Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to worship and delve into the profound topic of the Second Coming of Christ. We began by lifting up our brother Albert Flores in prayer, believing in the healing power of Jesus. We also celebrated the advancements in our sound system and the growth of our worship team, emphasizing the importance of worship in touching hearts globally.
The core of our discussion centered on the Second Coming of Christ, a topic that has garnered significant interest, especially in light of recent global events. We explored the prophetic alignment of nations and the signs of the end times as described in the Bible. The message was clear: Jesus is coming back, and we must be prepared.
We delved into the book of Revelation, breaking down its complex imagery and events into six major occurrences: the Church Age, the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth. Each of these events holds significant implications for believers, emphasizing the need for readiness and faithfulness.
The Church Age, where we currently reside, is a time for preparation. The Rapture will see believers taken up before the Tribulation, a period of intense suffering and the rise of the Antichrist. The Second Coming of Christ will follow, leading to the final judgment and the establishment of a new, perfect order.
We also examined the seven churches in Revelation, each representing different aspects of the Christian walk and areas needing attention. From returning to our first love to rejecting doctrinal extremes and removing impurity, these messages serve as a guide for preparing ourselves as the bride of Christ.
In conclusion, the Second Coming is not a horror story but a love story, a divine plan for us to be with Jesus. We are called to live in readiness, embracing the Word of God and walking in faith and victory.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Worship and Unity: Worship is not just about music but about creating an atmosphere where God's presence can dwell. When we worship in unity, as described in 2 Chronicles 5, we create an environment for God's glory to fall and transform lives. This unity in worship is essential for preparing our hearts for the Second Coming of Christ. [10:28]
2. Understanding the Prophetic Timeline: The book of Revelation outlines a prophetic timeline that includes the Church Age, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth. Understanding these events helps us to live with a sense of urgency and readiness, knowing that Jesus' return is imminent. [48:27]
3. The Role of the Church Today: We are currently living in the Church Age, a time for preparation and readiness. The messages to the seven churches in Revelation serve as a guide for us to return to our first love, remain faithful, reject doctrinal extremes, remove impurity, renew our purpose, revere the Word of God, and avoid lukewarmness. These principles are crucial for being prepared as the bride of Christ. [53:59]
4. The Assurance of Salvation: For those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is an assurance of being spared from the wrath of the Tribulation. The Rapture will see believers taken up to be with Jesus, emphasizing the importance of living a life of faith and obedience. This assurance should bring peace and joy, knowing that we are secure in Christ. [59:53]
5. The Final Judgment and New Creation: The Great White Throne Judgment will see all humanity judged, with believers being judged by the Book of Life. Following this, a new heaven and a new earth will be established, restoring creation to its original, perfect state. This future hope should inspire us to live holy and godly lives, anticipating the day when we will dwell with God in perfect harmony. [01:10:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[08:43] - Prayer for Albert Flores
[09:42] - Sound System Update
[10:28] - Worship Team Growth
[11:39] - Importance of Worship and Word
[12:35] - Tithes and Offerings Prayer
[13:42] - Healing Prayer for Albert
[14:39] - Vision of Hope, Salvation, and Restoration
[15:31] - Declaration Over Finances
[17:08] - Passing the Basket
[27:56] - Gratitude for Sound Team
[28:35] - Prayer for Worship Team
[29:17] - Unity in Worship
[30:00] - Series on the Second Coming
[31:23] - Introduction to the Second Coming
[31:58] - Signs of the End Times
[32:45] - Prophetic Alignment of Nations
[33:30] - Encouragement in Christ
[34:10] - Identity in Christ
[34:47] - The Second Coming as a Love Story
[35:31] - John 14:1-3
[36:29] - Jesus Preparing a Place for Us
[37:17] - Promise of Jesus' Return
[37:54] - Personal Testimony
[38:40] - Divine Healing
[39:09] - Spiritual Growth and Revelation
[41:07] - Understanding God's Word
[42:16] - God's Purpose for Us
[43:21] - Prophetic Word and Anointing
[44:22] - Unity in Worship
[45:22] - Creating an Atmosphere for God's Glory
[45:53] - Revelation and Study
[46:23] - The Second Coming of Christ
[46:52] - Jesus' Return to the Mount of Olives
[47:24] - Jesus' Motivation: Love
[47:58] - What the Second Coming Looks Like
[48:27] - Overview of Revelation
[49:31] - Cajun Joke
[50:04] - The Book of Revelation
[51:21] - John's Revelation
[52:25] - Jesus in His Glorified Body
[52:55] - Six Major Events in Revelation
[53:59] - The Church Age
[55:05] - The Rapture of the Church
[56:37] - Revelation 4:1
[57:12] - The Tribulation
[58:16] - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9
[59:53] - Assurance of Salvation
[01:00:57] - The Tribulation Explained
[01:02:31] - The Antichrist
[01:03:11] - Holy Spirit and the Church
[01:04:44] - Metaphoric Language in Revelation
[01:05:18] - Jesus' Second Coming
[01:06:21] - Revelation 19:11-16
[01:07:55] - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
[01:09:40] - The Great White Throne Judgment
[01:10:11] - Revelation 20:11-15
[01:11:15] - Books vs. Book
[01:12:56] - The Book of Life
[01:13:31] - New Heaven and New Earth
[01:14:05] - Genesis State Restored
[01:15:11] - Perfect Order Restored
[01:16:46] - Choosing Your Eternal Destiny
[01:17:25] - Summary of Revelation
[01:18:01] - Preparing as the Bride of Christ
[01:19:03] - The Cost of Weddings
[01:20:06] - Seven Churches in Revelation
[01:21:08] - Church at Ephesus: Return to First Love
[01:23:19] - Church at Smyrna: Remain Faithful
[01:24:22] - Church at Pergamum: Reject Doctrinal Extremes
