When Jesus comes again, he will claim the elect and cast away the wicked. There will be a final judgment where people will be rewarded or punished based on what they had done in life. Some key events will be the resurrection of the dead, the gathering of the elect to meet Jesus in the air, and the destruction of Satan. The judgment will bestow eternal life, glory, and vindication for believers, while unbelievers and the wicked will be condemned to eternal punishment.

1. Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions Apostle’s Creed: 2ndArticle- Exaltation: 2nd Coming Memorization Verses: Rv 1:7 Look, He is coming… 2 Cor 5:10 We must all appear… Mk 13:32 No one knows… Mt 24:22 Nation will rise… Heb 9:28 Christ was sacrificed… 2Cor 5:21 God made Him… 2 Cor 5:15 He died for all… Gal 2:20 I have been crucified… Col 3:1-3 Since, then, you have been raised…

2. What will happen when Jesus comes again? Whisper the message around. The last person announces the statement to the group. You may only ask the operator for a repeat ONCE! Come Again? (Telephone)

3. PRAYEROn that final day…•Victory•Judgment•Waiting for Jesus•Glory Day•Serving til then P raiseRepentanceAppreciationYouEveryoneResolve

4. LSB#508 lutheran-hymnal.com/online/tlh-611.mid -GGB|AGAA|B-G-|BCDB|A-B-| 1. The day is surely drawing near/When God's Son, the Anointed,/Shall with great majesty appear/As Judge of all appointed./All mirth and laughter then shall cease/When flames on flames will still increase,/As Scripture truly teacheth. 2. A trumpet loud shall then resound/And all the earth be shaken./Then all who in their graves are found/Shall from their sleep awaken;/But all that live shall in that hour/By the Almighty's boundless pow'r/Be changed at His commanding. 3. A book is opened then to all,/A record truly telling/What each hath done, both great and small,/When he on earth was dwelling;/And ev'ry heart be clearly seen,/And all be known as they have been/In tho'ts and words and actions. 4. Then woe to those who scorned the Lord/And sought but carnal pleasures,/Who here despised His precious Word/And loved their earthly treasures!/With shame and trembling they will stand/And at the Judge's stern command/To Satan be delivered. 5. O Jesus, who my debt didst pay/And for my sin wast smitten,/Within the Book of Life, oh, may/My name be also written!/I will not doubt; I trust in Thee,/From Satan Thou hast made me free/And from all condemnation. 6. Therefore my Intercessor be/And for Thy blood and merit /Declare my name from judgment free /With all who life inherit,/That I may see Thee face to face /With all Thy saints in that blest place /Which Thou for us hast purchased. 7. O Jesus Christ, do not delay,/But hasten our salvation;/We often tremble on our way/In fear and tribulation./Then hear us when we cry to Thee;/Come, mighty Judge, and make us free/From every evil! Amen.

5. THE SECOND COMING –William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand; A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

6. My principles in brief, are, that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth, cleanse, purify, and take possession of the same, with all the saints, sometime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Discussion

7. Discussion “In 1992, two years earlier than that, I had already begun to see that there was a good likelihood that 2011 would be the end,” Camping said, “but at that time when my research in the Bible was not nearly complete – there were whole books of the Bible that I had not gone through yet very carefully – I thought that at that time that there was a possibility it might be 1994, and so I wrote a book, '1994?' but I put a big question mark after it, and in the book it also indicated that 2011 was also a good possibility. And so it was just a preliminary study that I've been able to complete during the last fifteen years.”

9. Second Coming/Advent: After the summation of human history (climaxed in the first coming of Christ and justification), Christ will return (Porousia, or physical return/presence) to claim the elect and cast away the wicked. Eschatology: The study of “the end” from scripture Millennialism: System that makes literal claim to the thousand year reign of Christ after a 7 year tribulation period. Amillennialism: System that makes figurative claim to the thousand year reign of Christ as occurring during alongside the Tribulation period currently. 2nd Art. Exaltation: Definition

11. I and many others are of this opinion (temporal 1000 year reign), and [believe] that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise. (Justin, Dialogue with Trypho, Ch. 70)

12. Medieval Eschatology: following post-donatistAugustian theology (figurative hermeneutic in context), Aquinas et. All developed an understanding that Rev. 20-21 represented the current Church Age.

