Week 10 - Last Things

Last Things

Week 10

The Return of Christ Jesus

Day 1

Learning Goals
You will be able to:

the scientific name for the last days

explain Jesus’ teachings about the end of time

one thing all Christians agree on

why Christians believe that Jesus shall return

Everyone is interested in the future. People enjoy talking about what is going
to happen tomorrow. People are curious about what will happen next week, next month, and next year.
Individuals find it interesting to think about end times and how the world might end.
People are so concerned with how the world will end that a special word has been invented to explain
the last days. “Eschatology” means the science of last things”.
Question 1
Eschatology means the _________________ of _______________ ______________.

For the Christian the explanation of how the world will end is explained in the Bible.
Evangelicals believe the Bible gives the most trustworthy and complete picture of how the world will end.
Question 2
Christians believe the most complete and truthful picture of how the world will end is given in:

		( ) Science
		( ) The Bible
		( ) Astrology

God has told mankind to read the Bible in order to understand His plan for our world.
Jesus most extensive teaching about the end of the world is found in Matthew 25.
Most people think of John’s Revelation when studying the end of time.
Question 3
Two places where we can learn about the end of time are:
1._______________________
2._______________________

Jesus makes it clear that the Father is the only one who knows when the end
shall take place. Jesus said that not even He knew the time. So it is futile for us to try and out guess God.
Question 4
Underline the sentence in the above paragraph that tells the only one who knows when the end shall
come.
Since only God knows when Jesus will return, you and I need to be ready but we need not worry.

Since the New Testament speaks in broad terms about last things, it is to be expected
that problems will arise as to the interpretation of the details. For instance interpreters differ as to the number
of comings, resurrections, judgments, and the millennium (all of these will be discussed
in days 2, 3, or 4 of week 10).
Fortunately one’s position as to these details has never been a test of whether one is saved
among Baptists. One thing all Christians agree on is that Jesus is going to return. The belief in
Christ’s return is based on many Scriptures (I and II Thessalonians’ Matthew 24-25;
Mark 13; Luke 21; John 21:22; Revelation). The most clear promise by Jesus that He would
one day return for those who trust and obey Him is in Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of Man is
going to come.”
Question 4
One thing that all Christians agree on is:
( ) Jesus is going to return
( ) Jesus is going to return this generation
( ) Jesus is going to return and build an earthly kingdom

No one is sure when Jesus will return or how He will judge when He comes
back to earth. We are only sure that one day He will return. The first answer is correct.
Question 5
Christian’s belief that Jesus shall return is based on:
( ) Fear
( ) Many Scripture
( ) Only Faith

In Mathew 24:4-14, Jesus tells of signs that predict that His return is near.
Read Matthew 24:4-14. These verses warn Christians that many false teachers will come
before Jesus’ return. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be famines and earthquakes.
Many people will abandon their Christian beliefs and follow false prophets.
Question 6
The above paragraph lists some of the things that will happen before Christ’s return, match them with the verse.

a. False teachers			Matthew 24: 5
b. Wars and rumors of wars		Matthew 24:7
c. Famines and earthquakes		Matthew 24:10
d. Abandonment of Christian beliefs	Matthew 24:6

One sure thing that Matthew 24:4-14 promises is that things will get worse before Jesus’ return.
Philippians 1:29 and John 15:20 support the belief that before the end Christians will have
a very difficult time. Matthew 24:29-31 promises Christians that trusting the victorious Christ
throughout the difficult days will be mankind’s only hope for salvation
Read Matthew 24:29-31.
Question 7
What is mankind’s only hope during the difficult days that will come before Christ’s return:
( ) Strong Governments ( ) Education and Wealth ( ) Faith in Jesus

Last Things

Week 10

The Resurrection

Day 2

Learning Goals
You will be able to:
1. state what Christians believe happens after a person dies.
2. check what Christians believe about the resurrection of the dead
3. describe the Christian’s resurrected body
4. list the period when the resurrection of the believing dead will rise

Every Christian places hope in Christ partially because of the desire for immortality.
All people die (Week 3 Day 4). However, Christians believe death is a temporary state.
The body dies but the spirit does not. The central message of the Bible is that faith in the
resurrected Christ will result in a new life.
Question 1
Underline the correct statements:
1. All people die
2. Christians believe once a person dies he/she will never live again
3. Both the body and Spirit die
4. Only the body dies but the spirit continues to live.
5. Faith in the resurrected Christ will result in a new life.

