EXPLAINING HUMAN DESTINIES IN BIBLE PROPHECY (CHARTED)

Part I: Explaining Human Destinies From Eternity Past To The Church

 

I.                 Introduction

A.    After our initial, one lesson on “Human Destinies In Bible Prophecy (Charted),” remarks by class members revealed the need for us to give a follow-up series of lessons that explain key details of that initial, one lesson.

B.     To preserve our initial lesson’s goal to provide a summary overview of the prophecy subject, we use the same chart of our initial, one lesson but detail key subjects of that chart in a subsequent five-part series of lessons.

C.     Thus, in the first lesson in this lesson series, we detail key parts of destinies from eternity past to the Church:

II.              Explaining Human Destinies From Eternity Past To The Church.

A.    God is eternal, so He existed in eternity past before He created the universe, Deuteronomy 33:27; Genesis 1:1.

B.     After creation and the entrance of sin into the human race by Adam’s Fall (Gen. 3:1-24), when an unbeliever dies in history, he goes to Hell (Hades) (Lk. 16:22-24) until the Rev. 20:11-15 Great White Throne judgment.

C.     Between Adam’s Fall and the start of the Millennium (or Millennial Kingdom or M. K. on the chart), the souls of all deceased Old Testament (O. T. on the chart) saints and Tribulation (Trib. on the chart) saints go to heaven (Luke 16:22) until they are raised to enter the Millennium (Daniel 12:12-13; Revelation 20:4-5).

D.    O. T. Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and O. T. Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) were raptured and will return to earth at the start of the Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 16:28-17:3), and the Revelation 11:11-12 two witnesses in the second half of the Tribulation are raised and ascend to heaven to return to earth at the start of the Millennial Kingdom.

E.     However, when Christians die, they instantly go to heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) until the rapture when God raises them, translates living believers and takes them all to heaven to be with Christ forever, 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

F.      This rapture occurs before the Tribulation era (“pre-tribulation” view) according to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-14:

1.      The rapture cannot occur at the end of the Tribulation (“posttribulation” view), for that era is judgment for rejecting Christ’s gospel, what no true Christian does, so no true Christian will face it, 2 Thess. 2:1-12.

2.      The rapture cannot occur in the midst of the Tribulation (“pre-wrath” view) when the Church allegedly has an easier time when the antichrist deviously forms a treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27a), for even the antichrist’s Dan. 9:27a ruse that starts the Tribulation era is a judgment no Christian faces, 2 Thess. 2:6ff.

3.      The rapture cannot occur throughout the Tribulation era when Christians supposedly mature in that era’s trials (“partial” rapture view), for 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 reveals that every true Christian is exempt from the Tribulation era for his belief in the truth of the Gospel, not by maturing as a true Christian.

4.      Thus, by way of the teaching of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-14, we hold to the “pre-tribulation rapture” view.

G.    Christ will then judge the Church in heaven at His Bema Seat Judgment and reward Christian for their works, 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15.  The bases for this judgment are given in various Scriptures:

1.      Christians will receive wreath crowns as victors (stephanos, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 774-775) for specific achievements in life and service in their Christian lives on earth:

                             a.  They will receive a wreath crown of life for overcoming temptation (James 1:12).

                            b.  They will receive a wreath crown of joy for leading others to Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

                             c.  They will receive a wreath crown of righteousness for loving Christ’s coming (2 Timothy 4:8).

                            d.  They will receive an incorruptible wreath crown for self-discipline to enhance a ministry (1 Cor. 9:25). 

                             e.  Christian leaders will receive a wreath crown of glory for leading in righteous ways (1 Peter 5:1-4).

2.      Christians will be rewarded based on how they used the opportunities to serve God that they received.  Luke 19:12-27 teaches each man is given the same amount of money but is rewarded by how much he increases it by “the equal opportunity of life itself.” (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Luke 19:13)

3.      Christians will be rewarded for faithfulness in using their gifts.  Matthew 25:14-30 teaches the master requires production regardless of the varying amounts he gives his men (Ibid., ftn. to Matt. 25:21, 23, 26).

4.      Christians will receive rewards based on their inner motives that Christ will reveal (1 Corinthians 4:1-5).

5.      God will judge the spiritual quality (hopoios, U. B. S. Grk. N. T., p. 584) of their works, 1 Cor. 3:13 NIV.

 

Lesson: On issues of concern between eternity past and the Church, we hold to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view, and the bases by which Christ will judge believers’ works after the Rapture include overcoming temptation, leading others to Christ, loving Christ’s coming, exercising self-discipline to enhance a ministry, leading Biblically, using opportunities to serve Christ, serving faithfully, serving with godly motives and serving with spiritual quality.

 

Application: May we believers in Christ prepare to meet the Lord at the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.