Middletown transcript., 1918-06-01
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlAYS010QL
LESSON
(By REV. r. b. FITZWATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the
Moody Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR JUNE 2
THE PROPHETIC OUTLINE OF
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN
CHRIST'S CRUClFlXION
AND HIS COMING AGAIN.

|
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN
cHRlST's cRUcIFixI0N
AND HIS COMING AGAIN.
LESSON TEXT-Mark 1871, 1919.
GOLDEN TEXT-He that shall endure
unto the end. the same shall be saved
Mark 1913.
DEVOTIONAL READING Ephesians 3
Ito.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Matthew
Thess. 2.
PRIMARY TOP1C-Jesus among hil
frfends.-Mark 1883
JUNIOR AND INTERMEDIATE TOP
1C-Our best for Christ--Mark 1859.
The printed text "a: 10y may prof.
itably be used by the primary, junior
and intermediate grades, but the adult
classes will more profitably conf1ne
their study to chapter Ii. In order ia
avoid confusion in this study, let it b
clearly borne in mind that two mat.
tiers are presented-the destruction Of
Jerusalem by the Roman armies and
the glorious return Of the Lord. The
woven as to make the threads difficult
to disentangle. but If we see the color
ing in the graphic picture of the de.
structfOn Of Jerusalem as adumbrating
the revelation of the Son of God in
glory, we shall have no serious trouble.
!. The Occasion Of the Prophecy
wv. 14).
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 hack 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 consummation. Jesus
warns against making any particular
war the sign Of his coming. Many good
people have seriously blundered In this
respect because they did not 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 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
21 :28).
4. Universal evangelism ". 10Y.
The gospel of the Kingdom, accord
ing to Matthew "a IA, shall be preach
ed in all the world for 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-
lish his Kingdom (see Rev. 7:4-1O;
Rom. IL :15).
5. Universal hatred of the believing
Israelites wv. 1919.
They shall be severely prosecuted.
Civil government shall be against
them, and even their relatives and near
kin shall hate. hunt and kill them.
Their one duty, Notwithstanding, shall
be to preach the Gospel, depending
upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom and
power. For this specific duty they are
sealed with the seal of God in their
foreheads (Rev. 7:3). This will be the
real Pentecost. of which the outpour-
ing of the Spirit at the beginning of
the Church was a type (JOel 2:2S-32;
Acts 2:16). Eternal salvation is prom
ised as an encouragement to fidelity
". 13). 1t is the great tribulation wv.
1929. This is the c0nsummation of
the age Immediately preceding the glo-
rious appearing of Christ. Out of the
missionary propaganda of converted
Israel shall eventuate the unparalleled
horrors so glowingly pictured here.
Daniels denominations of desolation"
is the anti Christ, the IMAM of sin"
Daniel 9:26. q; II :38: 2 Thess., %,
~ will direct this reign of horro. In
mems desire for deliverance from this
reign of terror they>will be easily led
astray by false Christs who shall pe-
culiarly appear at this time.
III. The Lords Glorious Return wv.
This Is the superlative event, the |
one to which all prophecies have point
ed, and all ages are moving with I'M
failing precision. It 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 |