Human history is racing toward its crescendo. Jesus will return in glory, and we will all be witnesses. What will it look like? What will precede that coming? What follows after it? Join Pastor Tony at Messiah Bible Church to learn more about these “Final Things,” in an eight-week series exploring topics including:
- The Second Coming,
- The Millennium,
- The Eternal State,
- The New Jerusalem,
- The Church Age and the Intermediate State,
- The Rapture,
- The Tribulation,
- The Church and Israel.
From the earliest days of the early church, Christians have held to the truth that “Christ ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.” These words are part of the Apostles’ Creed, which speaks in future-tense language about Christ’s return: “He will come to judge the living and the dead.”
Christ’s return and this future judgment are equal parts terrifying for those who oppose him and electrifying for those who believe in him. And accompanying Christ’s judgment will be the restoration of all. God will recreate the world including a new heaven and a new earth. And our eternal abode will emerge as well—The New Jerusalem. This will be the place of everlasting joy and peace in God’s presence for God’s people. As John writes in the book of Revelation: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (21:3–4).
This topic is what theologians refer to as eschatology (the study of end times). This is the future hope that we have to look forward to as Christians. This is how God will bring about the end of our world, as presently constituted, and set up a new world. These are the “Final Things.”
