| | Bible teachings on future things
I. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
A.Postmillennial view.
1. Meaning. The second coming of Christ is after the Millennium.
2. Order of events. The latter part of the Church Age (that is,
the last 1,000 years of it) is the Millennium, which will be an era of
peace and abundance brought about through the efforts of the church.
After this Christ will come. Then will follow generalresurrection and
judgement and eternity.
3. Method of interpretation. Post millennial interpretation is
largely spiritualized with regard to prophecy. However, Revelation 20
will be fulfilled in the earthly kingdom that is brought in through
the church's efforts.
B. Amillennial view.
1. Meaning. The second coming of Christ is at the end of the
Church Age and there is no earthly Millennium. Strictly, amillenarians
believe that the present state of the righteous in heaven is the
Millennium, but there is no earthly Millennium.
2. Order of events. The Church Age will end in a time of trouble,
Christ will come, there will be general resurrection and judgment, then
eternity.
3. Method of interpretation. Amillennial interpretation
soiritualizes the promises made to Israel as a nation and says they
are fulfilled in the church. According to this view, Revelation 20
describes the scene of souls in heaven during the time between the
first and second comings of Christ.
C. Premillenial view.
1. Meaning. The second coming of Christ will occur before the
Millenium.
2. Order of events. The Church Age ends in the time of
Tribulation,Christ returns to the earth, He sets up and rules His
kingdom for 1,000 years, the resurrection and judgement of the unsaved
occur, then eternity.
3. Method of interpretation. Premillennialism follows the plain,
normal, literal,historical, and grammatical method of interpretation.
Revelation 20 is understood literally.
4. The question of the rapture. Among premillennialists there is
no agreement as to the time of the rapture (see next section)
II. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
A. The time of the rapture. Postmillennialists and amillennialists
both see the rapture of the Church at the close of this age and
concurrent with the second coming of Christ.Among premillenialists
there are several views.
1. Pretribulation rapture.
a.Meaning. The rapture of the Church(i.e., the coming of the
Lord in the air for His saints) will take place before the seven-year
Tribulation period according to this view.
b. Proof cited.
(1) The promise to kept out of the hour of trouble
(Rev.3:10).
(2) The removal of the residence aspect of the indwelling
Spirits work in believers requires the removal of belivers too
(2Thes.2).
(3) The Tribulation is a time of the outpouring of the wrath
of God and the Church is exempt from wrath (Rev.6:17;cf.1Thes.1-
10;5:9).
(4) The rapture can be imminent only if it is
pretribulational (1Thes.5:6)
2. Midtribulational rapture.
a. Meaning. The rapture will occur after three and a half years
of the Tribulation have passed.
b. Proof cited.
(1) The last trump of 1Cor15:52 is the same as the seventh
trumpet of Rev.11:15 and that is sounded at the middle of the
Tribulation.
(2) The Great Tribulation is only the last half of Daniels
70th week and the Church is promised deliverance only from that
(Rev.11:2;12:6).
(3) The resurrection of the two witnesses pictures the
rapture of the Church, and their resurrection occurs at the middle of
the period (Rev.11).
3. Posttribulation rapture.
a.Meaning. the rapture will occur at the end of the
Tribulation. The Church will be on earth during the entire Tribulation.
The rapture is distinct from the second coming though separated by only
a very short interval of time.
b. Proof cited.
(1) The rapture and the second coming are described by the
same words.
(2) Preservation from the wrath means supernatural
protection while living in that time, not deliverance from the period
(as Israel was protected from the plagues while living in Egypt).
(3) Saints are seen on the earth during the Tribulation
(Matt.24:22).
4. Partial rapture.
a. Meaning. Only Saints who are worthy will be raptured before
the wrath of God is poured out; those who have not been faithful will
remain on the earth to endure the Tribulation.
b. Proof cited
verses like Hebrews 9:28, which require preparedness.
