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End Times

Presenter

Arthur A. Eggert, PhD

Professor Emeritus

UW-Madison

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End Times

1. How Can We Know About the Future?

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End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

The Bible and the Future

1. The Bible is the inerrant, verbally inspired Word of God.

If we want to know the future, we need a source of information that will always give us the right information about it. If we rely on sources that do not always give the correct prediction, then we risk making terrible mistakes with our lives and our money. Either the Bible is a reliable source because it is the revelation of God, or it isn’t. There is no middle ground. Either we can rely on it, or we can’t. The Bible claims that we can rely on it.

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End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

The Bible and the Future

1. The Bible is the inerrant, verbally inspired Word of God.

a. St. Peter wrote, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” {2 Peter 1:21}

b. St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” {2 Timothy 3:16–17}

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End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

The Bible and the Future

1. The Bible is the inerrant, verbally inspired Word of God.

c. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.” {Jeremiah 30:2}

End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

The Bible and the Future

3. God reveals some aspects of the future.

The LORD reveals the future when it advances His plan of salvation, but not for the mere curiosity of His people. Faith means relying on the LORD being in control even though he has not given us a complete roadmap of what will happen. The LORD does not feel the need to continually prove Himself to His creatures.

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The Bible and the Future

3. God reveals some aspects of the future.

a. “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. When you depart from me today, ….’ When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.” {1 Samuel 10:1-9}

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The Bible and the Future

3. God reveals some aspects of the future.

b. Isaiah quoted God when he wrote, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” {Isaiah 42:9}

c. Jesus said, “See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” {Matthew 24:25}

End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

The Bible and the Future

4. The only sure source for information about the future

c. The prophecies are numerous.

The LORD is never wrong because He is omniscient. No one else is omniscient, not even the angels and the demons, although the latter like to pretend they are.

- “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.” {Isaiah 46:9–10}.

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled. Some have claimed that these were added or adjusted after the fact to make this to be the case. Yet, consider the ones about Christ that could not be faked because they are documented as having existed before Christ. Contemplating the nature of these prophecies, there is no reason to doubt any of the Old Testament prophecies.

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

a. Virgin birth – “Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” {Isaiah 7:14}

b. Born in Bethlehem – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” {Micah 5:2}

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

c. Ministry in Galilee – “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” {Isaiah 9:1-2}

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

d. Healing the sick and releasing prisoners – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” {Isaiah 61:1-2a}

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

e. Redemption of mankind – “Behold, my servant shall act wisely;…yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” {Isaiah 52:13-53:12}

f. Division of clothes – “I can count all my bones – they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” {Psalm 22:17-18}

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The Bible and the Future

5. The Bible is filled with prophecies that came true.

g. Resurrection – “For you will not abandon my soul to the grave, nor let your holy one see corruption.” {Psalm 16:10}

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End Times�How Can We Know About the Future?

Looking for the future in the wrong places

2. Seers

e. News columnists – No matter where one looks in American society, one finds a lot of people making a living by predicting the economy, the stock market, political events, and the effects of climate change. Each of these people taut their successes, but few present to the public a scorecard containing both their correct and incorrect predictions. While careful study of a specific issue may improve the chances that a forecaster will get a more accurate result, no one has the perfect score a divine prophet would have.

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Looking for the future in the wrong places

2. Seers

f. Even when there is a scientific basis for predicting future events, there is the problem of the natural phenomenon of “chaos.” All natural processes are defined in terms of non-linear differential equations. We rarely know all the terms in the equations, much less their values and coefficients, and often the equations cannot be solved in a closed form.

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2. One big event – the return of Christ

a. Predicted since His ascension

After His resurrection, Jesus’ disciples were naturally eager to know about the future. The eagerness changed to deep concern when He was taken up from them into heaven. Angels directed them to where they should look for the future.

End Times�Jesus Is Coming Back

The timeline

4. Already and not yet

a. Reconciliation is complete.

Although we still live in this present age, all that is necessary for our Salvation has been completed. We have what we need to enter heaven; it is only a matter of time until we get there.

- St. Paul wrote, “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” {Romans 5:11}

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End Times�Jesus Is Coming Back

The timeline

4. Already and not yet

b. Full consummation is coming.

Fred said the fishing resort was a great place, but a little hard to find. A little? He must have left a few roads off the map he drew for us or maybe he didn’t put north at the top of the map. The GPS doesn’t recognize the name of the place. It’s getting dark, and we haven’t seen a person in 10 miles. I hope we don’t drive into the swamp.

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End Times�The Date Is Unknown

When will we be there?

End Times�The Date Is Unknown

Illustrations

3. Thief

No one wants a thief to show up, and one hopes….

b. St Paul wrote, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night.” {1 Thessalonians 5:1–2}

c. St. Peter wrote, “But the day of the LORD will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” {2 Peter 3:10}

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Nature of Christ’s Return

1. Sudden

No early warning system will detect Jesus entering the earth’s upper atmosphere. He won’t telegraph His coming to even a select group of church leaders. His return will not be a rolling arrival by time zone.

a. Jesus said, “Thus will be the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.” {Matthew 24:39-41}

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Nature of Christ’s Return

1. Sudden

b. Paul wrote, “While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” {1 Thessalonians 5:3}

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Nature of Christ’s Return

2. Unexpected

If people knew that the LORD was coming seven days hence, there would be a lot of hard partying followed by sham repentance. When people know the fire inspector is coming, a lot of things get put in order or hidden until she leaves. It is the nature of people to game every system they encounter to attempt to gain an advantage.

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Nature of Christ’s Return

2. Unexpected

If people knew that the LORD was coming seven days….

a. Jesus said, “As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’” {Matthew 25:5–6}

b. Paul wrote concerning the last day, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” {1 Corinthians 15:51–52}

End Times�The Date Is Unknown

Determining the Date

2. Don’t set a date – be ready always

a. The sure prediction.

The sure prediction of the LORD is that the event will occur, not when the event will be. This is very similar to the first coming of Christ, when there was plenty of notice, but no timeline.

- Jesus said, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” {Mark 13:33}

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Determining the Date

2. Don’t set a date – be ready always

b. Always be prepared.

When one is on a battlefield, one can be attacked by the enemy at any time and might even be hit by “friendly fire.” One must constantly be alert to prevent harm or death. In the same way, we must await the return of Christ.

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End Times

End of Lesson 3

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4. Christ Could Come at Any Time

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End Times�Christ Could Come at Any Time

The “here and now”

1. We are always “here.” Whether “here” is just a momentary location or whether “here’ is the place we are housebound. “Here” is on earth, and here it will stay.

a. The young are often eager to get out of “here.”

b. The middle aged are frequently happy for a stable “here” where we can feel comfortable.

c. The elderly may feel trapped “here” or fear their “here” will be taken from them.

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The “here and now”

2. It is always “now.” The past has escaped us, and we can go crazy awaiting the uncertain future. We hope for better, or maybe we dread things getting worse.

a. The young think of themselves as the “now” generation, the people with chances to do things.

b. The middle aged have the power “now,” but they fear soon becoming irrelevant.

c. The elderly struggle with a “now” which is only a shadow of the “then.”

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The “here and now”

3. The “here” and the “now” are only temporary. When will they be gone? When will Jesus return?

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Soon/Near

1. Old Testament

As the nations of Israel and Judah became less faithful to the LORD, the prophets began warning the people that there would be retribution by the LORD for their actions. In the short-term this was the disasters that surrounded the temporal destruction of Israel and Judah. In the long-term the prophets pointed to the final judgment of the LORD.

