for December: Building the Kingdom of God in the Latter Days
How can I understand the symbols used to teach about the Second Coming?
What can I learn from the scriptures to help me prepare for the Second Coming?
HANDOUT/LESSON OUTLINE:
When
Christ comes, we must be doing His work, and we must be living His teachings.
He must recognize us quickly and easily as truly being His disciples. (Elder
Holland)
The
Second Coming of Jesus Christ
*Part of our responsibility as Latter-day Saints
is to prepare ourselves and help prepare the world for the Second Coming.
*How can we prepare ourselves? We should watch
and pray to remain worthy to stand before the Lord (Luke 21:34–36).
We should look for and prepare for the coming of the Savior (2 Peter 3:10–13;
Joseph Smith Translation, 2 Peter 3:10–13, Bible appendix)
* His Second Coming will mark
the beginning of the Millennium. Among the prophesied events and signs are:
-The
restoration of the gospel, including the restoration of the Church of Jesus
Christ (see Acts 3:19–21; Revelation 14:6–7; D&C 45:28; 133:36).
-The
restoration of priesthood keys, the coming of Elijah (see Malachi 4:5–6; D&C 2; D&C 110:11–16).
-A time of
wickedness, war, and turmoil (see Matthew 24:6–7; 2 Timothy 3:1–7; D&C 29:17; 45:26–33; 88:91).
-Signs in
heaven and on the earth (see Joel 2:30–31; Matthew 24:29–30; D&C 29:14–16; 45:26-44; 45:39–42; 49:23&24; 88:87–90; Joseph Smith—Matthew
1:21–36).
-Building
of the New Jerusalem (3 Nephi 21:23-26; Moses 7:62-64; Articles of Faith 1:10;
D&C 84:2-3)
“Preparation
for the Second Coming” Elder Oaks
*An event eagerly awaited by the
righteous and dreaded or denied by the wicked.
*Four matters are indisputable to
Latter-day Saints:
(1) The Savior will return to the earth
in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of
righteousness and peace.
(2) At the time of His coming there will
be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection
of the righteous.
(3) No one knows the time of His coming,
(4) but the faithful are taught to study
the signs of it and to be prepared for it.
* Elder Oaks asks: “What if
the day of His coming were tomorrow? … What would we do today? What confessions
would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we
settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?” (Ensign
or Liahona, May 2004, 9).
When
the Savior and His servants taught about the Second Coming, they frequently
used symbols and parables.
*1 Thess 5:2–8; 2 Peter 3:10–14; D&C 106:4–5; JSM 1:46–48 (Second
Coming will come as a thief in the night)
*Joseph Smith—Matthew
1:49–54 (The Second Coming is compared to a lord
visiting faithful and evil servants)
PICTURES USED FOR THIS LESSON:
LESSON NOTES FOR TEACHERS:
from different online resources
Parable of the Ten Virgins….
-----The most important thing to remember
about this parable is that it is the Parable of the Ten Virgins, not the
Parable of the Five Virgins and the Five Harlots! All ten were members of
the Church, members of the "wedding party." All ten had lamps
of testimony. But five had let their lamps get low on oil, and while
waiting for the "bridegroom" (the Second Coming), they were
extinguished altogether. They were drifting off to sleep and didn't
even realize it was happening until it was gone!
President Benson said, "This is the
last and great dispensation in which the great consummation of God's purposes
will be made, the only dispensation in which the Lord has promised that sin
will not prevail. The Church will not be taken from the earth again.
It is here to stay. The Lord has promised it and you are a part of that
Church and kingdom--the nucleus around which will be builded the great kingdom
of God on the earth. The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God on the
earth will be combined together at Christ's coming--and that time is not far
distant. How I wish we could get the vision of this work, the genius of
it, and realize the nearness of that great event. I am sure it would have
a sobering effect upon us if we realized what is before us."
EVERYTHING BASICALLY IN THESE RESOURCES:
True to the Faith : Millennium
Gospel Principles - Chapter 43 - GOES OVER THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING
