What Does the Bible Say About End Times, the Kingdom and Jesus Return #2?

We begin this episode by noting that Paul told the brethren in Galatia that we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. This includes all faithful people, those in the first century, and even those who came before Christ. It is His shed blood that cleanses us from sin. This, of course ultimately included the Gentiles who were previously separated from God by the law of Moses. We note what Paul told the Gentile Christians in Ephesus about this. We look at what Jesus said about anyone being able to come to God, how that can be accomplished. We point out that a number of the tenets of pre-millennialism are not found in the Bible. Many are based on highly figurative passages and others that are taken out of context, We also look at what the Bible says about anti-Christs and what that really means. Peter mentions that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night and what will occur at that time. We discuss that. We next look at what Jesus said about the resurrection and note that He only mentions one resurrection of the just and unjust. We look at passages that connect this with the judgment of all. We note what Paul said to the brethren in Corinth concerning the resurrection and how specific he was in what he wrote to them. Paul also wrote to the Thessalonians who were concerned about their brethren who had died. We look at what he wrote to them. Peter had said that God is not willing that any should be lost, We close out this episode by looking at the passages that tell us what we must do to be saved. 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 Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com or to Glenn Landrum at scbamaboy2003@yahoo.com or to Eric mclam at ericmcclam50@outlook.com or to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net.

Arnie: 0:55

Ah, good afternoon. This is what does the Bible say? Brought to you by the church of Christ at Woodland. We're located at 3370 Broad Street extension here in Sumter, and about two miles east of the Shaw Air Force Base main gate. So if you happen to be in the area, we would certainly welcome you to come be with us to worship, a Bible study. We meet on Sunday three times, and then on Wednesday evenings. And we would look forward to to having you with us. We've been been talking a little bit about some Bible subjects, and I'm going to pass it on to Glenn, which Glenn is with us, and Fred and

Eric: 1:46

Eric

Arnie: 1:47

Been so long now, Eric, we forgot what your name was, and Eric's with us as as well. Glenn,

Glenn: 1:56

Yeah, our lesson this this time started last week is, what does the Bible say about end times, the kingdom and Jesus return. In along with that, you'll get some information about why pre millennialism is a false doctrine,. Those teachings that include the rapture, a physical seven year tribulation, a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, the physical battle of Armageddon or the final rebellion of are all false teachings, and you'll get a little bit of that information in this. But we're talking about what the Bible says about the end times, Jesus return and the kingdom. And then last, the end of the last lesson, we had read Galatians 6, 16, and it says, As many as walk according to this rule, Peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. What, Jesus had built his church. We saw that last week, and that the church is the kingdom of God, and it exists now. It is in the present. It's not in the future. Christians are in the kingdom, and the kingdom is not something that's in the future. Christians make up spiritual Israel, and that's what we just read. So next passage we're going to read is Galatians, 3, 26, You are all sons of God through faith in Christ, Jesus. This includes all of us, those in the first century, even those who came before Christ. It is His blood that cleanses us from sin. Galatians four, four through six is But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his, forth, His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who are under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba Father. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ. Christ, shedding His blood that cleanses us from sin, came to redeem both the Jews that were before He came to Earth and us, who are part of that one new body. In this passage, it describes it as though the Gentiles were once slaves, but are now heirs of the same graces that the Israelites were supposed to have had.

