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ETERNITY? SECOND RESURRECTION? MILLENNIUM? JUDGMENT? ANTICHRIST? SATAN? HELL? HEAVEN? ARMAGEDDON? GREAT TRIBULATION? RAPTURE?
QUESTION: WHERE DOES THE SOUL GO AFTER DEATH? ANSWER: According to the scripture the destiny of men’s souls are determined by the kind of life they lived. The souls of the unrighteous goes directly to "HADES" (Hell translated from the Greek) after death, as it were in the case of the parable Jesus told of the rich man who died ... And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:23) On the contrary, the soul of the righteous died enters into PARADISE. Jesus illustrated this fact also in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus ... And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom (Luke 26:22)
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE RAPTURE? ANSWER: The RAPTURE is the event, which will take place just before the period of the ANTICHRIST and the GREAT TRIBULATION. It is the time when Christ Himself shall return and take His people out of this world. (I Thessalonians 4:15-7) It will be a sudden and unexpected event. Two things will happen in the RAPTURE. FIRST, the resurrection and translation of the "DEAD IN CHRIST". SECOND, the translation of the "LIVING SAINTS". Jesus revealed this in His conversation with Martha. He said to her ... I am the resurrection and the Life, he that believeth in me though he were dead yet he live (First Resurrection Saints) and whosoever liveth (those alive when he comes back) and believeth in me shall never die ... (John 11:25-26) The Apostle Paul explains ... "Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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." (I Corinthians 15:51-52) In (I Thessalonians 4:17-18), he concludes the chapter with these words ... 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE "JUDGMENT OF THE SAINT' mean? ANSWER: THE SAINT WILL NOT BE JUDGED FOR SIN. THE "SIN QUESTION' has already been settled in his life by Christ's death on the cross. According to the scripture, the SAINTS will be judged according to his works. (I Corinthians 3:13-15) ... "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire: and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire... While there is no reward for the SAINT dead works, there will be no punishment. All the SAINTS "dead works" will be consumed and only his "good works" shall remain. After this comes the day for rewards or the crowning day. The New Testament speaks of FIVE CROWNS that will be given. First, "The CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS", this is the crown of those who love His appearing II Timothy 4:8. Second, the" CROWN OF REJOICING", This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. I Thessalonians 2:19,20. Third, the "CROWN OF LIFE", this is the Martyr's crown and is mentioned twice in the New Testament (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10), Fourth, "The CROWN OF GLORY", this is the Pastor’s Crown (I Peter 5:2-4). Fifth, "The CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE", this is the crown for the over comers who keep under their body" (I Corinthians 9:25-27).
QUESTION: WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE JUDGMENT OF THE SAINTS TAKE PLACE? ANSWER: It will take place after the rapture during the period of the Great tribulation upon the earth. The place will be "in the air" before the Judgment Seat of Christ. (II Corinthians 4:5, I Thessalonians 4:17) QUESTION: WILL THE SAINTS GO THROUGH THE PERIOD OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION? ANSWER: No, the Bible prophetically refers to the Great tribulation as the period following the rapture of the church. Therefore, the Saints shall be caught up out of the world, (both those alive and in the grave) (Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Tribulations is not for the perfecting of the Saints. God's plan is to keep the true saints out of it. During the period of the Great Tribulation upon the earth, God's people will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and afterwards will enter into the Marriage supper of the Lamb ... "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come" ... (Revelation 19:7) The time of Great Tribulation will be upon the earth, It is the "Day of the Antichrist".
QUESTION: WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST? ANSWER: The Antichrist is Satan manifested in the flesh. He is the Beast out of the sea that John spoke of in (Revelation 13:1-7): "The Son of Perdition" Jesus referred to in (St. John 17:12): "The Man of sin" Paul wrote about in his letter to the Thessalonians (II Thessalonians 2:3-10). His evil corrupt personality will be clearly seen and felt during the period of tribulation. The false prophet will declare his name to the nations of the world under false pretenses. He will appear as a great humanitarian and will persuade many that he has come to usher in the "Golden Ages" as pictured by the prophets. Many as their messiah will receive him. He shall speak great words against the Most High (Daniel 7:25). He shall also stand up against Jesus (Daniel 8:25) and cause great persecution upon those who do not worship him, particularly the Jews. The antichrist's final doom will be the lake of fire where he and the false prophet will be cast alive during the war of Armageddon
QUESTION: WHEN AND WHAT IS THE WAR OF ARMAGEDDON? ANSWER: The battle of Armageddon will be at the close of the Tribulation period ... It will be a battle between the allied armies of the Antichrist and the "Heavenly Army of Christ". This battle is described in (Revelation 19:11-21). The Lord Jesus shall descend upon the Mount of Olive (Zechariah 14:4). This will be the second part of Christ's coming "The Revelation". The armies of the Antichrist will gather in the Valley of Megiddo, North of Jerusalem to besiege that city. The Lord, who will lead the armies of Heaven, will destroy the armies of the Antichrist. It will be a supernatural means of destruction for it will proceed out of the mouth of the "White Horse Rider" (Christ) (Revelation 19:15). The Antichrist and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire and will still be there when Satan is cast in a thousand years later. It is significant to note here that the battle of Armageddon preceded the peaceful Millennial Reign (1,000 years) of Christ and closes the terrible period of the Antichrist Reign.