Answers 1, 4, and 5 are correct.

At the second coming of Christ, the dead body shall live again and be reunited with the living soul.
Both the just (believers in Christ) and the unjust (those who have rejected Christ as Savior)
shall have a resurrection. The just will be raise to a glorious new life. Their body shall be like
Christ’s body. The new body will have the characteristics that are needed for life in heaven.
The unjust will be raise for condemnation and judgment. Their eternal home will be hell.

Last Things

Week 10

The Resurrection

Day 2

Learning Goals
You will be able to:

what Christians believe happens after a person dies.

what Christians believe about the resurrection of the dead.

describe the Christian’s resurrected body.

the period when the resurrection of the dead who are believers will rise.

Every Christian places hope in Christ partially because of the individual
desire for immortality. All people die (see Week 3 Day 4). However, Christians believe death to be
a temporary state. The body dies but the spirit does not. Faith in the resurrected Christ will result
in a new eternal life.
Question 1
Underline the correct statements:

people die

Christians believe once a person dies an individual can never live again.

the body and the spirit die.

the body dies. The spirit continues to live.

in the resurrected Christ will result in eternal life.

Check your answers in the preceding paragraph.

At the second coming of Jesus, the dead body shall live again and be reunited
with the living soul. Both the just (believers in Christ) and the unjust (those who have rejected Jesus
as Savior) shall have a resurrection. The just will be raised to life with Christ. Their body shall be l
ike Christ’s. They will have a new body that meets in requirements of Heaven.
The unjust will be raised for condemnation and judgment.

Question 2
Who will be raised from the dead at Christ’s second coming?
( ) only the just
( ) only the unjust
( ) both the just and the unjust

Question 3
When the just and unjust are resurrected what will happen?
( ) the just and unjust will be forgiven for their sins
( ) the just will be raised to life. The unjust will be raised to judgment.

The Bible states that the dead will not all be raised at the same time but will be
raised according to God’s judgment. (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:22; Revelation 20:12-14).
The resurrection of the believing dead will take place in a period called “the last day”
(John 6:39-40) In this verse, the word “day” does not mean twenty-four hours.
It is symbolic like the terms “the day of the Lord”, “the day of grace”,
“day of salvation”,
“Day of Judgment” (Read II Peter 3:8).

Question 4
Copy a verse from the Bible that assures us that the dead will not all be raised at the same time
but that all will be raised.

Question 5
The resurrection of the believing dead will take place in a period called “__________
________________________”. (John 6:39-40, 44).

Question 6
Does the world “day” mean twenty-four hours in John 6:39-40, 44?

Yes ____

No ____

Question 7
List four other symbolic terms that refer to the word “Day”. These symbols do not refer
to a twenty-four hour period.
1.
2.
3.
4.

The dead who accepted Christ as Savior will be raised first (Luke 14:14;
I Corinthians 15:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:4-6).

Question 8
Who will be raised first when Christ returns?
( ) Christians ( ) Non-believers

The resurrection of the unbelieving dead will take place after the resurrection of Christians
(Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:14-15; Revelation 20: 5, 12-14).
One of the first questions people always ask when a discussion of the resurrection takes
place is “What will I look like in Heaven?” The last part of this lesson will make
some general statements about the resurrected body. It is clear that even though there is
a physical resurrection that our heavenly bodies will not be the same body that we now have.
It is likely that the resurrected body refers to our personality and characteristics (Philippians 3:12).
Our new body will not be earthly flesh and blood (I Corinthians 15:50).
Question 9
Will our heavenly bodies and earthly bodies be the same?

