Finding Purpose in the Second Coming: A Sermon for Singles

It would be my pleasure to craft both a powerful evangelistic sermon and a structured outline for your singles' ministry, focusing on the hope of Jesus' second coming and the thousand-year reign. I am ready to get started on this inspiring message for you!

The Great Confinement: Finding Your Purpose in the Light of His Coming 👑

Introduction: The Preparation for the King

The science of salvation is the theme of primary importance to those called to herald God's last warning to a doomed worldEv 5.1. We are living in time's closing hours, and the message of the second advent must swell to a loud cry to prepare a people for our Lord's returnEv 5.1. For those who are walking this life as singles, your hope is to be bound up with all your associations and relationships, centered entirely on the coming of the Son of GodEv 220.1.

🕊️ A Lesson for the Young at Heart: The Missing Key

Once there was a young man who was given a beautiful, golden casket, but he did not have the key to open it. He spent all his time searching for earthly keys—the key of popularity, the key of wealth, and the key of temporary relationships—but none of them fit. One day, he found an old, rugged key in the shape of a cross. When he used that key, the casket opened to reveal a map showing a city with streets of gold and a King who loved him more than life itself. Just like that young man, we often look for fulfillment in the wrong places, but only the "Key of David" and the "Key of the Bottomless Pit," which belong to Jesus, can unlock our true future and eternal security Revelation 1:18MWV2 28.2.

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I. The Glorious Return and the First Resurrection 🎺

The Second Advent of Christ is the blessed hope that should consume our thoughts and actionsEv 220.1. When the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout and the trump of God, a miraculous event occurs: the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

• The Resurrection of Order: The resurrection of the saints is first in both order and timeMWV2 28.2.

• The Transformation: Those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with the resurrected saints in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

• The Reward of Faith: This is the commencement of the Millennium, where judgment is given to the saints of the Most High Daniel 7:22ESH 54.3.

• The Marriage Supper: While the earth is left desolate, the redeemed are taken to the Father’s house to participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:9ATNM 122.1.

For the single person, this means your primary "engagement" is with the Heavenly Bridegroom, who is currently preparing many mansions for you in His Father's house John 14:2FP1889 151.6.

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II. Satan in the Bottomless Pit: The 1000-Year Jail ⛓️

While the saints are in heaven, a solemn and dread reality begins on earthESH 54.3. An angel, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, descends with the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain Revelation 20:1MWV2 28.2.

• The Arrest: Jesus lays hold on the dragon, that old serpent, the Devil and Satan, and binds him for a thousand years Revelation 20:2DAR1909 732.1.

• The Location of the Jail: The "bottomless pit" or "abyss" is not some far-off place, but this very earth in a chaotic, broken, and desolate stateEVRR276+1.

• The Condition of the Earth: The Lord makes the earth empty and waste, turning it upside down and scattering the inhabitants thereof Isaiah 24:1SAIN 66.1. It returns to a state "without form and void," similar to the condition before creation Genesis 1:2SSP 327.1.

• Solitary Confinement: Satan is shut up and a seal is set upon him so that he can deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are fulfilled Revelation 20:3ESH 54.3.

• A Time of Contemplation: Alone on a dark and dismal earth where all life is gone, Satan is forced to contemplate the results of his six thousand years of rebellionSSP 327.1.

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III. The Work of the Single Heart Today 🕯️

Knowing that the end is near, how should we live? As singles, you have a unique opportunity to be "light bearers" to those in darknessCT 468.2.

• Unselfish Purpose: God wants heart-work characterized by unselfish purposes and holy motivesPH083 15.2.

• The Elijah Message: We are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ in the spirit of Elijah, practicing temperance in all things and turning hearts back to God Malachi 4:5-63T 62.1.

• Practical Godliness: Our work is to be done with freshness and power, combining medical missionary work with the gospel ministry to prepare the world for the adventCT 468.2.

• Character Building: Christ is waiting for the manifestation of His character in His church; when the Saviour is perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will comePH145 6.3.

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IV. The Final Judgment and the New Earth 🔥

At the close of the thousand years, the second resurrection occurs—the resurrection of the wicked John 5:29ESH 54.3.

• The Last Deception: Satan is loosed for a "little season" and goes out to deceive the resurrected wicked, gathering them as the sand of the sea to attack the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which has descended from heaven Revelation 20:7-9MWV2 28.2.

