The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-05-30
IMPROVED UNlfolm INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER D.. D..
Teacher of English Bible in ths
Moody Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1913. Western Newspaper Union.)

THE PROPHETIC OUTLINE OF
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN
CHRIST's cRUcIFIxIoN
AND HIS COMING AGAIN.
LESSON TExT-Mark 1871, l4:S.
TEXT-He that shall endure
Mark 1878.
DEVOTIONAL READ1NG+Ephesians 2:
ITO.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL : Matthew
ss:1-26. 4S; Luke 21:5-sS: I Thess. 5:1-24; IL
Thess. 2.
friends.-Mark 1893.
JUNIOR AND INTERMEDIATE TOP.
IC-Our best for Christ.-Mark 1859.
The printed text (14:1-9) may prof
ttably be used by the primary, Junior
and intermediate grades, but the adult
classes will more protitably contine
their study to chapter Ii. In order to
avoid confusion in this study, let it be
clearly borne in mind that two mat.
tiers are p~resented-the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Roman armies and
the glorious return of the Lord. The
two are sometimes so closely inter-
woven. as to make the threads difficult
to disentangle, but if we see the color
ing in the graphic picture Of the de-
struction of Jerusalem as adumbrating
the revelation of the Son of God in
glory, we shall have no serious trouble.
l. The Occasion Of the Prophecy
wv. 1-4).
AS Jesus was passing through the
temple for the last time on his way to
the Mount of Olives, where he gave
this discourse, the disciples reminded
him Of the splendor of the building, to
which he replied that not one stone
should be left upon another. When
seated upon the mount three disciples
came privately with a threefold ques.
ton, according to Matthew "a. request.
ing further information.
l. When shall these things be?
2. What shall be the sign of thy
coming?
3. And of the end Of the age?
That which follows is given in an
swer to these questions.
u. The Characteristics of the Age
During the Absence of Christ (vv.5-23).
l. Appearance of deceivers wv.
5, g..
Since Jesus Went back to heaven
many false Christs from time to time
have pressed their claims as being the
Christ. AS the age draws to a close
these claims doubtless will increase.
2. Wars and strife among the ma
tons wv. Z, 81.
The history Of the centuries since
Christ is written in blood, and the river
Increases in volume as the age goes
on toward its contamination. Jesus
warns against making any particular
war the sign Of his coming. Many good
people have seriously Numbered in this
respect because they did no heed this
warning.
3. Earthquakes and famines ". 81.
Though these calamities grow in
creasingly severe as the days %lengthen,
the intelligent, believing disciple is not
surprised or alarmed, for these are
the precursors of a new order, the
birth pangs of a new age, the estab-
lishment of the Kingdom of Christ
upon this earth. Let the child of God
in this present darkness look up, for
his redemption draweth nigh duke
p :2S).
a. Universal evangelism ". 10Y.
The gospel of the Kingdom, accord
ing to Matthew "a IA, shall be preach
ed in all the world for a witness. This
is not the Gospel of the grace of God
which We now preach, but the new
evangelism which shall be proclaimed
by elect Israelites Immediately pre-
ceding the coming of Christ to estab-
fish his Kingdom (see Rev. 7:4-10;
Rom. IL :15).
Ill. The Lords Glorious Return wv.
242O.
This is the superlative event, the
one to which all prophecies have point
ed, and all ages are moving with In
failing precision. 1t will usher in the
golden age of which the wise and
great of all ages have dreamed, and
for which they longed. The coming
of the Lord will put an end to earth's
sorrows; wars and strife will not end
until the kingdoms of this world be-
come the Kingdom Of our Lord and his
Christ (Rev. IL :15). This event will
be accompanied by great physical dis
turbances and Jesus will gather his
elect from the ends of the earth.
w. Applications Of the Prophecy
wv. 28-3O.
1. As these events multiply in the
earth we know that the coming of the
Lord draweth nigh wv. %, 29). as the
putting forth of the leaves Of the fig
tree prove the approach of summer.
2. The Jewish race shall retain its
integrity till the end ". 3O).
The perpetuity Of Israel is the mir.
acle of the ages.
8. Certainty Of fulfllment ". 31).
The ~unfailng guarantee is the
words of Christ.
4. The time of Christ's coming un.
known ". 32).