Xenos Christian Fellowship
Christian Principles Unit 1
Eschatology 3: End-times Events
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Overview
Introduction
Having settled on Dispensational pre-millennialism as the
best way to understand the Bible's eschatological material, we want to elaborate
on that picture. There is an immense amount of biblical material to correlate,
and because of this there is some disagreement on some of the details. We
want to get the main picture tonight.
There's lots of prophetic material associated with the final days.
We won't be able to address every question or show how prediction
fits.
We assume you have done your homework assignment, so we
will only allude to (rather than cover) the passages involved in many of
these end-times events.
See the Old Testament and New Testament prophecy charts—they
help to correlate this material. See also J. Dwight Pentecost,
Things To Come and John Walvoord, Daniel: The Key To Prophetic
Revelation for solid Dispensational treatments.
We will use the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1-31**) as our anchor
text. While it doesn't cover all the events, it is the most comprehensive
passage concerning the end times.
The disciples actually ask three questions because they assumed that the
destruction of the Temple would herald the end of the age. Actually, the
Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, while Jesus' coming and the end of the age
has obviously not yet occurred.
Matthew only records Jesus' response to the disciples' last two questions.
Luke 21:20-24 records his answer to their first question. Jesus answers
the question about the sign of "end" in Matt. 24:15, and the question
about the sign of his coming in Matt. 24:30.
The Church Age
The entire period from the death of Christ through the Rapture is called
a "mystery" because it was not clearly revealed in the Old Testament.
(Rom. 11:25) The Old Testament prophets did not understand that God would
temporarily suspend his work through Israel and instead work through the church
to bring the news of salvation to all people-groups. Jesus calls this period
"the times of the Gentiles" (Lk. 21:24). The Church receives a partial,
unforeseen fulfillment of the New Covenant. Therefore, virtually all of our
information about the Church Age comes from the New Testament.
The Matt. 13 parables describe the "mysteries of the kingdom"—the
portion of God's kingdom which was not revealed in the Old Testament (Church
Age). While affirming that the kingdom will come in its fullness as predicted
by the Old Testament prophets, Jesus explains several key contrasts between
the Church Age and the Millennial Kingdom. (NO TIME FOR THIS LAST YEAR)
| Parable |
Messianic Kingdom
(Second Advent) |
"Mystery" of Kingdom
(Church Age) |
Soils (Vs. 3-9, 18-23)
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The kingdom will come with irresistible force. |
The kingdom is spread by communicating the
gospel, and people respond to this message in various ways. |
Wheat & Tares (Vs. 24-30, 36-43)
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God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. |
The righteous and the unrighteous live together
in the same world. |
Dragnet (Vs. 47-50)
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God will separate all false members from the
righteous. |
False members will be swept into its sphere
of influence. |
Mustard Seed & Leaven (Vs. 31-33)
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God's kingdom dramatically covers the whole
world. |
God's kingdom starts small and grows gradually
to become large. |
Pearl & Treasure (Vs. 44-46)
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The surpassing value of the kingdom will be
apparent to everyone. |
God's kingdom is inconspicuous, yet of inestimable
value and worthy of all that we possess. |
Matt. 24:4-14
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Vs. 4-8 seems to span the entire Church Age. Though these things
do not in themselves signal "the end," they will increase in
frequency and intensity ("birth-pangs") through the Church Age:
FALSE TEACHERS; WARS; FAMINES; EARTHQUAKES.
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Vs. 9-13 seems to refer to a more specific period of time ("then;"
"at that time")—maybe the end of the Church Age, or perhaps
the first half of the Tribulation >> PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS;
APOSTASY; FALSE TEACHERS; SOCIETAL LAWLESSNESS.
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Vs. 14 makes it clear that the Great Commission must be fulfilled
before "the end" (the Great Tribulation) will come. This
verse also implies a long time between Jesus' first coming and the end.
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For an overview of the worldwide growth of evangelical Christianity in
the 20th century, see David B. Barrett, "A Century of Growth,"
Christianity Today, Nov. 16, 1998.
2 Tim. 3:1-9 - The general direction of human society will tend toward
lawlessness and the church will apostasize (fall away from the truth) through
many false teachers (see also 2 Thess. 2:3).
The Rapture
What is it?
Of the few passages which speak of the Rapture, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 1
Cor. 15:50-53 are the clearest. Christ will descend from heaven to catch
up all living and dead believers to meet him in the air. They receive their
resurrected bodies at this point. Therefore, some Christians will never
experience physical death. Instead, they will be instantly translated
like Enoch and Elijah in the Old Testament.
