The Creed - I Believe In Christs Return

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker

of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only

Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose

again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the

right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy

catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

The CreedI BELIEVE in CHRIST‘S

RETURN








The Tools God Used to Save Me

The Creed – I Believe in Christ‘s Return

Key Question…―What does the Future Hold?‖


EschatologyThe Study of the End Times


Why Should We Believe Anything the Bible

Says About the Future?


• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates the omniscience of God• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates that the Bible is a

supernatural Book• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates that Jesus is the Messiah

and God• Fulfilled prophecy gives Christians confidence in the future

predictions that the Bible makesThe Creed – I Believe in Christ‘s Return


Peter Stoner in Science Speaks calculates the odds of just eight prophecies being accidently fulfilled in the life of one man.

1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (one hundred quadrillion: 1017)

Statisticians say anything past 1 to 1050 power is no chance. This is exceeded once 20 fulfilled prophecies is considered (and Jesus fulfilled 109).


One Example of Fulfilled Prophecy

―So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the

Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have

nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.‖ - Daniel 9:25-26, 500 B.C.

449 442 435 428 14 21 28 35

1 2 3 67 68 69

Sabbatical Years70

BC AD


The Bible‘s Emphasis on Christ‘s Coming

109 distinct prophecies that concern the Messiah‘s first coming

All fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth

There are over 200+ prophecies that predict Christ‘s second coming.

―Truly, truly…‖


The Bible‘s Emphasis on Christ‘s Coming• Prophecy takes up 1/5 of the Scripture; of that 1/5, 1/3 refers to the

2nd coming of Christ• There are over 660 general prophecies; 333 about Christ• 109 were fulfilled in His first coming• 224 are for His second coming• Of the 46 Old Testament prophets, less than 10 of them speak of His

first coming, but 36 speak of His second coming• 1,500 passages in Old Testament that refer to 2nd coming• 1 out 25 verses in New Testament refer to 2nd coming• For every time the Bible mentions His first coming, it mentions His 2nd

coming 8 times• For each time the Atonement is mentioned once, the 2nd coming is

mentioned twice• Jesus refers to His 2nd coming 21 times • Over 50 times it tells Christians to get ready for His 2nd coming


Approaches to Bible Prophecy(Primarily the Book of Revelation)

1. Preterist: means ―the past‖. A Preterist interpretation of prophecy holds that most of the New Testament prophecies of the book have already been fulfilled.

2. Historicist: believes prophecy (especially Revelation) is a foretelling of all history from the time of the first coming of Christ unto the end of the age.

3. Idealist: doesn‘t look for specific fulfillment of the prophecies of the book; rather, the Revelation is perceived to contain spiritual lessons that may find recurrent expression in history.

4. Futurist: prophecy describes events that are largely future to all but those living just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.


PreterismThe term preterist is Latin for ‗past‘. Thus, preterists believe that Bible prophecy was fulfilled in the past. Therefore, they view the major prophetic passages of Scripture, such as the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation, as already fulfilled. There are 2 flavors of preterism:

1. Extreme – believe all prophecy was fulfilled in the past; no return of Christ to the earth

2. Moderate - believe in a future Second Coming, but still insist on interpreting the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation as basically already fulfilled in the past.


Amillennialism―no millennium‖

The Church Age

Unknown Period of Time

Jesus

The amillennial view teaches that there is currently a spiritual reign of Christ over the church and it will continue until He returns for His saints. The thousand year period spoken of in Revelation is symbolic and not literal. There is no tribulation, no earthly

millennium, and no eternity on a new earth; Christ simply returns and eternity in Heaven begins. It is the view held by Catholics and many Protestant denominations.


Postmillennialism―after millennium‖

The Church Age

Church Expanding

Jesus

The postmillennial view teaches the Church age will eventually evolve into a golden age where the Church will rule over all the world. This will be accomplished through

the ‗Christianization‘ of the nations. Once the Church has carried out its mission of redeeming the world, Christ then returns and eternity begins in Heaven.

The Golden Age

Church Reigning


Premillennialism―before the millennium‖

The Church Age

Unknown Period of Time

Jesus

The Tribulation The Millennium

Seven Years 1,000 Years

The premillennial view teaches that the Church age will end with the Rapture, after which starts the tribulation period. The tribulation lasts seven years and climaxed by the second coming of Christ, who establishes a reign upon the earth that lasts 1,000

years. After the 1,000 years, the last earthly rebellion is crushed, God creates a new earth for His people, and eternity begins.


Premillennial Amillennial PostmillennialLiteral Millennium Yes No No

Resurrection before Millennium One None None

Thousand Years in Revelation Future Present Present

Resurrections Two (at least) One One

Literal interpretation of Prophecy

Yes No No

Unconditional Old Testament Covenants with Abraham

Yes No No

Distinctions between Israel and the Church

Yes No No

Messianic Kingdom Future Present Present

Rapture / Second Coming Separate Same Same

Binding of Satan Future Present Present

Moral Progress Decline Decline Improve

Major Judgments Two One One

What are the series of events that lead up to Christ‘s return – His

Parousia?



