Eternity and End times

2 returns of Jesus.

• First for the church.
• Second (7 years later) to judge the earth, fight and defeat satan and his army, and to set up His literal /kingdom on the earth.
       John 14 refers to the first return of Christ called the rapture.
• Because He says that He will "take us" to a place he has prepared for us.

The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

• The word "rapture" is derived from the Latin word "raptu", which means "caught away or caught up."
• It is briefly preceded by the resurrection of the "dead in Christ."
• The Rapture is the first major event that will mark the beginning of a 7 year countdown to the return of Christ when He will set up His literal 1,000 year reign on the earth.
• This 7 year period is called the Great Tribulation.
• Matthew 24

There will be false christs and many antichrists. (v. 4-5)

Antichrists have these things in common:

1. A desire to conquer the world.
2. A hatred for the Jews.
3. A desire to be worshipped.

People are going to go from bad to worse. (v. 6-13)

• There's going to be wars, and more wars, and more wars. (6)
• There will be persecution against followers of Christ. (9-10)
• Many will worship the antichrist as if he truly is Christ. (11)
• Most believers will fall away. (12-13) It's not the persecution of Christians that will lead to their love growing cold. Persecution has usually helped the church, not hurt it. It will be the compromise of Christians that will cause their love to grow cold. Like a frog boiled alive in a pot of water.

The gospel will get delivered to all people. (14)

• Everyone is going to have a chance to hear the good news by His return.
• The question is whether you are going to actively spread the Word or not.

The sun, moon, stars, and earth will all react to the second coming of Christ.

• Famines and earthquakes (v 7-8)
• Read v. 29

Jesus will return. (v. 30)

• It will be an unmistakable, glorious return.
• Revelation 19:11-21 is heavens viewpoint of Christ's return.
• He will fight and defeat Satan, the antichrist, and the human army that he has unified just outside of Jerusalem in a bloodbath.

The future of Satan and People

• Jesus will bind satan for 1000 years. (Revelation 20:1-2)
• For that 1,000 years you and I will rule with Him on the earth with new glorified bodies. And we will help govern the people who neither chose to serve God nor the antichrist that make it through the those terrible last 7 years.
• Satan will be released and gather all of those who despise Jesus one more time for THE final battle. (Revelation 20:7-10)
• Finally Jesus will judge everyone who ever lived. (Revelation 20:11-15)

New Heavens and a New Earth will be created.

• Revelation 21:1-8

So what should you do with this info?

1. Wake Up.
2. Keep Waiting.
3. Keep Walking with God.
4. Keep watching for our departure.