13. Development of literal Antichrist to political and theological development in Western Europe.

14. Emphasis on Christ’s immediate return, judgment and establishing of new heavens and earth with spiritual kingdom.

16. 2nd Art. Exaltation: OT Exegesis Mal. 4:1-2: Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty. Dan. 9:24-25: Seventy ‘sevens’[a] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[b] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[c] 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[d] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.[e] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[f] In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations, will come one who makes desolate until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. r(b (Ba’ar): To consume completely as kindling. Used for a purpose. #m# (Shemesh) Sunrise, new dawn that is apparent, source of light connected to righteousness. Contrasted with the heat. (wb# (Shubwa) 7 days or years. Used in context of apololyptic literature as a symbol of a historic completion of the prophecy in Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem. uwqq# em# (ShekuwtShemem) making something insulting that is appalling and destructive. Occurs with Persians and Titus in the temple. One who stands in the place of God. NT describe the role as “man of sin” Hlk(Kala) Completion and termination.

17. Apostles and true believers anticipate an immediate ratification of Christ the King on earth. Acts 1: Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Christ teaches a distinction between the first and second coming, the suffering servant and the triumphant consummation of all. Christ teaches specifically the following: No one knows the day, not even the son (traditional humility saved for the father’s glory as well as part of his kenosis) The judgment will occur as an immediate separation of wicked from righteous (keeping with OT language). See parable of sheep/goats. The judgment will be preceded by persecution, starting immediately after his ascension. Our hope is not on visible things, and is ratified by the prophecy and fulfillment of the destroyed temple (Daniel 9, Matt 24). Continual development regarding the resurrection in Paulinan theology Dead will raise first, than those living will be caught up. Martyrs will judge alongside Christ, meeting in the sky while he descends as he ascended. (1stthess. 2 Cor.) Apocalyptic literature is represented in the allegory of the Church age looking to Christ’s victory on the cross and its ultimate expression in the coming of Christ in Revelation. Meant for encouragement! 2nd Art. Exaltation: NT Context

18. 2nd Art. Exaltation: NT Exegesis fanhsetai to shmeion tou uiou tou’anqrwpou en ouranw: Shedding of light through a large and visible symbol with the messaiah (often a sound and a great prosession in the sky). Electos(elektos) Those whom God has called and subjectively justified. aºrpa/zw(Harpazo) To seize by force, to be taken up. To meet as in a procession of a king. parakaleÑw(parakaleo) to comfort and support, to bolster and strengthen and revive amidst persecution. Aàbussov(Abusson): The darkness where the wicked are cast with the demons. Only God can see into the darkness. kai ekrathsen ton drakonta, o ofiv o arxaiov, ovestin Diabolov kai o Satanav, kai edhsen auton xilia eth, 7. Kriðnw (Krino): To separate and put asunder Matt 24:30 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 1st Thess. 4: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. Rev. 20: And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 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. 12 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.

19. The judgment will finally bestow the reward of grace, so eagerly desired throughout the burdened and afflicted pilgrimage of the godly: Eternal life and glory of soul and body in a renewed creation. The enjoyment of public vindication in the judgment (We are God’s elect! Rejoice!) everlasting bliss as the outcome of the judgment, the body of the elect believer will be raised from the grave into immortal life. Who would not long for the Day of Christ as the day of grace, the day of laughter. Luther called the day of Christ's coming "the most happy Last Day." The church of the Reformation could again pray, “…Come, Lord Jesus.“ Amen

