B. Place: "A great white throne" (Rev. 20:11)
D. Result: (Matt. 25:46) IV. The dead will be judged:
A. Time: "He has set a day" (Acts 17:31)
1. One thousand years after the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5, 7) B. Place: "A great white throne" (Rev. 20:11) C. Basis: "The things which were written in the scrolls" (Rev. 20:12) D. Result: (Rev. 20:15)
A Table of Comparison between III. and IV.
The Judgment of the Nations The Judgment of the Dead
1.No resurrection 1.One resurrection
2.The living nations judged
2.The dead being judged
3.On earth 3.The heavens and the earth passed away
4.No scrolls 4.Scrolls opened
5.Three kinds of people: sheep, goats, and brothers
5.Only one kind of people: the dead
6.At the time of Christ's appearing
6.One thousand years after Christ begins to reign
Remarks The Word of God teaches us that the works of the believers are judged by disciplining (1 Cor. 11:31-32), as a father deals with sons (Heb. 12:6-7). Compare 2 Samuel 7:14-15 with 12:13-14. The Bible also teaches us concerning the judgment of the angels (1 Cor. 6:3; 2 Pet. 2:4; Gen 6:2-4; cf. Jude 6).
LESSON TWENTY THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (John 14:3; Hebrews 9:28) The Bible does not tell Christians to prepare to die, but asks them to watch, wait, and expect Christ to come again.
I. He will come again at any time:
A. "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes" (Matt. 24:42) B. "Watch therefore" (Matt. 25:13) C. "Eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:7) D. "Eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20) E. "And await His Son from the heavens" (1 Thes. 1:10) F. "Awaiting the blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) II. The Lord will come again to the earth with a body:
A. "I go...I am coming again" (John 14:2-3) B. "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way" (Acts 1:9-11) C. "Will appear a second time to those who eagerly await Him" (Heb. 9:28) D. "Because the Lord Himself...will descend from heaven" (1 Thes. 4:16) III. The relationship to the church:
A. "Will be caught up...in the clouds to meet the Lord" (1 Thes. 4:1617) B. "We will be like Him" (1 John 3:2) C. "Will transfigure the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of His glory" (Phil 3:21) D. "Will reign with Him" (Rev. 20:6) E. "And made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father" (Rev. 1:6) F. "And death will be no more, nor will there be sorrow or crying or pain" (Rev. 21:4) G. "Not having spot or wrinkle...and without blemish" (Eph. 5:27) IV. The relationship to the world:
A. "Every knee should bow...on earth" (Phil 2:10) B. "And every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:11) C. "They will render an account concerning it" (Matt. 12:36) D. "God judges the secrets of men" (Rom. 2:16) E. "Go away from Me" (Matt. 25:41) F. "Learn righteousness" (Isa. 26:9) G. "Neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:3)
V. The relationship to Israel:
A. "All Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:25-26) B. "Settles them in their land" (Isa. 14:1-3) C. "The ransomed of Jehovah will return...with a ringing shout and eternal joy" (Isa. 35:8-10) D. "I will exult in Jerusalem" (Isa. 65:19-20) E. "As a meal offering to Jehovah" (Isa. 66:20) F. "Will dwell securely" (Jer. 23:6) G. "He will reign over the house of Jacob" (Luke 1:32-33)
LESSON TWENTY-ONE PREPARING FOR THE WORK The conditions for a fruitful work in the Lord:
I. Abiding in the Lord:
A. "Abide in Me" (John 15:4-5) B. "Bear much fruit" (John 15:8) II. Obedience:
A. "Obey God" (Acts 5:29) B. "Rose up and went" (Acts 8:26-27) C. "Becoming obedient" (Phil. 2:8) III. Be filled with the Holy Spirit:
A. "Were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:31) B. "Full of the Spirit" (Acts 6:3) IV. Being cleansed by the word:
A. "Cleansing her...in the word" (Eph. 5:26) B. "Able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12) V. Prayer:
A. "With one accord in prayer" (Acts 1:14) B. "Had so besought" (Acts 4:31) C. "Help in this by petition" (2 Cor. 1:11) Whoever abides in Jesus must obey Him, be filled with the Holy Spirit, be cleansed by the word, and pray with one accord in one spirit. VI. Preaching the word of God:
A. "Speak the word of God" (Acts 4:31)
B. "The sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17) C. "The word of God...two-edged sword" (Heb. 4:12-13) D. "Holding forth the word of life" (Phil. 2:16) E. "Proclaim the word" (2 Tim. 4:2) F. "Your word is truth" (John 17:17) G. "Through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23) H. "Restoring the soul" (Psa. 19:7) I. "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;...it will prosper" (Isa. 55:11) This lesson concerns how Christians should work. When we read the Bible, we should carefully meditate on the words and should consider the type of people to whom they refer. We should learn to apply the verses in order to deal with different kinds of sinners. We should know which verses deal with those who do not believe the Bible, those who do not believe in God, those who do not believe in the existence of the spirit and soul, those who do not know they have sins, those who know they have sins, those who are indifferent, those who are eager for their salvation, those who are self-righteous, those who believe but do not have the assurance of salvation, those who have turned away, those who are disappointed, those who love the world, and those who refuse without a reason. We do not need to argue with them. We only need to read to them the words of the Bible in a prayerful way. The Bible is the medicine. We cannot examine and dispense medicine to a person carelessly. We must dispense the right medicine for the right sickness. For this reason, we must memorize the important verses and put marks in the Bible. In this way, we will be "always ready for a defense to everyone" (1 Pet. 3:15).
