The End Times-Eschatology
- Do you believe in a pre-tribulational rapture of the church?
- Does every believer from all ages go in the rapture?
- Do you believe in a literal Millennium?
- Where do non-believers go after death?
- What do you think of the "Left Behind Series?"
Do you believe in a pre-tribulational rapture of the church?
Yes, I believe the Lord is going to come in the air to catch up his church before the outpouring of God's wrath on the earth. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." This is for New Testament believers (those in Christ) and will take place before the wrath of Chapter 5.
There is much to be said on this issue but this simple response is all we will share here. In the future we will have articles discussing this matter.
Does every believer from all ages go in the rapture?
Only believers that are in Christ will be raptured. The scripture is clear that "being in Christ" is only for those believers after Pentecost in Acts 2. We have a special blessing as the church of being the Bride of Christ and will be caught up together in the air.
Do you believe in a literal Millennium?
Yes, Revelation teaches a literal reign of Christ in chapter 20. As a literalist this should be understood as a literal period of time. There is no justification to allegories or spiritualize this period of time.
Where do non-believers go after death?
When one dies without Christ they are immediately transitioned to Hell. This however is a temporary holding place until the final judgment of non-believers and angels that had sinned. At that time death and Hell will be thrown into the Eternal Lake of Fire, Revelation 21:12-15 "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one [of them] according to their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
What do you think of the "Left Behind Series?"
I agree with the basic theology. I would not go to a novel for doctrine however. I believe that God is using this series to reach many people for Christ.