March 27, 2022

THE DOCTRINE OF ESCHATOLOGY: “THE LAST THINGS”

March 27, 2022

Dr. Ed Hindson

Unrest is all around the globe. If you knew life as we know it today would not last but a few more years, what are some things you would like to do or accomplish in that time?

Today we look at a doctrine of the Christian faith that has become a common subject in magazines, books, and social media, and is a question everyone wants answered: are we living in the last days of the world? God revealed throughout the Bible the signs that will be evidenced as life as we know it winds down and changes forever. Many scholars and authors have predicted dates, but the truth is no one knows when Christ will return! Each week we have used the doctrinal statement of our church to show how our beliefs line up with the Biblical subject: “We affirm that the return of Christ for all believers is imminent…to be followed by…tribulation and then the coming of Christ to establish His earthly Kingdom.”

The Rapture

  • Read John 14:1-3. Who is Jesus speaking to? Who had just left the Upper Room?
  • 1 Thess. 4:13-17. Who will be impacted when Jesus comes from heaven into our atmosphere? Who will be raised to meet Him first? What kind of body will we have? Read Luke 24:36-43. Is it possible this is how our glorified body will be?
  • Read 1 Thess. 5:1-4, 7-9. Why did Paul comfort the Thessalonians that believers are not appointed for God’s wrath? Does that apply to us?
  • What is the promise that we can take away from this portion of God’s Word? 

The Bride to Father’s House

  • People must know the significance of the ritual of the Jewish wedding in the days of Jesus Christ. Can anyone re-tell Dr. Hindson’s explanation of the wedding custom? What was the first action? Was the betrothal a binding, legal agreement between families?
  • What did the groom do once the betrothal was set? What did he do when he returned to his father’s house? How is this ritual analogous to Jesus’ return?
  • Read Matt. 25:6. Once the groom had prepared the home for himself and his bride, who told him to go get his bride? Read Mark 13:32. Is this why the virgins were watchful, but not knowledgeable, of the time the groom would come?
  • When we read 1 Thess. 4:17, where does it say we will meet Christ? Where will we go at that time? What is the promise we can take away from this?

The Judgment Seat of Christ

  • Read 2 Cor. 5:10. When do theologians believe the Bema Seat judgment will be?
  • What will it be for? Why are there many reasons to think this will not include answering for our sins? What will we be repaid for? Is there a promise here?

The Marriage of the Lamb

  • Read Rev. 19:7. What will the “bride” (the church) receive when we arrive in heaven? Who supplies the Fine Linen, “bright and clean”?
  • Read verse 8. What does the fine linen represent? What are we promised here?

The Triumphal Return

  • Read Rev. 19:11-13. After the marriage supper of the Lamb, it is time for Him to return to the earth. How will He come?
  • Read verse 14. Who will be with Him? How will they be dressed?
  • Read verses 15-16. Will the saints who are with the Lord help Him to fight? What promise do these verses contain?

The Millennial Reign

  • Read Rev. 20:4-6. There is much we don’t know about the Millennial Reign of Christ, but what is factual is the length of time. How long will it be?
  • Read Rev. 20:1-3. Where will Satan be during this period of one-thousand years?

Who will put him there? Are these promises we can believe?

The Eternal City

  • Read Rev. 21:1-2. This is now the final event when the glorified saints begin a life that will last for eternity. Read 1 Cor 2:9. How does this comfort you?
  • Read 1 Cor. 6:9-10. Who are the unrepentant sinners who will not be in heaven? Why will none of these people be there? Would they have had their chance to accept Jesus as Savior while they lived?
  • What promise is made in these verses for believers?

The Invitation

  • Read Rev. 22:17. What is God’s final plea to those who read His Word? Why?

Close

This sermon took into account many verses, passages, and theological doctrines, knowing that for every statement of faith we believe, there are equally learned men on every other side who might believe differently. It is not our intention to present every viewpoint, but only what God has given us as facts—those things that we can believe with certainty, and that we can have as a foundation for our faith. Our founding church fathers wrote our Doctrinal Statement after much prayer and fasting, always comparing Scripture with Scripture. We hope today’s sermon has been a help to you that has reinforced your beliefs, with you always going back to God’s Word to be certain what you believe is what God has said. The bottom line is, always be ready! It is not the how, when, or in what manner–in the end, all that will matter will be are you truly ready to meet Christ? If so, He will call you: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt. 25:34).

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