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Soon/Near

1. Old Testament

As the nations of Israel and Judah became less faithful….

a. “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.” {Isaiah 13:6-7}

b. “Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’ For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.”’” {Ezekiel 30:2-3}

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Soon/Near

1. Old Testament

As the nations of Israel and Judah became less faithful….

c. “Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.” {Joel 1:15}

d. “For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.” {Obadiah 15}

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Soon/Near

1. Old Testament

As the nations of Israel and Judah became less faithful….

e. “The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.” {Zephaniah 1:14-16}

End Times�Christ Could Come at Any Time

The Signs

2. In nations

People are always demanding peace, but the economic reality is that there are never enough resources to satisfy greedy mankind. Therefore, there will always be an incentive for wars.

c. Destruction of Jerusalem – “He [Jesus] answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’” {Matthew 24:2}

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The Signs

2. In nations

People are always demanding peace, but the economic reality is that there are never enough resources to satisfy greedy mankind. Therefore, there will always be an incentive for wars.

d. Increase in wickedness – Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” {Matthew 24:12}

e. Great distress – Jesus said, “For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now.” {Mark 13:19}

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The Signs

3. In the church

People find accepting the will of the LORD to be stifling, so they look for ways to reformulate theology to let them believe anything they please.

a. False Christs – “And he [Jesus] said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.” {Luke 21:8}

b. Persecution of Christians – Jesus said, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” {Matthew 24:9}

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The Signs

3. In the church

People find accepting the will of the LORD to be stifling, so they look for ways to reformulate theology to let them believe anything they please.

c. Apostasy – Jesus said, “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” {Matthew 24:10}

d. False prophets – Jesus said, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” {Matthew 24:11}

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The Signs

3. In the church

People find accepting the will of the LORD to be stifling, so they look for ways to reformulate theology to let them believe anything they please.

e. Gospel reaching the whole world – Jesus said, “The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” {Mark 13:10}

f. An abomination in the holy place – Jesus said, “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” {Mark 13:14}

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The Signs

4. Not all signs had been fulfilled by the time of the resurrection of Jesus.

a. Gospel reaching the whole world – Even with the internet, some would argue that the Gospel has yet to reach the most remote areas of the world, but it is getting closer all the time.

b. Destruction of Jerusalem – Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD and several more times in the next century.

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The Signs

4. Not all signs had been fulfilled by the time of the resurrection of Jesus.

c. An abomination in the holy place – Some claim this is the rise of the papacy; others the construction of the Dome of the Rock on the top of the temple mound.

d. Famine in Roman Empire – “And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).” {Acts 11:28}

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The Signs

4. Not all signs had been fulfilled by the time of the resurrection of Jesus.

e. Paul’s trip to Rome – “The following night the LORD stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” {Acts 23:11}

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Is there urgency?

1. Jesus could come at any moment.

a. The signs have all occurred – It would appear that a good argument can be made that all the signs that were to occur before Judgment Day have happened, many multiple times. Why should the LORD wait longer?

b. We need to abandon our sins and repudiate our sinful selves – When Christ comes, do we want to be fighting the good fight of faith, or do we want to be found sitting on the sidelines while our Old Adam runs our lives?

End Times�Christ Could Come at Any Time

Is there urgency?

3. Why the seeming delay?

a. Each day is one day closer.

When one is making a long trip or doing a long project, it may seem the end will never come. It is then that realizing each evening that one is one day closer to the goal can keep one’s hopes up.

- “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” {Romans 13:11}

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Is there urgency?

3. Why the seeming delay?

b. The LORD’s time is not our time.

“Are we there yet?” To the adult driver this is an annoying question because it comes from a lack of perspective on the length of the trip.

- “The LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” {2 Peter 3:9}

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Is there urgency?

3. Why the seeming delay?

c. Gathering all the elect

Showing up at a party much too early is embarrassing and wastes one’s time. One could do useful things before the party if one does not show up too early. The LORD has not called in all the guests yet, so we must be patient and keep working on the tasks that God has assigned us.

- “Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” {Revelation 6:11}

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Is there urgency?

4. Hints of a delayed coming in the Bible

a. Parables – Several parables compare the kingdom of God to situations which have a wait-time built into them. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. {Matthew 25:5}; “He [Jesus] said therefore, ‘A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.’” {Luke 19:12}

b. Signs of the Second Coming – Some signs were not yet fulfilled at the time of Christ. {Luke 21:9 (above)}

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Is there urgency?

4. Hints of a delayed coming in the Bible

c. Apostles expected to die first – As time passed, several of the apostles mentioned that they would leave the world before the Second Coming. For example, Peter wrote, “Since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me” {2 Peter 1:14}.

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Is there urgency?

4. Hints of a delayed coming in the Bible

d. Satan bound for a long period – Some of the visions given in Revelation have significant time components. There are various events in the heavenly realms that must take place first. For example, “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” {Revelation 20:2}.

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Is there urgency?

5. Our attitude

a. Stay close to Jesus – The longer the hike, the more important it is to stay near the guide. It is easy to get lost over a long distance and never be found again.

b. Let the signs be a reminder – The signs of the end remind us that the LORD has not forgotten His promises.

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Is there urgency?

5. Our attitude

c. These may be the very last of the last days – Some generation will experience the very last day of this world, and it could be ours. We should not be like the Pharisees who eagerly waited for the promised Messiah to come in the next generation, not theirs.

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End of Lesson 4

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5. What Can We Expect While We Are Waiting?

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End Times�What Can We Expect While We Are Waiting?

Trouble and wickedness

1. Natural disasters

Disasters of three types–geological, atmospheric and biological–are to be expected as time passes. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” {Romans 8:22}

a. Earthquakes & volcanic eruptions – The ground itself will rebel against man’s wickedness, creating crumbling hills, sink holes, lava flows, and tsunamis.

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Trouble and wickedness

1. Natural disasters

Disasters of three types–geological, atmospheric….

b. Storms – The atmosphere will churn up hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Weather patterns will become unstable, destroying crops and buildings.

c. Disease & plague – Bacteria and viruses will attack mankind. Their ability to mutate will threaten large numbers of people and challenge scientific efforts to contain them.

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Trouble and wickedness

1. Natural disasters

Disasters of three types–geological, atmospheric….

d. Climate change – In addition to the individual dangers posed by the natural processes listed above, these processes can happen simultaneously, changing whole ecosystems or even the environment of major parts of the earth.

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Trouble and wickedness

2. War

There is always a plausible reason, at least in some people’s minds, for a war, so wars will occur. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” {Matthew 24:6-7a}.

a. Wealth and land – Plundering others and taking their resources is the underlying cause of most wars. Arable land, fresh water, and other natural resources are limited in most areas, so having control of them is important for economic prosperity.

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Trouble and wickedness

2. War

There is always a plausible reason, at least in some….

b. Political leverage – Rulers are more popular if they fight “just wars” because military necessity unites people for a common good. Propaganda is used to deceive one’s citizens into fighting an “evil” enemy and in the process giving the government greater control over internal affairs.

c. Religion and culture – People try to maintain their own religion or culture by imposing it on others. In the process, the religion or the culture are often irretrievably altered.

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Trouble and wickedness

3. Anxiety

It is inherent in our sinful nature to fuss and fret. Moreover, the world about us gives us plenty of reasons to doubt our own ability to handle the challenges of living in a corrupted world.

a. Our daily needs – We may have concerns about our immediate needs: “What will we eat?” “What will we drink?” “What will we wear?” “Where will we live?” Jesus said not to worry about such things because “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:32).

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Trouble and wickedness

3. Anxiety

It is inherent in our sinful nature to fuss and fret. Moreover, the world about us gives us plenty of reasons to doubt our own ability to handle the challenges of living in a corrupted world.

b. The turmoil of life – The storms of life may overwhelm when we see no path to security. The disciples cried out, “‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’” (Matthew 8:25–26).

End Times�What Can We Expect While We Are Waiting?

Trouble and wickedness

6. The final struggle

As the world becomes more developed, it is natural for it to become more corrupt. Societies tend to prosper when they have a strong work ethic based on a commonly accepted moral code, but as they become more prosperous, they begin to think that they have a right to that prosperity and grow lax in their recognition of the values that gained them that prosperity.

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Trouble and wickedness

6. The final struggle

As the world becomes more developed, it is natural for it ….

a. The danger of prosperity – Man looks more and more to his own abilities and less and less to God. God warned the Israelites about worshipping their prosperity….

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Trouble and wickedness

6. The final struggle

As the world becomes more developed, it is natural for it ….

a. …“And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Deuteronomy 6:10–12).

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Trouble and wickedness

6. The final struggle

As the world becomes more developed, it is natural for it ….

b. The craving for security – Everyone craves a secure place to live. That longing can place Christians into the position of abandoning their LORD to have the wealth and security that the world has and give up the hardships and earthly uncertainly that Jesus calls us to accept. “Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’” (Luke 9:58).

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End of Lesson 5

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6. The Antichrist

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End Times�The Antichrist

c. Saints – Saints are created by the church, venerated, and used as intercessors. By canonizing saints, the church is, in effect, telling God whom he should be listening to in dealing with people.

