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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
Last Things (Eschatology)
Death
We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation
6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ
(Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8), that there is a separation of soul and
body (Philippians 1:21-24) until the first resurrection
(Revelation 20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with
our Lord (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54). Until that time, the souls of
the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ
(2 Corinthians 5:8).
We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (John 6:39,
Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting
punishment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).
We teach that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second
resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body
will be united (John 5:28-29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne judgment
(Revelation 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46), cut
off from the life of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
The Tribulation Period
We teach that the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an
unbelieving world (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16),
and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth
(Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). At that time the Old Testament and
tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation
20:4-6). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27;
Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46).
The Second Coming and the Millennial
Reign
We teach that after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne
of David (Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30) and establish His Messianic
kingdom for a thousand years on the earth (Revelation 20:1-7). During this time the
resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth
(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16). This reign will be preceded by the
overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the
world (Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7).
We teach that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel
(Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17) to restore them to the land that
they forfeited through their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The result of their
disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26)
but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29).
We teach that this time of our Lord's reign will be characterized by harmony, justice,
peace, righteousness, and long life (Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38), and will be
brought to an end with the release of Satan (Revelation 20:7).
The Judgment of the Lost
We teach that following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ
(Revelation 20:7), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle
against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured
by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9). Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake
of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10) whereupon Christ, who is the judge
of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White
Throne judgment.
We teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical
resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment (Romans 14:10-13), they will be committed
to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation
20:11-15).
[Continue to: Doctrine of Eternity]

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