Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ

In Mark chapter 13 we can read the words Christ spoke concerning the time when He would come to the earth again. More importantly we are able to hear His words of guidance concerning how it is we can be prepared for that time. The following are some of the things we are being told, and their corresponding verses, in terms of being prepared for the Second Coming.

          - Take heed of deceiving by man. (5)

          - Take heed of yourself, bear testimony of Christ. (9)

          - Take heed of all things told by God. (23)
          - Take heed, watch and pray for you don’t know the time of Christ’s coming. (33)
          - Watch for the signs of Christ for you don’t know when He comes again. (35)
          - Watch as Christ has told all. (37)
In this chapter we can learn that we need to be following Christ. We need to pray, watch ourselves, and watch the world around us. Man will become more cunning and deceiving and we need to stay close to the Lord in order to be able to discern the right and wrong. We will also be required, at times, to stand up for our beliefs. We may be persecuted and it may not be easy but we should bear testimony of Christ. It seems clear that we need to look to Christ, heed His words, and bear testimony of Him.

Other books hold some truths concerning the Second Coming as well. The following are a sampling of other references that can be found. (Emphasis added)

Doctrine & Covenants 87:8
Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:32
And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:37
And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:46-50
And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready.
Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.
Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Doctrine & Covenants 33:17
Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom -

Doctrine & Covenants 45:56-57
And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived - verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

The theme of all these scriptures seems pretty simple. To be prepared for the Second Coming of Christ we need to be studying the scriptures, praying, repenting, and living all the commandments that have been set forth for us. It is just as we live a righteous life that we will be able to stand with Christ when He comes again. If we have worked hard at following the Lord we will be prepared to meet Him, no matter when it is that time comes. I believe these things to be true. I know we have the promise of the Lord that if we live righteously we will be with Him again someday.

(Here is a link to one of my favorite songs about the coming of Christ)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DLCjE2u-qI

The Widow's Mite

In Mark 12 we hear of the widow’s mite. Jesus saw that the rich people were casting much money into the treasury. They had a lot and were giving a lot. Then He saw the poor widow, who threw in very little money. Her contribution amounted to the lowest value of coin at the time. After witnessing this Christ called His disciples to Him. In verses 43 and 44 we read what He says.
      “. . . Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they
     which have cast into the treasury:
     For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she
     had, even all her living.”
This widow shows to be a great example of loving God with all she has. She was willing to sacrifice all she had to show her love and devotion to God.

We see that the rich people were willing to give much but was it a sacrifice for them and a way they showed God their love for Him? I believe the words of Christ tell us that they weren’t giving as much as this widow gave. It is interesting to see that she gave such little, and they gave so much, yet her offering was so much more. It is apparent that Christ favors those who are willing to make sacrifices to follow Him. In 2 Nephi 25:23 we read,
     “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to
     believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God: for we know that it is by grace that we
     are saved after all we can do.”
It is as we make sacrifices, and put forth our best effort in being disciples of Christ, that we are able to be blessed by the grace of the Savior. Our efforts and the amount we do doesn’t count for much if our heart isn’t in it, turned to God, and we aren’t giving up something to become more like the Savior.

How is it then that we can follow the example of the widow’s example of sacrifice and obedience? Of course we can give of our physical riches. We can be generous in our tithes and offerings. There is more we can do though. One of the greatest things we can give is our time. We can sacrifice time doing leisurely things and give that time to scripture study, prayer, magnifying callings, missionary work, and service. Anytime spent serving the Lord, is time well spent. We have been commanded and encouraged to spend our time wisely, and work to be true followers of Jesus Christ. I don’t believe there is any greater sign of love for God then giving of our time and keeping His commandments. I believe as we do these things we will find favor with God and He will see us as He sees the widow, who so humbly gave all she had to Him.

Laboring and Sacrificing for Christ

In Matthew 19:16-30 we read about the young rich man who came to the Lord asking what he needed to do to gain eternal life. Christ told him he needed to take of his riches and give to the poor, and to follow Him. This young man left the Lord being grieved about giving away his great possessions. His worldly riches were a deterrent from being a truly devoted follower of Christ. The Lord went on to promise that those who sacrifice all for His sake, will be greatly blessed and receive the blessing of eternal life.

