We believe and teach that the study of eschatology is to have primarily an ethical effect on the people of God (e.g. 1 John 2:28-3:3; 2 Peter 3:10-14).
Individual eschatology involves biblical considerations of death, the intermediate state, resurrection, judgment, and the final state. The soul's existence is not interrupted by physical death (e.g. Luke 16:19-31). The believer's soul/spirit is ushered immediately into the presence of Christ at physical death (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8) until the time of the Rapture, when he along with those disciples physically alive at the first phase of our Lord's return (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) will receive bodies suited for a new, ultimately eternal order (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; Philippians 3:20-21). These redeemed ones all are part of the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6). At physical death, the souls/spirits of the unregenerate also continue to exist, but in conscious torment until the final (i.e. "second") resurrection which will be followed by the final judgment (e.g. Revelation 20: 13-15).
Although it is difficult to organize and interrelate the two kinds of resurrection and biblical references to the various judgments, the overarching facts are transparently clear. All men will experience a bodily resurrection: the saved to eternal life and overwhelming joy; the unsaved to eternal separation and everlasting punishment (e.g. Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:19-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-11).
Cosmic eschatology comprehensively takes in both the consummation of history and the completion of God's eternal plan. The universal kingdom or reign of God (e.g. Psalm 145:13) will be completely and finally established to remain unchallenged (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
According to that dimension of His sovereign plan mediated through time, space, and history, the final stage of His Kingdom over the present cosmos draws nearer in an accelerating manner. His covenant and kingdom promises are being fulfilled in successive order. Although significant spiritual dimensions of the kingdom began in conjunction with the first coming of Christ, the King will return again to fulfill God's many promises regarding the nation of Israel (e.g. Ezekiel 37; Romans 10-11). As it was prior to His first coming---it was not easy to discern a two-staged coming of Christ from the Old Testament Scriptures---so it will be prior to His second coming. The two phases of His final coming, normally designated as Rapture and Revelation, are most often mentioned side-by-side without clear distinctions in New Testament contexts (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2:8; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13). What is clear, however, is the fact that both the Rapture (e.g. John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:17) and the Revelation will launch and establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth (e.g. 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Psalm 89:4, 29, 34; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 19:1-20:4).
His two-phased coming is presented in the New Testament as being near or imminent, although its timing is unknown to men (e.g. Mark 13:33-37; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). Furthermore, though the fact of the Rapture is clear, its timing (in relationship to Daniel's Seventieth Week or the Great Tribulation) remains variously interpreted. Nevertheless, the primary responsibility of the true disciple is to wait expectantly and serve faithfully until He comes.
After Christ's 1000-year reign on the throne of David, Satan will be loosed briefly after his millennial confinement for one final insurrection (Revelation 20:7-9). At that time, he will be defeated and eternally confined to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Then the final judgment of all the unrighteous will take place (Revelation 20:11-15), and the new heaven and the new earth will be established inaugurating the eternal state (Revelation 21-22).
(end of Statement of Faith pages)
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