20. URL List from Tuesday, May. 17 2011 23:15 PM To copy this list, type [Ctrl] A, then type [Ctrl] C. harold camping may 21 quote - Google Searchhttp://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=harold+camping&aq=f&aqi=g-z1g9&aql=&oq=#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&source=hp&q=harold+camping+may+21+quote&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=27f00039b232dc44Christian Leaders Respond to Camping's May 21 Rapture Prediction, Christian Newshttp://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-leaders-respond-to-campings-may-21-rapture-prediction-50275/Great Disappointment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_DisappointmentEschatology | Essay Filehttp://www.wlsessays.net/taxonomy/term/566www.wlsessays.net/files/NassSeventy.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/NassSeventy.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/KieckerJesus.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/KieckerJesus.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/GawrischEschatological.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/GawrischEschatological.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/GawrischLast.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/GawrischLast.pdfwww.wlsessays.net/files/HeinsMark.pdfhttp://www.wlsessays.net/files/HeinsMark.pdfEschatology in Church Historyhttp://www.theologicalstudies.org/page/page/1572935.htmEschatology Charthttp://www.spiritone.com/~wing/esc_chrt.htmwww.dspt.edu/dspt/lib/dspt/_shared/pdfs/Academics/syllabi/F09_HSST2310_Thompson.pdfhttp://www.dspt.edu/dspt/lib/dspt/_shared/pdfs/Academics/syllabi/F09_HSST2310_Thompson.pdfChristianity In History: Search results for thomashttp://christianityinhistory.blogspot.com/search?q=thomasA case for amillennialism ... - Google Bookshttp://books.google.com/books?id=dJo3GmOjHNkC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=justin+martyr+premillennialism+riddlebarger&source=bl&ots=-Cf09dJtjk&sig=v9UMb5i_3pKJXJ-_9Vkb74eUzMo&hl=en&ei=t1TTTZCuG8jx0gHh0fzqCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=falsePremillennialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism#Middle_Ages_and_the_ReformationAntichrist in the Middle Ages: Plus ça change… - Ryan - 2009 - History Compass - Wiley Online Libraryhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2009.00648.x/abstract?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+disrupted+21+May+from+10-12+BST+for+monthly+maintenanceOld Testament Eschatology « Think Hebrewhttp://thinkhebrew.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/old-testament-eschatology/Interlinear Study Bible on StudyLight.orghttp://www.studylight.org/isb/bible.cgi?query=eze+30-38%3B+jer+31%3B+da+7§ion=0&it=nas&oq=ez%252037%253b%2520jer%252031%253b%2520daniel%25207&ot=bhs&nt=na&new=1Interlinear Study Bible on StudyLight.orghttp://www.studylight.org/isb/bible.cgi?query=mt+24%3B+1th+4%3A16%3B+rev+20§ion=0&it=nas&oq=matt%252024%253b%25201%2520thess.%25204%3A16%253brev%252020&ot=bhs&nt=na&new=1&nb=mt&ng=24&ncc=24 2nd Art. Exaltation: Bibliography

21. 2nd Article of the Apostle’s Creed:Exaltation: Ascension What do the scriptures teach about Christ’s ascension? What does it mean that Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty? What comfort do we get from Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God? SS: Ascension M: Sits at the Right Hand of God T : Prophet W: Priest Th: King

22. SS: Complete Victory A. Christ will return visibly and with great glory on the Last Day. Matt. 24:27 As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Luke 21:27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." 2 Peter 3:10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Rev. 1:7 Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. • O Lord Jesus Christ, will not this misery finally come to an end, and the glory of the children of God soon begin? You have promised us the day when You will deliver us from every kind of evil. Let it happen, even now, if it is Your will, and end all misery. Amen. (Luther)

23. M Judgment B. Christ will return to judge the world, not to set up an earthly government. Matt. 25:31-32 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." 2 Cor. 5:10 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Bible narrative: The final judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev 20—see next slide Note: Millennialists teach the unscriptural doctrinethat either before or after the return of Christ the church will experience a literal period of 1,000 years (a millennium) of peace and prosperity. Revelation 20 speaks in picture language of Christ's spiritual rule on the earth through the Gospel and does not refer to earthly government. •

24. Revelation 20 The Thousand Years 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. The Judgment of Satan 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. The Judgment of the Dead 11 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. 12 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. 13The 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. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

25. M Judgment Pray: Graciously hasten the coming of that day. Bless and prepare us with wisdom and strength that we may walk wisely and uprightly in the meantime. May we joyfully await the coming of Your dear Son and depart blessed from this valley of misery. Amen. (Luther).

