OUTLINE OF GOD'S FUTURE PLANS

I am afraid that too many Christians are NOT being taught the wonderful truths of what the future holds for all believers.  In our thoughts we want to give you a preview and outline of future events as we believe the Bible teaches they will occur.  These future events are clearly given in the Holy Scriptures and if one will search the scriptures they can enjoy these truths for themselves.

God, from the beginning has given prophecy of the end time.  As time progressed he gave more and more because he wanted us to know of his great plan for all those who receive his Son as their savior.   The Old Testament as well as the New Testament is filled with predictions that God gave the prophets to share with his people.

There are five significant judgments mentioned in the Bible.  We will give you a brief explanation of each.

THE FIVE JUDGMENTS SEEN IN THE BIBLE

1 - Calvary

Jesus is judged for the whole world’s sin. 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2

Take the time to look up each of these scriptures we give you and it will aid you in more clearly understanding.

The Calvary judgment is when Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.  All people’s sins have been paid for by Jesus on the cross.  But, to have the benefit of this one must turn from their own sin and trust Jesus as their own personal savior.

2 - Bema Judgment

After the Rapture - The Believer’s are judged to determine whether or not they were faithful in serving the Lord. If they should receive any rewards (Crowns) or not. This has nothing to do with salvation. Jesus paid for our sins, therefore we don’t have any sins to be judged. He was judged for them! Only our works, or, how well we served Jesus after we were saved are judged.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  Romans 14:10-12

3 - Judgment of Jews (ISRAEL)

The blunt of the Tribulation is on the Jews for not accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Matthew 24:21, Deuteronomy 4:30

It was the Jews who demanded that Jesus be crucified.  They did not want him to rule over them because they were looking for a Messiah who would deliver them out of Roman rule.   For them a suffering savior was not permissible even though Isaiah in chapter fifty three predicted it. The Psalmist in Psalms twenty two, and other scriptures like Zechariah chapter twelve predicted it as well.

Two thirds of the Jews will all be killed before Jesus comes back, delivers them and sets up his kingdom in Jerusalem.

4 - Judgment of Gentile Nations 

This is ALL the nations but Israel. This will determine the people who are saved out of the nations that helped Israel. Matthew 25:32 

When Jesus returns at his second coming at the end of the seven year tribulation, the people who survived the tribulation time will be judged to see who, by faith, had helped the Jews.  These will then be allowed to enter the Kingdom age and enjoy the one thousand year reign of Christ. 

Satan will be bound during this time in the bottomless pit.  The earth will produce like it has never produced and there will be peace and great prosperity like never before.

5 - Great White Throne Judgment

All of the unsaved are judged here to determine the severity of their punishment in the Lake of Fire.  Revelation 20:11-13

Not even one person still here can be saved at this judgment.  This includes all the people of the world who have ever lived and were not saved.  They will be gathered here to determine their future judgment in the Lake of Fire which burns with brimstone.

They are all here because they would not accept the Savior who died and paid for their sins on Calvary.  Now they must begin to pay for their own sins in HELL! In eternal torments.

Their sin against Holy God is that deserving.  God wanted to forgive them, but they refused to believe and repent of their sins accepting Jesus as their own savior.

THE FIVE CROWNS WE CAN RECEIVE

1 - The Incorruptible Crown

Given to those who can master the old nature (the flesh).

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway:  1 Corinthians  9:25-27

As believers we cannot allow our flesh to rule our lives. We must be led by the Holy Spirit and live by God’s Word.

2 - The Crown of Rejoicing 

Given to soul-winners - There will be a special crown given to those who work to get people saved.  You can get this crown by telling others of Jesus and his love.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.  Proverbs 11:30

3 - The Crown of Life

Given to those who successfully endure temptation - God is going to test all of us to see just how faithful we will be. Our faithfulness in serving God after we’re saved will determine whether or not we will receive this, or any reward (crown).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  James 1:12

4 - The Crown of Righteousness

Given to those who love the teachings of the rapture, and of his appearing.  This is a crown that every believer could receive if they would live looking for the rapture of the church.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  2 Timothy 4:8

5 - The Crown of Glory

Given to faithful preachers who teach His Word.  Only the faithful preachers and bible teachers will receive this crown.  Those that minister must minister with the right attitude and live a moral and ethical life.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  1 Peter 5:2-4

OVERVIEW:  SEQUENCE OF FUTURE EVENTS

The Rapture

This is the next event to take place according to the scriptures.  This is the calling out of the world of all born again believers which make up the church to meet the Lord in the air.  This can happen at any moment without any warning.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Bema Judgment (FOR THE BELIEVERS)

This is the Judgment Seat of Christ where all believers of the church age will be examined before the Lord to see how we lived after we were saved.  Salvation is free, but believers can earn rewards when we are judged if we have been faithful. Our faithfulness will be decided by our Lord and Savior, ONLY!

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 abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 
1 Corinthians 3 13-15 

The Wedding 

The believers of the church age will be the bride of Christ and we will be wedded to him after the Bema judgment. It will be the most expensive and biggest wedding ever. Then after the wedding there will be the wedding supper.  Some scholars think this will be upon the earth during the earthly reign of Christ. 

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.  Revelation 19:7-9

The Seven Year Tribulation

After the rapture of the church billions of people will be left behind to die during this time of judgment. They will experience the most horrible time this world has ever known as God pours out his wrath upon unrepentant mankind. My friends, Jesus said this! 

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Revelation 6:15-16 

Second Coming of Christ

The Old Testament saints will be raised and Jesus will end the battle of Armageddon before man annihilates himself.  This is at the end of the seven year tribulation.  It is then Jesus will set up his one thousand year reign upon the earth.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  Revelation 19:11-12 

Armageddon 

The last battle when all the nations of the world gather to destroy Israel. But Jesus comes, saves her, and destroys all her enemies.

Millennial Reign Begins

Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. At the end Satan is let loose for a short time. He gathers together a multitude of the unsaved for another short war against Jesus and loses again.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  And cast him into the   bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Revelation 20: 2-3

Satan Thrown Into the Lake of Fire

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

The Lake of Fire was made for the devil in the beginning.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41

All Unsaved Resurrected for Judgment

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-14

Every unsaved person of all ages will stand before the Judge of all the earth and give an account for every thought, word, and deed.

Jesus Renovates Earth

And I 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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Revelation 21:1-4

ETERNITY begins, and praise God for salvation in Jesus!

Heavenly Father we praise you for who you are and for what you have done to save us from our sins.  Thank you for planning such a glorious future for all the children of God. Amen - Preacher