THE FINAL THINGS

A. The second advent of Christ

We believe in the personal, visible and premillennial return of Christ.

"...This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:llb

"...I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:2b-3
Also see: Mark 13:22-27

We believe this will be accomplished in two phases. In the first, Christ will descend from heaven to claim his waiting bride, which is the living Church, as well as departed believers.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

In the second phase, he will descend with his saints to establish the long-promised kingdom and reign upon the earth for one thousand years.

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6
Also see: Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 1:32-33, 21:25-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; Revelation 5:9-10

B. The judgments

We believe the believer's works will be judged for rewards at the judgment seat of

Christ at the time of his coming, the believer's sins having been judged in Christ upon the cross.

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24

...For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:l0c, 12
Also see: 1 Corinthians 3:8-15, 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:8

The unbeliever will appear before God for judgment at the great white throne after the millennial reign of Christ and will then be consigned to the lake of fire to suffer torment forever and ever with the devil and his angels.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden things, whether it is good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…
Hebrews 9:27
Also see: Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:10-15