Eschatology

Individual

I believe that physical death is the separation of the perishable body (Ecc 12:7; Jas 2:26) and the immortal soul (Matt 10:28) for all people, and it is a result of sin (Gen 3:19). All people’s souls will enter the intermediate state upon their individual death where the soul of the believer goes to be with Christ (Job 34:14-15; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23-24) in heaven, a place of paradise (Luke 23:43), whereas the soul of the unbeliever goes to Hades (Luke 16:19-23), a place of torment and judgment (Heb 9:27; 2 Pet 2:9). Both the believer and the unbeliever are consciously aware (Luke 16:24-31) of time and their existence, and are waiting for their bodily resurrection (Rev 20:1-13).

Return of Christ, Rapture, Tribulation

I believe that Christ’s return (John 14:3; Heb 9:28; Phil 3:20; Jas 5:7-9) is imminent (1 Thess 5:2), and only the Father knows the exact time (Matt 24:36). Upon Christ’s return to the earth (Acts 1:11), believers who have died will experience bodily resurrection (1 Thess 4:16) and will be joined by believers who are still alive on the earth (1 Thess 4:17), and both groups will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and will be with Him always. This event will mark the beginning of a seven-year period of The Great Tribulation (1 Thess 5) marked by destruction (1 Thess 5:3), persecution by Antichrist (2 Thess 2:3; Rev 13:1, 7) and Satan (Rev 12:12-17) on the earth for the unbelievers (Rom 5:9; 1 Thess 1:9-10; 1 Thess 5:9) who remain on the earth.

Christ Reign, Millennium

I believe that at the end of the Great Tribulation, Christ will defeat Antichrist and all his forces (Rev 19:11-21). Christ will bind Satan for 1000 years (Rev 20:1-3) and will seal Satan in the bottomless pit so that Satan may not deceive the nations anymore. Christ will reign from Jerusalem on David’s throne for 1000 years and believers will reign with Christ (Rev 20:4) over all the earth and its inhabitants. Every person will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:11). The earth will be experience worldwide peace and righteousness (Isa 11:6-10; 65:20-25) and the Lord will fulfill His covenant promises formerly made to Israel (Isa 11:1-16; Ezek 36:22-32; Rom 11:1-10).

Judgments, Eternal State

At the end of the millennium, unbelievers will be resurrected (Rev 20:5), and Satan will be briefly released (Rev 20:7) and will come out to deceive the nations. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10), along with the angels who joined in his rebellion (2 Pet 2:4) and will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Unbelievers will be judged (Rev 14:10-11; Rev 20:12) according to what they have done. The unbelievers, whose names are not written in the book of life, will also be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15) and there will be no rest for them (Rev 14:10-11) in their punishment. All who are in the lake of fire will experience the second death  (Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8), which is the eternal exclusion from God’s presence, and will be in their eternal state.

The heavens and the earth will be made new (Rev 21:1) and will return to what it was originally intended to be (Rev 21:4). The people will bring the glory and honor of the nations into the city (Rev 21:26). Believers will go before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) and will receive their eternal rewards (Rev 22:12) for what they have done in the kingdom of God. They will enter into eternal life (John 3:16; 5:24) and live as the people of God with God (Rev 21:3) in His dwelling place forever and ever. Amen.