The Second Coming Of Christ

Title: The Second Coming Of Christ

Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Quote by Chuck Swindoll

“One out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of the end of time, or of Christ’s return.”

“And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)

“This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” (Rev. 1:7)

Whole chapters and entire books of the Bible are devoted to the subject of the second coming of Christ.

2 Peter chapter 3 is one of those chapters entirely devoted to the second coming of Christ

In 2 Peter chapter 3 the author Peter uses the second coming of Christ to challenge his readers to grow in 4 specific areas…

1.In wholesome thinking (2 peter 3: v1-2)

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Notice Peter’s Reminder to the reader in verse 1: The Bible was written he reminds them, to stimulate us to wholesome thinking.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Since the Bible was written to stimulate you to wholesome thinking…

Notice Peter’s request to the reader in verse 2…

“I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.”

A.What specific words spoken in the past by the holy prophets does Peter want his readers to recall?

B.I believe he wants the reader to recall the specific words spoken by the prophets on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ

C.And what specific command given by our Lord through the apostles does Peter want his readers to recall?

D.I believe he wants the reader to recall some specific command given by the Lord through the apostles concerning the Second coming of Christ

E.Growing in wholesome thinking is thinking a lot about the Second Coming of Christ!

F.Do you know that God promises to give a special crown to those believers who spend a lot of their time thinking about the Second Coming of Christ

G.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Tim 4:8)

H.Do you know that God gives a special blessing to those who read the book of Revelation

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Rev. 1:3)

Challenge myself to grow more in my thinking about the second coming of Christ? Some days I never give a thought to the second coming of Christ.

Joanie –answer machine message : Ready or not Jesus is coming

Let me say it again growing in wholesome thinking is thinking more about the second coming of Christ!

The apostle Peter uses the second coming of Christ to challenge me to also grow in…

2.In wholesome desires (v3-4)

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

A.If wholesome thinking is thinking more about the second coming of Christ then what might Peter mean by challenging us to grow in wholesome desires?

B.I am growing in wholesome desires when I desire the second coming of Christ.

C. Does Peter believe that in the last days everyone will have strong desires for the Second Coming of Christ?

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

D. Peter believed that rather than desiring the second coming of the Lord there will appear scoffers who mock the doctrine of the second coming of Christ.