Great Doctrines of the Church
Before, At Christ's Return & After Christ's Return
BEFORE CHRIST'S RETURN
Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
AT CHRIST'S RETURN
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?
Matthew 24:36-42
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of No'-e were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that No'-e entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, A-men'.
Psalm 37:9, 11, 22
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
AFTER CHRIST'S RETURN
1 Corinthians 15:23-26, 51 & 52
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 JOHN 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
POINTS TO PONDER:
1. Not Jesus Himself, nor any of the apostles, the early church fathers, and not one of the reformers ever spoke or wrote a single word about a rapture.
2. The teaching of a rapture or a millennial reign was unheard of until the mid-19th Century.
3. There isn't a single verse that speaks of Christ leaving the earth when he returns.
4. The general resurrection will raise every human who has ever lived.
5. The resurrection of the just and the unjust will occur at the same time.
Assistant Pastor: Dale Brewer
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
