PRO: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 general resurrection and
judgment 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
spiritualizes 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
Millennium.

   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 judgment 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 believers 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 description of the Rapture 1. The Scripture 1Thessalonians
4:13-18; 1Corinthians15:51- 57; John 14:1-3

   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
seven years 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. Judgment upon the world. The three series of judgments 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 Definition. 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 JUDGMENTS

   A. Judgments 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. Judgment 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. Judgment of fallen angels.

   1. Time. Probably after the Millennium. 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. Judgment of the unsaved dead.

   1. Time. After the Millennium. 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 raised 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 Millennium to stand
before the Great White Throne in judgment (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!
