The Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming, and Eternity
Introduction
Foundations: Why “End Times”?
When I saw “End Times” in the list of topics for this series, I thought; this seems kind of esoteric, and difficult; maybe too hard to understand for the new believer. But I realized, the reason it is part of the Foundations Series is because Jesus Himself taught his disciples this subject during His ministry on earth. Paul thought it essential to teach the Thessalonians in his few weeks with them. This topic of “End Times”, also called, “Prophecy”, “Last Days”, “Future Things”. This is really a study about the sovereignty of God. In other words, the fact that “God is in control”. We believe, as it says in Daniel 4:17 God rules in the kingdom of men. When we look back, we call it “history”, which is “His-Story”. The biblical Christian worldview is that the events of history are purposeful, and time moves forward towards a conclusion that brings glory to God. For the follower of Jesus Christ, God will be glorified in showing grace and mercy, but to those whom God condemns, He’ll be glorified in His righteousness and justice. When we look forward, we call it prophecy. So prophecy is just history written in advance.
As an aside: I hope you understand what I mean when I use the word “worldview”. A person’s worldview is the set of baseline, foundational beliefs upon which they build everything else. It’s like this; when your kids ask you a question, and you give them an answer, and they ask “why?”, you answer again, and they say, “why?”, and you answer that, and they say “Why?”. Ultimately, the answer goes back to; “because God made it that way”. Worldview is the lens through which we look at everything. It is the filter through which we process everything in life. We have a Biblical foundation for how we evaluate everything in our lives. Our approach to everything; politics, how we raise our family, our career, our finances, what we do for education, our approach to science, how we look at history, even how we look at arts and entertainment are all governed by a Biblical Christian worldview. So “End Times” fits very nicely into our “Foundations of the Faith” series.
Just so you know, not every christian agrees with our understanding of how these “End Times” events will unfold. So we “agree to disagree, agreeably”.
What is the formal name for this topic?
This is the doctrine of eschatology; the study of future things. “End Times”, is “serious business”, so I plan on covering it seriously, but I want to start off with a silly little story that illustrates my approach to this study.
“Imagine you’re adrift in the middle of the ocean in a life-raft. Imagine a pack of sharks are circling your life-raft, when all of a sudden, your life-raft springs a leak. How do you survive? Easy, stop imagining!
We’re going to do the same thing with this study. We’re not going to let our imagination run wild. If I say anything that’s guesswork, or speculation or conjecture, I’ll say so, but there’ll be very little of that.
Don't take my word for any of this
Acts 17:10-11 Now the Berean Jews were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
So, I’m going to use scripture to interpret scripture. There’ll be very little commentary from me.
What do I hope you take away from this study?
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus
Why is this a message of hope? It’s not a message of selfish escapism. It is a message about how not to be caught off guard. It’s a message that should cause us to keep our feet set solidly on the Rock of Jesus Christ and His Word, especially as we see the stage being set. Things aren’t falling apart, they’re falling into place.
Hebrews 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Why does this matter?
27% of the Bible is prophecy, but more importantly, Jesus taught it and promised a blessing to us for studying it.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Luke 21:36 But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
What leads up to what’s next?
2 Peter 3:3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
Matthew 24:1-8 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
The Rapture
What is it?
The catching away of the church directly to heaven. In Greek the word is “harpazo”. The word “Rapture” is not in our English Bible, but Latin vulgate version of the Bible has “rapiemur”, from which we get the word rapture.
When will it occur?
It could happen at any time. This is the doctrine of imminence.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Explain why the rapture could happen at anytime, you ask? Ok, since we’re called called the bride of Christ, this whole concept of a rapture is patterned after the Jewish wedding process:
- The match is negotiated (usually by the parents)
- The price (dowry) is paid
- The contract is confirmed (ketubah)
- The betrothal begins (as binding as marriage)
- The bridegroom goes away to prepare a place (usually in the Father’s house)
- The bridegroom returns unexpectedly
- The wedding ceremony is performed
- The bridegroom takes the bride to the place he’s prepared
Where are the direct references to it?
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 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 imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,4 that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Are there allusions to it, elsewhere?
John Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.
Paul 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
Philip in Acts 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
Enoch Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
What is its purpose?
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
The Tribulation
What is it?
Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Ezekiel 22:23 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 22:24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.
Isaiah 24:1-6 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. 5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
When will it happen?
Matthew 24:15-21 Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
What about the church and tribulation?
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
What is its purpose?
Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
The tribulation is for the salvation of the Jewish nation of Israel
How long will it be?
Daniel 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
It is divided in two, three and a half year periods.
Revelation 13:5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
What will it be like?
Answer: I’m not gonna lie, you don’t want to be there.
