Hope for the Future

As the world races into this new millennium, have you ever considered what our greatest need is? What do men and women living in the twenty-first century need most? If you were starving to death, it might be food. If you were homeless, it might be a place to live. If disease ravaged your body, it might be medicine. If you were lonely and discouraged, it might be love. Is there one thing if you had it that could take you through any difficulty you might face in life? Is there one thing that can make the human spirit soar? All over the world people are desperately looking for hope. Someone has well said, "What oxygen is to the lungs, hope is to the human spirit." Hope buoys up our spirits. It lifts our vision from what is to what will be. It is a candle in the darkness. It provides encouragement for the future. The Bible is filled with the best hope of all - the hope of our Lord's return.

01. What hopeful promise did Jesus give in John 14:1-3?
John 14:1-3
01. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
02. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
03. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Note
Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He assured His followers, "I will come again." The fact that Jesus is coming to the world a second time is as certain as the reality that He lived on this earth 2,000 years ago. There is hope on the way.

02. What does the Apostle Paul call the second coming of Christ?
Titus 2:13
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

03. What assurance does the Psalmist David give us regarding our Lord's return?
Psalm 50:3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
Note
Bible writers down through the ages have predicted the coming of the Lord. For every prophecy in the Old Testament predicting the first coming of Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem's manger, there are eight on the second coming of Christ. His coming is mentioned in every book of the New Testament except the little book of Philemon.

04. How will Christ return when he comes to this earth? Will his coming be a real, literal event or simply a spiritual coming into our hearts?
Acts 1:9–11
09. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11. who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Note
Jesus' ascension to heaven was a real, literal event. His return will again be a very real, literal event.

05. How many will see Jesus when He comes?
Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Note
Both the righteous and the wicked will see Jesus coming in the clouds of the sky when He returns the second time. Every living inhabitant of our globe will witness the Second Advent. Christ's return will overshadow every other event on Planet Earth. No one will need to tell you when Jesus returns. You will see His coming!

06. What does the Bible compare Jesus' coming to?
Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

07. Will Christ's return be a secret, silent coming?
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Note
Jesus' coming will be like a mighty blast of a trumpet. Everyone everywhere will hear it.

08. Who will return with Jesus when He comes?
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Note
Jesus' second coming will be the mighty climax of all the ages. He will be surrounded by all His holy angels. Try to imagine what that glorious scene will be like.

09. How does the Bible describe the awesome majesty of our Lord's return?
Matthew 24:30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Note
The first time Jesus came to Earth it was a very humble affair. Although angels sang "Glory to God in the highest" in shepherds' fields outside of Bethlehem, only a few had any idea the baby born in Bethlehem was the eternal Son of God. When He comes the second time, He will come in "power and great glory" in spectacular splendor visible to the entire world. ​

10. If someone tells you that Christ's second coming will be in secret, should you believe it?
Matthew 24:23–27
23. “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
24. For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25. See, I have told you beforehand.
26. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

11. What thrilling climactic event will take place when Christ returns?
1 Corinthians 15:51–53
51. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

12a. What will the reaction of the wicked be when Jesus comes?
Revelation 6:14–16
14. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16. and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
Note
Filled with guilt and fear, the unsaved run from the Christ who loves them and longs to save them. They have rejected His mercy and turned their backs on His love. Now frightened, they flee to shield themselves from His glory. What a tragic ending.

12b. What will the reaction of the righteous be when Jesus comes?
Isaiah 25:9
And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Note
The saved long for His return. Their hearts are filled with joy. He is their Friend, their Savior, their Lord, and their King. They delight in His presence here and will delight in it through all eternity.

13. When it the time to prepare for the coming of the Lord?
2 Corinthians 6:2
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

14. What event did Jesus liken his coming to?
Matthew 24:42–43
42. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Note
Jesus likened His coming to a thief breaking into a house. This does not mean Christ will come secretly. It means He will come swiftly, quickly, at a time we least expect Him.

15. Since the Bible tells us that Jesus is coming unexpectedly, what counsel does He give us?
Matthew 24:44
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Note
To be ready for the coming of Jesus means to eagerly anticipate His coming. It means a heart-longing for His return. It involves a life committed to doing His will. Love for Him leads us to long to be with Him throughout eternity.

Concluding Question
The Bible tells us that Jesus desire is to save you, and live with You in His kingdom forever. Would you like to surrender your life to Jesus just now, and begin to look forward to this wonderful day of His second coming?

FOR FURTHER STUDY read the following Bible passages:
Matthew 13:24-30;
Matthew 13:37-43,
Luke 17:24-30;
John 5:28, 29;
Acts 1:9-11;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10;
2 Timothy 4:7
Jude 14, 15;
Revelation 19:11-19;
Revelation 22:7-12