As I think about it I find that it can be a great challenge to not be as this young man was. It is natural to want the great comforts and luxuries of life, and it isn’t easy to sacrifice those things. The Savior basically tells Peter that those who are willing to sacrifice all they have, for Him, will have the greatest of blessings. One of the ways I can work to put the Lord first is by remembering the covenants I have made. In the waters of baptism I promised to follow Him. Reminding myself often of this should be motivation enough to follow the Savior. Another way I think will help to put the Lord first is by looking for and acknowledging the way He has blessed me. Especially as I make sacrifices, in my efforts to be a true disciple of Christ, it is important for me to see the blessings that come because of it. I may have to give up some of the luxuries of life, but I do have the promise from the Lord that the blessings will be great for doing so.

In Matthew 20:1-16 we find the parable of the laborers. Here, the master of the vineyard has gone to find workers, and we read about who worked when and how much they got paid. Here is a quick breakdown of that. 

Laborers hired early in the morning (6 am), for a penny for the day, worked for 12 hours, got paid the penny agreed upon.

Laborers hired 3 hours later (9 am), for what was right, worked for 9 hours, got paid a penny.

Laborers hired 9 hours after the first (3 pm), for what was right, worked 3 hours, got paid a penny.

Laborers hired 11 hours after the first (5 pm), for what was right, worked 1 hour, got paid a penny.

This parable teaches a great lesson that everyone has the right to the same blessings of covenants and the Atonement. It doesn’t matter how long you have labored for the Lord, just that you are willing and put in the work. This is a concept that can bring much comfort to those who are converts to the church, or to those who lose their way. It doesn’t matter to the Lord that you haven’t had the gospel all along the way. What He wants is for you to make the commitment to follow Him, then to do it. It may not seem fair that those who haven’t followed Christ their whole lives should have the same blessings as those who have. There is fairness in it though. All the Lord asks is for a willing heart and for a person to give all they have to Him. The expectation is the same, no matter who you are. Because the expectation is the same, the blessing is the same. All who choose to make Christ a part of their life, and labor on His behalf, will have the same blessings available to them by making covenants through ordinances, and by applying the Atonement in their life. All devoted followers of Christ will receive the blessing of eternal life. The Lord is fair, and just, and all those who are faithful will receive the blessings.

I love this excerpt from an article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It says it all. The Lord loves us. He wants us all back. He is waiting for us whenever it is we go to Him. The blessings are ours if we but faithfully follow Him. In reference to the parable of the laborers Elder Holland says,

"This parable - like all parables- is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God's goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don't expect it and often feel they don't deserve it.

. . . However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines.

. . . There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning.

. . . His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.

So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven't made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time." ("The Laborers in the Vineyard," Ensign, May 2012)

Parables

Matthew 13: 24-48. The Lord Often Taught with Parables

- In the Bible Dictionary we can read about “Parables”. Here is a simplified version of what a parable is.

     

A story that is intended to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. In scriptural terms, Christ used parables to teach truths to those who had enough faith to hear. Those who were not ready to learn didn't find meaning and understanding in parables.

- Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:47-50); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50). Each of the following questions can be paired with one of these parables.

What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

            The mustard seed

Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?
            Net

How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?

            Leaven
Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?

            Treasure and pearl of great price

Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?
            Wheat and tares

- Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?
     Money
     Career
     Friends
     Immorality
     Things contrary to the Word of Wisdom
     Time

- What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48-50).

     I thought of two different meanings for the parable of the net. The first one has to do with bringing people into the church. We send out missionaries and cast that net. They find all kinds of people, some who are ready to convert, and those who are not ready to accept the gospel. Those who are ready are brought into the vessel, or converted. Those who are not, are cast back and will be caught another time.

     I also thought of it in terms of the second coming. The net is the gospel of Jesus Christ. All those who accept it and are righteous are gathered into that net. They are brought into the vessel and find safety and security within the gospel. Those who are wicked and make no place for the gospel are cast away. They have no place with Christ and they will be lost at the time He comes again.

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

The meaning of the word blessed within the beatitudes.

Blessed, in terms of the Beatitudes, is in reference to real joy. It isn’t the joy the world brings but that the Savior brings. Being blessed would mean being filled with real joy that comes as we are poor in spirit, mourn with those who mourn, meek, seek righteousness, merciful, and pure in heart. Those are the things that bring this “real” joy that is not temporary, but eternal.