The Re-Gathering of Israel

" Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time

with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt,

Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations And

assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the

four corners of the earth."(Isaiah 11:11-12)


The Re-Gathering of Israel"―Before she travailed, she brought forth; Before her pain came, she gave

birth to a boy. ―Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons."(Isaiah 66:7-8)

Some theologians believe this prophecy describes what happened on May 14, 1948 - when the Jews declared independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2900 years. During that same day, the

United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel

had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally

was born in a single day. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan,

Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The birth pains (fight for independence) came after the birth of the nation.


The Rapture

―According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left

till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so

we will be with the Lord forever.‖(1 Thess. 4:15-17)


Marriage Supper / Rewards―If any man builds on this foundation

using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, is work will be shown for

what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and

the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be

saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.(1 Cor. 3:12-15)


The Antichrist―And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He

had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous

name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had

been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshiped the

dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make

war against him?―(Rev. 13:1-4)


Birth Pains―I watched as the Lamb opened the first

of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!― I looked, and there

before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he

rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. When the Lamb opened the

second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!― Then another

horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the

earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.‖

(Rev. 6:1-4)


Abomination of Desolation"―And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate,

even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes

desolate.‖"(Daniel 9:27)

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called

god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being

God."(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)


The Great Tribulation―Let no one on the roof of his house

go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the

Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be

equaled again.‖(Matt. 24:17-21)


Armageddon―Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like

frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are

spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. ―Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked

and be shamefully exposed.― Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in

Hebrew is called Armageddon.‖(Rev. 16:13-16)


The Second Coming―I saw heaven standing open and there before me

was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His

eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one

knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The

armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an

iron scepter.‖ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his

thigh he has this name written:KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF

LORDS.‖(Rev. 19:11-16)


Beast False Prophet Doomed/ Satan Imprisoned

" And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by

which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two

were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Then I saw an

angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of

the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he

threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer,

until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time."

(Revelation 19:20-20:3)


Sheep/Goat Judgment" ―But when the Son of Man comes in His

glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. ―All the nations will be

gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep

on His right, and the goats on the left. ―Then the King will say to those on His right, ‗Come, you

who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

world…. Then He will also say to those on His left, ‗Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the

eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;‖

"(Matthew 25:31-34, 41)


Christ‘s Millennial Reign"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and

judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of

God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life

and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the

thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand

years."(Revelation 20:4-6)


Satan Released / Last War" When the thousand years are completed,

Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to

gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they

came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the

beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who

deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented

day and night forever and ever."(Revelation 20:7-10)


White Throne Judgment"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat

upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another

book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea

gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone‘s name was not found

written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

(Revelation 20:11-15)


New Heaven and Earth"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and

there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from

God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ―Behold, the tabernacle of God is among

men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer

be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.‖ And He who sits on the throne said, ―Behold, I am making all things new.‖ And He said, ―Write, for these words are faithful and true.‖‖

(Revelation 21:1-5)


• What begins in Genesis ends in Revelation• In Genesis the commencement of heaven and

earth; in Revelation the consummation of heaven and earth

• In Genesis the entrance of sin and the curse, in Revelation: end of sin and curse

• In Genesis the dawn of Satan and his activity; in Revelation: doom of Satan and his activities

• In Genesis the tree of life is relinquished; in Revelation: tree of life regained

• In Genesis death enters; in Revelation: death exits

• In Genesis, sorrow begins; in Revelation: sorrow ends

• In Genesis, paradise is lost; in Revelation: paradise regained

• In Genesis, savior is promised; in Revelation the savior is pre-eminent.

What Impact Should Christ‘s Coming Have

on Us Today?



#1 - Obedience"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will

pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with

intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all

these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought

you to be in holy conduct and godliness,"

(2 Peter 3:10-11)


#2 - Worship"And I saw between the throne (with the four living

creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven

Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell

down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of

the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, ―Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your

blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. ―You have made them to be a kingdom and

priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.‖"(Revelation 5:6-10)


#3 - Proclamation" And he said to me, ―Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. ―Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is

righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself

holy.‖ ―Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every

man according to what he has done."(Revelation 22:10-12)


#4 - Service

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so

that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in

the body, according to what he has done, whether good or

bad."(2 Corinthians 5:10)


When things get bad and you can't stand to lookIt's time to read to the end of the book

Don't put it down 'til you get to the endWhen Jesus come and His Kingdom begins

'Til He comesGod the Son

Teaches us to use the swordAnd every fight

Has a lightWhen you know we win the war

- Michael W. Smith: End of the Book








The CreedI BELIEVE in CHRIST‘S

RETURN

Spiritual

The Creed - I Believe In Christs Return