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE MILLENNIUM? ANSWER: The Millennium specifically refers to the period that Christ and His Saints shall peacefully reign for a thousand years upon the earth. It will follow the Tribulation Period and precede the final judgment before "the Great White Throne". (Revelation 20:4-6) It will also be the period of Satan's imprisonment. The Millennium will begin by the visible return of Christ in Glory to judge and rule the nations. It is the initial stage of the everlasting Kingdom of Christ being set up among men. The wolf and lamb shall feed together. (Isaiah 65:25) At the close of this period Satan will be let loose from the bottomless pit. He shall try and form a federation among men and make a desperate attempt to overthrow the Kingdom of Christ. This war is called "the War of Gog and Magog "(Revelation 20:7-9). Satan will be overthrown by Christ and sent directly to the "Lake of Fire" where he will spend eternity. (Revelation 21:15) The Bible says "Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection" (Revelation 20:6).
QUESTION: WILL THIS EARTH BECOME THE NEW DWELLING PLACE OF THE RIGHTEOUS? ANSWER: Yes, This earth will be renovated (Revelation 21:1) and purged by fire (II Peter 3:7-13. It will become the restored paradise (Revelation 2:7) the new world of righteousness for God's people. St. John in the closing Book of Inspiration said that he saw "A New Heaven and a New Earth: for the First Heaven and the First Earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1) The atmosphere of the earth will be changed but the earth itself "Abideth forever". (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In this New Jerusalem there will be no sin nor sickness (Revelation 21:4). The city will be filled with the "GLORY OF GOD". "For the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23). Eternity will begin, as the earth becomes the new residence of God and His people.
QUESTION: WHAT WILL BE THE FINAL DOOM OF SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS? ANSWER: The final doom of Satan and his followers will be the "LAKE OF FIRE" where they will spend eternity. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE and BRIMSTONE, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever". (Revelation 20:10)
QUESTION: DID GOD INTEND THAT MAN SHOULD BE PUNISHED IN HELL? ANSWER: No, God never intended that man should perish in Hell. Hell was prepared for the Devil and his angels (St. Matthew 25:41). God intended that man should have life everlasting. This is why Jesus came (St. John 10: 10).
QUESTION: IS IT TRUE THAT EVERY MAN'S SOUL MUST SPEND ETERNITY SOMEWHERE? ANSWER: Yes, Man's soul is immortal and therefore it become extinct or without existence. The soul of man is that part of man which is in the image of God. The Bible declares that the wicked souls will be turned into Hell (Psalms 9:17), but the righteous soul will spend eternity with God (St. Matthew 25:46).
QUESTION: HOW LONG IS ETERNITY? ANSWER: Eternity is without end. It is an infinite duration. Therefore the length of Eternity cannot be measured nor determined by men. Eternity is with God. QUESTION: HOW NEAR ARE WE TO THE END OF THIS AGE? ANSWER: I believe we are nearer to the end of this age than we possibly realized. First of all, Jesus informed us that the end of this age would come after many signs had been given. We have only to read of these signs in (St. Luke 21:7-33), (St. Matthew 24:3-14) and look around in this world and see the fulfillment of Christ's prophetic message. The Apostle Paul tells us of the "PERILOUS TIMES" that would come in the last days in (II Timothy 3:1-9). The last days are a time of great distress and perplexity, an increase of lawlessness among men and a falling away from the Faith (II Thessalonians 2:3). For further study upon the last day dilemmas read: (II Peter 2:1-2; I Timothy 4:1; James 5:1-7; II Peter 3:3-4; Luke 17:26-30). There are encouraging signs to believers in these last days. In the midst of the increasing human conflicts and disorders, God promised to pour out His Holy Spirit upon believers, which is also a "Sign Of The Times". God Spoke through the Prophet Joel and said 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (Acts 2:17). The fulfillment of these prophecies is now occurring. We, as believers, have only to enter in this Great Awakening by the Holy Spirit. God is moving in these times, perhaps, more than any other period of the Holy Spirit Age. God is moving in these times, perhaps, more than any other period of this age. This is the time for us to prepare our hearts by seeking God that He may move in us. We must be a people prepared to meet Him. |
