The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ: Introduction

WTM SERIES ON THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

You are welcome to Insights from God's Word, a Bible Study Programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

Friends, we greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In this study, we bring you the introduction to our series on The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. Within the next few days, we are going to share with you on this platform very important studies on the Second Coming of Christ.

From the time of the apostles to the day in which we live, God's faithful children have been looking forward to the second coming of their Lord (2 Peter 3:12). For it is this event that is going to usher in the kingdom of the Son of God, and bring about the long awaited reward of God's faithful people (Daniel 7:27; Revelation 22:12-14). When Christ appears the second time, God's people will be given the precious gift of eternal life in a world free from the corruption and degradation of sin (Romans 2:7; 2 Peter 3:13). No wonder the Bible refers to the second coming of Christ as the "blessed hope" of God's people (Titus 2:13).

Beloved, the second coming of Christ will also bring to an end all the wickedness, suffering and death that our world has been plunged into because of sin (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3:10-11). God will create for us a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4). Thus, in this new world, sin and sinners will be no more.

Friends, the second coming of Christ is one of the very important topics in Scripture. For it is the solid hope of the saints as well as the culmination of all the prophecies of the Bible. If Christ does not come the second time, then in fact, there would be no justification for Him to have come the first time. But beloved, we know and are sure that Christ will come back the second time. Our conviction is based on the fact that most of the signs that our Lord gave concerning His second advent have been fulfilled in a very remarkable way in the days in which we live.

Beloved, Satan knows that very soon Christ will come again to deliver us from the misery of planet earth. Moreover, He also knows the importance that a clear understanding of this topic will have on the character and lifestyle of those who profess to have a relationship with Christ. Thus, just as he has attacked all the precious truths in God's Word, it has also been his special work to attack this important end time truth.

Friends, from Christ's own words in Matthew 24, we read the following in relation to how Satan will try to deceive God's people in relation to the second coming of their Lord:"24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

(Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)Beloved, Christ knew that Satan would attempt to deceive his people in relation to the events that will herald His second coming. And so He gave particular instructions in His Word in relation to His second advent so His children are not deceived. Thus, it is the focus of this study series to provide sound Bible - based answers in relation to the topic on Christ's second coming that will affirm the truth as it stands in God's Word, and also expose the numerous counterfeits out there.

The entire series is dubbed: The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The topics in this Special Bible Study Series are as follows:

1. The Promise of Christ's Second Coming.

2. The Signs of Christ's Second Coming.

3. The Manner of Christ's Second Coming.

4. The Secret Rapture Doctrine.

5. "...the one shall be taken, and the other left": An Exposition on Christ's Words in Matthew 24:40-41.

6. "as a thief in the night": An Exposition on Paul's Words in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

7. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye": An Exposition on Paul's Words in 1 Corinthians 15:52.

8. The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection.

9. The Millennium and the End of Sin.

10. The New Earth: The Eternal Home of the Saved.

11. The Sequence of Events from the Second Coming of Christ to the Creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Beloved, we believe that this 11 - Part Study Series is going to be a real blessing in your life. These studies will also be highlighted with beautiful slides that will enable you to have a deeper understanding of the issues that are being discussed. We will want to encourage you to follow the studies closely one lesson at a time so you can fully understand and appreciate this study series. Moreover, we also want to encourage you to share the studies with your friends so they can also experience the rich blessings that come from studying God’s Word.

Our next Bible study is captioned: The Promise of Christ's Second Coming. The Bible study reference for this study is John 14:1-3. Please do well to go through this passage before our next study is released.

We wish you the rich blessings of God and encourage you to keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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