26. T When? Turmoil and The Hopeful Wait C. Christ will return on a specific day known by God alone. Matt. 24:44 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Acts 17:31 He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. Bible narrative: The parable of the 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). D. Before Christ returns, there will be increasing turmoil and distress for the church and the world. Matt. 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matt. 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 1 Tim. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Bible narrative: Signs preceding Christ's coming (Matthew 24). E. The return of Christ is a source of hope and joy for the Christian. Luke 21:28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Heb. 9:28 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. Titus 2:13 We wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Bible narrative: Encouraging words (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Next •

27. T When? Turmoil and The Hopeful Wait Bible narrative: Encouraging words (1 Thess. 4:13-18). 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, hurry and do not delay to bring the blessed day when the hope of our joyous redemption shall be fulfilled. Amen. (Luther). Dear Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel is suffering. Your name is profaned. Christians are persecuted and murdered. The right doctrine is suppressed. The devil’s rule of wickedness is spreading. All the blessed departed Christians and saints who lie forgotten in the earth have returned to dust and ashes. Come and show forth Your glory in Your church. Avenge Your name and the blood of martyrs, and bring them again to their glory. Amen. (Luther).

28. W Christians on That Day The Scriptures teach that Christ’s purpose was A. “that I may be His own”’ that is, I am now righteous and blameless in the sight of God; 2 Cor. 5:21 God made Him who had no sins to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Rev. 5:9 You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. B. that I may “live under Him in His kingdom”; that is, that I am now freed from the slavery of sin and thus freed to serve God; Rom. 6:6 Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin (NKJV). 2 Cor. 5:15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. Col. 2:6 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. Titus 2:14 [Jesus Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good • Pray: Those whom You do not reprove for their sins are not children but illegitimate children. Therefore, strike, and beat and correct us speedily, O righteous Judge. But merciful Father, punish us in such a way that Your Father’s heart will not turn from us. So may we praise and glorify Your forever in this world and the next. Amen. (Luther).

29. ThServe Him Until… C. That I may “serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness”’ that is, that I honor God with my whole life and rejoice in Him now on earth and forever in heaven. Luke 1:69, 74-75 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us ... to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. Gal. 2:20 1 have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 1 Peter 2:9 You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Bible narrative: The saints in heaven (Rev. 7:13). • Pray: O Glorious and Almighty God, in whom all the spirits of the blessed place the confidence of their hope; grant to us that, by Your help we may be able ever to serve You with a pure mind, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Sarum Breviary, c. 13th c.)

30. Th…& Closing The Article The basis of our faith and life in Christ is that: “He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.” Col. 3:1-3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. All that I confess in this second article is plainly taught in the Bible, and I, therefore, firmly believe it. Pray: Grant me, I beg You, Almighty and most Merciful God, fervently to desire, wisely to search out, and perfectly to fulfill, all that is well-pleasing unto You. Order my worldly condition to the glory of Your name; and, of all that You require me to do, grant me the knowledge, the desire, and the ability, that I may so fulfill it as I ought, and may my path to You, I pray, be safe, straightforward, and perfect to the end. Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know You, diligence to seek You, wisdom to find You, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace You. Amen. (Thomas Aquinas, c. 1225-1274)

31. Conclusion Christ will return visibly and with great glory on the Last Day. Christ will return to judge the world, not to set up an earthly government. C. Christ will return on a specific day known by God alone. D. Before Christ returns, there will be increasing turmoil and distress for the church and the world. E. The return of Christ is a source of hope and joy for the Christian. The Scriptures teach that Christ’s purpose was A. “that I may be His own”’ that is, I am now righteous and blameless in the sight of God; B. that I may “live under Him in His kingdom”; that is, that I am now freed from the slavery of sin and thus freed to serve God; C. That I may “serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness”’ that is, that I honor God with my whole life and rejoice in Him now on earth and forever in heaven. The basis of our faith and life in Christ is that: “He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.” All that I confess in this second article is plainly taught in the Bible, and I, therefore, firmly believe it

32. 2nd Article: 3rd Article: Sanctification Introduction Next Time…(5/27)