What Does the Bible Say About End Times, the Kingdom and Jesus Return?

We begin this episode by noting that there are as many theories about what happens in the so called End Times as you could count. Most all of them are false doctrine or false teaching. We note what some of them consist of. We first note some facts about a kingdom and note that the Bible reveals that Jesus has a kingdom. Jesus Himself noted to Peter that He would build His church and give Peter the keys to  the the kingdom of heaven. We note passages that refer to Jesus kingdom and show that Jesus church is also called His kingdom. We look at passages that tell us when Jesus kingdom and church were established and when certain people were added to it. We note Paul's discussion of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 and how that relates to the Lord's kingdom and His rule over it. We note some of the things Premillennialists teach concerning the kingdom and church that are contrary to what the Bible says. We complete this episode with a discussion of where Christians are called the Israel of God and the household of God and what one must do to be included in this household. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

Transcript

Fred Gosnell: 0:00

This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ, meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net or to Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com or to Glenn Landrum at scbamaboy2003@yahoo.com.

Arnie: 0:42

Good. Afternoon. This is what does the Bible say, brought to you by the church of Christ at Woodland here in Sumter, South Carolina. I'm Arnie Granke, Fred Gosnell and and Glenn Landrum are with us here on the on the air, and we certainly invite you not only to listen to us on the air, but come and worship with us at 30, 3370 Broad Street extension, and we're about two miles east of the Shaw Air Force Base main gate, easy to find, and we would be delighted to have you with us and answer whatever questions you may have about the Bible. And we certainly hope that if you happen to be visiting in the Sumter area, that you'll also come and worship with us all on Lord's Day mornings and Wednesday evenings, we have a Bible class as as well. Glenn, let me pass it to you.

Glenn: 1:51

Yeah, what we're going to be talking about in this this lesson is probably going to extend for at least two, maybe three, three weeks or three sessions. But we're going to be talking about, what does the Bible say about end times, the kingdom and Jesus return. In in conjunction with that, some will be mentioned about premillennialism. Athough that is not spoken of in the in the Bible at all. Therefore, what we need to do is talk about what the Bible says about the end times the kingdom and Jesus return, and it should supply the information that you need for premillenialism. There are probably as many theories about what happens in the End Times as you could count. Most all of them are false doctrine or false teaching. Teachings include things like the rapture, a physical seven year tribulation, a literal 1000 year reign by Christ on earth, the physical battle of Armageddon, or a final rebellion of all and final rebellion, those are all false teachings. In this lesson, we'll detail what the Bible says about the kingdom Christ's second coming and what will happen to those who have faithfully followed him and when Christ's faithful followers will be taken to their new home, heaven. One of the primary sticking points about the false doctrines concerning the end times is what the kingdom is, when it was established and who is in it. There are a few practical things we need to understand about a kingdom. When we are speaking of an earthly kingdom, we are speaking of a body of land. It may be divided by oceans, seas or other countries. A kingdom has a people who belong to it because of their loyalty to the kingdom, because the Kingdom, through its government, takes care of them. They usually have a common language. They are bound together by a common ideology. A kingdom is ruled by a king who has subordinates to help him rule the king, kingdom. Kingdoms always have dates when they first came into existence, and they have forms of government to oversee the laws of the land. All these things are laid out in the scriptures, and we must learn, know and apply those things to our belief and our faith. Knowing where we are, where we're going, who is our leader and our King helps us to know who to look for to for guidance and sustainment. I'm going to read Matthew 16, 15, through 19. He said to them, But who do you say I am Simon? Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter. And on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom, and whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven. This passage says that Christ will build His church. And you might ask, what does that have to do with the kingdom? We'll get there in just a few moments. If you have followed our broadcast for very long, you'll recognize the language that Christ used. He was not only saying the word church, but indicating his kingdom. Colossians 1, 13 through 18 gives us some very important information, and it reads, well, I'm gonna pass this on to Fred from here, and let him pick up that.

