Eschatology The Study of Last Things by James T. Bartsch Learning about the Future to Live Better Today |
"For
the grace of God has
appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing
us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously
and godly in the present age, looking for the
blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Christ
Jesus." Titus
2:11-13 |
2. Subsequent
to the Rapture, Jesus will
evaluate and purify His bride, the Church, at the
Judgment Seat of
Christ (Rom. 14:10-12; 1
Cor. 3:9-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). Eternal
destiny is not at issue here.
Eternal purification, reward, and preparation for future service are.
At the
conclusion of this judgment, Jesus will
present to Himself His Bride, the Church, in all
her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” She will be
“holy and
blameless” (Eph. 5:27). It will be
time for “the marriage of the Lamb,” for “His bride
has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). 3. Meanwhile,
there is a time of terrible Tribulation upon earth. This
will be a time of unprecedented trouble (Matt. 24:21; Rev.
7:13-14),
during which
God will “test those who dwell
on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). During the Tribulation both God and the
Lamb will exhibit fierce wrath (Rev. 6:16-17;
11:18; 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1,
19)
“against all
ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). 4. When
Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation period (we call
this return the Second Coming, not the Rapture), He will judge Israel (Ezek. 20:33-38) and the Gentiles (Matt. 25:31-46). No unbeliever
will survive these judgments.
All will be put to death. 5. Only
believing Jews (Ezek. 20:39-44;
Zech. 12:10-13:2, 7-9) and believing
Gentiles (Matt. 25:34-40, 46) will be left
alive to inhabit the Millennial earth. 6. These
believers will be in their natural bodies and will reproduce and bear
children
during the Millennium (Isa. 65:20-25). 7. Satan
will be bound for one thousand years, unable to deceive the world (Rev. 20:1-3). 8. At the
end of the Millennium Satan will be
released and will deceive many of the inhabitants of
the Millennial Earth. They will
attempt to revolt and will be
destroyed by fire from heaven (Rev. 20:7-10). 9. God will
destroy the
existing universe (2 Pet. 3:7-12;
Rev. 20:11). 10. Jesus Christ will
conduct the final judgment at
the Great White Throne. This is
apparently the judgment of all the
unbelieving dead of all ages. All unbelievers, their names not having
been
written in the Lamb’s Book of
Life, will be cast
into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). 11. God will create a
new universe, both
heavens and earth, in which only righteousness and righteous people (in
their
resurrected bodies) will exist (Isa. 65:17;
66:22; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1-8). 12. On New Earth and in New Jerusalem, all will be
living in their resurrection bodies. There will be no
marriage or reproduction in the Resurrection (Matt. 22:30; 1
Cor. 15:50-55; Rom. 8:13-23;
Rev. 21:24 - 22:5). They will serve
God and the Lamb and see His face
and reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:3-5). (Scripture
quotations taken from the NASB.
Used by Permission.)
Published November 3, 2010
Updated July 18, 2016 |