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End Times�The Antichrist

Identification of the antichrist

4. Establishes idols

d. Places of pilgrimage – Special indulgences are given to people who travel to places where Mary or the saints are supposed to have appeared. This is a highly profitable enterprise for the church. Not only do pilgrims contribute financially to the church as an institution, but they also spend money along the way, some of which also finds its way into the coffers of the church.

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Identification of the antichrist

5. Growing menace

a. Rehabilitating its image – The papacy has morphed its image from representing the wrath of God by killing all heretics it could get its hands on a few centuries ago to a world-wide ambassador of peace and assister of the poor in their struggle for economic justice. The Roman Catholic Church works with governments to manage charities which strengthen its grip on various sub-cultures.

End Times�The Antichrist

Appropriate response

2. Recognize the Gospel

a. Presence of God’s Word – Because the Roman Catholic Church continues to read the Scriptures to its people, it is possible that the Holy Spirit can still convert some hearts to a proper understanding of the way of salvation despite the church’s false teachings. “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” {Isaiah 55:11} However, the emphasis on false doctrine means relatively few will gain saving faith.

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End Times�The Antichrist

Appropriate response

2. Recognize the Gospel

b. Directing our conversations – When talking with Roman Catholics, we must recognize that they have been fed a distorted view of the Law and the Gospel. We need to talk about the total depravity of every person and the objective justification that Christ has earned and freely bestows through faith alone.

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End of Lesson 6

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7. The Events of Judgment Day

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Return of Jesus

1. Appearance in the clouds

The return of Jesus will fill the sky. One second the sky will be as it is every day at a particular time for each location on the face of the earth, and a moment later the sky will be filled with Jesus’ dominant figure. It will be sudden and unexpected. There will be no chance to react and reconsider one’s views of religion.

a. Daniel – “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man.” {Daniel 7:13}

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Return of Jesus

End Times�The Events of Judgment Day

Cosmic occurrences

1. What is to be expected.

The physical universe will be shaken. The normal function….

b. The writer to the Hebrews – “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ This phrase, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.” {Hebrew 12:26-27}

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Cosmic occurrences

2. Predicted often

The destruction of the universe as part of the final judgment has been predicted since the time of the major prophets. Just as the sets and the backdrops on a stage are torn down after the last performance of a play is completed, so the earthly set for the play about man’s sin and God’s grace will be disassembled.

a. Isaiah – “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.” {Isaiah 34:4}

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Cosmic occurrences

2. Predicted often

The destruction of the universe as part of the final….

b. Joel – “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.” {Joel 3:14-15}

c. Peter – “And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and magnificent day.” {Acts 2:19-20}

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Cosmic occurrences

3. End of the world

With the play over, there will be no need for the old set. Everything will go into the trash. Whether some of that trash will be recycled into a new heaven and a new earth, or whether all of it will be returned to nothingness is not indicated in the Bible. Over the years numerous theologians, including Lutherans, have made cases for each possibility, but wasting time on this matter is pointless because God will do as He pleases no matter what we think.

a. John – “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” {Revelation 20:11}

End Times�The Events of Judgment Day

Reaction to Christ’s return

1. Ignorant Unbelievers

To those who have never heard of Jesus and the coming judgment or have followed religions in which there is no eternal reckoning, Judgment Day will be like people being suddenly awaken out of sleep to find themselves in a living nightmare. Their natural knowledge of God has caused them to try to assuage their guilt for their sins from their souls through pathetically inadequate works, but the harshness of the divine judgment will leave them in utter despair. They had failed to find God on their own, and it will be too late to cry, “What must I do to be saved?” There will be no comfort of any sort available.

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Reaction to Christ’s return

1. Ignorant Unbelievers

To those who have never heard of Jesus and the coming….

a. Asaph – “Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O LORD, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.” {Psalm 73:18–20}

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Reaction to Christ’s return

1. Ignorant Unbelievers

To those who have never heard of Jesus and the coming….

b. John – “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” {Revelation 6:15-17}

End Times�The Events of Judgment Day

Reaction to Christ’s return

3. Believers

b. Paul – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” {Romans 5:1-2}

End Times

End of Lesson 7

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8. The Resurrection of the Dead

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Details of resurrection

1. The dead will come back to life.

Even those not familiar with the study of medicine know that dead people do not come back to life. Irreversible processes happen at death that prevent the body from living again. Yet the Lord God Almighty is not bound by the laws of nature, and He has promised that on Judgment Day He will reassemble the bodies of all those who have died, no matter what the cause of death or what has happened to their bodies since.

a. “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” {Job 19:26-27}

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Details of resurrection

1. The dead will come back to life.

Even those not familiar with the study of medicine know….

b. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” {1 Corinthians 15:52}

c. “And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.” {Revelation 20:13}

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Details of resurrection

2. Both the righteous and the wicked

The wicked will not be able to avoid the judgment by being dead before the judgment happens. On Judgment Day everyone will be called back to life. This thought should truly trouble sinners. While the believers are promised a glorified body and heaven, the unbelievers will get their body back in far less desirable condition. There will be no escape from the judgment.

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Details of resurrection

2. Both the righteous and the wicked

The wicked will not be able to avoid the judgment by….

a. “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” {Daniel 12:2} Note: Daniel is not implying in this statement that there are some dead who will not be raised. “Many” here is a Hebraism implying the number raised will be very large.

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Details of resurrection

2. Both the righteous and the wicked

The wicked will not be able to avoid the judgment by….

b. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” {John 5:28-29}

c. “Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” {Acts 24:15}

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Details of resurrection

3. Believers who are living will be changed.

At the time of the resurrection of the dead, those who are still living will be treated in the same manner as the resurrected dead. The bodies of the believers will be glorified similarly to those being called back to life, while the unbelievers will have to bear their infirmities. What happens will be too sudden for anyone to jump into the other group.

a. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” {1 Corinthians 15:51}

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Details of resurrection

3. Believers who are living will be changed.

b. Jesus said, “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.” {Matthew 24:40-41}

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Details of resurrection

4. Who will do the raising from the dead?

But which person of the Trinity will carry out the act of resurrection? Like all acts of God in the physical universe, all the members of the Trinity are involved. The LORD is one entity as far as His creation is concerned.

a. Father – “We also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.” {2 Corinthians 4:13–14}

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Details of resurrection

4. Who will do the raising from the dead?

But which person of the Trinity will carry out the….

b. Son – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” {Philippians 3:20–21}

c. Holy Spirit – “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” {Romans 8:11}

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The resurrected body

1. Like Christ’s

After His resurrection, Jesus’ body was still recognizable to His disciples. He could still do the things that He could do before, as He demonstrated by eating fish (Luke 24:42). However, He was no longer bound by the laws of nature. It will be similar for all believers, although that does not mean that believers will have all the power of God.

a. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” {1 Corinthians 15:49}

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The resurrected body

1. Like Christ’s

End Times�The Resurrection of the Dead

The resurrected body

2. Characteristics

We do not know all the characteristics that our….

e. Size and age – We do not know how old we will appear to others, or for that matter, whether we will appear at different ages to different people, depending on when they knew us. We also do not know anything about our size. We do not know how we will recognize each other, but when the time comes, we will find out.

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The resurrected body

2. Characteristics

We do not know all the characteristics that our….

f. Curiosity got Eve, and with her the rest of us, into a whole lot of trouble with God. There are things within our power to know, and things which are not within our power to know. Part of our faith in the LORD is that we trust Him to handle those things which we can’t. We cannot know more about our glorified bodies than the Bible reveals, so we need to wait patiently to find out.

- David wrote, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” {Psalm 37:7}

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Nature of Resurrection

1. Possible by God’s power

a. While the resurrection of the dead is something that is currently and most likely forever beyond human power, the LORD can accomplish it by merely speaking the word that it is to be. After all, He brought the whole universe into being in this manner.

- The angel Gabriel said, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” {Luke 1:37}

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Nature of Resurrection

1. Possible by God’s power

- “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” {1 Corinthians 15:12}

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Nature of Resurrection

1. Possible by God’s power

b. The extent of God’s power is not established by human speculation or by popular vote. There will always be skeptics both without and within the church who want to tell God what He can and cannot do. These people may trouble believers because their arguments can sound so logical, but we should not for a moment doubt God’s power to do all that He promised us.

- “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’” {Acts 17:32}

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Nature of Resurrection

1. Possible by God’s power

b. The extent of God’s power is not established by….