(1 Thess. 4:16,17) For the Lord himself will come down from
heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17)
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be
with the Lord forever.
(1 Cor. 15:50-53) I declare to you, brothers, that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit
the imperishable. (51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed—(52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be
raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For the perishable must
clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
Why is it called the "Rapture?"
This word is not found in the bible, but is derived from the Latin verb
rapere for "seized" or "caught up". We see this type of formulation
in 1 Thes. 4:17.
(1 Thes. 4:17) Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
When will it occur?
None of the Rapture passages directly speak about the timing of the
Rapture in relation to the Second Advent. Its timing must therefore
be inferred from other eschatological passages. The key issue here is
how one understands God's commitment to Israel. If God's covenants
with Israel still stand, then the focus of God's dealing during the tribulation
will be with Israel.
Covenantalists:
Because Covenantalists see the Church replacing Israel, they see the
Rapture as the first event of the Second Coming (POST-TRIBULATIONAL
VIEW).
Parousia: The word parousia ("coming"), which
is repeatedly used to refer to the second coming of Christ, has a special
meaning in some cases. When a general staged a triumphal entry into a
city, the citizens would go out to meet him, and immediately return in
company with him and his army and/or captives. This could be the intended
meaning of the word when it is used in passages like 1 Thess. 4:15; 1
Cor. 15:23.
Dispensationalist:
Because Dispensationalists see the Church as a parenthesis in God's
working through Israel, they see the Rapture as a distinct event separated
by a period of time (PRE- or MID-TRIBULATIONAL VIEWS - the distinction
between these views is minor). As we have already seen, the focus of the
tribulation is on Israel rather than on the Church.
If the Dispensational hermeneutic is accepted, there is ample additional
support for the Rapture as an event which precedes the Second Coming by
a significant period of time .
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Contrasts between the Second Advent and the Rapture:
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Rapture - Believers meet Christ in the air (1
Thess. 4:17)
Second Advent - Believers meet Christ on the ground
(Zech. 14:4,5).
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Rapture - Believers involved become immortal (1
Cor. 15:51-53).
Second Advent - Believers involved remain mortal
(Is. 65:20; Rev. 19:18).
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Rapture - Believers involved go immediately to heaven
(1 Thess. 4:17).
Second Advent - Believers involved stay on earth
to populate the Millennial Kingdom (Mt. 25:31-34; Zech. 14:9ff).
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Intervening events between the Rapture and Second Advent require
enough time that they are best explained as two separate
events.
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There must be enough time for people to get saved, because mortal
believers inhabit the Millennial Kingdom (Is. 65:20).
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Rev. 20:4 implies that there must be enough time for some of
the above believers to die.
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The contrast between the "day of Christ" and the "day
of the Lord" suggests two different comings.
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The "day of Christ" is for the church and is looked
forward to (1 Cor. 1:8; 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil.
1:6).
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The "day of the Lord" is for Israel and unbelievers
and is feared as a time of God's judgment (Is. 13:6,9 Is. 34:8;
Ezek. 30:3; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:7-13; 1 Thess. 5:2; 1 Thess. 3:2;
2 Thess. 2:2).
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God usually removes believers before he judges catastrophically
(e.g., Noah; Lot). Several New Testament passages suggest that he
will remove Christians before the Tribulation (2 Pet. 2:5-9; 1 Thess.
1:10; 5:9).
Note: The desire to believe in a pre-tribulational Rapture because
it means deliverance from suffering is suspect and unhealthy. The
New Testament predicts that all committed Christians will be
persecuted to some extent (2 Tim. 3:12), persecution has been the norm
for Christians for the whole Church Age, and more Christians were martyred
in the 20th century than in all previous 19 centuries combined! (Need
citation.) Do you hold this view because you don't want to suffer—or
because it makes the most sense?
Application: How should the Rapture affect us as Christians?
1 Thes. 4:13,18 says we should not grieve hopelessly about Christian
friends who die, because we'll see them again on that day.
(1 Thess. 4:13,18) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest
who have no hope . . . (18) Therefore comfort one
another with these words.
1 Cor. 15:58 says we should keep abounding in ministry because this
work has eternal impact.
(1 Cor. 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is
not in vain in the Lord.
The Judgment-Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15**)
(1 Cor. 3:10-15**) According to the grace of God which was given to
me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building
upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. (11) For no man
can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(12) Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each man's work will become evident; for the
day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself
will test the quality of each man's work. (14) If any man's work which he
has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work
is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so
as through fire.
