Lesson on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uhyhZeYjf5A
Practicality of longing for the Lord's return
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me, at that day, and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 34): God promises a special crown to those who love the return of the Lord. This is the only scriptural doctrine I know of, the love for which promises a special crown. We should love the doctrine of the Second Coming.
Practicality of longing for the Lord's return
1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 34):The doctrine of the Second Coming is a very practical and purifying one. The Christian who lives in the light of the imminent return of the Lord, John says, will live a pure and victorious Christian life. I have studied very carefully for a number of years, and I have noticed the following to be true.
Church doctrine and the Second Coming
1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 34): A church may be orthodox and fundamental, and then later, that church will begin to lose its evangelistic fervor and orthodoxy. It soon becomes wholly apostate and ceases to preach the deity of Jesus and the virgin birth of Christ. Why does a group, church, or denomination go from a fundamental position toward an apostate condition? Always the doctrine of the Second Coming is tampered with in some manner. Either it ceases to be preached altogether, or it is accompanied by some heresy. They became amillennialists, postmillennialists, or post-Tribulation repturists. They will tamper wiht the doctrine of the Second Coming in some way.
I am convinced that the doctrine of the Second Coming is the dam that holds back ""flood-waters"" of apostasy. As long as a group or an individual or church preaches the doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus, the imminent return of the Lord, it will stay fundamental, but let a church cease to preach the return of the Lord, and beware! It is on its way downward."
The purpose of our Lord's return
Jeremiah 1:12
Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 35): First of all, Jesus is coming back again to fulfill Bible prophecy. Often in the New Testament we read, thus and so was done "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets." The New Testament contains 317 references to the return of our Lord, while in the Old Testament there are more than 1,800. Thus, in the Old and New Testaments, we have over 2,000 references to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! God is very jealous of one thing - His Word. "I watch over my word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:12). God cannot break His Word, so because He has given more promises concerning the Second Coming of Christ than for anything else, we know He is coming back again.
The purpose of our Lord's return
John 14:2-3
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 35): Jesus promised He is coming back to take the church unto Himself. How wonderful to realize that Jesus is coming back again to take us to be with Him!
The purpose of our Lord's return
Romans 8:23
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body
Doc Beshore's Analysis (pg. 35): Third, Jesus is coming back to complete redemption. Some will say, "Wait a moment, when Jesus cried out from the cross, 'It is finished,' we thought redemption was complete." Yes, the redemption of our souls was complete, but the word redemption is used in two different ways. Sometimes it refers to the redemption of the body.
(see Romans 8:23) When Jesus comes again, He is going to redeem the body of every soul whom He had already redeemed. What is the redemption of the body? This will take place when we are caught up, changed, and made like the Lord Jesus Himself."
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