- “They [scoffers] will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’” {2 Peter 3:4}

- “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” {Isaiah 14:27}

End Times�The Resurrection of the Dead

Nature of Resurrection

3. Fundamental doctrines

The Christian faith rests upon a number of fundamental doctrines drawn from the Scriptures. To deny any of these fundamental doctrines is to create a new religion with a new god, one who is not capable of saving us. Key doctrines that every Christian must strive to know to the extent that the Scriptures have revealed them and that he or she is able to understand them are:

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End Times�The Resurrection of the Dead

Nature of Resurrection

3. Fundamental doctrines

The Christian faith rests upon a number….

a. The LORD, the Almighty God who is a Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three persons but only one essence.

b. The Decree of Creation – God from eternity committed Himself to create the world in all its details, to preserve it, and to make all things work for the good of His elect.

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End Times�The Final Judgment

Earthly criminal trials

1. Particulars of a trial

a. Time of the trial – The time of the trial is based on when the matters of the trial have been investigated and when the trial can be scheduled on the court calendar.

b. Prosecutor – He or she represents the government and must establish that a crime has been committed and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has committed it.

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Earthly criminal trials

1. Particulars of a trial

c. Defense attorney– He or she represents the person charged with the crime and must show either that no prosecutable crime was committed or that there is a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed it. Defendants can choose to represent themselves.

End Times�The Final Judgment

God’s Courtroom

1. Time of judgment

The Bible reveals that an eternal judgment will happen on the final day of the earth’s existence.

a. Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” {Matthew 12:36}

b. Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.” {Matthew 25:31}

4. Defense attorney – Unbelievers

Those who do not trust in Jesus as their Savior will have….

b. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” {Matthew 7:21–23}

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The proceedings

4. Defense attorney – Unbelievers

Those who do not trust in Jesus as their Savior will have….

c. “[We must] be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” {Galatians 2:16}

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The proceedings

5. The verdict - Christians

Because Christians have had all their sins removed through Jesus’ blood, they have no sins of which to be found guilty. The only things on their records will be the good works that they have done. Even though all their good works have been tainted by sin, Jesus will overlook this because Christians are His dear siblings. These will move directly to the sentencing phase of the trial.

a. “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” {Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12}

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The proceedings

5. The verdict - Christians

b. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” {Isaiah 1:18}

End Times�The Final Judgment

The proceedings

8. The sentence - Unbelievers

Jesus will revile those who failed to believe in Him. Even their efforts at doing good to their neighbors will be dismissed because, like all human good works, they were tainted with sin, and the unbelievers did not seek forgiveness for their sins.

a. Jesus said, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels….And these will go away into eternal punishment.’” {Matthew 25:41–46}

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The proceedings

8. The sentence - Unbelievers

b. Jesus said, “While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” {Matthew 8:12}

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End Times�The Final Judgment

Acts in judgment

1. Believers judging

The Bible says that the believers will be involved in the judgment of both men and angels. We are not sure how this will happen. Rather than speculate, it is better to wait until Judgment Day, as understanding this has no bearing on our salvation.

a. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? {1 Corinthians 6:2}

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Acts in judgment

1. Believers judging

b. “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” {Revelation 2:26-27}

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Acts in judgment

2. The place of good works in the judgment – This will be discussed in the next session.

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End of Lesson 9

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End Times

10. Hell

End Times�Hell

Acts in judgment

3. Degrees of reward

While there will be the general reward of heaven for all who believe in Jesus and repudiate their own sinful nature, individual rewards will be handed down based on people’s records of service to the LORD and to their neighbors. The nature of these rewards is not known, but we can expect God will reward us beyond what we can now imagine. However, we should not live our lives to try to maximize our rewards in heaven, because everything we get from the LORD is a gift according to His good pleasure.

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End Times�Hell

Acts in judgment

3. Degrees of reward

While there will be the general reward of heaven for…

a. “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.” {1 Corinthians 3:8-9}

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End Times�Hell

Acts in judgment

3. Degrees of reward

While there will be the general reward of heaven for…

b. Jesus said, “The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” {Matthew 10:41–42}

End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

1. Purpose of hell

a. Place of punishment

Hell was created as a place of punishment for Satan and all the angels that rebelled against the LORD. When mankind fell into sin as well, hell also became the place where sinners would be punished.

- “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” {2 Peter 2:4}

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End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

1. Purpose of hell

a. Place of punishment

Hell was created as a place of punishment for Satan and all the angels that rebelled against the LORD. When mankind fell into sin as well, hell also became the place where sinners would be punished.

- Jesus said, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” {Matthew 24:41}

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End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

1. Purpose of hell

b. Place of isolation

The LORD cannot tolerate sin and sinners. By condemning them forever to hell, He will get them out of His holy presence by placing them in a separate realm apart from where He, the hosts of heaven, and the saints dwell.

- ^“And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” {Matthew 7:23}

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Nature of hell

1. Purpose of hell

b. Place of isolation

- In the account of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus told, Father Abraham said,“Between us [in heaven] and you [in hell] a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.” {Luke 16:26}

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End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

2. Location

The location of hell cannot be determined from Scripture. Because Jesus “ascended” into heaven, people have naturally assumed heaven is up relative to the earth’s surface. Therefore, they have concluded that hell must be downward from the earth’s surface. Because the earth is spherical, some have further reasoned that it is at the center of the earth. However, heaven and hell are eternal realms which are not located in the physical world.

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End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

3. Wrath of God over sin

The LORD hates sin, and His wrath over sin cannot be attenuated by human desires to make Him a nicer Being. Sin disturbs how the universe works and prevents it from running smoothly to serve the purpose that God had set for it. Because the LORD hates sins, those who commit sin must be punished; therefore, His wrath must fall upon them.

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End Times�Hell

Nature of hell

3. Wrath of God over sin

The LORD hates sin, and His wrath over sin cannot…

a. King David wrote, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” {Psalm 5:4}

b. “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he [John the Baptizer] said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” {Matthew 3:7}

End Times�Hell

Punishment of hell

2. Eternal suffering

The suffering in hell will be horrible, and there will be no end or breaks within it. It is this fact that makes it so bad. One will never be able to readjust or catch one’s breath. There will be no five-minute breaks every hour. There will be no rescue and no hope of comfort from anyone.

a. Jesus said, “It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.” {Matthew 18:8}

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Punishment of hell

2. Eternal suffering

The suffering in hell will be horrible, and there will be no….

b. “They [those who reject the Gospel] will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” {2 Thessalonians 1:9}

c. “The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” {Revelation 20:10}

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End Times�Hell

Deniers of hell

1. Most people would rather deny reality than face it. The thought of hell is so horrible that the great majority of people do not want it to exist. Therefore, they re-engineer the Lord God into a god who is so loving that he would not send anyone to hell. This is like trying to end a hurricane by leaving it off the weather map. The LORD does not want to punish people, but He will.

End Times�Hell

Deniers of hell

3. Jokes about hell

b. “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place.” {Ephesians 5:4}

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End Times�Hell

Pray to stand righteous in the judgment.

1. It is good and proper for people to pray to avoid falling from the Christian faith and incurring the punishments of hell. It is only through the efforts of the Holy Spirit that anyone will remain in faith. Therefore, we should fervently pray for our faith to grow and remain firm.

a. Jesus said, “But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” {Luke 21:36}

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End Times�Hell

Pray to stand righteous in the judgment.

b. “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” {1 Thessalonians 5:24}

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End of Lesson 10

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11. Heaven

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

1. Being with the LORD

Some people look for the remotest place they can find, where there is no sign of mankind and where they can feel the beauty of nature. It is there that they sense the “presence of God” in the lack of stress from modern life. Such a place of peace and quiet is like a mere penny compared to a million dollars when we experience the joy and serenity of the genuine presence of the LORD.

a. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” {1 Corinthians 13:12}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

1. Being with the LORD

b. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” {Revelation 21:3}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

2. No sin or the results of sin

Sins weigh down our whole life to such an extent we cannot imagine how well things would work if sin had not degraded them. No sin and no temptation to sin will mean no frustration or unmet needs.

a. “When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” {1 Corinthians 13:10}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

2. No sin or the results of sin

Sins weigh down our whole life to such an extent we cannot imagine how well things would work if sin had not degraded them. No sin and no temptation to sin will mean no frustration or unmet needs.

b. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” {Revelation 21:4}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

3. Unimaginable bliss

Everyone sometimes imagines what it would be like to be treated like royalty. How wonderful it would be to have everything always going right because someone was making sure that nothing could go wrong. In heaven that someone is the LORD, and our wildest dreams will be exceeded.

a. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” {Psalm 16:11}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

3. Unimaginable bliss

Everyone sometimes imagines what it would be like to….

b. In one of Jesus’ parables, the ruler said, “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” {Matthew 25:23}

c. “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” {Revelation 19:9}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

4. Heaven is eternal

Heaven will never end. In this life we establish routines and favorite places which we regularly visit. They give us a sense of time passing, as we try to hold on to what pleases us, for we know that it is slipping away. Each time we do the routine or visit the place it will be one less time we do it. In heaven there will be no such melancholy associated with events because nothing will ever end but can be enjoyed again and again forever.

a. “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” {Matthew 25:46}

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End Times�Heaven

Benefits of heaven

4. Heaven is eternal

Heaven will never end. In this life we establish routines….

b. “For they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” {Luke 20:36}

c. “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” {1 Corinthians 15:54-57}

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End Times�Heaven

Residents of heaven

1. The position of Jesus in heaven

Understanding the Trinity is beyond our mental abilities now and probably forever. We know there are three persons in the Godhead, but how they will appear to us in heaven has only been revealed to us in pictures that fall far short of reality. Jesus will be the center of worship for the redeemed, but the whole Trinity will share in our adoration.

