THE END TIMES
Lesson 8: The Present Life in Light of Jesus’ Future Coming
(End Times,pages 217-237 and 341-355)
Introduction
Having studied the teachings of millennialism and dispensationalism, we Christians who are faithful to God and His Word renounce those teachings as false and soul-destroying and confess again that the Bible is the only reliable source of information about the end times.
But what do we do with that reliable information? Has God shared His details about the future simply to satisfy our interest and curiosity, or is there a more important purpose behind his doing so?
Surely we all wonder what is to come, and the Scriptures give us information about future events. But the true goal of the Bible’s teachings about the future is to influence our present. These teachings are very practical. How we think, speak, and act is to be different in view of judgment day. The decisions we make in life will be shaped by our knowledge of Jesus’ second coming.
Revelation 22:20 [Jesus] says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
•Are these words of Jesus a statement of law or gospel?
As such, how are they to affect our everyday lives?
The Bible’s teaching about the end times is not theoretical or detached from everyday life but eminently practical. The future shapes our present life.
A life of repentance and faith
Acts 17:30,31 Now [God] commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed.
Hebrews 10:26,27 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Ezekiel 33:11 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
•What stern warning does the Bible issue regarding judgment day?
What does this warning lead us to do in our daily lives?
1 John 1:7 The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 2:2 [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Acts 16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
No matter how many sins we stop, we can never attain the perfection that God demands of us if we are to stand at the judgment. In view of the Last Day, what do the Holy Scriptures invite and empower us to do?
2 John 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for.
Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
•What sobering truth does Saint John share regarding our saving faith? What assurance and encouragement does God give regarding our faith?
•A church elder visits an inactive member of the congregation, expressing his concern over the member’s faith. The inactive member, who has not worshiped or received the Lord’s Supper in several years, is upset by the elder’s implication. “I pray all the time,” she snaps at the elder. Evaluate the inactive member’s response.
A life away from home
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
2 Corinthians 4:18 We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
•What is the Christian attitude toward the things of this present world? Why is it such a great challenge to maintain this attitude?
2 Thessalonians 1:6,7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
•The Bible’s doctrine of the end times helps us when we encounter injustices in our lives on earth. Explain.
Psalm 23:6 [We] will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
•What is the blessed hope of Christians? What makes this hope a certainty? How should this certain hope affect our daily lives in a fallen world?
A life of faithful service to God and to the world
Matthew 25:14-30It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
•In addition to the basic and essential gift of saving faith, the Lord gives many other and varied gifts to his people. In his parable, Jesus uses the word talent—a word used for a coin and for a measure of weight—to refer to these gifts. Take a few minutes to ponder and list the various “talents” that the Lord has given to you. In view of judgment day, what are we to do with our God-given gifts while still in this world?
2 Timothy 4:1,2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
•Agree or disagree. While we live in this world, it is imperative that we spend our days speaking persistently to our fellow Christians as well as to the unbelievers around us about the coming judgment.
•Sometimes it is debated whether missions or ministerial education and training is the more important work of our church today. In view of the Bible’s teaching on the end times, the answer is that both tasks are vital and important. Explain.
Summary
The Bible’s teaching about the end times and the future applies to and affects a Christian’s present life in this world. Christians live each day in repentance and faith, serving their Savior with the gifts He has given and proclaiming His Word to the world around them. As they do, a joyful prayer fills their hearts: “Come, Lord Jesus. Quickly come.”
Closing Prayer
My Savior paid the debt I owe and for my sin was smitten;
Within the Book of Life I know my name has now been written.
I will not doubt, for I am free, and Satan cannot threaten me;
There is no condemnation!
O Jesus Christ, do not delay, but hasten our salvation;
We often tremble on our way in fear and tribulation.
Your saints are waiting patiently; come soon, Redeemer; make us free
Fromev’ry evil. Amen. (CW 207:5,6; TLH 611:5,7)
During the week
1.Read Revelation 20:1–22:21 (the seventh vision of Revelation: the church’s final victory and the conclusion to Saint John’s revelation).
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