Study Guide: Our Hope: He Will Come Back
Quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB); please check each one in your own Bible.
The Big Idea
The big idea: Jesus will come back; he will raise the dead and judge the world, and God will dwell with his people (Acts 1:11; John 5:28–29; Acts 17:31; Revelation 21:3).
Read Aloud
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
— Acts 1:9–11
But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
— 1 Corinthians 15:20–26
“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
— John 5:24–29
I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.” He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”
— Revelation 21:1–5
Where We Stand
Scripture says
- “This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” (Acts 1:11).
- “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,” (Revelation 1:7).
- “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36).
- The dead in Christ will rise first, at the coming of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:15–16; 1 Corinthians 15:23).
- All who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, the just and the unjust (John 5:28–29; Acts 24:15).
- God “has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained;” (Acts 17:31).
- He who hears Jesus’ word and believes him who sent him “has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment,” (John 5:24).
- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
- “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people;” (Revelation 21:3). “Death will be no more;” (Revelation 21:4).
- We look for “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13).
We conclude
- Our conclusion: in the same way means he will come as they saw him go: in his body, visibly, from the sky (Acts 1:9–11; Luke 24:39, 51).
- Our conclusion: Scripture describes one coming, which every eye will see, and gives no date for it (Matthew 24:26–27; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:7).
- Our conclusion: the days of Noah picture ordinary life going on until a sudden day, not a presence begun unseen (Matthew 24:38–39; Luke 17:26–30).
- Our conclusion: Jesus gathers his people at the one coming every eye will see, not at a secret coming before it (Matthew 24:29–31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
- Our conclusion: the dead know nothing and sleep until the resurrection, when Jesus raises them (Ecclesiastes 9:5; John 5:28–29).
- Our conclusion: Paul longs for what departing leads to, being with Christ, and Scripture places it at the Lord’s coming (Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 2 Timothy 4:8).
- Our conclusion: believers stand before Christ’s judgment seat, but not to be condemned (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:24; Romans 8:1).
- Our conclusion: his judgment begins when he comes in glory and ends after the thousand years, when the dead are judged (Matthew 25:31–32; Revelation 20:5, 12).
- Our conclusion: the lost are destroyed in the second death, a final end, and the punishment is eternal because its result never ends (Matthew 10:28; 25:46; Revelation 20:14).
- Our conclusion: the eternal punishment Jesus sets against eternal life is the death Paul sets against it (Matthew 25:46; Romans 6:23).
- Our conclusion: Scripture’s hope is not leaving the earth for heaven, but God dwelling with his people on a new earth (Revelation 21:2–3; Matthew 5:5).
- Our conclusion: God will set this creation free and renew it through judgment, as the old world perished in the flood and yet remained (2 Peter 3:6–7, 13; Romans 8:21).
The Hard Questions
- Did Christ’s presence begin unseen in 1914 (Matthew 24:37–39; Philippians 2:12)? See The strongest objection under The Same Jesus Will Come Back, and Every Eye Will See Him.
- Will Jesus first come for believers in secret (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Matthew 24:40–41; Revelation 3:10)? See the answer under The Same Jesus Will Come Back, and Every Eye Will See Him.
- Does the soul go to God at death (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Luke 16:19–31)? See The strongest objection under Those Who Are Christ’s Will Be Raised at His Coming.
- How do the thousand years fit Jesus’ words about “the hour” (John 5:28)? See Those Who Are Christ’s Will Be Raised at His Coming.
- Will the lost suffer without end (Revelation 14:9–11; 20:10; Matthew 25:46)? See The strongest objection under God Will Judge the World by the Man He Raised.
- Will this earth be burned up, with the saved living in heaven (2 Peter 3:10; John 14:2; Hebrews 11:16)? See The strongest objection under God Will Dwell with His People, and Death Will Be No More.
- Can the day of his return be known, and has he come unseen? See The day of the return, and an unseen presence under Questions Answered.
- Are the dead conscious before the resurrection? See Whether the dead are conscious before the resurrection under Questions Answered.
- What are the thousand years? See The thousand years under Questions Answered.
- Do the lost suffer forever, or are they destroyed? See Whether the lost suffer forever or are destroyed under Questions Answered.
- Is the new earth this earth renewed? See Whether the new earth is this earth renewed under Questions Answered.
- Who are the 144,000? See The 144,000 under Questions Answered.
- Does salvation depend on settling every one of these questions? See Whether salvation depends on these questions under Questions Answered.
Discussion Questions
- What did the two men in white clothing say to the disciples as they looked into the sky? (See the opening.)
- In Matthew 24:26–27, what reports does Jesus tell his disciples not to believe, and why? (See the answer under The Same Jesus Will Come Back, and Every Eye Will See Him.)
- Why does Paul tell the Thessalonians not to grieve like those who have no hope, and what should they do with his words? (See Those Who Are Christ’s Will Be Raised at His Coming.)
- How do John 5:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 fit together? (See God Will Judge the World by the Man He Raised.)
- How does 2 Peter 3:6 help you read 2 Peter 3:10? (See the answer under God Will Dwell with His People, and Death Will Be No More.)
- In Revelation 21:4, what does God promise his people, and what does that promise mean to you? (See Hope.)
Hope
Jesus spoke to troubled disciples: “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.” (John 14:1). He told them why: “I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.” (John 14:3).
For the Leader
Allow about 50 minutes for one session. Read Acts 1:9–11 first, then 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, John 5:24–29 and Revelation 21:1–5. Invite everyone to open and check each verse in their own Bible.
© 2026 Elvis Lucas, Open the Text. Original: https://openthetext.com/series/the-good-news/10-our-hope-he-will-come-back-study-guide/
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