Two sermon series to look at:

• The Return of the King
• One Minute After You Die
• https://realliferesources.org/current-series/3323-2/

How the world ends

• It’s coming
• The earth –the heavens will be destroyed –
• There will be a judgement day for people

2 Peter 3:8–13 (NIV) — 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But 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 done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

There will be a final judgement

Revelation 20:11–15 (NIV) — 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. 13 The 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.

The extension to the extension cord

Revelation 21:1–5 (NIV) — 1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Before the End

• People will be living their lives as they always have
• If you love God, there will be very difficult times

Matthew 24:6–14 (NIV) — 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:37–39 (NIV)

For Christians it will be difficult

2 Timothy 3:1–9 (NIV) — 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

So how ought we to live

• Expectantly – be awake and alert –keep watch
• Be about your Lords business –what is His business
• Looking forward to His coming –I have hope and believe good news

Matthew 24:39-51 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For Small Group Discussion: What stood out to you the most from this week’s message?

Opening Question: What is the weirdest theory you have heard about how the world will end?

Main Point: Jesus is coming back. Though nothing is standing in the way of His return, God wishes none to be lost and all to be saved. Each of us has a part to play in that. Read/Tell the Story: Matthew 25:14-46

Questions: Head – 

• What do you think the talents represent? Do the talents from this parable represent money, or something else?
• As Christians we have the most valuable resource of all, the Word of God. Why do you think Jesus shared this parable at the end of His ministry?
• What is the primary message you see in verses 31-46?
• Since our time here is limited, what kind of person does Scripture say you should be?

Heart –

• Do you tend to be more fearful or more eager for Christ’s return?
• How do you think God wants us to spend our time as we await His return?
• What does it look like in your life to wait with eager anticipation of Jesus’ return and be a testimony to those who do not know Jesus?

Hands –

• Who do you know that needs to hear and receive the good news of the gospel?
• How does 2 Peter 3:9 give you hope in the waiting?
• How does 2 Peter 3:10 motivate you to action?
• Optional: Finish your time together by reading 2 Peter 3:8-18 together.

Supporting Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-18, Revelations 21:1Tips and Resources: https://www.gotquestions.org/end-of-the-world.html

For resources, podcasts and more, go to