Doctrinal Study: Christianity and the Future

BLJ: We finish this brief doctrinal study with a look to the future.

75. What is the kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God is a present possession and a future hope; it is the present rule of Christ over His people through the indwelling Holy Spirit, but its full consummation awaits the final rule of Christ, when He "shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father ... that God may be all in all" (I Cor. 15:24-28). "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21). "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).

76. What do we believe about the second coming of Christ?

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord (Manual, page 30 [11]). "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thess. 4:15-17).

77. What is the Christian view of death?

"Death for the Christian is the door through which he enters into the new life he receives in the resurrection which follows, a new and glorified body as the eternal habitation of his redeemed soul" (Christian Theology, WILEY) "Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15:54). "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Cor. 5:1). "We are confident, I say, and willing, rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (II Cor. 5:8).

78. What is the meaning of resurrection?

In the resurrection of the dead, the bodies of both the just and the unjust shall be raised to life and united with their spirits (Manual, page 30 [12, sec. 1]). "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28, 29).

79. What is glorification?

Glorification is the completion of man's salvation, when Christ shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil. 3:20, 21). "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Cor. 15:5153).

80. What is the Christian teaching of future judgment?

We believe in future judgment in which every man shall appear before God to be judged according to the deeds done in this life (Manual, page 30 [12, sec. 2]). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (I Cor. 5:10).

81. What is the future destiny of mankind?

We believe that a glorious and everlasting life is assured to all who savingly believe in, and obediently follow, Jesus Christ our Lord; and that the finally impenitent shall suffer eternally in hell (Manual, page 30 [12, sec. 3]). "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:46).

82. What is heaven?

Heaven is the dwelling place of God and of the holy angels, and the eternal home of the redeemed of this earth. "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 18:10). "To an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (I Peter 1:4).

83. What is hell?

Hell is the dwelling place of evil spirits, the place prepared for the devil and his angels, and the eternal abode of the finally impenitent sinner. "If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell" (II Peter 2:4). "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17).

84. What is the final consummation of all things?

The final consummation of all things will be the full victory of Jesus Christ over all evil, the glorious completion of the kingdom of God in a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness; and the complete rule of God and righteousness in His universe. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he shall reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" (I Cor. 15:24, 25). "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (II Pet. 3:13). "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Rev. 19:6)