Three beatitudes that have, in the past or can in the future, increase my happiness.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.
This beatitude is what sparked the most important change in my life. I was at a crossroads of choosing to be an active, participating member of the church, or not. It took a great deal to get me to the point where I was so knocked down and hopeless. It was then that I felt the need to find help. I had a desire to find hope and peace in my life. It was difficult to be humble enough to admit I needed help. Once I did I was able to find that peace I was looking for. Even though circumstances haven’t changed much, I have been able to experience greater happiness.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake.
This is more of a future beatitude for me. It is something I would like to be more confident in saying I would be like. I love the gospel and I know it is true. I question my level of faith though when I think of being put in situations of great persecution. I can’t say with certainty that I would proclaim my beliefs. I worry fear would take over. I am not afraid to tell people I am a Member and I will defend my beliefs. In a big situation, I don’t know what I would do. Being to a point I feel I could do that would greatly increase my happiness.

Blessed are they that mourn.
This is one that is definitely part of my past and my future. I actually didn’t understand completely what this meant until reading the student manual. I wasn’t aware it referred to repentance. I have had many experiences with repentance, and repenting for the most serious mistakes has brought me the most joy. There is relief and true happiness that comes by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ to my life. I have experienced that and I know I will continue to experience it throughout my entire life.

I am grateful for my study of the beatitudes. For one, I couldn't have probably told you before what they were. For two, I realized I didn't have a clear understanding of what some of them were actually talking about. These things: being poor in spirit, repentant, meek, righteous seeking, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for the sake of righteousness , are the things that will bring us happiness. We will being able to possess pure joy that comes only through Jesus Christ.

Being Born Again (The Basics)

The Savior declared that we must be “born again” (John 3:3). Review John 3:1–8; Mosiah 5:7. Then respond in writing to the following questions and instructions:

• What is the difference between “seeing” the kingdom of God and “entering” the kingdom of God?
      -Seeing the kingdom of God means the Holy Ghost has worked within a person to bring about a “change of heart.” Entering the kingdom of God involves participating in the ordinances of the gospel. Seeing involves the change of heart and entering means following a righteous course.
  
  
• What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
      -He had to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  
  
• What does it mean to be “born of water?”
      -Being born of water means being baptized by immersion.
  
  
• Read Moses 6:59 and list ways that baptism is a symbol of rebirth. Read Romans 6:4 and list how baptism can be a symbol of death.
      -Water, blood, and the Spirit are part of being born into this world. Likewise, baptism involves being immersed in water, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being cleansed by the blood of Christ. During baptism we are placed under the water much as someone is placed in the ground at death. As we come out of the water, we are being made wholly clean and beginning a new life. This is much the same as being placed in a grave and then becoming new at the time of resurrection.
  
  
• What does it mean to be “born of the Spirit?”
      -Born of the Spirit means receiving the Holy Ghost.
  
  
• What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison?
      -The Lord compares the Spirit to the wind. He says that we are certain the wind blows, yet it is something we cannot see. So it is with the Spirit. The Spirit is real, and speaks to men, but we cannot see it. This is a good comparison because the wind is a very tangible example for those who don’t understand the Spirit. One wouldn’t deny that wind exists, even though it is something that is only felt. Then why should one doubt the Spirit is real when it too can be felt but not seen?

Review John 3:14–17, 35–36. Write a paragraph that describes who the Father loves, what He has done to show his love for his children and for Jesus Christ, what the purpose of the Savior was, and what blessings will come to those who accept the Son.
    -God loves the world, in other words, all of mankind. This perfect love is shown to us through the sacrifice of His chosen Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is the most beloved of the Father and thus He was entrusted with the authority and the power to be the Savior of the world. He came to the earth as an example and to atone for man so we can be worthy before God. Those who accept the Son can be saved through His atonement and, by living righteously, receive the blessing of eternal life.

A Bit About Christ

5 truths about Jesus Christ’s pre-mortal life

~He created the world.

~He was with God from the beginning.

~Chosen to be the Savior of the world.

~Glorified just as the Father is.

~The mouthpiece of God from the beginning.

5 truths about Jesus Christ’s mortal life

~He did the work of His Father on the earth.

~He was the messenger to the world of the Father.

~The only literal offspring of the Father, on the earth.

~Many did not receive Him.

~The Light of the world

Names and titles of the Savior

Christ – Interchangeable with the term Messiah. The firstborn of God in the Spirit, and the Only Begotten Son of God on the earth.
Messiah – It means the anointed. It refers to the King and Deliverer the Jews were waiting for and expecting.

Jehovah – The covenant name of Christ. It refers to being unchangeable and eternal.

Immanuel – It means, God with us. It was a title given as a sign of God’s deliverance.

The Word – It means expression. It refers to Christ being the expression of the Father to the world. He brought the message of salvation.