Last Things

#12 The Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Life as it is will not continue indefinitely. As Christ came first in humility so He will return to reign

and the establishment of His kingdom.

Revelation 19:11-16 At His second coming, He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

We believe in the resurrection of the body,

1 Corinthians 15:52 All men, good, and evil, will receive a new body

linked with the old body but far superior.

the final judgment,

Revelation 20:12 There will be a day when men will have to answer

for the deeds done in this life. Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

the eternal felicity of the righteous,

Revelation 21:3,4 Those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior

are declared righteous by His sacrifice and will live eternally with Him.

and the endless suffering of the wicked.

Revelation 21:8 Those whose sins have not been covered by the

sacrifice of Christ will receive the punishment due them eternally

in hell for rebelling against their Creator.

Note: There are essentially three perspectives on the second coming of Christ. Our church and the Baptist General Conference does not identify one of these as the only acceptable view. However, we teach the premillennial view.

The premillennial teaches that Christ will come before the millennium.

1st coming ----------2nd coming ----------//----------

church age millennium eternity

The amillennial position teaches that the present age is the great age of peace. Christ comes at the end of this age to begin eternity.

1st coming--------------------2nd coming---------------------

church age = millennium eternity

The postmillenial position teaches that the world will gradually get better and better through the influence of the gospel until Christ returns to begin eternity.

1st coming --------------------- 2nd coming ---------------------

growing millennium eternity