“Doctrinal Statement on Eschatology”

Pastor John – 2023 

My Doctrinal Statement on Eschatology

I. Christ’s return

I believe, in accordance with Scripture, that Christ will return. At His second coming Jesus Christ will return from heaven to earth – both bodily and visibly as prophesied in Acts 1:9-11 with great glory (Matt. 13, 24; Luke 21; Mark 13; 1 and 2 Thess.; Rev.). Since the time of His return is unknown, we must be prepared for His coming (Matt. 24:36; 25:1-13), being faithful servants and stewards (Matt. 25:14-30; 24:45-51). At His return, Christ will judge both unbelievers and believers (Rev. 20:11-15), punishing or rewarding each person according to their deeds (Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Rom. 2:6; Rev. 2:23; 18:6; 22:12). Likewise, both unbelievers and believers will experience a literal bodily resurrection, the former being eternally separated from Christ, the latter – believers – spending eternity with the Lord (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:35-45; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; John 12:26) in a new heaven and a new earth.

II. The resurrection of the dead

I believe that at Christ’s return, the dead will be resurrected. This resurrection is literal and physical – for both believers and unbelievers (Ps. 17:15; 49:15; 73:24-25; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:1-2; Matt. 22:29; Luke 20:34-38; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:16-17; Acts 2:31; 2 Tim. 2:18; Rev. 20:4-5). Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God (Matt. 8:12; Rev. 21:8), while believers will spend eternity with Him in heaven (1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 21:3-7).

III. Christ’s millennial kingdom

I believe that upon His return, Christ – rapturing the church – will establish an earthly reign for a thousand years (pretribulational premillennial view) (1 Thess. 4:16-17). While Christ is already ruling at the right hand of God (1 Cor. 15:24; 1 Tim. 6:15; Acts 2:34-35), having already been resurrected, there are several more stages to come – foremost, His parousia along with the resurrection of the believers, is completed in the final stage, when all His enemies have been defeated (1 Cor. 15:23-26). On this note, I affirm that amillennialism, premillennialism and postmillennialism are each within the scope of Christian orthodoxy.

IV. The rapture

I believe that the rapture, occurring at Christ’s return, is the event, where those believers who have died and those believers who are alive (at that moment) will meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air, physically caught up to the clouds to meet Him (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2). The rapture will occur prior to the great tribulation (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). While holding to a pretribulation view, I consider mid-tribulation rapture, and post-tribulation rapture within the scope of Christian orthodoxy.

V. The eternal state of believers and unbelievers

I believe there is an eternal state of believers and unbelievers. However – while there is a physical resurrection for both – those, who are not believers in Christ will face physical, conscious, unspeakable agony, eternally separated from God (John 3:16-21; Matt. 8:12; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:14-15; 21:8). By contrast, Christians, are eternally secure in Christ (John 10:27-28) and having been bodily raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:35-45) – will spend eternity in the new heaven and the new earth (John 12:26; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). Therefore, as believers, this should prompt us to surrender our hearts to Christ, let Him grow our faith, rejoice in His grace, show Him reverence, strengthen other believers and fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). Amen.