End Times�Heaven

Residents of heaven

3. The elect, believers in Christ

Jesus died to bring all people to heaven, but most people have opted out because they have not heard the message or did not find it to their liking. Nevertheless, large numbers of people, elected in Christ before the world was created, have believed and will be present to enjoy the blessings of heaven.

a. “And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” {Romans 8:30}

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Residents of heaven

3. The elect, believers in Christ

b. “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” {2 Timothy 2:10}

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End Times�Heaven

Residents of heaven

4. How many people will be in heaven?

The Bible uses numbers both to indicate size and completeness. It uses 144,000 because it is 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. The Bible uses 12 to indicate God’s people and 10 to indicate completeness. 144,000 in Revelation 7:9 can be thought of as the Old Testament people (12) and the New Testament people (12) coming from every direction (10 cubed). This represents the total number of people saved.

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Residents of heaven

4. How many people will be in heaven?

The Bible uses numbers both to indicate size….

a. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” {Matthew 7:13-14}

b. Jesus said, “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” {Matthew 8:11}

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End Times�Heaven

Residents of heaven

4. How many people will be in heaven?

The Bible uses numbers both to indicate size….

c. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” {Revelation 7:9}

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End Times�Heaven

Questions about life in heaven

1. What will life in heaven be like?

The Bible indicates that all creatures in heaven will sing and praise the LORD. However, that does not mean people will do nothing else in heaven. We are told that we will reign with Christ, which implies activity, although the Bible does not tell us what those activities might be.

a. “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” {Psalm 84:4}

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Questions about life in heaven

1. What will life in heaven be like?

The Bible indicates that all creatures in heaven will sing….

b. “I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” {Revelation 15:2-3}

c. “If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” {2 Timothy 2:12}

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Questions about life in heaven

2. What about food?

Several biblical verses indicate that food will be available and eaten, although needing food to sustain life would seem unlikely because people cannot die. Perhaps, there might be beer in heaven.

a. Jesus said, “I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” {Luke 22:29-30}

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Questions about life in heaven

2. What about food?

Several biblical verses indicate that food will be available….

b. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” {Mark 14:25}

c. “Through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.” {Revelation 22:2}

End Times�Heaven

Questions about life in heaven

4. Will we recognize others?

b. “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” {1 Thessalonians 2:19-20}

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Particulars about heaven

1. Its location

Because many languages use the same word for the sky, outer space, and the abode of God, people naturally think God’s home is somewhere above us. While the Bible uses this cultural-based terminology, clearly the residence of God is in the realm of eternity, not in the physical universe.

a. “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “‘I dwell in the high and holy place.’” {Isaiah 57:15}

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Particulars about heaven

1. Its location

b. “Until the day when he was taken up.” {Acts 1:2}

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Particulars about heaven

2. The new heaven and the new earth

We don’t know what the nature of the new heaven and new earth will be like. The Bible pictures gates of a single pearl and streets of gold because we do not have the proper frame of reference to understand what things will be like. We are like bushmen being told about downtown Chicago.

a. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” {Isaiah 65:17}

End Times�Heaven

Particulars about heaven

4. Applications to our lives

b. “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” {Hebrews 13:14}

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End of Lesson 11

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End Times�What Happens If I Die Before the End?

At death

2. At death the soul leaves the body.

There is no reason for the soul to remain with the body once the body is incapable of doing anything. When the body stops functioning, the LORD calls the soul for judgment.

a. “Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” {Ecclesiastes 12:6-7}

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At death

2. At death the soul leaves the body.

There is no reason for the soul to remain with the body….

b. “Because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man.” {Romans 5:17}

c. “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” {Luke 23:46}

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At death

3. The soul goes immediately to heaven or hell.

The Bible makes it clear that people should expect immediate processing of the soul at death. There will be no service queue or backup during busy seasons. One moment alive and the next in one’s eternal home is the LORD’s timeline.

a. Jesus said, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes.” {Luke 16:22-23}

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At death

3. The soul goes immediately to heaven or hell.

The Bible makes it clear that people should expect….

b. “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” {Luke 23:43}

c. “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” {Acts 7:59}

End Times�What Happens If I Die Before the End?

At death

5. Conclusive judgment at moment of death.

God’s judgment at death is conclusive. There will be no reconsideration or second chances. People often feel remorse at someone’s death if they feel that they could have done more to make sure that the person was in the faith. No matter how much or how little someone has done for the deceased, it becomes a moot point at death. The person’s spiritual situation has passed out of our hands into God’s. Certainly, we would like to see our loved ones in heaven, but we will be just as happy whether they are there or not.

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End Times�What Happens If I Die Before the End?

At death

5. Conclusive judgment at moment of death.

God’s judgment at death is conclusive. There will be….

a. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” {Hebrews 9:27}

b. “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” {2 Corinthians 6:2}

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End Times�What Happens If I Die Before the End?

End Times�What Happens If I Die Before the End?

After death

3. Contact with people on earth?

b. Prayers only through Jesus Christ – “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” {1 Timothy 2:5}

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Final considerations

1. The purpose of Judgment Day

Judgment Day will see the judging of the living for the first time, but its primary function will be to pronounce final judgment publicly, an eternal declaration that cannot be changed. The souls of the deceased are already experiencing bliss or torments, but on Judgment Day their bodies will be reunited with their souls so the whole being will experience bliss or torments.

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Final considerations

2. No reincarnation

Reincarnation is a human invention, that has no Biblical support, to circumvent the need for repentance. It is a series of ladders of work righteousness, rather than just one. It opposes salvation through Christ alone.

a. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” {Hebrews 9:27}

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Final considerations

3. No purgatory

The concept of limited suffering for purification before entering heaven is just another way for people to avoid repentance, hoping to be able to work off their favorite transgressions as a debt. There is no Biblical support for this idea.

a. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. {Hebrews 10:10}

b. The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. {1 John 1:7}

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Final considerations

4. Does the Old Testament teach differently?

The Old Testament does not teach about heaven and the resurrection as clearly as the New Testament, but it does teach about them. The often-used phrase “gathered to his fathers” meant that there was a fraternity of those who had died in faith, awaiting the call of the LORD.

a. “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!” {Isaiah 26:19}

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Final considerations

4. Does the Old Testament teach differently?

The Old Testament does not teach about heaven and….

b. The sons of Korah wrote, “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” {Psalm 49:15}

c. Jesus said, “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” {Luke 20:37-38}

End Times

End of Lesson 12

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13. Applying the Bible’s Teachings

End Times�Applying the Bible’s Teachings

We live in faith.

2. We look to Jesus alone.

“Keeping one’s options open” may be good advice in many circumstances. Avoiding “burning bridges” prevents one from “painting oneself into a corner.” When it comes to the salvation of our souls, however, there is only one option that saves, and it must be exercised to be effective. Christ and Christ alone is the only way to eternal salvation. Failing to take that option will be a damning experience.

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We live in faith.

2. We look to Jesus alone.

“Keeping one’s options open” may be good advice in….

a. Jesus said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” {John 6:40}

b. Jesus said, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” {Matthew 10:32-33}

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We live in faith.