( ) Yes

( ) No

Question 10
What scripture verses support your answer?

Our heavenly bodies will be a God-given body that is not bound by the laws of earth
(I Corinthians 15:38; II Corinthians 5:1-4). It is a heavenly body given for heavenly use
(I Corinthians 15: 40, 47-49).
Our heavenly bodies will not be pure spirit. It will have substance like the resurrected body of Jesus.
He said after His resurrection, “Behold, my hands and feet…” (Luke 24:39).
Jesus body had earthly characteristics but was made for His heavenly reign (Philippians 3:21; I John 3:12).
Question 11
How do we know that our heavenly resurrected body is not pure spirit without substance?

The new body will be immortal and incorruptible. The resurrected body will not be subject to disease
or decay (I Corinthians 15: 52-54; Luke 20:35-36).
Question 12
Will our heavenly bodies ever become ill?

Yes ____

No _____

The resurrected bodies will have variety. They will differ from one another
just as we differ from one another now (I Corinthians 15:41-42).
Question 13
Will everyone look the same in heaven?

Yes ____

No ____

The important fact of the resurrection is not how it will take place or what we will
look like after it comes. Its importance for our lives is that the Bible predicts a resurrection
of the saved and unsaved. Christ is coming! We must be prepared in order that we will be
resurrected with the saved.
Question 14
The important fact of the resurrection is:
        ( ) when it will take place.
        ( ) what we will look like when it takes place.
        ( ) Christ is coming! We must be prepared in order to be resurrected with the
saved.

Last Things

Week 10

The Judgment

Day 3

Learning Goals
You will be able to:

select from a list what the Bible says will happen to mankind following the resurrection.

the resurrection is going to take place.

two Bible verses which show trust in Jesus will result in eternal life.

explain the reason God punishes sin.

what happens to believers and unbelievers at the judgment.

will happen to mankind following the resurrection? The Bible says everyone will
be judged (I Corinthians 3: 10-15). There is a judgment of those who expressed faith in Jesus
as Savior. There is also a judgment of those who rejected Jesus as Savior (Revelation 10:11-15).
The result of these two judgments is very different.

Question 1
What will happen to everyone following the resurrection?
        ( ) All people will be judged
        ( ) God will forgive every one of their sins.
        ( ) All good people will become gods.

The Bible says every one will be judged for his/her individual faith or denial of Jesus as Lord.

Judgment of Believers
The Apostle Paul wrote, “If in this life we have hope resting on Christ, and nothing more,
we are more to be pitied than all the rest of the world (I Corinthians 15:19).
The idea is that if Christ’s promise of Salvation (See Week 5 day 1) is not true
then we have no hope.

We have not indulged in the pleasures of the world. However Christians have
experienced Christ’s work individually in life. We know Christ is resurrected from the dead.
We know we will also be resurrected from the dead because of Jesus resurrection and promise
that we would follow Him in our own resurrection.
Question 1
How do Christians know the resurrection is going to happen?
( ) Jesus promised.
( ) Blind Faith
( ) We don’t know. We just hope it is true.

The hope of Christians is based on John 8:51 and other Scripture:
“Verily, Verify, I say to you, if a man keeps my (Jesus) sayings, he shall never see death.”
In John 11:25-26, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in me,
though he was dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”
Question 2
List two Bible references which show that trust in Jesus as Savior will result in eternal life.
1.
2.
The final judgment for believers will be reward. This does not mean Christians will not experience
a physical death (See Week 3 Day 1). Our judge will look at believers and say, “Well done, good
and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21). Judgment day is not a time when God will discover
our true character. He already knows us. Judgment is actually for the purpose of punishing
the wicked and rewarding the righteous.
Question 3
What is the purpose of God’s judgment of the resurrected?
( ) to punish everyone for their sin.
( ) to punish the unbelievers and reward the believers
( ) to forgive every one for their sin and allow everyone to go to heaven.