B. The discription of the Rapture
1. The Scripture 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1Corinthians15:51- 57;
John14:1-3
2. The events.
a.The descent of Christ.
b. The resurrection of
the dead in Christ.
c. The change from mortal to immortal bodies for Christians
living at the time.
d. The meeting with Christ in the air to ascend to heaven.
III. THE TRIBULATION
A. ITS DURATION. It is the 70th week of Daniel and is therefore of
sevenyears duration (Dan.9:27). Half the period is said to 42
months or 1,260 days (Rev.11:2-3).
B. Its distinctiveness (Matt.24:21;Rev.6:15-17).
C. Its description.
1. Judgemenst upon the world. The three series of judgements
describe the judgments (seals, Rev.6;trumpets, Rev.8-9;bowls,Rev.16).
2. Persecution of Israel (Matt.24:9,22;Rev.12:17).
3. Salvation of multitudes (Rev.7).
4. Rise and dominion of Antichrist (2Thes.2; Rev.13)
D. Its end. The Tribulation ends in the gathering of the nations to
the battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ to the earth
(Rev.19).
IV. THE MILLENNIUM
A Defination. The millennium is the 1,000 year period of the earthly
reign of Christ in fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and new
covenants.
B. Its designations. The Millennium is called the kingdom of
heaven (Matt.6:10), the kingdom of God (Luke 19:11), the kingdom of
Christ (Rev.11:15), the regeneration (Matt.19:28), the times of
refreshing (Acts 3:19), and the world to come (Heb.2:5).
C. Its government.
1. Its head will be Christ (Rev.19:16).
2. Its character. A spiritual reign which will bring in peace,
equity, prosperity, and glory (Isa.11:2-5).
3. Its capital will be Jerusalem (Isa.2:3).
D. Its relation to Satan. During this period Satan will be bound until
the very end, when he will be loosed in order to deceive the nations
and lead one final revolt against Christ (Rev.20). Satan will be
defeated and cast into the lake of fire forever.
V. THE FUTURE JUDGEMENTS
A. Judgements of believers works
1. Time. After the Church is raptured.
2. Place. In heaven.
3. Judge. Jesus Christ
4. Subjects judged. All in the body of Christ.
5. Basis. Works done in the body since time of salvation.
6. Result. Rewards or loss of rewards.
7. Scripture 1Cor.3:11-15; 2Cor.5:10
B. Judgement of Israel
1. Time. At the second coming of Christ.
2. Place. On the earth.
3. Judge. Christ.
4. Subjects judged. Jews who are living when Christ comes.
5. Basis. Acceptance of Messiah.
6. Result. Saved to enter the kingdom.
7. Scripture. Ezekiel 20:37-38
C. Judgement of fallen angels.
1. Time. Probably after the Millenium.
2. Place. Unspecified.
3. Judges. Christ and believers.
4. Subjects judged. Fallen angels.
5. Basis. Disobedience to God in following Satan in his revolt.
6. Result. Cast into the lake of fire.
7. Scripture. Jude 6; 1Corinthians 6:3
D. Judgement of the unsaved dead.
1. Time. After the Millenium.
2. Place. Before the Great White Throne.
3. Judge. Christ.
4. Subjects judged. All unsaved men who have died from the
beginning to this time. 5. Basis. Rejection of the Saviour places them
in this judgment, but they are shown on the basis of their own works
that they deserve eternal punishment.
6. Result. Cast into the Lake of Fire.
7. Scripture. Revelation 20:11-15
VI. THE RESURRECTIONS
A. The resurrection of the Just (Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29).
1. Includes the dead in Christ, who are raesed at the rapture of
the Church (1Thess.4:16).
2. Includes those saved during the Tribulation period (Rev.20:4).
3. Includes Old Testament saints (people who live for God and
have faith that he will keep His promises). Daniel 12:2
B. The resurrection of the Unjust. All unsaved people will be raised
after the Millenium to stand before the Great White Throne in judgement
(Rev.20:11-15). This second resurrection results in the second death
for all involved. After this begins a period of life with God on the
'new earth' for the rest of ETERNITY. Make plans to be there!
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