LESSON V.—SABBATH, APRIL 29, 1893
THE COMING OF CHRIST WILL BE PERSONAL AND LITERAL.
Suggestive Questions and Lesson Scriptures.
1. Review questions:—
(a) When will the restoration of all things take place?
(b) How many prophets have spoken of this time?
(c) Name three prophets that have written on the subject, and repeat a text from each on that subject. 2. What does Paul say of the manner of Christ's coming?
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 1 Thess. 5:2. 3. To whom will he come as a thief?
"When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape." 1 Thess. 5:3. 4. What is said of the brethren?
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5:4. 5. How many will see him when he comes?
"Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they which pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen." Rev. 1:7. 6. What is said of the ascension of Jesus?
"And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Acts 1:9. 7. Who appeared to the disciples as they were looking after him?
"And while they were looking up steadfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel." Acts 1:10. 8. What did they say of the manner of his return?
"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, which was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven." Acts 1:11. 9. What was the last thing seen when he ascended?
"And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Acts 1:9. 10. What will be the first thing that will be seen when he returns?
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matt. 24:30. 11. Will the righteous know him when he appears?
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isa. 25:9. See note 1. 12. Will the wicked know him?
"And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?" Rev. 6:14-17. 13. What will be heard at that time?
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thess. 4:16. 14. What will that voice say to the righteous?
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26:20, 21. 15. How will the wicked feel, and what will they do at that time?
"Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty."
"And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away. And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth. In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made for him to worship, to the moles and to the bats." Isa. 2:10, 17-20. 16. Could all these scriptures be fulfilled if Christ should appear in secret, so that all of the wicked and a portion of the righteous know nothing about it? 17. What is he to bring with him?
"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is." Rev. 22:12. 18. Will the reward be literal? See note 2. 19. What will be the appearance of the Lord when he comes?
"And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:27. See note 3.