3. We stand firm in faith until the end.

“Don’t waffle” is not a cliché for the Christian; it is the requirement for a healthy eternity. When you have what you want in a deal, don’t risk the deal for what you don’t need. Stay focused on the finish line.

a. Jesus said,“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” {Matthew 24:13}

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We live in faith.

3. We stand firm in faith until the end.

“Don’t waffle” is not a cliché for the Christian; it is….

b. “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” {Hebrews 3:14}

c. Jesus said, “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” {Revelation 3:11}

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We live in faith.

3. We stand firm in faith until the end.

“Don’t waffle” is not a cliché for the Christian; it is….

End Times�Applying the Bible’s Teachings

We live in faith.

5. Summary

a. Law and Gospel – Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” {John 3:17-18}

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We live in faith.

5. Summary

b. The return of Christ is Law – When Christ returns, the unbelievers will be judged by the strictest application of the Law. Everything in the Law will be applied to determine their punishment.

c. The return of Christ is Gospel – When Christ returns, the believers will be rewarded based on the spirit of the Gospel in which all sins are covered by the blood of Christ, and His righteousness is their righteousness.

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We do not embrace this world.

1. We don’t set our hearts on this world.

The things of this world may seem desirable, but they have no lasting value. They will either decay or be destroyed, or they will go to someone else. While we are free to enjoy them while they are readily available, we should be willing to be satisfied with only the food, clothing and shelter necessary to sustain us.

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We do not embrace this world.

1. We don’t set our hearts on this world.

The things of this world may seem desirable, but they….

a. Jesus said, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” {Luke 12:20}

b. “As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” {2 Corinthians 4:18}

End Times�Applying the Bible’s Teachings

We live the Christian life.

2. We have comfort in life’s struggles.

b. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” {2 Corinthians 4:16-17}

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We live the Christian life.

3. We warn and encourage others.

Christians need to be spiritual Pollyannas. We are so “glad, glad, glad” that Jesus Christ came to redeem us, that we want everyone to feel reassured. On the other hand, we are Elijahs shaking our fingers and warning against the folly of ignoring the LORD. The time is short; the consequences are grave.

a. “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” {Ezekiel 33:6}

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We live the Christian life.

3. We warn and encourage others.

Christians need to be spiritual Pollyannas. We are so….

b. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” {2 Timothy 4:1-2}

c. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” {Matthew 9:37–38}

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We live the Christian life.

4. We work today, and we plan for tomorrow.

Vince Lombardi would say that there is no good time to lose. We need to work while we have opportunity. Yet we must keep in mind that the work is not an end in itself. Building the visible church is only incidental to our real mission – reaching souls with the Gospel. The reward in heaven for doing this far exceeds the results of the work on earth.

a. Jesus said, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” {John 9:4}

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End Times�Applying the Bible’s Teachings

We live the Christian life.

4. We work today, and we plan for tomorrow.

b. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” {1 Corinthians 15:58}

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End of Lesson 13

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14. Millennialism

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The idea of a millennium

1. We all want to be on the winning team.

a. The theology of the cross – Christians live under the theology of the cross. Like others, in their lives they suffer because they live in a sinful world. There are personal discomforts and tragedies. There are national and global issues that trouble their hearts and minds. But more than this, Christians suffer because of their faith. This can be through active persecution, through the distain of others, and/or through lost opportunities because they cannot go along with evil practices.

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The idea of a millennium

1. We all want to be on the winning team.

b. Desire for a victory lap – People understand the concept of “paying one’s dues.” To get ahead in this world, it is often necessary for someone to accept less pay and worse working conditions than others to prove himself before getting the position of greater pay and prestige. Christians are tempted to want to receive an earthly reward for bearing the cross before the world and to thereby show the unbelievers who really lived the right kind of life. A millennium is therefore appealing.

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The idea of a millennium

2. Jewish Messiahism.

a. Restoration of Davidic kingdom – The Israelites never appreciated the kingdom of David until they had lost it. They lost it because they ignored their part of the LORD’s covenant with them. Ever since, they have sought a way to restore that earthly kingdom.

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The idea of a millennium

2. Jewish Messiahism.

a. Restoration of Davidic kingdom….

- “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.” {2 Chronicles 36:15–16}

End Times�Millennialism

The idea of a millennium

4. The reasons churches believe in the Millennium.

a. Revenge against the unfaithful – Sending the evildoers to God’s punishment in hell is not enough for some people. They want the opportunity to rule those who they felt harmed them in this life. The Millennium will be a chance to show up these people.

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The idea of a millennium

4. The reasons churches believe in the Millennium.

b. Second opportunity – Some view the Millennium as a way people will get a second chance, if they muffed their first chance. Once the real situation becomes clear, many more people will repent and turn to Christ.

c. Enjoy the fruit of faithfulness – Many people have the feeling that heaven will be boring. Therefore, they want a chance to do the things that they like here on earth where they will be in charge and can live the good life.

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Understanding the theology of the Millennium

1. Problem #1 – the 1000 years is not intended to be literal.

a. Whole passage is symbolic – The “dragon,” “key,” “chain,” and “abyss” are all symbolic. Not even the strongest Millennialist believes that Satan really is a dragon or that he can be bound by a physical chain. Yet when it comes to the 1000 years, they will insist that that is most literal.

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Understanding the theology of the Millennium

1. Problem #1 – the 1000 years is not intended to be literal.

b. One thousand is symbolic elsewhere – A thousand is a big number, and it is ten cubed. Ten is the Biblical number for completeness. Ten cubed is then completeness in every direction, that is, in all things. The Bible uses 1000 to mean a large size and to mean completeness. Using Scripture to interpret Scripture forces us to reject a physical Millennium.

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Understanding the theology of the Millennium

1. Problem #1 – the 1000 years is not intended to be literal.

b. One thousand is symbolic elsewhere….

- “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” {2 Peter 3:8}

- “And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.” {Revelation 7:4}

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End Times�Millennialism

Understanding the theology of the Millennium

2. Problem #2 – the Millennium is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture.

a. Unclear in terms of the clear – One must always use the clear passages of Scripture to interpret the more difficult passages. There are no clear passages that mention the 1000-year reign, in fact, none other at all. Major doctrines are never established on a single verse of the Bible.

- They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” {Luke 24:32}

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Understanding the theology of the Millennium

2. Problem #2 – the Millennium is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture.

b. Sudden return – The clear passages emphasize the sudden return of Jesus. The Millennium is a 1000-year warning of the end.

- Jesus said, “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” {Matthew 24:27}

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Understanding the theology of the Millennium

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Millennialism and restoration prophecies

2. Prophecies about the church – prophecy and fulfillment.

c. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” {Isaiah 61:1-2a} – {Luke 4:18-19}

End Times�Millennialism

The negative fallout of Millennialism

1. Millennialism robs Christians of the comfort of OT pro-phecies.

a. Prophecies that do not speak to the church – If many of the prophecies of the Old Testament do not speak about the church, then they are irrelevant to Christians today. Millennialists believe that the church is working with questionable direction because the critical era is the Millennium, not the current era of the Christian church.

End Times�Millennialism

The negative fallout of Millennialism

3. Millennialism takes the focus off the church and heaven.

a. Preparation for the Millennium has priority – For the Millennialist the Millennium is where his heart is, and it is therefore the center of his preparation. It is what he looks forward to, and this distorts his view of Christ’s work.

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The negative fallout of Millennialism

3. Millennialism takes the focus off the church and heaven.

b. Spiritual blessings are degraded – Because the Millennialist is waiting for the bountiful physical blessings of Millennium, the spiritual blessings for our personal lives and the work of the church are down-graded and even ignored. One cannot serve two masters, and the Millennium is a more immediate master to those who believe in it.

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End of Lesson 14

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15. Postmillennialism

End Times�Postmillennialism

The tribulation of Christians

1. Tribulation prophesied

d. Paul wrote, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” {2 Timothy 3:12}

e. Paul wrote, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” {1 Timothy 4:1}

f. Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” {Luke 18:8}

End Times�Postmillennialism

The tribulation of Christians

3. Matthew 24 is at center of debate.

a. Postmillennialists – These people believe that all the terrible events listed in chapter 24 must have occurred by AD 70 because verse 34 says it will happen before the end of the generation living at Jesus’ time. This is a classic example of people becoming hung up on one verse or one chapter of the Scriptures and then interpreting everything in light of that narrow section rather than considering all the relevant parts of the Scriptures.

