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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE AND ANSWERS FROM THE WORD OF GOD
STUDY # 6
God speaks to us through his Word. When we reject his Word, we are disobedient. There will be a consequence for disobedience. Remember Moses and Aaron (Num. 20: 6)!
We read concerning Scripture:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training for righteous living so that a servant of God will be well prepared for works of service (2 Tim. 3:16).
No prophecy was given by the prophet's own understanding. But prophets spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1: 20-21).
A servant of God must make every effort to correctly explain the truth of Scripture (2 Tim. 2: 15).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1) Will the saints be exposed to the rule of the Antichrist? Certainly!
a) The saints will be handed over to him.
" ... The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time" (Dan. 7: 25).
b) The Antichrist will make war against the saints.
"He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. ..." (Rev.13:7).
2) How long will the tribulation last?
There is scriptural evidence that the tribulation will last for three and a half years or forty-two months.
a) "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time" (Dan. 7:25).
b) "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months" (Rev. 13:5).
3) Will there be more than one future coming (appearing) of our LORD? No! (Matt. 24: 29-31, 36-41; Matt. 25: 31-46; Col.3:4; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; 2 Pet.3; Rev. 1:7).
4) Will there be more than one future resurrection? No! (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15).
5) Will there be more than one day of judgment? No! (John 12: 48; Acts 17: 31; 2 Tim. 4: 1; Heb. 9 ; 27; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 7; Rev. 11: 18).(John 12:48; Acts 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 9:27; 1 Pet. 4
6) What is the rapture?
The word rapture is not found in the Scriptures. It is derived from the Latin verb "rapio" which is used in the Latin Bible. It means seize, snatch or catch up.
The rapture is:
a) The gathering of people before Jesus (Matt. 25:32).
b) The gathering of people to Jesus (2 Thess. 2:1)
c) The catching up of people in the clouds to meet Jesus (1 Thess. 4:17).
d) Appearing with Christ in glory (Col 3:4).
e) The gathering of the Lord's elect (Matt. 24: 31).
7) When will the rapture take place?
Since there will be only one future resurrection of all the dead, therefore, the rapture will take place when the resurrection occurs (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15).
8) When will the resurrection happen?
a) On the day of the LORD, after the man of lawlessness (NIV), (the Antichrist), is revealed (2 Thess. 2:1-4).
b) At the last day (John 6:39-40).
c) At the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:50-52).
d) On the day of restoration (Acts 3:21).
e) After the seventh angel sounds his trumpet (Rev. 11:18).
f) On the day of judgment ( the day of the LORD, the day of God (2 Pet. 3:3-13). (see 1 Cor. 15:20-23; 1 Thess. 4: 16-17).
9) What is the day of the LORD?
The day of the LORD is not an extended period of time, as some teach. The day of the LORD is a moment in the future known only by God the Father.
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in haven nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matt. 24: 29 - 31; Mark 13: 32 ).
When that moment arrives, God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will interrupt and terminate time and usher in eternity.
" ... But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (2 Pet. 3:13).
10) When will the thousand years be fulfilled?
The apostle Peter informs us that there will be one future coming of our LORD. It will occur on the day of judgement (the day of the LORD- the day of God), when God will restore everything by creating a new heaven and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:3-13).
We read:
"But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare" (2 Pet. 3:10).
Since God will create a new heaven and a new earth on the day of judgement at the second coming of our LORD, therefore, the thousand years (Rev. 20:1-7) cannot follow the second coming. THEY MUST PRECEDE IT.
11) Are the thousand years literal?
The thousand years are not literal. They are symbolic and cover an extended period of time.
12) Are both thousand years of the same duration (Rev. 20:2; Rev 20:4)?
Both thousand years are of the same duration, since our calculation of the length of our LORD's ministry will be shown to be three and a half years long and the tribulation period will be three and a half years long (Dan 7: 25; Rev. 13:5-8).
The events of the end times are presented in the following diagram. The calculation shows that our LORD ministered for three and a half years.
13) When did the thousand years begin?
In the case of Satan, the thousand years began at the commencement of our LORD's ministry ( Rev. 20: 2; Matt. 12: 29), and they will end when he is set free for a short time ( Rev. 12: 12; Rev. 20: 3).
Regarding our LORD, the thousand years began at his ascension ( Rev. 20: 4; Acts 1: 9 - 11), and they will end when he comes again (Matt. 25: 31; 1 Cor. 15: 22 - 23; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 2 Thess. 1: 6 - 10; Heb. 9: 27 - 28; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 7 - 10). 14)
14) When will the eternal reign commence?
Our LORD, Jesus Christ, "must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything" ( Acts 3: 21; NIV).
We learn from the apostle Peter that God will restore everything on the day of judgment by creating a new heaven and a new earth ( 2 Pet. 3: 7 - 13). When our LORD, Jesus Christ, comes on the day of judgment, at the last day, at the last trumpet, the resurrection of all the dead will occur and he will judge all nations (Matt. 13: 36 - 43; Matt. 25: 31 - 46; John 5: 28 - 29; John 6: 39 - 40; 1 Cor. 15: 22 - 23; 1 Cor. 15: 50 - 52; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 4, 7, 10, 13; Rev. 11: 18). The righteous will go into eternal life in glorious bodies in their new home, the Holy City, the new Jerusalem and the unrighteous into eternal punishment, in the fiery lake of burning sulfur ( Matt. 13: 36 - 43; Matt. 25: 31 - 46; Rev. 11: 18; Rev. 14: 14 - 20; Rev
15) What about God's eternal day?
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” ( Phil. 3: 20 - 21
“ … Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime - a day known to the LORD" ( Zech. 14: 5 - 7, 9).
16) What is the mystery of God ( Rev. 10: 7).
Is it the resurrection of all the dead?
Is it the transformation of the bodies of believers into glorious bodies?
Is it the descent of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem?
Is it the creation of the new heaven and the new earth?
NOTE Since there will be only one future coming of our LORD, therefore, the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture must be the same event ( 2 Pet. 3: 3 - 13; Matt. 25: 31; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17).
Since God will create a new heaven and a new earth on the day of judgment, at the second coming of our LORD, therefore, the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20: 1-7 cannot follow the second coming. THEY MUST PRECEDE IT. Because time and eternity cannot coexist. The millennium is now in progress.
"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers".
Copyright t Ⓒ 2021 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A. Hons.Psy. (York University, Toronto), M.Ed. Educ. Admin. (University of Toronto), M.A. Biblical Studies, MAGNA CUM LAUDE (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA; USA).
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Name: Joseph Emmanuel Mahabir
