The Destiny of Life: God Establishes His Everlasting Kingdom
Introduction:
Although the life and ministry of Jesus Christ was only 33 years, it would have an eternal impact on all of humanity. Jesus had shown that he was God in flesh and died for the sins of all men. He came back alive three days after he died and showed himself to his followers on many occasions. Because the Jewish nation had rejected Christ as King, he would now include the Gentile nations in calling out a people for his name.
1. How many people saw Christ after His resurrection? __________
I Corinthians 15:6a - After that, he [Jesus] was seen of above five hundred brethren at once….
2. What did Thomas call Christ when He appeared to his disciples? ______________________
John 20:26-28 - And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
3. What people are blessed? ___________________
John 20:29 - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed arethey that have not seen, and yet have believed.
4. Christ told his followers to teach all ____________ and to baptize them in the ___________ of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
5. What did Christ promise his disciples after preparing a place for them _____________________
John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
6. What did Christ promise his disciples would come upon them after he returned to heaven? __________
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
7. What did Jesus say the Comforter (the Holy Ghost) would do? ____________________________
John 16:13a - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;
Jesus ascended to Heaven. He gave us His Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Teacher. He gave his followers a command to bring the Good News of the Gospel to all people everywhere. One of the most important men God used was the Apostle Paul. He was a religious zealot who persecuted Christians, but became a preacher of the gospel of Christ to Jews and Gentiles.
8. The Lord said that Paul would bring salvation unto the _______ of the earth.
Acts 13:47 - For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
9. The Gospel has the power to save whom? __________________
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10. What stirred Paul’s spirit when he was in Athens, Greece? __________________________________
Acts 17:16 - Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
11. What did he preach to them? ____________________________
Acts 17:18 - ... he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
12. What were the reactions of the people? ____________________
Acts 17:32-34 - And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:
13. Jesus is coming back in the _____________to catch away believers where we will ever be with the _____________.
I Thessalonians 4:16,17 - 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
14. This future event will happen how quickly? ________________
ICorinthians 15:52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
15. What is the blessed hope of the Christian believer that we should be looking forward to? __________________________
Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Conclusion:
The hope of every Christian is that at any moment, Christ will appear to take us home to heaven. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up to be with the Lord! We will have a celebration wedding feast, as the bride (the church) and the groom (Christ) will finally be united forever! Christ is now preparing a mansion in heaven.
These words are to comfort and challenge each Christian follower! We are not to be content knowing truth, but must be busy helping warn the unbeliever of coming judgment. We will have a day of judgment where we will be given rewards for our faithfulness to Christ. We will be able to cast these crowns at Jesus feet out of love and worship for Him!
But the unbeliever has no hope. After the believers are caught away to heaven, there will be seven years of tribulation and suffering on earth. During this time, the Anti-Christ will unite the world in rebellion of God and his followers. Jesus will return on a white horse and kill thousands in a bloody battle. (Revelation 19:10-16) Jesus will set up his physical kingdom to rule as King of Kings for a thousand years.
Ultimately, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever. All unbelievers will stand before the great white throne of God. They will see that their works condemn them before a holy God, and they also will be cast into the lake of fire.
God will proceed to make a new earth. God will now be able to dwell in peace with mankind forever in perfect unity. All tears, suffering, and death will be gone forever. There will be no need for a temple, sun, moon, or stars, because we will always be in the presence of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World.
The final picture God gives us in the Bible is that of the pure river of water of life coming from God’s throne. There is the tree of life from which we will finally be allowed to eat. Only the one who accepts Jesus alone as God and Saviour may enter here. This is God’s desired destination for the path of every person He has created. He takes pleasure in you and wants you to enjoy His presence forever. Please consider where you are on the path of life. Jesus’s final words bring hope to the Christian believer. Jesus says in Revelation 22:20, “Surely I come quickly.” Are you ready? If so, you may heartily reply, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
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