Perhaps one of the greatest promises we have in Scripture is the promise that one day Jesus will return. We can cling to this promise on our hardest, darkest, and best days. Jesus is coming back. Because of this promise, we can have hope. Today we will begin studying what Scripture teaches about His return, where we will look into what Scripture teaches about His return and be reminded of the hope we have if we have placed our faith in Him.
Break the ice
What comes to mind when you think of the end times?
Small group questions
Bible study questions
- What are some misconceptions people have had in the world about the end times?
- Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What do we learn about what happens to believers when Jesus returns?
The Hope of the Resurrection
13And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18So encourage each other with these words.
3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:8. How does this verse shed light on what happens to believers when they die?
8Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
4. Read 1 Corinthians 2:9. What is the promise given in this Scripture?
9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”[1]
Translation notes (1)
- 2:9 Isa 64:4.
Application
- As you think about the return of Jesus, what sort of feelings come up? Why?
- Answering the question honestly, are you ready for Jesus’ return? Why or why not?
- What steps do you need to take this week to get ready? How can your group help?
Moving forward
Every single person who has placed their faith in Christ can be confident that Jesus will come back and that they will live with Him one day. This is the message that the world needs to hear of those who are far from Christ. Take a moment to evaluate if you are putting yourself in circumstances where you are around people in need of Christ. Talk about this with your group. If you are not consistently surrounded by those in need of Christ, how will you put yourself around people looking for the hope of Jesus? Share this with your group and follow up next week with each other to see how you put yourself in places where you will be around people who are far from Christ.
Going deeper
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” It is true, we were made for another world, one where we live with Jesus, where there is no sin or pain, and we can worship Him and enjoy Him without anything holding us back. Jesus’ return is a sign that we will one day experience this world that we were created for. Because of this, followers of Jesus do not have to have fear when we think about the end times. In our next few minutes together, we will look at several passages of Scripture that help us understand what Heaven will be like and why we can have peace as we think about the return of Jesus and the end times.
Read John 16:33.
- What are the promises that Jesus gives in these verses?
- Is the promise in this verse past, present, or future tense? What difference does the tense of this verse make as you think about the end times?
- Why can we have peace even in the middle of struggles and trials?
Read Revelation 21:1-4.
- What will the new Heaven and new Earth be like?
- What is going to be absent from the new Heaven and new Earth?
- What are you most looking forward to when it comes to this new Heaven and new Earth? Why?
Read Revelation 21:5
- What promise do we have to claim in this verse?
- Why was John, the writer of Revelation, told to write down the truth in this verse? How does this give you confidence as you think about the end times?
Reflect:
- In the past have you felt more fear or excitement when it comes to the end times? Why?
- How do the passages of Scripture that we have studied impact your view of the end times?
- Who is someone you know in need of the hope of Jesus? What is one way you will reach out to them this week?
Pick one verse from the passages of Scripture that we have studied today to memorize this week. Then, share with your group the verse you chose. Let this verse remind you of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, and share that hope with the people around you.
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