Rev 1:19  Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Creation/Flood/Israel/Cross/Church/Rapture/Bema/M.Feast/Tribu lation/2^nd Coming/Armageddon/Kingdom/Magog/GWThrone/Eternal

I. WHY?

Profitability of all scripture 2Tim 3:16; Promise of blessing; Rev 1:3; Warning against sins of the "church age" Rev 2-3; Perspective: God's got a plan and perfect timing; Reminder that this life is not all there is; Things will change; God does and will do things beyond our normal experience; Certainty of future justice, judgment, reward; Greater insight into character and actions of Christ=basis for worship

2Pt 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and eagerly expecting the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

II. Terminology of the Day of the Lord

 (The Return of Christ to Fulfill prophecy/promises, judge and rule)

Mt 24:27  "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

1. Kingdom: In literal fulfillment of the Abrahamic Gen 12&17:8; Ez 47, Davidic 2Sam 7; Ps 89, and New covenants Jer 31:31-40 {inviolate promises of God Isa 40}, Christ will reign from David’s throne over a regathered and restored Israel Amos 3:15 for a literal 1000 years = MILLENNIUM, sharing His rule with those who are faithful to Him (cf Messianic AGE, Davidic Kingdom) (cx “within you/midsts” Lk 17:21).  The Kingdom of Heaven(s) is from the heavenS (cx “which is heaven”); The Kingdom of God is from God (cx “is God”).

2. Premillenial: The Lord Jesus will visibly & bodily RETURN from heaven to gather His church, judge His enemies, and set up the promised future Kingdom. (cx Post & Amillennial) Ac 1:11; 1Thess 4:16-17; Rev 5; 11:15-19; 19:11-21; 20; Lk 19:11-27; Dan 7:13-27; 2Sam 7:8-16

3. Pretribulational: The Rapture of the C h u r c h (caught up to be with Christ) after apostasy before the Trib (cx Mid & Posttrib) 2Thess 2

4. Tribu lation: The last seven year period from Daniel’s prophecy of 70 “weeks” (inaugurated by the a covenant made with Israel by the Anti-Christ). During which the Lamb pours out His wrath on His enemies with seven seal judgments, seven trumpets, and seven bowls (which John saw and recorded in the Bk of Revelation) after the Rapture and before the Millennium. {Dan 9:26-27;11:36; Mt 24; Rev 6-18}

5.  Resurrections: Both believers and unbelievers will be resurrected; the former before the Millennium, the latter after.  1Cor 15:20-24; Rev 20:4-6

6. Judgments Both believers {Bema Seat Judgment 1Cor 3:10-15; 2Cor 5} and unbelievers {Great White Throne Rev 20:11-15} will be judged & recompensed; the former for their service, the latter for their sins. {Rev 5:10; 20:1-7; Mt 19:28}

7. The E t e r n a l State: The dwelling of God with believers of faithful noble character on a new earth {Rev 21:1; I Cor 15:28; II Pt 3:3-14}

III. The 1000 year Kingdom = Millennium

[For charts see: members.citynet.net/morton/charts.htm]

Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17  saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19  Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Rev 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3  and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived  and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

7  Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8  and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9  They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Questions for Discussion/Reflection/Response:

1. How does understanding the "big picture" give focus and motivation for the daily activities of your life? What's glory go to do w/ it?

2. What's the correct response to folks who ignore what God has said about the future? Who put too much emphasis on prophecy?

3. What kind of significance do we as humans and believers have in light of Biblical eschatology?

4. What keeps someone from thinking about the future? What do they think about instead? Anything wrong with Power/Pleasure/Possessions?

5. What shift would have to take place in your values and thinking in order for you to be eagerly and earnestly desiring Christ's return?