Fred Gosnell: 6:04

Okay. Colossians, 1, 13, through 18 there, Paul writes. he says, He, Christ. has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of his dear son. Well, he the Father, in the kingdom of his dear Son, the Son of His love, who we have redemption through his blood and forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him, all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things. And in Him all things consist. And he is the head of the body the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. So in this passage, we learn some very important things. First, we learn that the Colossians who were following Christ, were delivered from darkness, their sinful condition. They were lost people, Delivered from that to life, a life to that life of sin, to a life of service to the king. Now, if they the same happens to us, same circumstance. Were delivered into the kingdom of his dear Son, the Son of His love. We learn that Christians who were alive at that time were delivered into a kingdom that already existed. Of course, verse 16 tells us that Christ had all things in heaven and in earth, and that everything had been created by Him. Verse 17 tells us that Christ was above and over everything, and that through him, everything existed. As king. He was over everything in his kingdom. As a king should be in His Kingdom. Verse 18 tells us that Christ is the head of the Church, which is His body. We learn in this passage that Jesus is King of his kingdom, which is the church. Of course, that's one thing that a lot of people don't understand, but that's what that passage in the context tells us. So Ephesians 1, 22, and 23 there, Paul writes to the Ephesians, and he says, He put all things under his feet, gave Him to be hid over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. The one who is who is given a kingdom, the church, is the king of that kingdom, and head of that church. Christ is that King, and the church is his kingdom.

Arnie: 8:32

Let's take a look at Acts chapter two, we'll begin at verse 29 I think, here, and we'll go for several verses, Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he's both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. He, foreseeing this, spake concerning the resurrection of Christ that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, the Lord said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. We know from Acts chapter one and beginning at verse nine, couple of verses down to verse 11, that Jesus ascended to heaven in the clouds, and the apostles were watching, and the angels told them that Jesus would come again, just like he ascended. Daniel by prophecy. And of course, Daniel is an Old Testament prophet tells us, importantly, what happened on the other side of the clouds in Daniel. Daniel seven, verses 13 and 14, I saw in the night visions. And behold, one , like the Son of Man, came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him there before him, and it was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him, his dominions an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that by which, which shall not be destroyed. I just read that from the King James Version, in case you're interested in in knowing that. Other versions say the same thing, but in some of the wording is a little bit different. Peter was preaching to the people in Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration when he explained this important information about cro, Christ. Notice that Peter said that Christ had ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, and he would do so Until God had made his enemies his footstool. Christ's enemies as his footstool. In other words, he would have total control over them. This is the same as saying that Christ was king. He had become king of his kingdom, and that kingdom was the church.

Glenn: 12:21

Well, verse 41, of Acts two tells that about 3000 people were baptized and added to them. That's the church or the kingdom, already on the first day that the gospel was first preached, 3000 people were added to the kingdom, or the church. Why are we talking about all this? One of the main points of premillennialism is that the kingdom is in the future, not the present. Passages we have provided demonstrate that the Kingdom came into existence prior to the day of Pentecost, with the apostles being the first members in Christ ascending to sit as the ruler of the kingdom, or the church, to which 3000 were added on the day of Pentecost, after Peter preached the first gospel sermon. Shortly after that, mentioned in Acts four, four, another 5000 were added to the church or the kingdom. The kingdom of Christ or the kingdom of God exists now, and Jesus is reigning on the throne of David, sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. John 18, 36 says, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence. The main point we need to take from this is that Christ's kingdom is not an earthly kingdom, nor will it ever be. Since Jesus is a king, is a king of his kingdom, and it's not of this world He is reigning now. The kingdom will not be something in the future after he returns. We will soon see that Christ will not set foot back on Earth again. We will return. He will return, but he will not set foot on the earth and reign over an earthly kingdom as proposed by many. Let's show further proof that the church is the kingdom of Christ. The first passage we want to read is Ephesians 1, 15, to 23

