VIII. LAST THINGS
A. Death
We believe that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (1), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (2), that there is a separation of soul and body (3), and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture (4), which initiates the first resurrection (5), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord (6). Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (7).
We believe the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (8), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (9).
We believe that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (10), When the soul and the resurrection body will be united (11). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment (12) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (13), cut off from the life of God forever (14).
B. The Rapture of the Church
We believe the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation (15) to translate His church from this earth (16) and, between this event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according to their works (17).
C. The Tribulation Period
We believe that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth (18) the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (19), and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (20). At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (21). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (22).
D. The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
We believe that, after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (23) and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth (24). During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (25). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world (26).
We believe that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (27) to restore them to the land that they forfeited through their disobedience (28). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (29), but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing (30).
We believe that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (31), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (32).
E. The Judgment of the Lost
We believe that following the release of Satan after the 1,000-year reign of Christ (33), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven (34). Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (35), whereupon Christ, who is the Judge of all men (36), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne Judgment.
We believe that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment (37), they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (38).
F. Eternity
We believe that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (39), the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (40) and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells (41). Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven (42) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another (43). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (44), that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (45).
References: (1) Revelation 6:9-11; (2) Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; (3) Philippians 1:21-24; (4) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; (5) Revelation 20:4-6; (6) Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54; (7) 2 Corinthians 5:8; (8) John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; (9) Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15; (10) Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15; (11) John 5:28-29; (12) Revelation 20:11-15; (13) Matthew 25:41-46; (14) Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; (15) 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13; (16) John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11; (17) 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; (18) John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; (19) Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16; (20) Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; (21) Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:4-6; (22) Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46; (23) Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; (24) Revelation 20:1-7; (25) Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16; (26) Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7; (27) Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17; (28) Deuteronomy 28:15-68; (29) Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26; (30) Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29; (31) Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; (32) Revelation 20:7; (33) Revelation 20:7; (34) Revelation 20:9; (35) Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; (36) John 5:22; (37) John 5:28-29; (38) Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15; (39) 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15; (40) 2 Peter 3:10; (41) Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21; (42) Revelation 21:2; (43) John 17:3; Revelation 21-22; (44) 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; (45) 1 Corinthians 15:28.
A. Death
We believe that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (1), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (2), that there is a separation of soul and body (3), and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture (4), which initiates the first resurrection (5), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord (6). Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (7).
We believe the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (8), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (9).
We believe that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (10), When the soul and the resurrection body will be united (11). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment (12) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (13), cut off from the life of God forever (14).
B. The Rapture of the Church
We believe the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation (15) to translate His church from this earth (16) and, between this event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according to their works (17).
C. The Tribulation Period
We believe that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth (18) the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (19), and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (20). At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (21). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (22).
D. The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
We believe that, after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (23) and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth (24). During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (25). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world (26).
We believe that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (27) to restore them to the land that they forfeited through their disobedience (28). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (29), but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing (30).
We believe that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (31), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (32).
E. The Judgment of the Lost
We believe that following the release of Satan after the 1,000-year reign of Christ (33), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven (34). Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (35), whereupon Christ, who is the Judge of all men (36), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne Judgment.
We believe that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment (37), they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (38).
F. Eternity
We believe that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (39), the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (40) and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells (41). Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven (42) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another (43). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (44), that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (45).
References: (1) Revelation 6:9-11; (2) Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; (3) Philippians 1:21-24; (4) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; (5) Revelation 20:4-6; (6) Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54; (7) 2 Corinthians 5:8; (8) John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; (9) Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15; (10) Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15; (11) John 5:28-29; (12) Revelation 20:11-15; (13) Matthew 25:41-46; (14) Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; (15) 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13; (16) John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11; (17) 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; (18) John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; (19) Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16; (20) Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; (21) Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:4-6; (22) Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46; (23) Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; (24) Revelation 20:1-7; (25) Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16; (26) Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7; (27) Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17; (28) Deuteronomy 28:15-68; (29) Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26; (30) Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29; (31) Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; (32) Revelation 20:7; (33) Revelation 20:7; (34) Revelation 20:9; (35) Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; (36) John 5:22; (37) John 5:28-29; (38) Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15; (39) 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15; (40) 2 Peter 3:10; (41) Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21; (42) Revelation 21:2; (43) John 17:3; Revelation 21-22; (44) 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; (45) 1 Corinthians 15:28.