Article 10 – Last Things
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God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.*
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end.
The first words of the article make one thing very clear – God alone is in control of everything that will happen at the end of time. Everything will unfold in His time and in His way.
This truth underscores the sovereignty of God. From everlasting to everlasting, God is in control. Psalm 115:3 says it best – “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”
In this case, God is going to “bring the world to its appropriate end.” “Appropriate” has a world of different meanings, depending on who you ask. In this case the meaning is certain – everything will end exactly the way Jehovah wants it to end!
The fact that God is sovereign and His perfect will is going to finally be accomplished in the end of time in no way contradicts with the free will of man. Man has the power to choose righteousness (life) or wickedness (death) – see Deut. 30:19.
God grants us the power of choice, but all our choices are woven into the fabric of His perfect will. His plan IS being accomplished even now.
According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth;
One thing Article 10 doesn’t mention – but must be mentioned – is the rapture of the church. I imagine the original framers of the BF&M left it out because it has been a divisive doctrine over time.
We know Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father – “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.” (Heb. 10:12-13)
The Scripture is clear about the rapture – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will 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.” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
When Jesus raises the dead and raptures His church, Antichrist will come to power – “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Rev. 6:1-2)
The Bible calls him the Antichrist, the Beast, and “the man of sin” among other things (2 Thess. 2:3). With the false prophet at his side, he will reign throughout the 7-year Tribulation.
Rev. 6-18 goes into great detail about the sorts of judgments that will be lavished upon the earth during the Tribulation – waters turned to blood, pestilence, flesh-eating locusts, etc.
Why seven years? Because Daniel 9 tells us that “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins… Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” (Daniel 9:24-25).
In this Daniel prophecy, each of the seventy weeks represent a period of seven years. Thus, 69 times 7 is 483 years. The prophecy is amazingly accurate, as there was 483 years between the decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah (March 14, 445 BC) and the crucifixion of Jesus (April 6, A.D. 32). It took 49 years (seven weeks) to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and then there was another 434 years (sixty-two weeks) until the crucifixion of Jesus. Amazing!
7 and 62 only make up 69 weeks, but there is still one week left. That is the seven year period of Tribulation – “He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27) Antichrist will require everyone to take the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16ff) and to worship him alone.
Once the seven year period has come to an end and hate & violence is reigning on the earth, the Antichrist will assembly a “global” alliance of nations to make war against the Lord and His elect at Armageddon – “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Rev. 16:12-16).
Just when it seems all hope is lost, Revelation 19 tells us about the other army arriving for battle. They’re led by One riding a white horse – “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS… And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Rev. 19:11-16, 19-21)
As the article says, clearly Jesus will return personally (in person), and visibly (even those who pierced Him shall see Him – Rev. 1:7), and in glory (see Rev. 1) and the way to the earth (as opposed to the rapture where He stops in the heavens).
the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness.
As we’ve already said, the dead will be raised back to life at the end of time. All the children of God will be raised to life at the rapture, but all those who died in unbelief will be resurrected to receive their judgment.
Rev. 20:11-15 – “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Jesus will be the One making the final judgment, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10)
And lest someone thinks they will escape final judgment because they DO or DON’T believe in God, the Scripture is clear – “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
No one will escape justice at the end of time because FINALLY justice will be achieved when Jesus judges every member of the human race in righteousness – no bias, favoritism, or corruption.
The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment.
At the judgment seat of Christ, the Bible is clear that the unrighteousness – those who have not received the imputed righteousness of Christ through faith in Jesus – will be consigned to hell.
What is hell?
A place prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41)
A place of eternal torment (Mark 9:42-48 – the fire is not quenched and the worm doesn’t die)
A place consumed by the blackness of darkness (2 Pet. 2:17, Jude 13)
A place where the unrighteous will be tormented by the remembrance of all the opportunities they had to trust Christ (Luke 16)
A place where the mercy of God no longer exists – only wrath (Luke 16)
Only a fool would want to go to a place of horrible torture and everlasting punishment! And yet, I’ve heard some people say they’re going to live how they want so they can go be with their family or buddies in hell.
The sad part – the greatest soulwinners in existence are in hell: “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ (Luke 16:27-31)
Some teach the false doctrine of annihilationism – the idea that God does send people to hell but that they cease to exist after a temporary amount of time. That’s not what Scripture teaches – sadly the torment of hell is forever. It’s ironic how the same folks who don’t want hell to last forever have no trouble with heaven lasting forever.
The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
When the righteous are raised back to life, they will receive brand-new, incorruptible, immortal bodies! Paul said – “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:50-53)
What will our new bodies be like? We don’t know exactly for sure, but we know one thing – they will be like Christ’s! – “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) Lord, to be like thee is good enough for me!
In heaven, we will be rewarded according to all we’ve done with Christ since our regeneration. Paul said, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:11f)
If you are saved, your salvation will not be in question at the judgment seat of Christ, but the amount of your heavenly reward will be. Therefore, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20)
Rev. 21-22 tells us about the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem – streets of gold, walls of jasper, crystal seas, etc. No mind or heart has fully conceived how wonderful it will be! Every tear will be wiped from their eyes (Rev. 21:4).
Heaven will be heaven because Jesus is there! We will worship and rest in the glorious light of the Lamb of God forever! What a day that will be!