Fred Gosnell: 14:32

So beginning in verse 15, Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith, Paul, writing this to the brethren in Ephesus, Of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus, Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is come. And he put all things under his feet, gave him to be hid over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. So that's a long reading, but we need to have the context there, and it starts in verse 15, so we do not want to leave out the context of the passages we are reading as proof of what we are trying to teach. Leading up to verses 22 and 23 Paul praised the Ephesian church members for their faith and that God would ensure that they were given the Spirit or the ability to understand him and his commands. He mentions that their eyes will be enlightened so they will be able to know the hope of Christ's calling. Christ was raised by God's mighty power to sit on God's right hand a position of honor and ruling authority, and it was in heavenly places that this was happening, far above all principalities and Christ has might and dominion over every name that is named, both at that time, the first century and ages to come. Of course, we need to remember that Jesus had said in Matthew 28, 18 he said, All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. So note that verse 22 here speaks in past tense, meaning that Christ had already been given dominion over everything, and over the church, which is His body. Therefore we have to say that Christ is ruling over his kingdom, over his church as king. The next few passages will further explain this idea that Christ is hid, or king of his kingdom, the church. So let's look at Ephesians 4, 15, and 16. There. Verse 15 again says, But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by every joint supplies according to the effect of the working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of it self in love. So what we want to show from this passage is further support that Christ is the head of the body. Ephesians five, verse 23 is the next passage, and I'm going to pass that on to Arnie.

Arnie: 17:36

Well, that passage, again, is Ephesians five verse 23 and that we want to share with you, For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church. He's the savior of the body. Once again, we see that Christ is the head of the church. Colossians chapter one, and beginning in in verse 13, we'll go down to about verse 18, I think as as we look at this tells us that, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of his dear son, kingdom of His Son, of His love, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. He's the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him, all things were created that are in heaven, that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And he's before all things and in Him all things consist and he's the head of the body the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things, he may have the preeminence. In this passage, we find that Christ is ruling over his kingdom there in verse 13. So he actually said that Christ had a kingdom to rule over a kingdom makes that person the king, and that's exactly what Jesus is. Take note that Paul had written again in past the past tense meaning that it has already happened. The subjects or members of His Kingdom have already been delivered into the Kingdom. In verse 18, we see that Christ is the head of, the king of the body which is his church. Therefore we know that Christ's kingdom has already been established, he's the king or head, and that we are subjects or members of his kingdom. Pre Millennials profess that Christ's kingdom is yet to come and that he will sit on David's throne in Jerusalem. We saw in Acts chapter two that Christ was already sitting on David's throne and is in heaven. Christ's kingdom is all has already been established, and he's ruling over it.