LESSON TWENTY-TWO OFFERING
I. To whom should we offer?
A. "An offering unto the Lord" (Exo. 35:5) B. "Well-pleasing to God" (Phil. 4:18) II. How to offer:
A. According to set principles:
1. "On the first day of the week" (1 Cor. 16:2) B. According to oneself:
1. "A willing mind" (2 Cor. 8:12-13, KJV)
2. "Each one of you" (1 Cor. 16:2) C. According to proportion:
1. "Whatever he may have been prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2) 2. "Every tithe of the land" (Lev. 27:30) 3. "The tithes" (Mal. 3:8, 10) D. The pleasing offering:
1. "A cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7) 2. "Of their own accord" (2 Cor. 8:3) E. The limitation of offering:
1. "All the living that she had" (Luke 21:3-4) 2. "The depth of their poverty" (2 Cor. 8:2) F. What kind of offering?
1. "Not out of sorrow" (2 Cor. 9:7) G. Based upon what Christ gives:
1. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 8:9) III. The reward for the offering:
A. "More blessed" (Acts 20:35) B. "Treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:20) C. "God loves" (2 Cor. 9:7) D. "God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16) E. "Pour you out a blessing" (Mal. 3:10) F. "In everything always having all sufficiency" (2 Cor. 9:6, 8) IV. The manifestation of the offering:
A. "Gave themselves first to the Lord" (2 Cor. 8:5) B. "Abundance of their joy" (2 Cor. 8:2) C. No entreaty is needed (2 Cor. 8:4) D. "Completing out of what you have" (2 Cor. 8:11)
LESSON TWENTY-THREE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I. He is the power of life:
A. "Born of...the Spirit" (John 3:5) B. "It is the Spirit who gives life" (John 6:63) C. "The Spirit of the living God" (2 Cor. 3:3, 6) II. He regenerates men with the word of truth:
A. "The word of truth" (James 1:18)
B. "Through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23) III. He is the power of testimony:
A. "Power" (Acts 1:8) B. "As the Spirit gave to them" (Acts 2:4) C. "He will testify concerning Me" (John 15:26) IV. He is the power of prayer:
A. "The Spirit...intercedes" (Rom. 8:26) B. "Praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20) V. He is the power of knowledge:
A. "Teach you all things" (John 14:26) B. "Teaches you concerning all things" (1 John 2:27) VI. He is the power of guidance:
A. "Was led by the Spirit" (Luke 4:1, 14) B. "Having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 16:6-7) C. "Walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, 25) D. "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thes. 5:19) VII. He is the power for distributing ministries:
A. "The same Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:4-11) VIII. He is the One who operates all things within the believer's spirit:
A. "May be with you forever" (John 14:16-17) B. "You were sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30; see also 2 Cor. 5:5) C. "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 6:19) As we study the Bible, we will know the Spirit. The believers must understand the position and work of the Spirit. The Spirit is commissioned by God. All of God's will is accomplished by the Spirit.
LESSON TWENTY-FOUR THE DEVIL The devil is full of sin, decadence, and unrighteousness (Isa. 14:12-14). He has kingship and power. He was created with beauty, wisdom, fullness, and power. He was the ruler of the first world. Desiring to be equal with God, he fell. He envied man who was created to take his place and damaged man by tempting him to try to be equal with God. He tempted man to conspire and to join his party to recover his title as king and his position and power.
