28 January 2024: When will Jesus return? (part 12)

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

28 January 2024

Welcome

“To make bread we need to use yeast. Likewise, we need the Holy Spirit to become children of God. Believe in Jesus is the sure and only way of salvation, and then let’s trust Him for every blessing from above, especially for more of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Stella

Worship

Word

When will Jesus return?

This week we will briefly look at (2) Premillennialism, sometimes referred to as Classic or Historic Premillennialism, (and in older literature as Chiliasm which is rarely used now – from Greek word ‘chilioi’ which means ‘a thousand’) which states that Christ will return before the millennium.

Premillennialists believe (again there are various beliefs within Premillennialism) that as the present Church Age nears the end, a time of great tribulation will occur on earth after which Christ will come again and establish His millennial kingdom (an alternative belief is that Christ will return before the time of tribulation). All believers who have died will be raised to life receiving their glorified resurrection bodies. They will reign on earth with Christ for a thousand years (some don’t take this literally but believe it stands for a long period of time). Those believers still living when Christ returns will be changed in the twinkling of an eye receiving glorified resurrected bodies. Many unbelievers will turn to Christ during this period and be saved. Jesus will be physically present reigning as King over all in perfect righteousness. This period will be a time of great peace throughout the earth.

Again there is a difference of belief in that some premillennialists believe the earth and heavens will be renewed at this time but others that the new heavens and earth won’t be established until after the final judgement. Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit at the beginning of the millennium, and will have no influence on humankind (Rev. 20:1-3). At the end of this period, Satan will be loosed and will gather unbelievers and those who are not genuine believers to battle against Christ only to be decisively defeated. All unbelievers who have died will be raised to life and stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

As mentioned, there are those who believe not only that Christ will return before the millennium (premillennial), but also that Christ will return before the tribulation (pretribulational) which will add another return of Christ before his return to reign on earth during the millennium. This will be a secret return, sometimes referred to as the rapture, whereby Christ takes believers to Himself. Then follows the great tribulation on earth for seven years during which time many Jews will come to believe in Jesus as their Messiah. At the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His people to reign for 1,000 years Then the rebellion will take place as Satan is released for a short time only for him and his forces to be decisively defeated. Thus follows the resurrection of unbelievers and the final judgement.

Quote of the week

“What will you see when the great event of Christ’s return takes place? You will see the eternal Son of God return in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will come to raise the dead saints and to change the living ones, to punish the wicked and to reward the godly.”

J. C. Ryle

Verse of the week

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 

1 Thess 4:16-17

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, there are things we do not know, things not disclosed in Your Word; but help us by Your Holy Spirit to be faithful to do the things that we do know from Your Word, that we might all hear You say, ‘Well done good and faithful servant’ in Jesus Christ, Amen.