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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 549. How do we know about the events of the future?
- 550. What future event is the goal of faith of New Apostolic Christians?
- 551. Who promised the return of Jesus Christ?
- 552. Who knows the exact point in time when Christ will return?
- 553. What follows from the fact that no man knows the moment in time of Christ’s return?
- 554. How did the early Apostles treat the promise of Christ’s return?
- 555. What does the promise of Christ’s return mean for us?
- 556. Why do we believe that the promise of Christ’s return is near?
- 557. How do we prepare for the return of Christ?
- 558. How is the return of Christ described in the letters of Apostle Paul?
- 559. What will happen at the return of Christ?
- 560. What is the basis of the believers’ hope that they will not need to suffer physical death?
- 561. Who will be caught up at the return of Christ?
- 562. Who is included in the “bridal congregation”?
- 563. Are there any characteristics for those who will belong to the bridal congregation?
- 564. Does the Bible relate any other characteristics of the bridal congregation?
- 565. What is the significance of the images in Revelation 14: 1-5?
- 566. When will the “marriage of the Lamb” take place?
- 567. What will transpire at the “marriage of the Lamb”?
- 568. What happens on earth after the return of Christ?
- 569. Will there be any protection in the time of the “great tribulation”?
- 570. What happens to the martyrs from the time of the “great tribulation”?
- 571. What occurs after the “marriage of the Lamb” and the “great tribulation”?
- 572. What will happen to Satan after the time of the “great tribulation”?
- 573. What happens when Satan is bound and relieved of his power?
- 574. What events comprise the first resurrection?
- 575. What follows the conclusion of the first resurrection?
- 576. Will human beings still sin during this time?
- 577. What transpires during the period of the kingdom of peace on earth?
- 578. What happens at the end of the kingdom of peace?
- 579. What will happen once evil has been deprived of its power forever?
- 580. What happens to those who find grace in the Last Judgement?
- 581. What does the Bible have to say about God’s new creation?
553. What follows from the fact that no man knows the moment in time of Christ’s return?
Since no man knows the moment in time of Christ’s return, the believer is called upon to remain prepared for this event every day. The Son of God summarises this into the admonition: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24: 42). Jesus also made it clear in parables that believers are to be watchful in faith and expect His return at any hour.
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [...] But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ [...] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also [...] Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Mathew 25: 1-13
cf. also Matthew 24: 43-51; 25: 14-30