I. His nature:
A. "Steal"; "snatches away" (John 10:10; Matt. 13:19) B. "Craftiness" (2 Cor. 11:3) C. "He was a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44) II. He has ten names:
A. "The great dragon [typifying cruelty]" (Rev. 12:9) B. "Serpent [typifying the liar]" (Rev. 12:9) C. "The Devil [typifying the tempter]" (Rev. 12:9) D. "Satan [typifying the enemy]" (Rev. 12:9) E. "The ruler of the world" (John 14:30) F. "The ruler of the authority of the air" (Eph. 2:2) G. "The angel of the abyss" (Rev. 9:11) H. "The authority of darkness" (Col. 1:13) I. "A roaring lion" (1 Pet. 5:8) J. "An angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:13-15) III. His works:
A. "Seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8) B. "Sowed tares"; "leaven" (Matt. 13:25-29, 33) C. "Blinded the thoughts" (2 Cor. 4:4) D. "Hindered" (1 Thes. 2:18) E. "Accuses...day and night" (Rev. 12:10) F. "Destruction of...flesh" (1 Cor. 5:5) G. "Buffet" (2 Cor. 12:7) IV. His subordinates:
A. When the last days come, he will be reborn into man and become flesh and be called Antichrist (1 John 2:22). B. Inducing men to worship him, being hypocritical in doing good, and uplifting personality (2 Thes. 2:1-12) C. His nature (Matt. 25:41) D. "Rulers...authorities...world-rulers of this darkness...spiritual forces of evil" (Eph. 6:12) V. His destiny:
A. "Cast down...to the earth" (Rev. 12:7-9) B. "Has only a short time" (Rev. 12:12) C. Bound by an angel (Rev. 20:1-3)
D. After Christ's reign for one thousand years, Satan will be temporarily released. He will gather his warriors to battle with God once again. Eventually, he will be cast into the lake of fire and shall be tormented day and night (Rev. 20:7-10). VI. How the saints should deal with the devil:
A. "Neither give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:27) B. "Withstand" (James 4:7) C. "Be sober; watch...firm in your faith" (1 Pet. 5:8-9) D. "Put on the whole armor of God [to battle]" (Eph. 6:11-18)
LESSON TWENTY-FIVE WHY PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED BY GOD
I. Knowing clearly that one has sinned, yet not judging oneself:
A. "I regard iniquity in my heart" (Psa. 66:18) B. "The Lord is far from the wicked" (Prov. 15:29) C. "Your hands are full of blood" (Isa. 1:15) D. "Your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isa. 59:1-2) E. Therefore, you should examine yourself whether you have indulged in sins. If so, confess immediately to God and forsake them (Prov. 28:13). II. The heart of unbelief stops the blessing:
A. "Doubting nothing" (James 1:6-7) B. "If you believe" (Matt. 21:22) C. "Must believe that He is" (Heb. 11:6) D. Thanks be to God, for His gift is real. Therefore, we can come before Him and apply the apostles' prayer, saying, "Lord, Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5). III. One who loves pleasure loses the heart to fellowship with God. Therefore, there is no grace for him from the throne:
A. "Spend...on...pleasures" (James 4:3) B. "Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4) C. "Gives...to pleasure is dead while living" (1 Tim. 5:6) IV. Pride impedes the mercy of God:
A. "None giveth answer, because of the pride" (Job 35:12) B. "The proud he knoweth afar off" (Psa. 138:6)
C. "He is able to abase those who walk in pride" (Dan. 4:37) D. "God resists the proud" (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5) V. A cold heart stops the ascending of prayers:
A. "Smote thrice, and stayed" (2 Kings 13:18) B. "Because of his...persistence" (Luke 11:5-9) VI. An unforgiving heart kills prayers: "Neither will your Father...forgive" (Mark 11:25-26) VII. The prayers of those who despise or ignore the word of God are worthless and loathsome:
A. "Turneth away his ear from hearing" (Prov. 28:9) B. "Great wrath came" (Zech. 7:11-12) C. "All Scripture is God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16) God will not accept the prayer of those who do not believe that all Scripture is inspired by God.
LESSON TWENTY-SIX SALVATION Salvation manifests that Christ Jesus is the wisdom of God. The following verses compare the wisdom of men to the wisdom of God. Since the world comes short of God's wisdom concerning salvation (1 Cor. 1:21), salvation must be preached through God's wisdom, Christ. What is salvation? Salvation has three stages:
I. "Righteousness" (1 Cor. 1:30) The first stage of salvation is to save people from the punishment of their sins. This was done in the past:
A. Freed from the punishment of sins:
1. "Save...from their sins" (Matt. 1:21) 2. "Forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77) 3. "Forgiveness of offenses" (Eph. 1:7) 4. "Gave Himself for our sins" (Gal. 1:4) 5. "Being justified freely" (Rom. 3:24) 6. "Was accounted to him as righteousness" (Rom. 4:22-25) B. This righteousness is gained by the sinner by believing in Christ:
1. "Through faith in Christ" (Phil. 3:9) 2. "Through His name" (Acts 10:43) 3. "Through Him" (Rom. 5:9)