Jesus Christ Will Return

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12-13 “Look! I am coming quickly…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Big Picture Question: What did Jesus say will happen one day? Jesus said He will come back to earth.

Christ Connection: Jesus said that He is coming back soon. When Jesus comes back, everyone who trusts in Him will be with Him forever. God will undo every bad thing—no more death, pain, or tears! Jesus is making all things new.

Dear Parents,
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids. Today’s Bible story focuses on the last few chapters of the Book of Revelation. While he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos, the apostle John had an amazing vision of heaven. Jesus told John to write down everything he saw. John saw things that will happen when Jesus comes back to earth. Jesus—who entered Jerusalem humbly on a donkey—will come victoriously, riding on a white horse. His name will be on His robe and His thigh:

KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.

Satan and the evil ones will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire. The Lord will be on His throne. Then out of heaven will come a new creation—a new heaven and a new earth. God will dwell with humanity. They will be His people, and He will be their God.

John described the beauty of the New City—the New Jerusalem. The streets will be pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the city wall will be adorned with precious stones. The city will not need the sun or the moon because God’s glory will illuminate it. There will be no darkness, and nothing evil will ever come into the city.

The promised return of Christ should fill believers with hope, strengthening them to persevere through the trials of this life and remain faithful to the Lord. When Christ returns, those who trust in Him will be with Him and enjoy Him forever. God will undo every bad thing caused by sin—no more death, no more pain, no more tears. Jesus is making all things new!

Christ’s return should also give believers a sense of urgency to share the gospel with the world. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes! (Rom. 1:16) Jesus is coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Family Activity: Read Revelation 21: 3-6. Provide paper, crayons, and markers for kids to draw a picture of what heaven will be like. Talk about what it will be like to live with God forever.

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God’s Warning to Seven Churches

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12-13 “Look! I am coming quickly…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Big Picture Question: What was Jesus’ warning to the seven churches? Jesus warned the churches to stop sinning and turn back to Him.

Christ Connection: Jesus loves the church. He sent a message to seven churches to warn them. Jesus said that people should stop sinning and turn to Him. Jesus rescues sinners and changes them to be like Him.

Dear Parents,
Can you feel it? We are so very close to the end of the Bible, but it is certainly not the end of God’s plan to save sinners. Today’s Bible story teaches kids about John’s vision of Jesus in the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible and it tells about things that will happen in the future. A glimpse of the future kingdom of God gives believers hope and compels them to remain faithful to Christ and to tell others about Him.

The apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation from the island of Patmos. John was likely sent to Patmos as a prisoner, arrested for preaching the gospel. The Book of Revelation opens with John’s description of a vision. In the vision, Jesus warned seven local churches in Asia. In most cases, Jesus commended the church for their good work, warned them about the areas in which they needed correction, and urged them to return to Him. Each time, Jesus promised to reward those who remain faithful to Him.

Jesus loves the church. The church is made up of people who have trusted in Jesus, who are committed to one another, and who meet together to worship Jesus and share the gospel. Jesus loves the church as His bride. (See Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. 19:7-9.) Jesus’ message to seven local churches called them to turn away from their sin and remain faithful to Him. The Lord is slow to anger (Ex. 34-6-7) and patient, wanting everyone to repent (2 Pet. 3:9).

The early churches faced some problems. They did not love like they should, they believed false teaching and did wrong things, and they were lukewarm—useless to the cause of Christ. Churches still face these problems today. We can pray for our churches to be faithful, effective instruments in spreading the gospel.

Jesus is “the Alpha and the Omega” (Rev. 1:8). In the Greek alphabet, alpha is the first letter and omega is the last. Jesus is the A to Z. Jesus is the beginning and the end, but not just those; He is everything in-between. Jesus made all things. (John 1:3) He is in control of all things. He holds all things together. (Col. 1:17) And He is coming back someday!

Family Activity: Open your Bible to Revelation 1-3 and briefly review Jesus’ message to the churches. Invite a family member to read Revelation 3:19. Talk about how Jesus loved each of these churches, and He warned the against sinning. Jesus also encouraged them to do what is right. Invite family members to write or draw encouraging notes to one another this week.

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Christ’s Return is Anticipated

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12-13 “Look! I am coming quickly…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Big Picture Question: When will Jesus come back? Only God knows when Jesus will return.

Christ Connection: No one knows when Jesus will return, except for God. But Christians should be ready for Him. When Jesus comes back, people who do not believe in Him will be punished for their sin. But everyone who trusts in Jesus will be rescued!

Dear Parents,
This week in The Gospel Project® for Kids, our journey takes us to the church that Paul planted in Thessalonica. The Bible says that the Day of the Lord will be a time of judgment for evildoers (Mal. 4:1) and a time of salvation and deliverance for believers (Rom. 11:26). The Day of the Lord will come quickly (Zeph. 1:14). So imagine getting word that the Day of the Lord had already come. This is what happened to the church at Thessalonica. Some were convinced that they had missed Jesus’ second coming, and they stopped working.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church to address this misunderstanding and to encourage the believers in their faith. Paul reminded the believers that no one knows when Jesus will return. Only God Himself knows. Believers must continue to work hard—doing God’s work and providing for themselves—until the moment Jesus comes. Paul even commanded the believers to stay away from people who lived irresponsibly.

Like many early Christians, the believers at Thessalonica faced persecution for their faith. Paul encouraged them not to fall away. He told them to stand strong in what they believed about Jesus. He encouraged them to “not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13). Life was probably difficult for the new believers, and Paul assured them that God would reward those who are faithful to Him and punish those who are against Him. (2 Thess. 1:5-7)

Paul prayed that the gospel would spread quickly, and he asked the church to pray as well. He prayed that in the midst of confusion and persecution, the Lord would give them peace. No one knows when Jesus will return except God Himself. Believers can stand firm through persecution and live in peace because on the great and glorious Day of the Lord, unbelievers will be punished for their sin and those who trust in Jesus will be saved.

Family Activity: Invite your spouse or an older child to step out of the room. Before they go whisper to them when you want them to return (in 60 seconds, for example). Invite the others to write down when they think he or she will return. Did they guess correctly? Read Matthew 24:36. How should Christians live if we don’t know when Jesus will return?

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