Fred Gosnell: 4:42

Now Paul in Ephesians, chapter two discusses the Jews and the Gentiles and the separation that existed. So in Ephesians. 2, 11, through 18. In verse 11, Paul writes and says, Therefore, remember that you once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision. Of course, the circumcision is the Jews, made in the flesh by hands. And at that time, you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ, Jesus, you, who once were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, Having abolished in his flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were afar off, the Gentiles, and to those who were near, the Jews. For through him, we both have access by one Spirit, to the Father. So this passage shows that Gentiles had been brought near by the blood of Christ, just like the Jews were. A really important point is made in verse 16 to 18. The division, the law of separation that once existed between Jew and Gentile has been broken or torn down, allowing Jew and Gentile to both have access to Christ and to God. It even defines that law of separation as the law of commandments. That is the law of Moses that the 10 Commandments were part of, says that wall no longer exists. Think about that. Very few people who claim to be Christians will say that the 10 Commandments no longer exist. But that is exactly what this has just said. There is a caveat to that the principles of the 10 Commandments are repeated in the New Testament under Christ's law, except for keeping the Sabbath day. Of course, under the New Testament under Christ's law, we now keep the first day of the week that we find in Acts 20, verse seven and in First Corinthians 16, verse one and two. The real important point we are to take from this is that there is no longer a separation between Jew and Gentile. We hear people so often talking about the Jews as being God chosen people, that they have some special relationship with God today. That's not true. God chosen the people today are the ones who obey the gospel, the gospel of Christ. All people today, in order to please God must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then Eric, press on there.

Eric: 7:26

Then in John, chapter 14, verse six, Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one come to the Father except through Me. There was no other way to get to God except through Jesus Christ, and that applies to everyone for all time. So what's the important? What's the point of this relationship to the End Times, salvation and Jesus return? If we do not understand who is going to have the good experience for the end at the end time when Jesus returns to collect those who have been faithful to Him, and to judge all people from the beginning of time until He comes. We cannot understand the effort of Jesus coming again. We must understand that it is those who have been faithful to Him, whether it was under the law of the patriarch, the law of Moses, or the New Testament time, or the age of Christ law. Most people who claim to be Christians would call it the Christian age. So we look at a few more passages to help us in our understanding of this. Understanding this helps us to understand also that none of what the Bible teaches contain anything about pre millennialism. In order to pull anything out of the Bible that relates to that doctrine, we must use highly figurative language of Revelation, Daniel and book of Ezekiel all the passages speaking of a seven year tribulation, 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, 144,000 who will be saved. The Gap time between Daniel, 69 and 70th year. All from highly figurative passages. The rules we have to use to understand God's word is that when there seems to be a conflict between the figurative and the literal language in the Bible, we go with the literal language. How often have you heard people talk about when the Antichrist come. This is a good example of how passages are taken out of context or expound to mean something they do not. First. John, chapter two, verses 18 to 22 explains the Antichrist and is not what most people make it out to be. Talking ofverse 18, it says, Little children, it is, it is the last hour, as you have heard, that the Antichrist is coming. Even how many antichrists have come by, which we know that it is the last hour? They went out from us, but they were not of us, for they had been of us, they would have been continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing, anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar, but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ, he is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

Arnie: 11:04

Well, thank you, Eric. So you see, this is an example of how some things said in the Bible are often taken out of context and made to appear to be something they aren't. What does this say about antichrist? It simply says that anyone who denies God and Jesus Christ is anti christ. Real simple, to deny that God and or Christ exist is to be anti or against Christ. Anti Christ is not a specific, special person. It is anyone who does not believe and profess Jesus Christ as Lord, God, Savior and and King. So let's go to Second Peter chapter chapter three, now and and we'll start at verse seven and go down to to verse 13. Verse seven begins, But the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition. By the way, the word perdition means damnation, utter destruction. So that's the subject of this, of this part of the conversation, Perdition of ungodly men. But beloved do not forget this one thing, and with the Lord one day is as 1000 years and 1000 years as one day. The Lord's not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness and His long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night into which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. The elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. We see in this that all things, Heaven and Earth will be existing until the day of the Lord this this term is always used as a as a day God issues some judgment upon a people or land or nation. In this case, it tells that is for the judgment of ungodly people. Verse nine is important for a different reason than speaking about the end. It's important in that we learn that God doesn't want anyone to be lost, to be condemned or to perish. He's given everyone the opportunity to turn to Him and serve Him according to his commands. Verse 10 lets us know that no one knows when this day of the Lord or judgment day will occur. Matthew 24 verse 36 and Mark chapter 13 and verse 32 echo this same thought, as well as Luke 12, verse 40, and 1st Thessalonians, five two. There are several passages that that deal with this. We do not know when the day of the Lord or Jesus second coming will occur, but we do know this, that it's promised. Verses 10 through 13 are particularly important in our lesson here, when Christ comes back, the day of the Lord is what that will be. All things will be destroyed. Heaven and Earth and new things will be established where only righteousness dwells. We don't see two separate days of the Lord only one.