The above question is answered by the apostle Paul, “We must
all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ: that each one may receive the things done
in the body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).
The believer shall be rewarded. Those who have rejected Jesus as savior shall receive
their just punishment.

Judgment of Unbelievers
“…It shall be well with the righteous, and woe to the wicked (Isaiah 3:10-11).
The Lord will punish sin and reward righteousness.
Question 4
What will happen to the wicked at judgment?
( ) They will be forgiven.
( ) they will be punished for their sin.

The Wicked are to be punished. Other scriptures that support
Isaiah 3:10-11 are Matthew 25:41, 46; Romans 2:8-9. The Bible tell of eternal punishment
for the unbelieving. Fire is the symbol of divine judgment (Matthew 5:22).
In Matthew 3:10, the godless are represented as trees that are cut down and cast into the fire.
In Matthew 3:12 the chaff (unbelievers) are burned in fire. In Matthew 13:42 the wicked are
cast into a furnace of fire. The fire shows the terrible punishment that waits all who reject God.
Question 5
How long will those who reject Christ’s forgiveness be punished?
( ) Until they repent
( ) For eternity
( ) They will not be punished
Our opportunity to accept Christ’s forgiveness is only available while we are here on earth.
Justice requires that God punish sin if we do not request His forgiveness through Jesus.
Each individual determines whether he or she will accept God’s Forgiveness or punishment.

Last Things

Week 10

The Judgments

Day 4

Learning Goals
You will be able to:

explain the three major view as to what will happen when Christ

returns.

2. define the word “Tribulation”

Many Christians are very concerned about what will happen
at the end of the world.
There are strong feelings about this question and several positions are held.
These positions rotate around the question of a millennium or thousand year reign
of Christ (Revelation 20:1-10)

Question 1
All Christians believe the same thing about what will happen at the end of the world. Yes ____ No ____

Different views are held as to what will happen at the end
of the world but all Evangelicals agree that Jesus is going to return and judge the world.
There are three major views as to what will happen when Christ returns.

Premillenialsim teaches that a one thousand year reign will be
preceded by Christ’s coming to save all Christians from seven years of tribulation
which will precede the millennium. Tribulation is the term used for the evil times that precede
Jesus second coming. This view places emphasis on I Thessalonians 4.
Question 2
Fill in the blanks
Premillennialsim says the __________ year reign will be preceded by ____________
coming to save all _____________ from _____________ years of _________________
which will come before the millennium.

Question 3
What does tribulation mean?
( ) Evil times that precede Jesus second coming
( ) Times before Jesus comes
( ) The time for unbelievers to have a second change before judgment

Post-millennialism holds that the thousand year reign will be
constituted by mankind improving the world so much that Christ will be universally worshipped as Lord.
Christ is not believed to be literally present on earth during the millennium.
Question 4
Post-millennialism believes:
( ) Jesus will serve as king of the world for one-thousand years.
( ) The world will improve so much that Christ will be worshiped by everyone.
( ) Jesus is not going to return.
Amillennialism teaches that biblical language about Christ’s reign on earth
for 1,000 years is symbolic not literal. The present age will end with the coming of Jesus to judge.
Question 5
Fill in the blank
Amillennialism teaches that biblical _______________ about Christ’s _____________
On earth for 1,000 years is ___________________ not _________________________.

Each view has major biblical scholars who follow it. Fortunately, one’s position on
the millennium has never been a test of one’s salvation among evangelicals.

Question 6
Which millennial view do you believe?
( ) Post-millennial
( ) Pre-millennial
( ) Amillennial

Question 7
Can people who have a different understanding of what will happen during the last days
still be a Christian?

Yes ____

No ____

There are many questions about the last days which we can not answer.
The Bible does not give us the information for answering some questions and there is no
other valid source. It is our job to tell others about Jesus; saving grace in order that
all the world can be ready for the Lord’s return

End