Glenn: 20:34

Next, we want to look at First Corinthians, 15, 12, through 28, rather long reading. But we'll, we'll go, go for it. Now, if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen, and if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up, if, in fact, the dead do not rise, For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then also you have fallen asleep in Christ, and then have perished If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are, of all men, most pitiable. But now Christ has risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death. By man came also the resurrection of the dead. For, as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order, Christ is the first fruits afterward those who are Christ's, at is coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power, For he must reign till he has put all enemies under His feet, the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. He has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is evident that he who put all things under him is excepted. Now, when all these things are made subject to him, the Son himself will also be subject to him. That's God he will be subject to, Who put thing, all things under him, that God may be all in all. The main key verse in this passage is verse 24 and the next is verse 26 we have listed, listed the extended passage to add depth to what we're teaching. The first part of this passage is giving reason for believing that Christians will be resurrected when Christ comes again. Since Christ was the first to be resurrected, He is called the first fruits. And we believe that when we should know that we will be resurrected as well, of course, that is if we if we have passed away through prior to him coming. Verses 13 and 14 tells us that if Christ had not been risen, we cannot expect to be resurrected either. Verse 16 tells us that if the dead do not rise, then Christ did not rise. The first few verses of this chapter list the witnesses who saw Christ after he had risen. Verse 20 assures us that Christ was resurrected and we expect to do the same. Verse 21 explains that because of the man of the man Adam. All people must die, but because of the man Jesus, there is resurrection. As mentioned a few moments ago. Verse 24 is the primary key. Then comes the end, when he, that's Christ, delivers the kingdom to God, the Father, when he puts puts an end to all rule and authority. Verse 25 tells that Christ will reign until he has done away with all his enemies. And verse 26 another important one, tells that the last enemy will be death. When Christ comes again, death will be destroyed. There will be no more death. Verse 27 tells that Christ will have put all things under his feet. Thus he's defeated everything. Verses 27 and 28 explain that all things being put under Christ's control does not include God, but all power will be handed back to God. Do you remember Matthew 28, 18 where Christ said that all authority that's power in heaven and in earth had been given to him? at the at the time when Christ has returned and defeated death and all else he will hand back the kingdom of God? Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of Jesus coming again after what has been described. Premillennialism professes that Jesus will come both a second and a third time, when Christ comes again, that will be the end. He will pass the power back to God. Death will be destroyed, and we will see soon that the judgment will occur at this time as well, by showing that all things end when Christ comes again, pre millennialism is refuted. Premillennialist teach that there will be life, death, sin and existence of the church after Christ returns, and that will last for 1000 years. Following we will give more information about that. We'll tell more about what the Bible says about our subject here.

Fred Gosnell: 26:14

So those who prescribe to Premillennialism teach that the church is a parenthesis or kind of a substitution for what God intended. In the Bible, the church is always referred to as a fulfillment of God's plan. Now notice Galatians 3, 26, through 29 there Paul writing to the Galatians. He says, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ, Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptizo Christ and put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you're all one in Christ, Jesus. And if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. If the church had been an afterthought or a substitute, it would not have been heir to the seed promise Jew and Gentile were made one in the church of the Lord God had this plan from the beginning. Notice Ephesians, 2, 11, through 13 writing to the Ephesians, who were Gentiles, by the way, , Therefore we remember that you once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision, the circumcision being Jews made in the flesh by hands. But at that time, you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ, Jesus, You, who once were far off, have been made, brought near by the blood of Christ. So Christ's blood that, as he shed on everyone's behalf, brought Jew and Gentile together in the church. God's people after Christ's death, burial and resurrection, are all people who obey the gospel. They hear, they believe, they repent, they confess, and then they're baptized Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ died for everyone. The church is Christ's body, and those who have obeyed the gospel are part of that body.

Arnie: 28:11

We have just enough time to to read from Galatians chapter six. So if you're if you got your Bible handy there, as we're speaking, Galatians, chapter six and verse 16 is the is the passage that we want. And it says, As many as walk according to this rule, Peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. And here Christians are called the Israel of God. People in the first century after the death, burial and resurrection and ascension of Jesus and all of us today have been included in the household of God, His elect, his people, Israel, being the Israel of God goes beyond the ones chosen in the old times before Christ. When we read the Old Testament, so many people want to take the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all of Israel without condition. Read the Old Testament and see how God's promises, his covenants with Israel, always had conditions applied to them. Even Abraham had to prove his faith to God by offering his son Isaac on the altar. God's promises are never without conditions. Think about the promises given to us concerning salvation. If we believe in John, chapter 3, 16, If we confess in Roman, chapter 10, verses nine and 10. If. If we repent of our sins in Luke chapter 13, verse three, if we are baptized for remission of sins, Acts. Chapter two, verse 38. If we remain faithful, Revelation, chapter two and verse 10. These are all conditions God has placed on our salvation. By submitting to God's will and meeting the conditions, not works of goodness but obedience, we receive the gift of salvation. We'll stop at this particular point. Hope that you'll tune in with us again next Lord's day, and we'll say a little bit more about this subject on on that occasion, have a good week. May the Lord be with you.

Unknown: 30:54

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