It is no longer news that Jesus is coming back again. How are you preparing for His return? You should be sensitive to the present events as a fulfilment of some of the prophecies about the imminent return of Christ. There is a need to be deliberate in observing the signs of the last days, as taught in the Bible and to teach the children so that none of them will be deceived or unprepared. You owe them a duty to prepare them for the Lord’s second coming. The teaching of the last days is effective.
Explain the Focus of the Study
This article focuses on the events of the last days. Such events are the things that must happen before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells of these events so that no one who believes in Christ will be deceived or caught unawares. They are written for us as believers to prepare for the coming of our Master. The topics include “Signs of the End Time,” “Perilous Times”, The Day of the Lord”, “Rapture”, and “The Day of Judgement”.
1. Develop the Sign of the End Time (Matthew 24 1-14)
The end time is a series of events that will precede the return of Christ. The Bible does not tell us the exact time. No one knows when, not even the angels and Jesus, except God the Father (Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:36). The Bible describes the signs that would mark the end of time. We shall consider some of these signs.
As Jesus was leaving the temple, His disciples urged Him to tell them what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. Jesus told them that they should be careful so that no one deceives them. He further said the following:
- Many will come in His name, claiming they are the Messiah. There will be the appearance of many false prophets who will deceive many.
- Famines and earthquakes will spread in different places in the world.
- Children of God will be persecuted and put to death. They will be hated by nations because they believe in Jesus Christ.
- Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. The increase of wickedness will make the love of most believers cold.
However, Jesus encouraged His disciples that in spite of all these tribulations, only those who endured to the end would be saved.
Tell them the Lesson or Lessons.
The signs of the end time have started happening already. How prepared are you?
2. Develop the Perilous Time (2 Timothy 3 1-5; 10-14)
Nifemi does not like teachings that have to do with the last days; he believes they are scary. His friend, Okwusile, does not like missing such teachings will help children of God to be more knowledgeable about the last days and be prepared. He encouraged his friend, Nifemi, to come to his church on Sunday, as his teacher will be talking about the “Perilous Times”. Listen carefully as three students ask their teacher questions.
You can discuss perilous times through a dialogue like this (Questions and Answers)
Question: What is the meaning of perilous times?
Answer: A perilous time means a time that is full of danger or risk; hazardous, harsh, fierce, harmful, threatening and treacherous.
Question: From today’s passage, what will people love at these perilous times?
Answer: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Question: What wicked lifestyles will people display during the perilous times?
Answer: People will be boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungraceful, unforgiving, unholy, and without self-control. They will also be cruel and hate what is good.
Question: What does the Bible say we should do with such people?
Answer: In verse 5 of this lesson, the Bible says we should have nothing to do with such people.
Question: From verses 10-14, what did Paul encourage Timothy to do?
Answer: Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the godly examples he had seen in his lifestyle and the things he had learned and was convinced of.
Question: What is your encouragement to children, based on this lesson?
Answer: Children should avoid evil practices, follow godly examples, and remain in God’s Word.
Tell them the lesson or Lesson.s
What wicked lifestyles are reflected in your day-to-day activities? God is not pleased with such lifestyles and practices. It is time to say no to these kinds of lifestyles so that Jesus can be happy with you.
The truth is that there will always be people who will engage in the activities of the perilous times. But you can resolve not to be part of such activities. You need the grace of God to keep you holy till Jesus comes. Therefore, pray that you will not be involved in the wicked activities of their perilous times.
3. Develop the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Rapture is the transportation of believers in Jesus Christ into heaven. According to the Bible, the event will be very fast, in the “twinkling of an eye”. As fast as this event is, some things will happen to usher in the rapture. Open your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4 13-18 to learn more about the rapture.
Paul was addressing the church in Thessalonica about those who died among them. Paul admonished the believers not to be ignorant about their loved ones who were dead in Jesus Christ – he told them not to grieve as those who do not have hope. He said that if they believed Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead, they should also believe that at Jesus Christ’s return, He will bring back to life all those who died in Him.
Paul clearly explains how the rapture will occur. First, Jesus Christ will come down from heaven with a loud command, accompanied by the voice of an archangel and the trumpet call of God. After that, believers who are still alive at His coming will be caught up with them in the cloud to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.
For believers, the thought of the rapture should bring us comfort. It assures us of an everlasting abode with Jesus, where we will be given a new imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). It also comforts believers that we shall see our loved ones who died in Christ again. We have an assurance that we will meet with Jesus Christ and our beloved friends in the Lord. However, nobody knows when it will occur. So, we should always be prepared.
Tell them the Lesson or Lessons.
For believers, death is not the end of our existence. There is a beautiful life to come when Christ shall return. Are you ready for the Rapture? Will you be part of the roll call in heaven? If you have not given your life to Christ, today is another opportunity to do so. Salvation is the condition of being rapturable.
The news about the Second Coming of Jesus should not be kept to yourself. You should share it with your parents, friends and people everywhere. Such an action can motivate everyone to prepare for the return of Christ. Who will you tell about the rapture today?
4. Develop The Day of Judgement (Revelation 20:11-15)
Have you ever watched a scene in a drama or movie where a judge pronounces judgment on an accused person? It is usually an occasion of celebration for the one who is declared innocent, but a time of sorrow for the one who is condemned.
John the Beloved wrote down his revelation concerning the Judgement Day that will occur when Christ returns. Open your Bibles to Revelation 20 11-15.
Judgment Day is the day when everyone must appear before God and give an account of their lives. John, in his revelation, saw a great white throne with the One who was seated on it. He saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne.
Books and another book, the Book of Life, were opened. The sea, death and Hades have the dead in them. Each one was judged according to what they had done, as written in the books and the Book of Life.
Thereafter, death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found in the Book of Life was also thrown into the lake of fire (this is the lake of burning Sulphur, where there will forever be torment – Revelation 20:10).
This is the revelation of what will happen on the day of Judgement to anyone. Also, there will be no lawyer to plead on anyone’s behalf. The only qualification to reign with God eternally is for one’s name to be found in the Book of Life.
Tell the Lesson or Lessons
Is your name written in the Book of Life? You need to think about this in your daily life.
Nobody can stand the judgment of God. Therefore, you should be ready for Jesus’ coming. What are some of the steps you will start taking to prepare, so that your name can be in the Book of Life? You can read further on this page.
