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Monday, January 13, 2014

Second Coming Lesson

Sunday School (Ages 12-18)
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
*No man knows the hour and day when the Lord will come (D&C 49:7; Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:40)
*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)
* The righteous need not fear. (1 Nephi 22:17, D&C 35:45, D&C 38:30)
* His Second Coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium. Among the prophesied events and signs are:
   -Apostasy from gospel truth (see Matthew 24:9–12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3).
   -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).
   -The coming forth of the Book of Mormon (see Isaiah 29:4–18; 3 Nephi 21:1–11).
   -The preaching of the gospel throughout the world (see Matthew 24:14).
   -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.
*Matthew 13:24–30; D&C 86:1–7 (The parable of the wheat and the tares)
*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)
*Matthew 25:1–13; D&C 45:56–59; 63:54 (The parable of the ten virgins)
*D&C 45:34–39; Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:38–39 (The parable of the fig tree)

*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