What is the purpose of this judgment?
This judgment evaluates the service Christians rendered to Christ in
this life. Like the judgment of Olympic contestants, it evaluates
our performance for the purpose of reward, not acceptance. Paul makes
it clear that Christians could receive no reward, yet still be saved (1 Cor.
3:15). Therefore, while this judgment should sober us, we should not fear
it as the place where we may be rejected by God.
Furthermore, Christ will be perfectly fair in his evaluation. He
will take into account all the differences in our gifting, opportunities,
etc.—and he will evaluate us by what we did with what he has entrusted
us (Matt. 25:14-23). For this reason, some who appeared to be great will
be rewarded less than those who were little-known—and vice-versa.
When will it occur?
It is not clear when this judgment takes place. The most logical place
is immediately after the Rapture.
What is the reward?
The reward is multifaceted, including:
- The satisfaction of seeing the true significance of our work for Christ
(1 Cor. 3:13 "each man's work will become evident"—not
to Jesus, but to us).
(1 Cor. 3:13) . . . each man's work will
become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed
with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
- God's praise for faithful service. This may include bestowing different
degrees of glory on us (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17).
(1 Cor. 4:5) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before
the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light
the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's
hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.
(Matt. 25:20-23) "And the one who had received the five
talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you
entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.'
(21) "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave;
you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many
things, enter into the joy of your master.' (22) "The one also
who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted
to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.' (23) "His
master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful
with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into
the joy of your master.'
- Roles of rulership in God's eternal kingdom. Responsibility
in God's future kingdom will be given according to our faithfulness to Christ
in this life (Lk. 19:17,19).
(Luke 19:17-19) "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave,
because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority
over ten cities.' (18) "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina,
master, has made five minas.' (19) "And he said to him also, 'And
you are to be over five cities.'
Conclusion: 2 Cor. 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing
for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,18 while we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for
the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen
are eternal.
Note C.S. Lewis- Weight of Glory and chapter 12 from The Great
Divorce.
How can we accumulate this reward? The New Testament mentions several
ways to do this, including:
- Bring people to Christ
(Daniel 12:3) "And those who have insight will shine brightly
like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the
many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
(1 Thes. 2:19,20) For who is our hope or joy or crown
of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus
at His coming? (20) For you are our glory and joy.
- Help Christians grow in Christ
(1 Pet. 5:2-4) . . . shepherd
the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion,
but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain,
but with eagerness; (3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to
your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (4)And when the
Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
- Undergo training to become a more effective servant for Christ.
(1 Cor. 9:24-27) Do you not know that those who run
in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way
that you may win. (25) And everyone who competes in the games exercises
self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable
wreath, but we an imperishable. (26) Therefore I run in such a way,
as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; (27)
but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have
preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Note the self-discipline/self-control, strategic purpose and focus.
Paul puts it all on the line in serving Christ.
(2 Peter 1:5-7,11) Now for this very reason also, applying all
diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence,
knowledge; (6) and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; (7) and in your godliness,
brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love...(11) for in
this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Character transformation and growth in knowledge required to serve in a
way that brings reward. "If you worked for your boss like you work
for God, you'd be fired." - Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Worker
- Endure suffering in order to advance Christ's purpose ( Mk. 10:29,30).
(Jas. 1:12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for
once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which
the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
- Minister to the poor and needy (Matt. 25:35-40).
(Luke 14:12-14) And He also went on to say to the one who had
invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite
your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest
they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. (13) "But
when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
the blind, (14) and you will be blessed, since they do not have the
means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous."
- Generously give money and material resources to advance God's work.
(Matt. 6:20)
(1 Tim 6:18,19) Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be generous and ready to share, (19) storing up for themselves
the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take
hold of that which is life indeed."
How should hoping for this judgment affect us?
- We should persevere in ministry. (2 Cor. 4:17; 5:11; Rom.
8:18).
(2 Tim. 4:1, 5, 8) I solemnly charge you in the presence
of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,
and by His appearing and His kingdom... fulfill your ministry...
(8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and
not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
- We should focus on fulfilling God's plan rather than pleasing others.
(1 Cor. 4:3-5) But to me it is a very small thing that
I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not
even examine myself. (4) For I am conscious of nothing against myself,
yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
(5) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait
until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden
in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each
man's praise will come to him from God.
See Os Guinness' book The Call, chapter titled "The Audience
of One."
