In this series, we have discussed what we believe as a church. We have studied and broken down a lot of beliefs and ideas that have existed since the beginning of the world. We have looked at the mistakes mankind has made and how God made a way for us to return to Him. We have discussed what we are supposed to be doing right here and now as the church.
Today and next week, we will be looking to see what God has up his sleeve for the future. What He has promised us is still to come. I will be transparent before I begin these posts. It is impossible to break this down into just two blog posts. I know this because I have already preached a Daniel series (10 messages) and a Revelation series (12 messages). So if it feels like I skim a few topics, it’s not because I am afraid to address something. It’s because I don’t think it furthers the primary points I want to make in this series.
That being said, lets dive into our first Foundational truth for today…
Foundation #13
In the blessed hope — when Jesus raptures his church prior to His return to earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever.
We can be confident that Jesus is coming the second time; this is what we as believers look forward to and where our hope lies. No man knows the day or time when Jesus will come again…
We should be looking forward to his coming like a bride awaits her groom. In full preparation so that the world sees something is different, but our attention is only on the groom.
We have a role to play in his coming: Hurry It Along! But How do we hurry his return along? Win Souls!!!!! Every soul won into the kingdom - ushers his coming even closer.
The Rapture Of The Church And The Second Coming Are Two Different Events
The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse refers to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is essential to differentiate between the two.
The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth.
The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.
Essential differences between the rapture and the second coming:
At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air. At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).
The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).
The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could occur at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events, but it is crucially important to recognize the differences.
Foundation #14
In the millennial reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
A belief in the Millenial Reign is primarily supported by Revelation 20:1-6 (ESV)
The Millennium (also known as the Millennial Kingdom is…
The 1,000-year reign of Jesus after the Tribulation and
Jesus will reign as king over Israel as well as all the nations of the world (Isa 2:4)
The world will live in peace (Isaiah 11:6–9; 32:18),
Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1–3)
What Is The Purpose Of The Millennial Reign?
The purpose of the 1,000-year reign is to fulfill promises God made to the world that cannot be fulfilled while Satan is free and humans have political authority. Some of these promises, called covenants, were given specifically to Israel. Others were given to Jesus, the nations of the world, and creation. All of these will be fulfilled during Jesus’ 1,000-year reign.
The Palestinian Covenant: also called the Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10), God has already fulfilled the personal aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant;
Abraham went to the Promised Land, had many descendants, and was the forefather of many nations. Several hundred years after Abraham, Joshua led the Israelites to claim ownership of the Promised Land. But Israel has never possessed the specific boundaries God promised in Genesis 15:18–20 and Numbers 34:1-12.
The Davidic Covenant: God’s covenant with David was that his line would never die out and that David’s heir would sit on the throne of Israel forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
Biblical scholars agree that Jesus is the fulfillment of this covenant—one of the reasons His genealogy is given for both Joseph (Matthew 1:1–17) and His mother (Luke 3:23–38).
The Jews understood this when they laid down palm branches and cloaks as Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–17). They expected Him to be a military/political leader that would liberate them from the Romans and make Israel a great nation again.
But they didn’t understand the nature of Jesus’ work at the time was for the New Covenant, not the Davidic Covenant.
The work of the New Covenant: Jesus’ death and resurrection to reconcile hearts to God—has been accomplished. But we have not yet seen the complete fulfillment.
This covenant does not mean that every Jew will be saved. But it does mean that Israel as a nation will worship their Messiah. The Old Testament prophets who spoke of this covenant, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel, all wrote that it would be fulfilled in the future.
3 Stages Of The Millennium
Reign Of Peace
Martyrs
Satan Released
As seen in Revelation 20:1-10, the Millennium has three stages that characterize this period.
The first begins with Christ reigning in peace, as told in verses 1-4. The second period is in Revelation 20:4-6 during this time, the martyrs “who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God...came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
The third period sees the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is released and seeks to organize nations against God, but they quickly fail and are thrown into the lake of fire for eternity.
Foundation #15
A final judgment will take place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
Jesus Christ will be the judge
Christ will judge all unbelievers - They will be punished according to the works they have done.
Christ will also judge all believers, but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the book of life, we will be rewarded, but not punished, according to our deeds.
At this point, we are in eternity, either in heaven with God or Hell.
If you want to learn more about this topic, watch the full sermon on YouTube!