Paul the Poke

Key Theme: Jesus is coming again. The career of Jesus following His resurrection: rapture, wrath, return, and reign.

Rapture: Jesus comes for His church. He is the head of the church (Matthew 16:18). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The term rapture is from the Latin translation of the Bible. The Greek word is harpazo. It means to snatch, seize, or take away by force. At this point, the dead in Christ will be resurrected. The dead will be raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The second part of the rapture event is those who are alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). This is new information revealed by Paul, a mystery (1 Corinthians 15:51a). We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Wrath:  The tribulation will begin with a covenant or treaty of seven years between the false messiah and Israel. He will break his promise at the half way point of the covenant (Daniel 9:27). The seven year period is broken into a series of judgments in the book of Revelation. The initial series is contained in the seal judgments of Chapter 6. After a brief pause, the seventh seal is noted at the beginning of Chapter 8. The seventh seal contains seven trumpet judgments. The first six judgments are initiated in Revelation 8:7 and continue through 9:21. The seventh trumpet is sounded in Revelation 11:15-19. The initiation of the bowl judgments occurs in Revelation 16. These events lead up to the return of Jesus.

Return: Acts 1:11b, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” There are over 300 references in the New Testament alone regarding the second coming of Christ. His return is chronicled in Revelation 19. The beast and false prophet are seized and thrown into the lake of fire. Satan is bound by chain in the abyss and has his own personal guard.

Rule and Reign: It is mentioned six times in Revelation 20:2-7 that the period of the earthly kingdom is 1,000 years. References in Daniel 2:44-45, 7:27 indicate that this kingdom will not be overcome and it is everlasting. Jesus will rule as king of the world (Daniel 7:14, Revelation 19:15). The church will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10).  Characteristics include joy, justice, peace, no more war, holiness, glory, comfort, full knowledge, instruction, removal of the curse, no sickness, healing, protection, freedom from oppression, no immaturity, plenty of work, prosperity, increase of light, one language, unified worship, fullness of Spirit (Things to Come, Pentecost, pp. 487-490, scripture and verse noted for textual support).

At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released to deceive the nations. He gathers the people of the nations for war against Christ in Jerusalem. They are consumed by fire and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

Next is the judgment of the great white throne. This is the judgment of the dead who are judged according to their deeds. If one’s name is not found in the book of life, they are thrown into the lake of fire with death and Hades (Revelation 20:11-15).

Eternity: The new heavens and the new earth emerge. The old heavens and old earth have been burned. New Jerusalem descends from heaven. It is described with 12 different jewels. The size is great. There is no darkness. The water of life is there with the trees of life. The Father and the Son are present with man. Their reign is forever and ever (Revelation 21 and 22).