Glenn: 15:53

Hey, what John 528, and 29, Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. Only one coming is spoken of at which time the resurrection and judgment take place. Then in Revelation 20, 11, through 15, says, Then I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there were found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And the books were open, and another book was open, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books The sea gave up their dead who were in it, and dead and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This only speaks of one judgment, not two. This only addresses those who are dead at the coming of Christ and the judgment and an important point it ah, that is separate from the lesson we are doing. Yet it is important for us that those who being judged are judged according to what they had done in their lives, their works. This is yet another false doctrine many teach that, particularly Christians, are not judged against the things that they have done. Matthew 16, 27, Romans, two, six. Second, Corinthians, 510, first, Peter 1, 17, Revelation 2, 23, Revelation 22, 12, all state that all will be judged according to what they have done in their lives. Christians should have a lot less to be judged against, since their sins prior to obedience to the gospel were forgiven at baptism, and any sins after obeying the gospel would be forgiven as a Christian, asks forgiveness for them. Premillenism teaches two comings of Christ and two judgments. Between those two judgments is a 1000 year reign, an earthly reign of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Bible only teaches one second coming and one judgment, and there is no 1000 Year earthly reign.

Fred Gosnell: 18:33

Well, Paul talks about the resurrection in First Corinthians 15, and we'll read verses 50 through 54. So beginning verse 15, Paul says, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all sleep, but we all shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we should be changed. For this corruptible must put on, put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this moral has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. So this passage is speaking of those who have obeyed the gospel and are Christians at the Second Coming, both the dead, those who are asleep and those who are alive at Christ's coming, will be changed instantly into an incorruptible body. We do not know exactly what that body will be, but it will be something different than what we have now. So for one thing, it will be a spiritual body, incorruptible as one that cannot be affected by temptation and sin. It's not a physical body. As God cannot sin, those who have been written in the Lamb's book of life will be changed and inherit an incorruptible body. Last verse is very important in our lesson, since it says the. That death is followed up in victory. In other words, death is done away with and will no longer exist. We will live eternally.

Eric: 20:10

First, Thessalonians 14, 13, to 17 says, But I do not want you to be ignorant brethren concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others, excuse me, As others who have hope, have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this, we say to you, by the Word of the Lord that we are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be no means proceed those who fall, who are asleep, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, With the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then who, then we, who are alive will remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. The Thessalonians were worried about their fellow Christians who have died prior to the coming of the Lord, the Second Coming. Paul comforts them concerning this. He told the Thessalonians that anyone who have obeyed the gospel, whether alive or dead at the Second Coming, it will be safe in the Lord. Notice the the sequence given. When Christ comes back, the dead in Christ, those who have obeyed the gospel prior to dying would rise first, and then those who were alive in Christ to meet him in the air and that it says where those who have served God will be forever. Take note that it says nothing about Jesus returning to the physical world. If you remember in Acts 1, 11 where the apostles were told by the messenger of God that Christ would come back, will come back as he had left in the air. People out of ignorance have created this scenario where Christ comes back to the physical world. The Bible never says that.

Arnie: 22:34

People out of ignorance have indeed created a scenario where Christ comes back. And so we need to be very cautious as we, as we look at Bible passages, and not expect something that that doesn't exist to show up where we think that it's supposed to show up Revelation Chapter 21 and beginning at verse four, And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write for these words are true and faithful. And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts, He who overcomes, shall inherit all things. And I will be his father, and he shall be my son. But the cowardly and unbelieving, the abominable murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. After Christ returns, and those who have served him have gone on to their reward, which is heaven, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying. Those who did not serve Christ, did not have their name written in the book of life, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is all after his return, not that after his return, he would reign for 1000 a 1000 years, as as some are still teaching, and contrary to what the Bible teaches, and he will not return at another time.

