John 5:28 [Jesus said] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

MEMORY VERSE: But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. —Luke 14:13, 14

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, after He had given His life on the cross for our salvation, rose up, alive again, triumphant from the grave, and ascended up to the right Hand of God. There He makes intercession for us and will soon come again to destroy this present evil world and bring eternal judgment to all humanity.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Acts 3:19, “be converted”: Be changed from a life of sin and unbelief to a life of faith, holiness, and obedience to God. “times of refreshing”: Holy Spirit anointing and inspiration.

Verse 21, “heaven must receive”: Christ was worthy to be given the High Priest position at the right hand of God. “times of restitution”: The destruction of this present world and the presentation of the eternal heaven and earth.

1 Corinthians 15:50, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”: The everlasting Kingdom of God is not given to humanity in an earthly, fleshly manner. Its fullness can only be enjoyed in the Spirit now and in its eternal phase after Jesus comes again. “Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption”: This mortal corruptible body cannot inhabit the eternal state. It will need to be changed to immortality and incorruption.

Verse 51, “mystery”: A secret blessing unknown and not seen except by all who are accounted worthy. “changed”: gloriously transformed.

Verse 52, “in the twinkling of an eye”: In a sudden instant. “at the last trump”: At the final coming of Christ and the resurrection of all the dead, incorruptible to never die.

Verse 53, “this corruptible”: This mortal state of flesh and blood. “incorruption, immortality”: The eternal body to inhabit everlasting glory.

Verse 54, “swallowed up”: Completely destroyed and done away.

Colossians 3:3, “ye are dead”: Through Christ and His power we are dead to sin and worldliness. “your life is hid with Christ in God”: Hid from this ungodly world and society.

Verse 5, “mortify”: Bring to death and sever one’s self from the wickedness of this world. “inordinate affection”: “Desires and appetites that are forbidden of God. “evil concupiscence”: Ungodly and unholy desires. “covetousness”: Love of money and earthly wealth. “idolatry”: The awful form of the worship of other gods rather than the true God.

Verse 6, “For which things’ sake”: On account of such things.

Luke 14:13, “maimed”: crippled. “lame”: deprived of a foot.

LESSON BACKGROUND

After previous lessons and studies from the Holy Scriptures about the fall of mankind into sin and disobedience to the law of God, man going his own way, the need for loving obedience to our Creator, Christ’s bearing of the cross, and the blessings of His grace and Holy Spirit leadership, we will now study about Christ’s coming and what it will mean to be ready to meet Him and share His eternal glory.

The time is nearing for our Lord Jesus to burst through the realm of this present world and bring it to an end; bringing all mankind before Him for eternal judgment. Oh, it has been many long years and generations have come and gone since our Saviour ascended up on high; but, He left us His promise to come again, and though it has been many, many generations ago, we must not lose our hope and expectation of the fulfillment of His promise. As 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

So let us renew our expectation and sincere hope of Christ’s faithful and soon fulfillment of the prom- ise of His coming. He is coming to reward the faithful and true saints who have loved and served Him in this life. And He will also, as the Scriptures declare, bring judgment and punishment to all who have taken their own selfish, lustful ways and have not been faithful to Him.

–-Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. What is our Lord Jesus going to do at His second coming?

2. What must we do to be prepared for that awful day?

3. Why do so many people disregard His promised coming?

4. What will the ungodly and disobedient suffer in that day?

5. What will the faithful and true saints be blessed to enjoy?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

HE COMES

He comes, he comes with trumpet sound,

To wake the slumb’ring nations round;

His pard’ning love no more is found—He comes! He comes!

The dead in Christ shall then arise

To meet their Savior in the skies,

No more a bleeding sacrifice—He comes! He comes!

He comes no more in priestly dress;

Each eye shall see, each tongue confess.

To judge the world in righteousness He comes! He comes!

The earth shall melt, the mountains quake,

The sea shall roar, the heavens shake,

The trumpet sounds, the dead awake: He comes! He comes!

His loved, His own all hear His voice;

Obey His call, in Him rejoice;

The way of life has been their choice: He comes! He comes!

Now to those mansions fair and bright

They take their everlasting flight;

There they shall walk with Him in white: He comes! He comes!

Behold, what wonder greets mine eye–

Ten thousand angels in the sky!

The end has come, destruction’s nigh. He comes! He comes!

Oh, fearful scene! Creation groans,

While loud above the trumpet tones;

What peals of joy! What piercing moans: He comes! He comes!

—by O. A. Pratt in Evening Light Songs # 355

This song has been a solemn, and yet joyful inspiration to my heart through the years. It ought to be sung more often that it is. Of late my heart has been greatly inspired and moved to earnest prayer with a deep sense and realization that the the Lord’s coming is close at hand. Of course, we do not know for sure just how close it is, but we are earnestly praying for the Lord to help us be ready.

–Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

A very sublime vision comes to my mind, as I compile these promises from the Scriptures of Jesus’ coming. It comes to me sometimes at the cemetery service of a dear saint of God, when the wind is whipping the tent canopy, the tear-stained eyes of all are on the flower-covered casket that is being lowered into the ground, and the sweet strains of “Beautiful” are floating up from the singing saints. I see Jesus, triumphantly leading a number that cannot be numbered, and Heaven’s portals swinging open, to welcome the Lord of Glory and His Redeemed. These are they who have come through great tribulation. They are clothed in spotless white, having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. They come from all ages, nations, and places on the earth. Heaven’s angels are praising the victory of the Lamb, Who gave Himself to save these from destruction. The holy throng is praising the Lamb, singing and shouting for the deliverance He has given. A voice resounds from the heavenly host: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in!” Another voice questions: “Who is this King of Glory?” The whole of Heaven and the Redeemed host shout in answer, “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” What a triumphant march that will be! I want to be there, don’t you?

–Sis. Angela Gellenbeck