End Times�Postmillennialism

The tribulation of Christians

3. Preterists find fulfillment in AD 70.

a. All the signs for Jesus’ return were completed – Preterists point to various events as the fulfillment of all the prophecies before the fall of Jerusalem. Therefore, Christians do not have to be concerned about them anymore.

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The tribulation of Christians

3. Preterists find fulfillment in AD 70.

a. All the signs for Jesus’ return….

- Jesus said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” {Matthew 24:6–8}

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The tribulation of Christians

3. Preterists find fulfillment in AD 70.

b. Start of “millennium” uncertain – Throughout the Bible when important events happen, God has given signs to show that His hand is causing the event, but there is no sign found for the beginning of the Millennium. Because they have no starting gun for the Millennium, some think it has already started, some expect it soon, and some are not sure how long it will really be.

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The tribulation of Christians

3. Preterists find fulfillment in AD 70.

b. Start of “millennium” uncertain….

- Samuel said, “And this shall be the sign to you [Saul] that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you’” {1 Samuel 10:1–2}

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The tribulation of Christians

3. Preterists find fulfillment in AD 70.

b. Start of “millennium” uncertain….

- The angel said, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” {Luke 2:12}

- “And as he [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, ^‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?’” {Mark 13:3–4}

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Errors of postmillennialism

1. Postmillennialism represents church growth.

Postmillennialists see the church continuing to grow forever into a large, dominant structure. Although the Bible says that few will be saved, this statement is ignored in favor of verses that compare the kingdom of God with things that are growing.

- Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” {Matthew 7:13–14}

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End Times�Postmillennialism

Errors of postmillennialism

1. Postmillennialism represents church growth.

- Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” {Matthew 22:14}

- “And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’” {Luke 13:23–24}

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End Times�Postmillennialism

Errors of postmillennialism

1. Postmillennialism represents church growth.

a. “He [Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’” {Matthew 13:31-32} This passage merely says that the kingdom of God will grow, even though it starts small. It does not say that most of the people on the earth will eventually become part of it.

End Times�Postmillennialism

Errors of postmillennialism

3. A false hope

b. Theology of glory….

- Solomon wrote, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” {Proverbs 6:10–11} Ignoring what the Scriptures actually say and creating a phony “era of joy” is a recipe for spiritual disaster.

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End Times

End of Lesson 15

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End Times

16. Premillennialism

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

1. The main ideas of premillennialism

a. The return of Jesus and the resurrection of the righteous begin the Millennium.

b. There is a 7-year period of distress at the end of the Millennium.

c. The resurrection of the unrighteous and the final judgment occur on Judgment Day.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

2. The history of premillennialism

a. Jewish myths – Many Jews thought there would be only one coming of the Messiah and that He would both redeem them and set up an earthly kingdom which would dominate the world. Some Jews who believed this joined the Christian church and brought these ideas into it.

b. Early fathers – Even though the early church never endorsed premillennialism and eventually repudiated it, some early church fathers such as Papias, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus did believe in an earthly millennial kingdom.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

2. The history of premillennialism

c. The Beloved City (1627) by Johann Altsted – This book spawned numerous utopian religious communities throughout the subsequent years (like the Amana Colonies) and again became popular in the 1900’s. These communities wanted to be prepared for the Millennium by living the life beforehand that they expected would exist in it.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

2. The history of premillennialism

d. Decline of postmillennialism – With the turmoil of the 20^th century, many began to believe that only the physical return of Jesus could begin straightening out the world. This changed the timeline for many millennialists. They changed their theology to support their ultimate object, a kingdom of the righteous on earth.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

3. The second coming and final judgment are separate.

a. Second coming – At the second coming, all the believers will rise from the dead with glorified bodies and reign with Christ on earth for 1000 years while Satan is inhibited from interfering with this period of prosperity. As was the case for the millennial Jews, the emphasis is on material prosperity rather than spiritual benefits.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

3. The second coming and final judgment are separate.

b. Millennium – During the Millennium, all the believers will continue to live while unbelievers will continue to die and suffer disease. At the end of this period, the remaining unbelievers will band together with all the forces of evil for a final battle in which they will be destroyed.

c. Judgment Day – On Judgment Day all the unbelievers will rise to be judged along with the believers.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Introduction

4. There are two resurrections.

a. Only the dead in Christ at the first resurrection – The resurrection of only the believers at the first resurrection at the second coming of Christ would mean that the earth would be shared by those who had glorified bodies and those who didn’t. What sort of dynamic would exist between these two groups? Would the believers have jobs? Would new believers immediately get glorified bodies? The questions are endless.

End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

2. The Bible presents a unitary event.

We see this by first looking at the clear passages to establish the doctrinal framework and then by using that framework to interpret the less clear and prophetic passages of Scripture. The statements of Jesus are much clearer than are the vision of the apostle John and serve as the basis of our understanding of the end times.

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Revelation 20

2. The Bible presents a unitary event.

a. Believers and unbelievers are raised together – Nowhere is there evidence of two resurrections.

- Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” {John 5:28-29}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

2. The Bible presents a unitary event.

a. Believers and unbelievers are raised together – Nowhere is there evidence of two resurrections.

- St. Paul said, “Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” {Acts 24:15}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

2. The Bible presents a unitary event.

b. Judgment will come to both at once – Jesus’ mission at His second coming is judgment. He is not merely coming with an occupation force.

- Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.…And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” {Matthew 25:31–46}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

2. The Bible presents a unitary event.

b. Judgment will come to both at once….

- Paul wrote, “Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” {2 Thessalonians 1:6-9}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

3. It’s a matter of hermeneutics.

a. Literal interpretation – Any competent biblical scholar will interpret the Bible literally, as one would interpret any other book. By “literal,” we mean that the interpretation must be in the genre in which the text of interest is written. History must be interpreted as history; poetry must be interpreted as poetry, and narrative must be interpreted as narrative. Interpretation must also take into consideration the textual, historical, and situational contexts.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Revelation 20

3. It’s a matter of hermeneutics.

b. Figurative language – It is always a mistake to take figurative language in any book, and especially in the Bible, in a narrative sense. For example, in fairy tales there are creatures and situations that cannot exist in the real world. To treat these things in a fairy tale in the same way as we treat things in the real world would distort our view of the world. Things in a fairy tale may symbolize things in the real world but one cannot transfer properties between them.

End Times�Premillennialism

Other errors of premillennialism

1. The bulk conversion of the Jews

c. All Israel

- “A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return.” {Isaiah 10:21-22}

- Paul quoted Isaiah, “And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the LORD will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” {Romans 9:27–28}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Other errors of premillennialism

2. The devil has brought about confusion.

The best way to make someone fail at a task is to distract their concentration. If they are drawn into wasting their time in unproductive pursuits, they cannot do the work assigned. The Millennium is a quagmire that draws people’s focus from the preaching of the Law and the Gospel.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Other errors of premillennialism

2. The devil has brought about confusion.

a. Jesus said, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” {Matthew 24:23–26}

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End Times�Premillennialism

Other errors of premillennialism

3. The door has been opened for a second chance.

The millennium gives people living when Jesus returns a second chance to repent and believe in Christ. The Bible, however, says that when the LORD returns, there will be immediate judgment on the unbelievers.

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End Times�Premillennialism

Other errors of premillennialism

3. The door has been opened for a second chance.

a. Jesus said, “While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” {Matthew 25:10-13}

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End Times

End of Lesson 16

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17. Dispensationalism

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

0. The smarter-than-God syndrome

The fundamental error of dispensationalism and all end-times alternatives is the sinful belief that man can figure out what God did not tell us. These people claim to take the Bible literally, but then they add ideas that are not in the Bible to build a complex fantasy world. They find their world very satisfying and use ideas that they have introduced to marginalize any Scriptural passage that does not mesh with their creation.

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

1. The idea of dispensationalism

The LORD deals with people differently (has different dispensations) during different periods of human history. This is complete fabrication, creating explanations where the Bible is silent.

a. Innocence – creation to fall

b. Conscience – fall to flood

c. Government – flood to Abraham

d. Promise – Abraham to Moses

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

1. The idea of dispensationalism

e. Law – Moses to 1^st coming

f. Grace – 1^st coming to 2^nd coming

g. Kingdom – 2^nd coming to eternity

- Paul wrote, “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” {Romans 3:22–25}

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

2. The history of dispensationalism

a. John Nelson Darby (19^th century) – was an Anglican churchman in Ireland who interpreted Old Testament prophecies as not being of the Christian church but of referring to a literal earthly kingdom.

b. Scofield Reference Bible (1909) – edited and annotated by the American Bible student Cyrus Scofield (Con-gregationalist, later Presbyterian minister, somewhat scandalous life)

c. The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Linsay (1970’s) – popularized dispensationalism through fiction.