Glenn: 24:58

What can we expect? If we obey the gospel and are faithful of God, we expect Christ to come back. We do not know when, but we know that is inevitable and a fact that it will occur. We know that when Christ returns, those who have died and were faithful to God will rise first, then those who are alive when he returns. We are told that his return is going to be in the air and not setting foot on Earth. Just after this will be the judgment. Hebrews 9, 27, 28 says, And there's an appointed for men to die once. But after this, the judgment So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many to those who eagerly await for him, he will appear a second time apart from sin, for Salvation, Christ comes back one more time and then the judgment. It tells that those who were faithful to Him will eagerly wait on his coming. Judgment for us will be the result in salvation and eternal life with Him and God in heaven. We need to understand that the church was a fulfillment of promise by God. Daniel 2, 36 through 44 is a prophecy by Daniel concerning the kingdom of Christ, or the church. Daniel 2, 44 reads, And in those days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people. It shall break into pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. If we follow the passage from verse 36 we can trace the nations that existed prior to Christ, and the last one is the Roman Empire. It is saying that it would be during the days of the Roman Empire that Christ's kingdom, the church, would be established, and it would never be destroyed. That is the kingdom we are in today, the kingdom of Christ, or the Church of Christ. Christ is the king, and he is reigning over his kingdom at this present time, you should remember that the passage we read in Colossians, 1, 13 through 18, in which we had the terms all used, kingdom, church, body of Christ. Those three terms can be used interchangeably. Christ's kingdom is his church and it is his body. It will be his church that he returns to take home to heaven with Him, if we have obeyed the gospel and have been faithful servants in his kingdom. We do not have to worry about judgment, for we know where we will spend eternity in heaven. We hope that we have shed some light on this subject. We believe that the faithful followers of Christ and God will inherit eternal life in heaven. What you need to know about this is that is how you become a follower of Christ. This is not a subject that many teach different things about, but this is what the Bible teaches about becoming a Christian.

Fred Gosnell: 28:16

Paul writes in Romans 10, verse 17. There he says, So that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. That is a simple statement, and it is easily understood. One must hear the Word of God, particularly the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead to walk on the earth 40 days. Then he ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Then in John 3, 16 we're familiar with that, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Of course, most people have heard this verse. In order to have everlasting life, then or salvation, you have to believe in Jesus, the Son of God and the facts mentioned above about Him.

Eric: 29:06

Also in Luke 13, three, it says, I tell you, I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. This para, passage doesn't say anything about salvation, but it does tell that if you do don't repent or turn away from your sins, you will perish, which is the opposite of living forever. Acts, chapter two, verse 38 says And Peter said to them, Repent, let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the condition that most people who claim to be Christians fail to get right. Peter responded to those people who asked, Men and brethren what what must we do, when they are convicted that they have been responsible for Jesus death. Notice the reason given for baptism and for the remission of sins. Peter was saying that it was required baptism in order to have these sins forgiven.

Arnie: 30:15

Revelation, chapter two and verse 10 is also a passage that we want to conclude our study with this afternoon. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. Being faithful involves doing your best to live your life for Christ, to model your life after his, to realize that you occasionally fail or fall, and that you have the opportunity to confess those failings to God, who will faithfully forgive you. Yes, we, who serve God faithfully, have a wonderful inheritance to look forward to, and it will occur just after Jesus comes back in the air, we will rise to meet him there, and we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and we'll live with Him forever. We hope that you'll consider these things that we've talked about today. We look forward to being with you next week. We hope that you'll come worship with us at Woodland church of Christ. 3370, Broad Street Extension here in Sumter. Have a good week.