• The Second Death: As they encompass the camp of the saints, fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them Revelation 20:9ESH 54.3.

• Purification: The elements melt with fervent heat, and the earth and its works are burned up, purifying it from the curse of sin 2 Peter 3:10RH July 20, 1897, par. 14.

• The Everlasting Home: From the ashes of the old, God creates new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells, and the saints shall inherit the land forever 2 Peter 3:13+1PROLI 175.1.

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The Appeal: What Are You Going to Do? 📢

The burning splendor of the day of God is just opening on the worldADTE March 1846, page 6.8! The evidence of Christ’s soon coming is right upon us, yet many are asleep1SAT 290.2. Today, I am asking you: What is the state of your heart?

Are you making "merchandise of the souls of men," or are you seeking the "meat in due season" that satisfies the soulESH 54.3+1? Do not let the "preaching of peace and safety" deceive you into a state of carnal securityESH 54.3+1.

I appeal to you today:

1. Forsake your sins and turn to the cross of Calvary, the life-healing balm that reveals the virtue of God's love REF sermon rules.

2. Trim your lamps and receive the holy oil of the Spirit so your labor for others will be effective7MR 169.1.

3. Choose the right way now, before the door of mercy is closed foreverEv 5.1+1.

Jesus is coming to reward every man as his work shall be Revelation 22:12MWV2 28.2. Will you be found without spot and blameless at His appearing 2 Peter 3:14RH July 20, 1897, par. 14? The Master is calling you. Will you answer, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us" Isaiah 25:9ADRE 1850, page 5.1?

Come to Him now, yield your life entirely, and be part of that glorious company that will reign with Him in the New Jerusalem Revelation 20:6ESH 54.3. What are you going to do?

Here is the sermon outline:

The Great Confinement: Finding Your Purpose in the Light of His Coming

Introduction: The Preparation for the King

• Urgency of the Message: The "science of salvation" is the primary theme for those heralding God's final warning to the world.
• A Focus for Singles: Those who are single should center their lives, associations, and hope entirely on the Second Advent.
• The Lesson of the Missing Key: Fulfillment is not found in popularity, wealth, or temporary relationships, but in the "Key of David" (the Cross), which unlocks eternal security.

I. The Glorious Return and the First Resurrection

• The Blessed Hope: The return of Christ is the event that should consume the believer's thoughts.
• The Order of Events:
  • The dead in Christ rise first at the sound of the trump.
  • The living righteous are transformed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
• The Heavenly Reward: The redeemed are taken to the Father’s house for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb while the earth sits desolate.
• Spiritual Engagement: For the single person, the primary "engagement" is with the Heavenly Bridegroom.

II. Satan in the Bottomless Pit: The 1000-Year Jail

• The Binding of Satan: Jesus descends with the key to the abyss and binds Satan for a thousand years.
• The Nature of the Abyss: The "bottomless pit" is the earth itself in a chaotic, broken, and "void" state (resembling pre-creation).
• Solitary Confinement: With the saints in heaven and the wicked dead, Satan is left alone to contemplate the results of his 6,000-year rebellion.

III. The Work of the Single Heart Today

• Unselfish Purpose: Believers must cultivate holy motives and unselfish "heart-work."
• The Elijah Message: Preparing the way for Christ through temperance and turning hearts back to God.
• Practical Godliness: Combining the gospel ministry with practical help (medical missionary work).
• Character Building: Christ will return only when His character is perfectly reproduced in His people.

IV. The Final Judgment and the New Earth

• The Second Resurrection: After the 1,000 years, the wicked are raised to life.
• The Final Deception: Satan leads the resurrected wicked in a final, futile attack on the New Jerusalem.
• The Second Death: Fire descends from heaven, devouring the wicked and purifying the earth.
• The New Creation: God creates a new heaven and earth from the ashes—an everlasting home for the righteous.

The Appeal: What Are You Going to Do?

• Wake Up: Many are asleep despite the evidence of Christ’s soon coming; do not be deceived by cries of "peace and safety."
• Three-Fold Call to Action:
  1. Forsake Sin: Turn to the Cross for healing and love.
  2. Trim Your Lamps: Seek the Holy Spirit to make your service effective.
  3. Choose Now: Commit before the door of mercy closes.
• The Ultimate Question: Will you be found blameless and ready to say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him"?