Memory Text: Revelation 19:11, 16 NKJV “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…..“And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:16 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The robe or military cloak may be conceived of as open and flowing, so as to expose the limbs of the rider; and the idea is, that the name was conspicuously written not only on the flowing robe, but on the other parts of his dress, so that it must be conspicuous whether his military cloak were wrapped closely around him, or whether it was open to the breeze. Grotius supposes that this name was on the edge or hilt of the sword which depended from his thigh.

Sunday, September 18 The Certainty of Christ’s Return
John 14:1-3 NRSV “1 ¶ "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:2 COMMENTARY THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL We are familiar with the thought that the going, or death, of Jesus prepared a way for us by providing a fountain for the cleansing of our sin, and by rending the veil of the temple, "thus signifying that the way into heaven is now open." But the thought here is different. Jesus departed to prepare places for his own in the Father's house.
Acts 1:9-11 NRSV “9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."”
Acts 1:11 COMMENTARY FAMILY BIBLE NOTES The certainty that Jesus Christ will come to judgment should lead every man to continue in the faithful discharge of his appropriate duties, that when the Saviour shall appear he may be found ready, and lift up his head with joy, knowing that his eternal redemption has come.

Monday, September 19 The Nature of Christ’s Return
Matthew 24:23-27 MKJV “23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if [it were] possible, they would deceive even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, [He is] in the desert! Do not go out. Behold, [He is] in the secret rooms! Do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes out of [the] east and shines even to [the] west, so also will be the coming of the Son of man.”
Matthew 24:27 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE It is worthy of remark that our Lord, in the most particular manner, points out the very march of the Roman army: they entered into Judea on the EAST, and carried on their conquest WESTWARD, as if not only the extensiveness of the ruin, but the very route which the army would take, were intended in the comparison of the lightning issuing from the east, and shining to the west.
Matthew 24:30-31 MKJV “30 And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of [the] heavens to the other.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 MKJV “16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 COMMENTARY BY BARNES The word here used (keleusma) does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It properly means a cry of excitement, or of urging on; an outcry, clamour, or shout, as of sailors at the oar, Luc. Catapl. 19; of soldiers rushing to battle, Thuc. iii. 14; of a multitude of people, Diod. Sic. iii. 15; of a huntsman to his aogs, Xen. Ven. vi. 20. It does not mean here, that the Lord would himself make such a shout, but that he would be attended with it; that is, with a multitude who would lift up the voice, like that of an army rushing to the conflict.

Tuesday, September 20 The Timing of Christ’s Return
Matthew 24:45-51 NLT “45 "Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk— 50 well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. 51 He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:45 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE All should live in the same expectation of the coming of Christ, which a servant has with respect to the return of his master, who, in departing for a season, left the management of his affairs to him; and of which management he is to give an exact account on his master's return.

Here is an abstract of the duties of a minister of Christ. 1. He is appointed, not by himself, but by the vocation and mission of his Master.
2. He must look on himself, not as the master of the family, but as the servant.
3. He must be scrupulously faithful and exact in fulfilling the commands of his Master.
4. His fidelity must be ever accompanied by wisdom and prudence.
5. He must give the domestics-the sacred family, their food; and this food must be such as to afford them true nourishment. And
6. This must be done in its season. There are certain portions of the bread of life which lose their effect by being administered out of proper season, or to improper persons.

Wednesday, September 21 The Impact of Christ’s Return
Matthew 7:21-23 KJ21 “21 ¶ "Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ 23 And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’”
Matthew 7:23 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY "I never knew you" must be accepted in its deeper signification of "recognizing the disciples." Augustine says that for Christ to say, "I never knew you," is only another way of saying, "You never knew me."
Matthew 7:24-29 KJ21 “24 "Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. 25 And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine; 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Matthew 7:25 COMMENTARY THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL The imagery of this passage would be impressive anywhere, but is especially so when used before an audience accustomed to the fierceness of an Eastern tempest. Rains, floods, etc., represent collectively the trials, the temptations and persecutions which come upon us from without. There comes a time to every life when these things throng together and test the resources of our strength.

Thursday, September 22 The Cosmic Confession
Ephesians 1:7 20th Century NT “For in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.”
Ephesians 1:7 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT Redemption supposses this; slaves and captives need a redeemer, none else; we are all by nature under slavery to sin, to Satan, and the curse of the law, and the wrath of God.
Colossians 1:14 20th Century NT “And through whom we have found deliverance in the forgiveness of our sins.”
Colossians 1:14 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES It would seem that Paul had been informed that this was a character of their piety, that they had remarkable love for all who bore the Christian name. Nothing could be more acceptable information respecting them to one who himself so ardently loved the church; and nothing could have furnished better evidence that they were influenced by the true spirit of religion.
Hebrews 9:12 NRSV “he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NRSV “9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Friday, September 23 Further Study
Revelation 21:16-23 English Revised Version (portions) “16 And the city lieth foursquare. 18 And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof. 23 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb.”

This week's lesson calls for a complete surrender in light of Christ's second coming.

The Second Coming is without a doubt the only thing that gives life purpose and gives us courage to go on.

Especially - in certain areas - with all these natural disasters.