Lesson Nineteen • The Return of Christ
Dr. Randy T. Johnson
I like famous movie lines. In studying the return of Christ, one key scenario comes to mind. In his 1984 movie, “Terminator,” Arnold Schwarzenegger boldly proclaims, “I’ll be back.” He immediately returned to quite the scene. He kept his word. I view Jesus, with more power than Arnold could ever imagine, saying with words of comfort, but warning, “I’ll be back!” Jesus is coming back. He will keep His word.
Maybe you are more of a fan of history and remember General Douglas MacArthur. During World War II, he promised the people of the Philippines, “I Shall Return.” He did keep his word.
1. Can you think of any other movie scenes, book depictions, or historical events when the promise of a return was given?
Acts chapter 1 records Jesus leaving for Heaven. Right after He ascends, an angel says, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (verse 11). As soon as He leaves, we are reminded that He will return.
2. How will the Lord return?
Paul Lee Tan has noted, “Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence. Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. The four missing books include three which are single-chapter letters written to individual persons on a particular subject, and the fourth is Galatians which does imply Christ’s coming again. For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.”
3. What points stand out most in this quote?
4. Does this quote surprise you? Why or why not?
The parables of Jesus Christ often refer to His return. Look up each parable, write down what the parable is, and mention how it relates to the topic.
Matthew 24:44-51
Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 12:35-38
Luke 12:39-40
Luke 21:25-36
Continuing in our study on Revelation, John quotes Jesus, “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).
5. How do we keep “the words of the prophecy of this book”?
Revelation 22:12-13 picks up the topic again, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
6. How is the Lord described in this passage?
7. Why do you think He repeats Himself so soon (only five verses later)?
“When He returns is not as important as the fact that we are ready for Him when He does return.” A.W. Tozer
8. What does this quote mean?
The last two verses of the Bible (Revelation 22:20-21) say, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
9. What is the very last message of the Bible?
“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” C.S. Lewis
Jesus will return. He will be back!
Maybe you are more of a fan of history and remember General Douglas MacArthur. During World War II, he promised the people of the Philippines, “I Shall Return.” He did keep his word.
1. Can you think of any other movie scenes, book depictions, or historical events when the promise of a return was given?
Acts chapter 1 records Jesus leaving for Heaven. Right after He ascends, an angel says, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (verse 11). As soon as He leaves, we are reminded that He will return.
2. How will the Lord return?
Paul Lee Tan has noted, “Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence. Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. The four missing books include three which are single-chapter letters written to individual persons on a particular subject, and the fourth is Galatians which does imply Christ’s coming again. For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.”
3. What points stand out most in this quote?
4. Does this quote surprise you? Why or why not?
The parables of Jesus Christ often refer to His return. Look up each parable, write down what the parable is, and mention how it relates to the topic.
Matthew 24:44-51
Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 12:35-38
Luke 12:39-40
Luke 21:25-36
Continuing in our study on Revelation, John quotes Jesus, “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).
5. How do we keep “the words of the prophecy of this book”?
Revelation 22:12-13 picks up the topic again, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
6. How is the Lord described in this passage?
7. Why do you think He repeats Himself so soon (only five verses later)?
“When He returns is not as important as the fact that we are ready for Him when He does return.” A.W. Tozer
8. What does this quote mean?
The last two verses of the Bible (Revelation 22:20-21) say, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
9. What is the very last message of the Bible?
“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” C.S. Lewis
Jesus will return. He will be back!