ADULTS STS LESSON 113 READINESS FOR CHRIST’S RETURN
MEMORY VERSE “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40).
TEXT: Luke 12:35-59
In the Scripture, nothing enjoys a greater mention than Christ’s second coming. Prophecies abound concerning Christ’s return for the saints. His coming will be sudden and those who are ready will be caught up to heaven while those who were not ready will be left behind. Generally, Christ’s return will be in two phases. The first is the rapture, when He will come to take away the saints only; and the second phase is when all eyes shall see Him at His returning. The reality of His coming should compel all heaven-bound saints to be prepared. The Bible makes it clear that the time of His coming is not certain and that it will be like an event of robbery at night, unannounced.
Believers are to “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13). We should moderate our activities and lifestyles to be always conscious of the Lord’s imminent return to avert disappointment and regret at the last hour. Children of God who bury their hearts in the pursuit of earthly and transient glories should be warned of the danger of being unprepared when the Lord shall come. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares“ (Luke 21:34).
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST’S IMMINENT RETURN (Luke 12:35-38; Acts 1:9-11; John 14:1-3; Matthew 24:37-44; Revelation 1:7; 16:15; 22:12,20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 2 Peter 3:9-14)
The Scripture proves that Christ will return. The Holy Spirit, through the Apostles, confirms that Christ shall appear “the second time” (Hebrews 9:28) and will reward His faithful servants with “…crowns of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4) and requite His adversaries with “…fiery indignation...” (Hebrews 10:27). Apostle James also encourages believers by saying, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8). It should be noted that some prophecies are yet to be completely fulfilled concerning Christ (Isaiah 9:6,7; 61:1-3). And, since every jot or tittle of the Scripture must come to pass, He will appear again to fulfil outstanding prophecies concerning Him.
Jesus Christ Himself used parables and symbols to illustrate the certainty of His return. He said, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately” (Luke 12:35,36). He made it clear that His return is certain. He also said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). The angelic heralds announced at Christ’s ascension with all certainty that He: “…shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
The apostles also emphasised His return in their teachings and epistles. Apostle Paul declares, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). Apostle Peter gave his account concerning Christ’s return with a promise of rewards for waiting saints thus: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away“ (1 Peter 5:4). John the beloved appeared to have been overwhelmed by scriptural insight that he wondered at the type of glory that believers would experience at Christ’s return; he therefore comforted them, saying that “…when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
PREPARATION FOR THE LORD’S RETURN (Luke 12:37-48; Matthew 24:44-46,48-51; 25:1-13; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:11-14)
It is not enough to have knowledge about Christ’s second coming and to even believe in scriptural prophecies about it. There must be conscious preparation for His return. The parable of the ten virgins underscores the need to prepare and be ready at all times. Five of the virgins missed the entourage of the bridegroom at the marriage supper because of negligence and carelessness (Matthew 25:1-13). They were also short-sighted and did not care to make adequate preparations. Believers who want to go with Christ at His second coming must be watchful and vigilant; live a consistent and consecrated Christian life. They must live in absolute obedience to the word of God; stay at their duty post and hold on to the Lord until the end coupled with a consistent life of prayer and supplication.
There is need to maintain good and lovely relationship with our neighbours and church members. Necessary areas of our lives that require restitution, apology and good Christian relationship should not be neglected. In the family, business and among all men, we should settle our differences, ensure a conscience void of offence and holiness, without which no man shall see the towards God and men and “Follow peace with all men, Lord“ (Hebrews 12:14). The waiting believer should also be occupied with God’s work. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24:45,46). In these quoted verses, Jesus emphasises the need for saints to be watchful and prayerful as they wait for His soon return. There should be current and concerted efforts toward watchfulness over our Christian experiences and relationship with God. A life of ease, frivolity and carnality that neglects due consciousness of the Lord’s presence and will should be avoided by waiting believers. Christian leaders are expected to nurture the flock of God to make them ready to meet the Lord as instructed by Apostle Peter: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2).
PERSECUTIONS AND TRIALS PRECEEDING CHRIST’S RETURN (Luke 12:49-59; 1 Peter 4:17,18; Matthew 24:36-39,42; Mark 8:36-38; Jude 14,15)
A believer who becomes lax over his or her Christian experiences and virtues such as salvation, consecration, faithfulness and steadfastness to Christ stands the risk of being disappointed. We must therefore, live a consistent life of holiness with eternity in view if we do not want to suffer eternal regret on the last day. Jesus warns us about the peril of unpreparedness and carnality in the last days. If there were no dangers, if our conduct and character had no bearing on the state of our preparedness for the Lord’s coming, if Christians could just make heaven without necessary exhortations and corresponding obedience to the word of God, there would be no need for warning. He says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). Christ warns the unfaithful church members that His coming would be at an unexpected and unscheduled time. It takes more than knowing the Lord superficially to partake in the rapture and get to heaven.
The teaching on the imminence of Christ’s return must drive us to examine ourselves in the light of the Scripture. Paul the apostle did not want anyone to be deceived. He says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord knows every one of us and there is no reason to remain unprepared until Jesus returns as that will spell doom for any carnal believer.
Part of our preparation for Christ’s coming is to know that we shall be hated of all men for His name’s sake. Apostle John says, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you“ (1 John 3:13). Christ’s second coming will be preceded by persecution of faithful believers from people of different beliefs, ideology and creeds. This is because many will still reject Christ. Even though the world would hate true believers, they must maintain their convictions, confessions and holy living, and follow peace with all men. They must preach the gospel and reach as many people as the Lord would help them reach before it is too late. To make it at Christ’s return, believers must be rapture-ready – saved from sin, sanctified and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. For sinners and backsliders, they must repent of their sins and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Scripture warns: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11). The Lord will reward every man’s work, whether it is good or evil.
Every true believer must get involved in soul-winning, church planting, home and foreign missions, in order to facilitate the return of the Lord. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).
Questions for review:
- Why is it necessary to be ready for Christ’s return?
- Why should we believe and preach that Christ will come again?
- Mention some Bible references that confirm the certainty of Christ’s imminent return.
- Explain the danger that awaits unprepared church members at Christ’s return.
- What should preoccupy believers’ attention while waiting for Christ’s return?
- Why is it that some people do not believe that Jesus will come again?
- What should sinners and believers do to prepare for Christ’s return?