[01:25:29] - Church at Thyatira: Remove Impurity
[01:27:47] - Church at Sardis: Renew Your Purpose
[01:30:29] - Church at Philadelphia: Revere the Word of God
[01:31:35] - Church at Laodicea: Avoid Lukewarmness
[01:32:45] - Invitation to Open the Door to Jesus
[01:33:19] - Jesus' Love for His Church
[01:34:06] - God's Plan for His People
[01:35:13] - Practicing Worship
[01:35:47] - Prayer for Preparation
[01:36:23] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[01:38:31] - Prayer of Salvation
[01:39:39] - Contact Information
[01:40:10] - Closing Remarks and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Second Coming of Christ
#### Bible Reading
1. John 14:1-3 (NIV)
> “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 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."
2. Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)
> "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."
3. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (NIV)
> "The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus promise in John 14:1-3 about His return and the place He is preparing for us?
2. According to Revelation 20:11-15, what are the two ways people will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment?
3. In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, what was the result of the unity in worship among the musicians and singers? [45:22]
4. What are the six major events outlined in the book of Revelation as discussed in the sermon? [53:59]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise of Jesus preparing a place for us in John 14:1-3 provide comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty? [35:31]
2. What is the significance of the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15, and how does it emphasize the importance of having one's name in the Book of Life? [10:11]
3. How does the unity in worship described in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 relate to the importance of worship and unity in preparing for the Second Coming of Christ? [45:22]
4. Why is it important for believers to understand the prophetic timeline and the six major events in Revelation? How does this knowledge impact our daily lives and readiness for Jesus' return? [48:27]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal worship experience. How can you contribute to creating an atmosphere of unity and worship in your church, similar to what is described in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14? [45:22]
2. Considering the promise in John 14:1-3, how can you live each day with the assurance that Jesus is preparing a place for you and will return? What changes might you need to make in your daily life to reflect this belief? [35:31]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of being prepared for the Second Coming of Christ. What specific steps can you take to ensure you are living in readiness and faithfulness? [53:59]
4. How does understanding the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 affect your perspective on salvation and evangelism? What actions can you take to share the message of salvation with others? [10:11]
5. The sermon mentioned the need to return to our first love and remain faithful, as highlighted in the messages to the seven churches in Revelation. What practical steps can you take to rekindle your love for Christ and stay faithful in your walk with Him? [21:08]
6. Reflect on the assurance of salvation discussed in the sermon. How does this assurance influence your peace and joy in daily life? What can you do to deepen your faith and trust in God's promises? [59:53]
7. The sermon described the Second Coming as a love story rather than a horror story. How can this perspective change the way you view end times and share this hope with others? [34:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity in Worship
Worship is not just about music but about creating an atmosphere where God's presence can dwell. When we worship in unity, as described in 2 Chronicles 5, we create an environment for God's glory to fall and transform lives. This unity in worship is essential for preparing our hearts for the Second Coming of Christ. Worship is a powerful tool that brings us closer to God and aligns our hearts with His will. It is through worship that we can experience His presence and be transformed by His love and grace. As we come together in unity, we create a space where God can move powerfully among us, touching hearts and changing lives. [10:28]
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (ESV): "And it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, 'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,' the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating an atmosphere of unity and worship in your church community today?
Day 2: Understanding the Prophetic Timeline
The book of Revelation outlines a prophetic timeline that includes the Church Age, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth. Understanding these events helps us to live with a sense of urgency and readiness, knowing that Jesus' return is imminent. By studying these prophetic events, we can better prepare ourselves for what is to come and live our lives in a way that honors God and reflects our faith in His promises. [48:27]
Revelation 1:3 (ESV): "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to better understand the prophetic timeline and live with a sense of urgency and readiness for Jesus' return?
Day 3: The Role of the Church Today
We are currently living in the Church Age, a time for preparation and readiness. The messages to the seven churches in Revelation serve as a guide for us to return to our first love, remain faithful, reject doctrinal extremes, remove impurity, renew our purpose, revere the Word of God, and avoid lukewarmness. These principles are crucial for being prepared as the bride of Christ. By examining our own lives and the life of our church community, we can identify areas that need attention and make the necessary changes to align ourselves with God's will. [53:59]
Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV): "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
Reflection: Which of the seven churches in Revelation do you most identify with, and what steps can you take to address the areas needing attention in your own life and church community?