- We shouldn't waste our Christian life on fleshly pursuits. There
will be eternal implications.(1 Cor. 3:10b,15 >> HOUSE BURNING DOWN:
"I ESCAPED WITH MY LIFE, BUT I LOST EVERYTHING ELSE!").
(1 Cor. 3:10b,15) According to the grace of God which
was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another
is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon
it . . . (15) If any man's work is burned up, he
shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through
fire.
- We should suspend full judgment on other Christian workers until that
time (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 4:5). While we are responsible to judge
one another's doctrine and moral lifestyle, we should leave the full evaluation
of another Christian's effectiveness for this day, because only Christ is
qualified to judge to this degree.
(Rom. 14:10-12) But you, why do you judge your brother?
Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of God. (11) For it is written, "AS
I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE
SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." (12) So then each one of us shall give
account of himself to God.
There is tremendous emphasis on this subject in the NT! Along with gratitude
for what God has given us in Christ, this is the driving motivation for Christian
service. Do you believe that this will happen? Are you focused on this reality?
This is a big part of what we call the "eternal perspective."
The Regathering of Israel & Jewish Revival
Read Matt. 24:15-20. Notice Jesus assumes that the Temple will be rebuilt
(vs 15) and that the Jews will be in Judea practicing some form of Old Testament
observance (vs 16,20). This is one of many Old and New Testament passages
that predict the dispersion of the Jewish nation for their sins—and their
future regathering as a precursor to the end of the age and the Messianic
kingdom (Deut. 28:58-68; 30:1-6; Ezek. 38:8; Lk. 21:24).
(Luke 21:24) They will fall by the sword and will be taken as
prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Fulfillment: Israel was dispersed in 70 AD and (against all odds)
became a nation again in 1948.
Jerusalem must be back in the hands of the Jews (Zech. 12,14; Lk.
21:24).
Fulfillment: This occurred in 1967 as a result of the 6 Day War.
The Jewish temple must be rebuilt and sacrifices resumed before the midpoint
of the tribulation (Dan. 9:27*; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4).
(2 Thess. 2:4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything
that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's
temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Fulfillment: This has not yet occurred, although there is movement
of Jews to reconstruct the temple ("the temple reconstructionist movement").
The Jews are regathered while still in an unregenerate state (Ezek.
37 - "dry bones" prophecy). There are evidently two great movements
of the Jews to Christ.
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Some time, probably early in the tribulation, 144,000 Jews come to Christ.
God supernaturally protects them and enables them to carry on a fruitful
evangelistic ministry (Rev. 7:3-9; 14:3-5,14-16?).
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Toward the end of the tribulational period, approximately one-third of
the Jewish people evidently realize that Jesus was their Messiah and turn
to him (Zech. 12:10-13:9).
Fulfillment: Israel has been regathered in an unregenerate state,
but neither of these spiritual revivals has occurred yet.
The Tribulation is a time when God's focus returns to the nation
of Israel. All of the passages (Old and New Testament) describe its
reference to Israel rather than to the Church. It is the "70th"
week of God's dealings with Israel (Dan. 9:27*). It is called "the time
of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). Jesus calls it the "great tribulation"
(Matt. 24:15-28, see especially vs 21,22). God works through the Tribulation
to prepare Israel for the Second Coming.
(Dan. 9:27*) "And he will make a firm covenant with the many
for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice
and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes
desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured
out on the one who makes desolate."
The Tribulation is approximately 7 years long—the 70th "week"
of Dan. 9:27*. This period is divided into two 3.5 year periods.
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During the first 3.5 years, the Antichrist rules the world (Dan.
7:25; Rev. 13:5,7) through his military might (Dan. 11:38; Rev. 13:4)
and monetary control (Rev. 13:16,17). This will be a time of worldwide
peace (1 Thess. 5:2,3)—but it will be a time of persecution for true
Christians (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:7).
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At the midpoint, he will suspend regular Jewish sacrifices (Dan.
9:27), enter the temple and demand to be worshipped (2 Thess. 2:4;
Dan. 11:31; Matt. 24:15). This is the "abomination of desolation."
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This act precipitates a 3.5 year period of judgment by God on the
Antichrist. Various nations rebel against his rule (Dan. 11:40-45),
culminating in a final battle in the Middle east (Armageddon—Rev.
16:16).
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Ending event: Jesus returns at this point to rescue the world from
annihilation ( Matt. 24:16-22). Many other passages describe this
period, including Dan. 9:27b; Dan. 7:26,27. It is often called "the
day of the Lord" because it is a time of God's judgment (2 Thess.
