Eternal Hope and Judgment

The final destiny of all things lies in God’s hands. In God’s time, creation will be renewed in Christ. The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and He shall reign forever.

End of the Age and Return of Christ

The return of Christ in power and glory is certain and may occur at any time. We accept the Lord’s teaching that no one knows when He will come. We understand Scripture to teach that the conflict between God and Satan, good and evil, will intensify as we approach the end of this age. At Christ’s return, the enemies of God will be conquered and the reign of God will be established forever.

The promise of our Lord that we shall live eternally in His presence brings great encouragement to the people of God. Our responses are joyous expectation, watchfulness, and diligence.

Death, Judgment, and Consummation of All Things

Death in the Christian community is a time of both sorrow and hope. Human ties that are broken bring grief, but our belief in Christ’s second coming is an affirmation of the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

We believe that following death, the believer’s spirit is present with the Lord. Scripture promises the bodily resurrection of the dead, both believers and unbelievers. Those who die in Christ, along with the faithful believers alive at His return, will rise and will receive a new, glorified body, which will be free from infirmity and death. The lost, however, await a resurrection unto condemnation.

God will judge righteously at the close of the age. Those who have trusted Him and obediently followed Jesus as Lord will not be condemned. God will reward them according to their faithfulness. The unsaved, however, will be punished with everlasting destruction in hell, eternally shut out from the presence of God because they have rejected His offer of salvation.

The people of God anticipate God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth under the rule of Christ. Evil will be destroyed and ultimately Christ will deliver all things to the Father.

Exhortation to Faithfulness

Hear the Word of the Lord: “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Jesus’ last recorded words, “Yes, I am coming soon,” cause us to live in joyful anticipation. Because of this hope, we persevere and spread the good news of Christ, knowing that when the gospel of the kingdom has been preached to all nations, the end will come. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Supporting Scripture

Eternal Hope and Judgment
Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:19-20; Revelation 11:15

End of the Age and Return of Christ
Matthew 24:36-51; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Peter 3:11-18; Revelation 19

Death, Judgment, and Consummation of All Things
Psalm 92:7; John 3:18; 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 15:27-28; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9; Revelation 20:10, 14; 21:22-27; 22:3

Exhortation to Faithfulness
Matthew 24:14; 2 Peter 3:11-12; Revelation 22:20