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

3. Dispensationalism’s first cornerstone

Dispensationalism insists on literal interpretation of prophecy in the Bible, no matter how figurative the texts are, based on their context.

a. Literal temple of Ezekiel 40-48 – This is a vision but accepted as literal.

b. Literal return of Elijah – Based on Malachi, it is claimed that Elijah will physically be resurrected to serve the role of herald, despite the fact Jesus said in Matthew 11:13-14 that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy.

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

3. Dispensationalism’s first cornerstone

b. Literal return of Elijah….

- “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” {Malachi 4:5-6}

- Jesus said, “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.” {Matthew 11:13–14}

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

3. Dispensationalism’s first cornerstone

c. Literal 12,000 from each tribe of Israel – These numbers are claimed to be literal even though the tribe of Dan is missing and the loyalty of the tribes to the LORD differed greatly.

- “And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,….

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End Times�Dispensationalism

Introduction to dispensationalism

3. Dispensationalism’s first cornerstone

c. Literal 12,000 from each tribe of Israel….

- …12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.” {Revelation 7:4-8}

The errors of dispensationalism

3. New Testament says the church is the new Israel.

a. ...They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again….

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End Times�Dispensationalism

The errors of dispensationalism

3. New Testament says the church is the new Israel.

a. ...For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” {Romans 11:17-24}

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End Times�Dispensationalism

The errors of dispensationalism

3. New Testament says the church is the new Israel.

b. “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham….There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” {Galatians 3:7, 28-29}

End Times�Dispensationalism

The Nation of Israel

2. Role of the modern state of Israel

b. Most Israelis are not religious – Only about 20% of the current Israeli population follows even the New Testament version of Judaism, and none follows the Old Testament version.

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End Times�Dispensationalism

The Nation of Israel

2. Role of the modern state of Israel

c. “Forever” of promise is spiritual – The Bible states the things of God will endure, not the things of man. The current state of Israel is a product of the works of man, not the promise of the LORD.

- “You, LORD, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.” {Hebrews 1:10-11}

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End of Lesson 17

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18. The Tribulation and the Rapture

End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

The Rapture

2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

d. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” {John 5:28–29}

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Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

a. Pretrib

- “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” {Revelation 3:10}

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Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

a. Pretrib

- This is fishing in Revelation. Note that this verse is part of the Jesus’ letters to the churches, namely, to the church in Philadelphia. The church in Philadelphia ceased to exist many years ago and will not be present for the supposed Millennium, so the tribulation mentioned here happened long ago.

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

b. Midtrib

- “And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” {Daniel 9:27}

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

b. Midtrib

- This is fishing in Daniel. Jesus never referred to this passage in speaking about the tribulation, and there is no clear indication who this “desolator” is or how this passage applies to the return of Jesus.

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

c. Posttrib

- For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” {Matthew 24:21-22}

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

1. The rapture – Is it before, after or in the middle of the tribulation?

c. Posttrib

- Certainly, Jesus will come after all human history is complete, including the tribulation which he has prophesized will come, as Christians believed long before dispensationalism.

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Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

2. Dispensationalism chart of future events. (It is a complete fantasy.)

a. Church is raptured. (This is a “silent rapture,” not as predicted in the Scriptures.)

b. Jewish remnant replaces church and preaches Gospel.

c. Roman Empire revived, and Antichrist arises.

d. Antichrist makes treaty with Israel, and the temple is rebuilt.

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

2. Dispensationalism chart of future events. (It is a complete fantasy.)

e. After three and a half years, Antichrist breaks the treaty and starts persecutions.

f. The False Prophet arises, seducing many.

g. Catastrophic divine judgments occur in the Tribulation.

h. World war culminates in battle of Armageddon.

i. Christ comes and believers are raised.

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Timeline of events - Premillenniumism

2. Dispensationalism chart of future events. (It is a complete fantasy.)

j. Christ rules for 1000 years from Jerusalem.

k. There is a final rebellion.

l. The final judgment takes place after resurrection of the wicked.

m. Eternity begins with a new heaven and new earth.

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Timeline of events - Biblical

3. Simple clear New Testament picture

a. First coming of Christ

b. New Testament church (Millennium, ending in intense tribulation)

c. Second coming of Christ

d. Eternity begins

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Dispensationalism and date setting

1. Those who try to determine the date on which Jesus will return go directly against Jesus’ words which state that that information is not known outside the Godhead. This shows an incredible audacity, and people who do this can hardly expect a better verdict from Jesus than the builders of the Tower of Babel received, who also defied God’s word and were unrepentant of their sin.

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End Times�The Tribulation and the Rapture

Dispensationalism and date setting

1. Those who try to determine the date…

a. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. {Matthew 24:35–36}

b. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” {Acts 1:7}

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End Times�Millennialism in the Lutheran Church

End Times�Millennialism in the Lutheran Church

Request for tolerance

3. Remarks

c. Millennialism corrodes other doctrines of the church.

- Millennialists deny specific statements of Jesus and the apostles which are clear and easy to understand, thereby subtracting from the Scriptures. They create their own, non-forced interpretation of visions which contain ideas which do not appear elsewhere in the Bible, therefore adding to the Scriptures.

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Request for tolerance

3. Remarks

c. Millennialism corrodes other doctrines of the church.

- Millennialism is not in harmony with Scripture because it redirects people’s focus from the nature of Christ’s eternal work of salvation to obtaining an earthly paradise. It opens numerous doors to attach false doctrine to the Gospel message or to replace it altogether.

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Conclusion

1. Salvation is made possible through the objective justification of all sinners that was earned by Jesus.

a. Role of Jesus – Understanding the role of Jesus in man’s salvation (i.e., vicarious atonement) and the impossible situation that man is in without Jesus (i.e. totally depravity) must be the center of the church’s teaching.

b. Return of Jesus – Nothing improves until Jesus returns. It is folly to waste effort on earthly things that will not last, except to the extent that they are necessary for sustaining our lives.

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Conclusion

2. Salvation requires the subjective justification worked by the Holy Spirit.

a. Role of Holy Spirit – Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing individuals to faith and sustaining that faith within them must dominate the Christian’s life of faith.

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Conclusion

2. Salvation requires the subjective justification worked by the Holy Spirit.

b. Work of conversion – When the Holy Spirit brings someone to faith, He creates a “new man” in that human’s heart 1) who clings to Jesus’ work of salvation, 2) who repudiates self and places himself/herself under the cross, desiring to serve only the LORD (1^st commandment), 3) whose happiness is meditating on God’s Word (Psalm 1), and 4) who repents sincerely of all his/her sins (1^st of Luther’s 95 theses). The Christian therefore desires to follow his/her God and Lord, not speculate on how He does His divine activities.

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Conclusion

3. Waiting for Jesus

a. Focus on the second coming - The return of Jesus is imminent, so the Christain’s focus must be kept on it. Millennialism is a worthless sideshow. Even if it were true, no one should care about it.

b. Working to build the church while there is time – Only those things done for Christ will last. We have been commissioned to build the kingdom of the LORD. Those are our marching orders, so let us not spend time on fairy tales.

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Confessional Statements

1. Augsburg Confession

a. Affirmed: Jesus comes on Last Day.

b. Denied: Millennialism

c. Denied: No hell

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Confessional Statements

2. This We Believe

a. Affirmed: Second coming of Jesus

b. Affirmed: Date unknowable

c. Affirmed: Return on last day

d. Affirmed: Last day will be Judgment Day.

e. Denied: Millennialism

f. Denied: Antichrist is yet to come.

g. Denied: Reincarnation

h. Denied: Figurative second coming and judgment

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Confessional Statements

3. WELS Statement on the Antichrist (1959)

a. Affirmed: Papacy is Antichrist.

b. Denied: Antichrist is secular power(s).

c. Denied: Doctrine that papacy is Antichrist is uncertain.

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Confessional Statements

4. Brief statement of LCMS (1932)

a. Affirmed: Church is under the cross until Judgment Day (Art. 42).

b. Affirmed : Papacy is Antichrist (Art. 43).

c. Denied: Millennialism (Art. 42)

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End Times

End of Lesson 19