IX- The Doctrine of the Future
1. Q. What happens when a person dies?
ANSWER: The person’s soul-spirit leaves his body and goes either to Hades, where he consciously awaits resurrection, judgement, and eternal punishment, or to Heaven, where he consciously awaits resurrection, judgement, and eternal award (Lk. 16:19-21; Jn. 5:28-29; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-24; Heb. 9:27).
2. Q. When will Christ return to catch up believers and conclude the church age?
ANSWER: It may take place at any moment, at a time when many will not expect Him (Mt. 24:44). Therefore, we should always be ready (Mt. 24:45-25:30) and living in such a way that we will not be ashamed when Jesus returns (1 Jn. 2:28-2:3).
3. Q. Why will God send supernatural judgements on the earth after He has taken the church?
ANSWER: God will use these judgements to display His wrath against the wickedness of unrepentant mankind (Isa. 13:6-16; Rev. 16:4-21) and to lead a great multitude to saving faith in Christ (Rev. 7:9-17). Also it will bring about the conversion of the nation of Israel (Ezek. 36;37) and a golden age when Israel’s promised Messiah will rule as King of the earth for 1,000 years (Isa. 2:1-4; 11:1-10; Jer. 33:14-16; Rom. 11:25-27; Rev. 20:1-6).
4. Q. How will Christ’s earthly kingdom end?
ANSWER: After 1,000 years, God will release Satan (Rev. 20:7) and give mankind one more opportunity to choose between obeying Him or the devil. Multitudes will make the wrong choice and join in one last rebellion (Rev. 20:8-9). At this time, God will supernaturally defeat his foes (Rev. 20:9-10), purge the present earth system with fire (2 Pet, 3:10-13), and assign Satan, fallen angels, and all Christ-rejecting persons to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-15). Then He will create a new heaven and a new earth where those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will serve Him forever (Rev. 21:1-22:5). In this light, our Lord said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his souls?” (Mk. 8:36-37).
ANSWER: The person’s soul-spirit leaves his body and goes either to Hades, where he consciously awaits resurrection, judgement, and eternal punishment, or to Heaven, where he consciously awaits resurrection, judgement, and eternal award (Lk. 16:19-21; Jn. 5:28-29; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-24; Heb. 9:27).
2. Q. When will Christ return to catch up believers and conclude the church age?
ANSWER: It may take place at any moment, at a time when many will not expect Him (Mt. 24:44). Therefore, we should always be ready (Mt. 24:45-25:30) and living in such a way that we will not be ashamed when Jesus returns (1 Jn. 2:28-2:3).
3. Q. Why will God send supernatural judgements on the earth after He has taken the church?
ANSWER: God will use these judgements to display His wrath against the wickedness of unrepentant mankind (Isa. 13:6-16; Rev. 16:4-21) and to lead a great multitude to saving faith in Christ (Rev. 7:9-17). Also it will bring about the conversion of the nation of Israel (Ezek. 36;37) and a golden age when Israel’s promised Messiah will rule as King of the earth for 1,000 years (Isa. 2:1-4; 11:1-10; Jer. 33:14-16; Rom. 11:25-27; Rev. 20:1-6).
4. Q. How will Christ’s earthly kingdom end?
ANSWER: After 1,000 years, God will release Satan (Rev. 20:7) and give mankind one more opportunity to choose between obeying Him or the devil. Multitudes will make the wrong choice and join in one last rebellion (Rev. 20:8-9). At this time, God will supernaturally defeat his foes (Rev. 20:9-10), purge the present earth system with fire (2 Pet, 3:10-13), and assign Satan, fallen angels, and all Christ-rejecting persons to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-15). Then He will create a new heaven and a new earth where those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will serve Him forever (Rev. 21:1-22:5). In this light, our Lord said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his souls?” (Mk. 8:36-37).