May 29, 2016
Discuss what Peter preached to the Jews about this subject soon after Pentecost, Acts 3:20-21.
What are the four points he makes?
Read Paul’s words in Romans 8:19-23.
What points does he make regarding the restoring of creation including God’s people?
What is the present state of and what does the future hold for Creation and God’s people?
Read references to this Final Restoration in the following passages: Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:1, 5.
In that day what enemies will be destroyed?
What is the last one to be destroyed? 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-55.
Discuss the meaning of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57.
What happened at the fall that will be removed? Revelation 22:3.
What will be restored that was lost in the Garden of Eden? Revelation 21:3.
The Return of Jesus. Read the following: Matthew 16:27, 24:27, 30, 36-39, 42, 26:64. John 14:1-4, Philippians 3:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4
The Resurrection of the Dead. Revelation 20:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:49-52.
The Judgment of the World. There are two separate judgments:
Believers are judged at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12). Every believer will give account of himself, and the Lord will judge the decisions he made-including issues of conscience. This judgment does not determine salvation. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, the gold, silver and precious stones in the lives of believers will survive God’s refining fire (1 Corinthians 3:13), the fire of God’s judgment will completely burn up the “wood, hay and stubble” of the words we spoke and the things we did which had no eternal value. “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” Romans 14:12.
The second judgment is that of unbelievers who will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). This judgment does not determine salvation. Everyone at the Great White Throne is an unbeliever who has rejected Christ in life and is therefore already doomed to the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12 says that unbelievers will be “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Read 2 Peter 3:3-10 about those who are not ready and their attitude about. What does Peter say we need to be doing? 2 Peter 3:11-15, 18.
Read Luke 12:35-40. Discuss Jesus four points and answer ‘How do we do’ each of them?
Christ’s return at an unexpected time is not a trap, a trick by which God hopes to catch us off guard. In fact, God is delaying His return so more people will have the opportunity to follow Him (2 Peter 3:9). Before Christ’s return, we have time to live out our beliefs and to reflect Jesus’ love as we relate to others.
People who are ready for their Lord’s return are:
May your life be more like Christ’s so that when He comes, you will be ready to greet him joyfully.*
In the last few weeks you have listened to George’s messages on The Bible Story, Creation, The Fall, Redemption and Restoration and worked through these studies. How does understanding the big picture of the Bible in terms of these 4 great themes help you to make sense of the details?
* Taken from the “Life Application Study Bible”