Appendix: A scripture guide to the message of this book

The references below gather the main passages used in this book under the headings of its argument, so that a reader or a study group can work through them in their own Bible. Each is given with a one-line note of what it contributes.

1. The promise of His coming

John 14:1-3: I will come again and receive you to Myself.
Acts 1:9-11: This same Jesus will come in like manner as you saw Him go.
Hebrews 9:28: To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time.
Titus 2:13: The blessed hope and glorious appearing.
Revelation 22:20: Surely I am coming quickly. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

2. The manner of His coming: visible and audible

Revelation 1:7: He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him.
Matthew 26:64: The high priest will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.
Daniel 7:13-14: One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven to receive a kingdom.
Matthew 24:27: As the lightning flashes from east to west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:30-31: All the tribes of the earth mourn; they see Him; a great sound of a trumpet; the elect gathered.
Luke 21:27: They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Mark 13:26-27: Seen coming in the clouds; the angels gather the elect.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: A shout, the voice of an archangel, the trumpet of God; the dead rise; the living caught up.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10: Revealed from heaven with mighty angels in flaming fire; rest for believers, judgment for the rest, in that Day.
Psalm 50:3-5: Our God shall come and shall not keep silent; gather My saints together.
Revelation 6:14-17: The sky recedes; every class of humanity sees His face and hides.
Revelation 19:11-16: Heaven opened; the Rider called Faithful and True; King of kings.

3. “Like a thief”: unexpected, not silent

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6: The day comes as a thief on those saying “Peace and safety”; not on believers, who are not in darkness.
2 Peter 3:10: The day comes as a thief, in which the heavens pass away with a great noise.
Matthew 24:42-44: If the master had known what hour the thief would come; you do not know the hour.
Revelation 3:3: If you will not watch, I will come as a thief and you will not know what hour.
Revelation 16:15: I am coming as a thief; blessed is he who watches.

4. “One taken, one left”: judgment, not disappearance

Matthew 24:37-41: As in the days of Noah: the flood took them all away; one taken, one left.
Luke 17:26-30: The days of Noah and of Lot; destroyed them all; the day the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke 17:34-37: Where, Lord? Where the body is, there the eagles gather.
Luke 17:32: Remember Lot’s wife.
Matthew 13:30: First gather together the tares.
Matthew 13:39-43: The angels gather out the lawless; the righteous shine in the kingdom.
Matthew 13:49-50: The angels separate the wicked from among the just.

5. One coming, after the tribulation

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: The coming and our gathering together will not come unless the falling away and the man of sin come first.
2 Thessalonians 2:8: The lawless one destroyed with the brightness of His coming.
Matthew 24:21-22: The tribulation shortened for the elect’s sake.
Matthew 24:29-31: Immediately after the tribulation, the sign, the coming, the trumpet, the gathering.
Revelation 7:9-14: The great multitude who come out of the great tribulation.
John 16:33: In the world you will have tribulation; be of good cheer.
John 17:15: Not that You should take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil one.
Acts 14:22: Through many tribulations we enter the kingdom of God.

6. The signs

Matthew 24:3: The disciples’ two questions: the temple and the end of the age.
Matthew 24:6-8: Wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes: the beginning of sorrows, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:12-13: Lawlessness abounds, love grows cold; he who endures to the end shall be saved.
2 Timothy 3:1-5: The character of the last days; a form of godliness without its power.
Luke 21:25-26: Signs in the heavens; distress of nations with perplexity; hearts failing for fear.
Matthew 24:14: The gospel preached in all the world, and then the end.
Revelation 14:6-7: The everlasting gospel to every nation; the hour of His judgment has come.
Luke 21:28: When these things begin, look up and lift up your heads.

7. Deception

Matthew 24:4-5: Take heed that no one deceives you; many will come in My name.
Matthew 24:11: Many false prophets will deceive many.
Matthew 24:23-26: Look, here is the Christ: do not believe it; signs and wonders to deceive even the elect; I have told you beforehand.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12: Power, signs and lying wonders; those who did not receive the love of the truth.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15: Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.
Matthew 7:21-23: Wonders in His name are no guarantee.
Isaiah 8:20: To the law and to the testimony.
Acts 17:11: The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily.

8. The unknown day

Matthew 24:36: Of that day and hour no one knows.
Mark 13:32-37: Not even the Son; watch, for you do not know when the master is coming.
Matthew 24:45-51: The faithful servant and the servant who said “my master is delaying”.
Matthew 25:1-13: The ten virgins; the bridegroom delayed; the door shut.
2 Peter 3:3-4: Scoffers: where is the promise of His coming?
2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack but longsuffering, not willing that any should perish.
Habakkuk 2:3: Though it tarries, wait for it; it will not tarry.
Luke 18:8: When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

9. What His coming will do

1 Corinthians 15:51-53: In a moment, at the last trumpet, the dead raised incorruptible, the living changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: The dead in Christ rise first; caught up together; always with the Lord.
Philippians 3:20-21: The Saviour from heaven transforms our lowly body.
1 John 3:2-3: We shall be like Him; everyone with this hope purifies himself.
Matthew 25:31-34: The Son of Man on the throne of His glory separates the nations.
Revelation 19:19-21: The beast and the kings of the earth overthrown.
Revelation 20:1-6: Satan bound; the saints reign a thousand years; the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:14-15: The second death.
Revelation 21:1-7: A new heaven and a new earth; no more death; he who overcomes inherits all things.
Acts 3:19-21: The times of restoration of all things.

10. Living ready

Titus 2:11-14: Grace teaches us to live godly, looking for the blessed hope.
Luke 12:35-40: Girded waist, burning lamps, waiting for the master; he will serve them.
Luke 21:34-36: Take heed lest your hearts be weighed down; watch and pray always.
Matthew 25:14-30: The talents: faithful trading until the master returns.
Luke 19:13: Do business till I come.
2 Peter 3:11-14: What manner of persons ought you to be; hastening the coming of the day of God.
Romans 13:11-12: High time to awake; put on the armour of light.
1 John 2:28: Abide in Him, that we may not be ashamed at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:58: Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Revelation 22:12: I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.
Revelation 22:17: The Spirit and the bride say, Come.