XIV. Future Events

We believe that Christ could return for His Church at any time.  When He comes, He will first remove His Church by resurrection and translation, then pout out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world during the tribulation period.  Afterward He will descend with His Church to establish His literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years, at the close of which He will raise and judge the unsaved dead.  Finally, as the Son of David, He will deliver up His Messianic Kingdom to God the Father, in order that as the eternal Son of God, He may reign forever with the Father in the New Heaven and the New Earth.  (Titus 2:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 6:1-18,24; 19:1; 20:6; 20:11-15; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 21:1; 22:6)

 We believe that the souls of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven.  There they abide in joyful fellowship with Him until His return for the Church, when their bodies shall be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His glorious body.  At that time, their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards, but not in the loss of the soul.  (Phil. 1:22-24; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 3:20,21; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 John 3:2; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15)

 We believe that the souls of the unsaved descend at death into Hades.  There they are kept under punishment until the judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennial kingdom.  At that time, they will be judged according to their works and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment, the lake of fire.  (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 10:28)