Day 4: The Assurance of Salvation
For those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is an assurance of being spared from the wrath of the Tribulation. The Rapture will see believers taken up to be with Jesus, emphasizing the importance of living a life of faith and obedience. This assurance should bring peace and joy, knowing that we are secure in Christ. As we live our lives in faith and obedience, we can rest in the knowledge that we are protected and loved by our Savior, and that we have a glorious future awaiting us. [59:53]
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."
Reflection: How does the assurance of salvation and the promise of the Rapture impact your daily life and your relationship with Jesus?
Day 5: The Final Judgment and New Creation
The Great White Throne Judgment will see all humanity judged, with believers being judged by the Book of Life. Following this, a new heaven and a new earth will be established, restoring creation to its original, perfect state. This future hope should inspire us to live holy and godly lives, anticipating the day when we will dwell with God in perfect harmony. As we look forward to this glorious future, we should strive to live in a way that reflects our hope and faith in God's promises, seeking to honor Him in all that we do. [01:10:11]
Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV): "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
Reflection: How does the promise of a new heaven and a new earth inspire you to live a holy and godly life today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I believe that through the worship, not entertainment, but through worship, every heart can be touched. Not just in the house, but all you out there in the live audience and those that see this video later. We have people in India and Germany and every place else that sees the videos later in their time zone. So it's like, man, we're getting out there, and I just want to be able to, not just with the word, which is most important, right? Or is it? Is the music more important? Which comes first, worship or the word? Word. Word. You're exactly right. But when it's accompanied with worship, it's nothing but victory, amen?" (40 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe the Bible is the final authority in our lives, from the first word of Genesis to the last word of Revelation. And I believe that we need to speak word of God over every situation in our life, including our tithes and offerings, amen? And so when we get done praying for our tithes and offerings, we have the long one. We have a, we used to use a long one, then we went to a shorter one. We're back to using the long one. The long one, okay? And this is actually speaking word over our giving, amen?" (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I have an encouragement that I want to give you in just a few words. You ready? Jesus is coming. He's coming again. Amen? He's coming for His church. And I just think you need to know that. Maybe the times have kind of got you so concerned that you forget who you are in Christ if you're saved. Because I just want to tell you, you're not a poor old sinner saved by grace. No, no, no, no, no. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Amen? That's who you are." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus is saying, listen, I told you all along. Yes, I'm here on the earth. But this is not where I'm going to live my life. I have to go to heaven, and I have to prepare a place for you. Why? So that I can get you up there with me. Okay? And we know that God does intervene on the planet earth. And a lot of his plans, God's plans, is to rescue us. To get you out of this broken, cursed earth and get you up into heaven with him. Amen?" (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Hell is not a place that God sends people that he's mad at. Hell is a place where people go to pay for their own sins. But you don't have to. So, I've just shared in a matter of a few minutes the whole book of Revelation. Okay? I know there's a lot more details. I know that there's a lot of other stuff. But what I shared is the six major events that the church needs to understand so they can get prepared for what's coming. Amen?" (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I believe that what you're seeing right now, and you guys, we come as unity, and these guys start worshiping just like they did in 2 Chronicles chapter 5, that all of a sudden we all become in unity. Our hearts open to God, our eyes are not looking at anything but Him, that all of a sudden this atmosphere creates, and His glory falls and floods the house. Why am I saying all this? A lot of reasons, but mainly is, there are things in the Word of God that we may not understand. But through study and prayer, the Holy Spirit will give us the revelation of that." (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible calls the church the bride of Christ. Amen? I've done a lot of weddings in the years that I've pastored. And it's ridiculous how much families do to prepare for them. I'm telling you. It could be thousands of dollars, tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars. I've never been done one of those weddings, but I bet it's just... What I find funny is, they've invested all this money in a 20 minute event. 20 minutes! 20, 30, 40, 50 thousand dollars for 20 minutes! Why do they do that? Huh? Because it matters to them to have the bride ready for their groom. Think about that." (55 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The Bible says in chapter 3 verse 15, I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Other translation says, I'm about to vomit you out of my mouth. You say I am rich. You've acquired wealth and you do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Wow. Somebody's been deceived. Now church, you've got to understand. Jesus is not just going to fuss with them without giving them an invitation." (53 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I want to show you these six major events. You ready? But when I show you these six major events I want to come back to the first one and really dig into it. You ready? Number one. The church age. Revelations 2 and 3. The church age. It's literally where we are today. Let me say it this way. We are living in chapter 2 and 3 right now. This is the period before all these other events are going to happen. And what chapter 2 and 3 is is the playbook on how to live our lives. How to get ready. How to prepare to be the bride of Christ." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, I've just shared in a matter of a few minutes the whole book of Revelation. Okay? I know there's a lot more details. I know that there's a lot of other stuff. But what I shared is the six major events that the church needs to understand so they can get prepared for what's coming. Amen? So I wanted you to see this stuff because it tells us that we are the bride and we are being prepared for the wedding day. Amen?" (44 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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