?  Matthew 24:27.

Answer: .


There are no secret lightning bolts!  They are so bright that you can see them with your eyelids closed!  So will Jesus' return to this earth be!   He is coming with power and great glory!

12. Besides climactic visual events, what else will there be when Jesus returns?  1 Thessalonians 4:16.

Answer:  Plenty of !  See also Revelation 16:18-21.

13. When Jesus returns, what will happen to the dead who died in Christ?  1 Corinthians 15:51-55.

Answer:  They will be to eternal .


Jesus will destroy death forever!  Believers will be changed from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye!  We can praise our heavenly Father because death will be swallowed up in victory!

14.  What will the world leaders be saying just before Jesus returns?  1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Answer: and .

Recently we have seen the collapse of the Communist bloc, and many people are saying that the world in heading toward a "New World Order" in which there will be "peace and safety"!  This is yet another dramatic sign of the soon return of Jesus Christ!

15.  What must we be before we can enter the kingdom of heaven?  Matthew 18:3.

Answer: .

16.  Before we are "converted," what must we do?  Acts 3:19.

Answer: .


This means to be sorry for your sins and to ask forgiveness for them.  It also means that we TURN AWAY from them!  To be ready to meet Jesus means that you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, and that you have had your sins forgiven, and that you have indeed turned away from them!

17. Another amazing prophecy that is being fulfilled in our time is the prophecy of Matthew 24:14.    After the gospel goes to all the world, what did Jesus say would happen?

Answer: Then the come.


Today more than 40 groups have a goal of taking the gospel to the entire world within a few years.  The Bible now for the first time is available to every language group on earth through the untiring efforts of the Wycliffe Bible translators and others!  The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, according to the American Bible Society, is in more countries preaching the gospel than any other church on earth and is adding a new believer every 45 seconds! Soon the work of preaching the gospel to all nations will be completed!  The Lord opened up the Communist countries to hear the gospel, and He will soon do the same for the Moslem countries and China! Soon, friends, the "end shall come!"

18:  What other dramatic sign has recently happened that warns us that the Lord's coming is near?  2 Thessalonians 2:3.

Fill In:  "Let no man you by any ; for that day (the Lord's coming) shall come, except there be a first, and that of be revealed, the son of ."


Paul warned about a "falling away" from the truth by many.  Recently, evangelical Christians such as Pat Robertson, and Chuck Colson, the head of the Christian Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Roman Catholic leaders signed a declaration called "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium."  The newspapers reported that this was an "historic declaration."  Many look upon this as a great step forward, but in reality, it means that the Protestant Churches have virtually agreed that the doctrines they have opposed because they were contrary to the Bible, and for which millions of faithful martyrs have been put to death, now make no difference!  This compromise on the doctrines of the Bible is surely a falling away!  One has to wonder if those who signed this agreement can still be called "Protestants," since they no longer "protest" the anti-biblical teachings so many faithful Protestants have died for in ages past!  But, friends, the word of God has not changed!  You and I must decide to follow what the Bible says and not the teachings of men!  We will learn more about this in lesson 24.

19. Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and be your personal Lord and Savior?

Answer: .


If you have not done this, why not do it right now?  Let your Bible instructor lead you in the simple prayer of faith.  If you are doing these studies alone by correspondence course, right now, just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart as your personal Savior!  Surely you want to be ready to meet Jesus, and the way to be ready is to receive Him as your personal Savior and allow Him to be Lord of your life!  He is ready, willing, and able to do for you what no one or no thing could ever do for you!  He will give you peace, forgiveness, hope, courage, and exceeding joy!

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