2:2; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14).
The central figure of the Tribulation is the "Antichrist."
He is also known as the "little horn" (Dan. 7:8), the "man
of sin" (2 Thes. 2:3), and "the one who makes desolate" (Dan.
9:27*). Among his important features: (THIS WAS COVERED LAST WEEK)
He is a Gentile. He arises from a 10-nation Gentile confederacy
(Dan. 2:41,42; 7:7-10). He arises from the sea (Rev. 13:1), which is a reference
to the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15).
(Rev. 13:1,2) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And
I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads,
with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. (2)
The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear
and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and
his throne and great authority.
He achieves world wide power for a brief period of time
(Rev. 13:8; Dan. 7:23-25).
(Rev. 13:8) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all
whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the
Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
He sets himself up as an object of worship
(Dan 11:36,37) "The king will do as he pleases.
He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of
things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of
wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. (37)
He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired
by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them
all.".
(Rev. 13:4) Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority
to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is
like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
He is energized by Satan (Rev. 13: 4)
(2 Thess. 2:9) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance
with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles,
signs and wonders,
He is a great adversary of believers
(Dan 7: 25) "And he will speak out against the
Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend
to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his
hand for a time, times, and half a time.".
(Rev. 13:7) He was given power to make war against the saints
and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people,
language and nation.
He hates Jesus Christ
(Rev 17:14) "They will make war against the Lamb,
but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of
kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.".
He is accompanied by "the false prophet,"
a Jewish(?) leader who helps his rise to power by using miraculous powers
to persuade people to follow him (Rev. 13:11-14).
(Rev. 13:11-14) Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth.
He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. (12) He exercised
all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth
and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been
healed. (13) And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing
fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. (14) Because
of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he
deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image
in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
The Second Coming of Christ
At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return to rescue the state of
Israel and those individuals who believe in him.
(Matt. 24:26-31) "If therefore they say to you, 'Behold,
He is in the wilderness,' do not go forth, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner
rooms,' do not believe them. (27) "For just as the lightning comes
from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the
Son of Man be. (28) "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will
gather. (29) "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE
SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS
WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, (30)
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING
ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (31) "And He will
send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER
His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
His return will be:
What will happen when he returns:
(Rev. 19:18-21) . . . in order
that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the
flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them
and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great."
(19) And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies,
assembled to make war against Him who sat upon the horse, and against
His army. (20) And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet
who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who
had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image;
these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with
brimstone. (21) And the rest were killed with the sword which came
from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were filled
with their flesh.
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He will slay all non-believers when he returns (Zech. 14:12; Rev.
19:18,21)
-
He will cast the Antichrist and the false prophet into hell (Rev.
19:19,20).
-
He will rescue all believers who are alive (Matt. 24:13, 22, 31).
The Millennial Kingdom
Mortal believers who are still alive at the Second Coming enter the
Millennial Kingdom. They still die, though after a longer life (Isa.
65:20,21), therefore they have mortal bodies. They are evidently still fallen,
as inferred from various judgments and the fact that they die. They have children
(Isa. 65:23) and repopulate the earth (inferred from Rev. 20:8). The curse
on nature is evidently ameliorated removed to some extent (Isa. 65:25).
Satan is bound in the abyss for most of this period, which
lasts for 1000 years (Rev. 20:2,3,4,5,6,7).
Satan is released at the end of this period and incites a rebellion
against Jesus, at which time he is thrown into hell. This evidently
demonstrates that the problem with humans is not environmental, but moral
and spiritual. Even in a perfect environment and a perfectly just government,
humans still revolt. It is also probably the final piece of evidence for Satan's
condemnation.
Jesus rules from Jerusalem (Obadiah 1:12-20; Zech. 14:16).
Gentiles come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord (Zech. 14:16-21). Jews have
a new temple and offer commemorative sacrifices there (Ezek. 40-48). Resurrected
believers may participate in the administration of the messianic kingdom (Matt.
19:28-30; Rev. 20:4)?
(Rev. 20:11-15) And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat
upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was
found for them. (12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which
is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written
in the books, according to their deeds. (13) And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them;
and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. (14) And
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death,
the lake of fire. (15) And if anyone's name was not found written in the book
of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Who is judged at the judgment?
This judgment is evidently for all unsaved people of all times.
Why are the people condemned?
-
Their names do not appear in the book of life. That is, they did not
respond to God's offer of forgiveness through Christ.
-
Their works reveal that they deserve God's judgment, because they
fall short of God's standard of moral perfection.
What is their fate?
The unsaved dead are then sentenced to the lake of fire (also called
"hell," "Gehenna," "the outer darkness," "eternal
fire," etc.).
(2 Thess. 1:9) And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power . . .
Hell is a place of eternal, conscious alienation from God and condemnation
(Matt. 25:46; 2 Thes. 1:9; Rev. 14:9-11; Jude 1:7). The Bible does not
support the idea that the unsaved are eventually annihilated after being
punished for a period of time (conditional immortality).
There are evidently degrees of punishment in hell. People will be punished
differently according to how much they knew of God's will (see Mark
12:40; Lk. 20:46-48).
The New Heavens & New Earth
(Rev. 21:1-8) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the
first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any
sea. (2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard
a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God
is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people,
and God Himself shall be among them, (4) and He shall wipe away every tear
from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no
longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed
away." (5) And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making
all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful
and true." (6) And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts
from the spring of the water of life without cost. (7) "He who overcomes
shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
(8) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers
and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part
will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."
This is the eternal state. God destroys our present universe (Rev.
21:1; 2 Pet. 3:10-13) and creates a new universe in which his reign endures
forever (Rev. 21:1-22:5).
How can God give people free will in this state and yet guarantee that there
will never be a rebellion again? Part of the answer may be that we will be
able to see the complete record of revolt against God, the full demonstration
that only he has the right to rule (Isa. 66:24).
The Intermediate States
Where do people go after they die, but before their eternal states?
Are they conscious or not? These are the questions most people have about
the intermediate state. There is not a lot of material on this subject, but
we can infer what might happen.
Believers are divided into two groups:
- Those who died before Christ's death went to a waiting place which
Jesus called "Abraham's Bosom" (Lk. 16:22). They were conscious
and comforted. They evidently could not go into God's presence because their
sins had not yet been paid for in history.
(Luke 16:22) "The time came when the beggar died and the
angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was
buried."
- Those who die after Christ's death go directly to be consciously
with Christ in heaven (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Lk. 23:43). However, they
do not receive their resurrected bodies until the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:52).
(Luke 23:43) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today
you will be with me in paradise."
Therefore, the New Testament refers to dead Christians as "asleep"
not because they are unconscious, but to emphasize that they will be raised
from the dead just as a sleeping person will awaken (contra "SOUL
SLEEP").
Nonbelievers:
Nonbelievers evidently go to a waiting place Jesus called "Hades"
(Lk. 16:23). They are conscious and in agony—probably because they
are aware of their coming judgment. They will be raised at the end of the
Millennial Kingdom to be judged and sentenced to hell (Rev. 20:11-15).
(Luke 16:23) "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in
torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.
(Rev. 20:13,14) The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and
death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was
judged according to what he had done. (14) Then death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
- There is no second chance for people to repent after they die.
Lk. 16:26 (along with Heb. 9:27; Matt. 25:10-12; Lk. 13:24,25) (contra
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS & CATHOLIC PURGATORY; MORMON BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD)
(Luke 16:26) And besides all this, between us and you a great
chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot,
nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
(Heb. 9:27) Just as man is destined to die once, and after that
to face judgment,
Memory Verses
Matt. 24:1-31** - Jesus' description of the end of the age.
1 Cor. 3:10-15** - Christ's judgment and reward of Christians.
Rev. 19:11-21:8** - the chronology of events from the
second coming to the new heavens and new earth
Tables listing Biblical references to End Times events:
Assignment
Answer the following questions concerning Christology.
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Could Jesus fall to temptation or not? See Lk. 4:1-12 and Jas. 1:13.
Use scripture to support your answer.
-
What limitations did Jesus take on by becoming a human being? See Jn.
5:19,30; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10; Acts 2:22; 10:38; Phil. 2:6,7. What application
does this have for the Christian life?
-
Where did Jesus go between his death and resurrection? See 1 Pet. 3:19;
4:6; Eph. 4:9.
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Why is the resurrection of Jesus important? See Mt. 12:39,40; Jn. 2:19;
Rom. 4:25; 6:4,5; 1 Cor. 15:14,17,18-23; Eph. 1:19,20; 2:6; 1 Pet. 1:3.
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What is Jesus doing now? See Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn.
2:1,2.
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Which of these issues are essential? Which are not? Why?
Contact instructors
with questions or comments
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