The Seven Seals on the scroll, Chapters 6 — 8:1
1st seal, 6:1, 2 (Rider on a white horse - military dictator/conqueror)
2nd seal, 6:3, 4 (Rider on a red horse - violence and war)
3rd seal, 6:5, 6 (Rider on a black horse - famine, economic collapse)
4th seal, 6:7, 8 (Rider on a pale horse - Death, Hell, evil, famine)
5th seal, 6:9-11 (Prayer of the martyred remnant)
6th seal, 6:12-17 (God’s great wrath, Cosmic catastrophe, Geologic catastrophe)
Interlude between 6th and 7th seal, Chapter 7
The interlude is to seal 144000, vv. 1-3
Remnant of Israel sealed, vv. 4-8
Redeemed multitude of Gentiles, vv. 9-17
7th seal, 8:1 (The seven trumpets telescope out of the 7th seal)
The Seven Trumpet Judgments, Chapters 8:2 — 11:19
Angel at the altar with censer of incense, 8:2-6
1st trumpet — trees burnt, 8:7
2nd trumpet — seas become blood, 8:8, 9
3rd trumpet — fresh water becomes bitter, 8:10, 11
4th trumpet — sun, moon, stars shaken, 8:12, 13
5th trumpet — fallen star and plague of locusts, 9:1-12
6th trumpet — angels loosed at river Euphrates, 9:13-21
Interlude between the 6th and 7th trumpets, 10:1— 11:14
The strong angel with the little book, 10:1-7
John eats the little book, 10:8-11
Date for the ending of “the times of the Gentiles,” 11:1, 2
Duration of the prophesying of the two witnesses, 11:3-12
Doom of the second woe — great earthquake, 11:13, 14
7th trumpet — Announcement of God’s Kingdom being ushered in, 11:15-19
The actors in the Great Tribulation, Chapters 12, 13
The woman is Israel, 12:1, 2 Genesis 37:9
The red dragon is Satan, 12:3, 4 Gen 3:1
The child of the woman is Jesus Christ, 12:5, 6
Michael, the archangel, wars with the dragon, 12:7-12
The dragon persecutes the woman, 12:13-16
Remnant of Israel, 12:17
Wild beast out of the sea — a powerful political leader, 13:1-10
Wild beast, description, vv. 1, 2
Wild beast, death-dealing stroke, v. 3
Wild beast, deity assumed, vv. 4, 5
Wild beast, defying God, vv. 6-8
Wild beast, defiance denied to anyone, vv. 9, 10
Wild beast out of the earth — a religious leader, 13:11-18
Wild beast, description, v. 11
Wild beast, delegated authority, vv. 12-14
Wild beast, delusion perpetrated on the world, vv. 15-17
Wild beast, designation, v. 18
Looking to the end of the Great Tribulation, Chapter 14
Picture of the lamb with the 144,000, vv. 1-5
Proclamation of the everlasting gospel, vv. 6, 7
Pronouncement of judgment on Babylon, v. 8
Pronouncement of judgment on those who received mark of the beast, vv. 9-12
Praise for those who die in the Lord, v. 13
Preview of Armageddon, vv. 14-20
Pouring out of the seven mixing bowls of wrath, Chapters 15, 16
Preparation for final judgment of the Great Tribulation, 15:1 — 16:1
Tribulation saints in heaven worship God because He is holy and just, 15:1-4
Seven angels have seven golden bowls proceed from temple in heaven, 15:5 — 16:1
Pouring out of the 1st bowl, 16:2 - sores on those who received the mark
Pouring out of the 2nd bowl, 16:3 - sea blood
Pouring out of the 3rd bowl, 16:4-7 - fresh water blood
Pouring out of the 4th bowl, 16:8, 9 - sunburn
Pouring out of the 5th bowl, 16:10, 11 - painful darkness
Pouring out of the 6th bowl, 16:12 - Euphrates dried up
Interlude: kings of inhabited earth proceed to HarMagedon, 16:13-16
Pouring out of the 7th bowl, 16:17-21 - completion announced
The two Babylons judged, Chapters 17, 18
The apostate church in the Great Tribulation, Chapter 17
Great harlot riding the wild beast, vv. 1-7
Wild beast destroys the great harlot, vv. 8-18
Political and commercial Babylon judged, Chapter 18
Announcement of fall of commercial and political Babylon, vv. 1-8
Anguish in the world because of Babylon’s judgment, vv. 9-19
Anticipation of joy in heaven because of judgment on Babylon, vv. 20-24
The Second Coming
Marriage of the Lamb
Revelation 19:6-9 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The Coming of Christ
Revelation 19:11-19 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Doom of the Beast and False Prophet
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
According to Jesus, Hell is forever.
Matthew 25:31-46 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. [..] 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; [..]’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
The Millenium
Satan Bound
Revelation 20:1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Satan Freed, Doomed
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Judgment at the Throne of God
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
By what standard are non-christians judged?
Psalm 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
Acts 17:30-31 God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness
Are there degrees of punishment?
Matthew 11:20-24 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.
How will Christians be Judged?
Jesus Himself was our stand-in, he was our substitute; on the cross He got the judgement, justice and punishment that we deserved, and we get His righteousness through faith: 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
But, as far as rewards go…
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Eternity
The New Heaven and Earth
Revelation 21:1-9 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:10-27 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Our Resurrected Bodies
1 Corinthians 15:35-49 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
My goal is to encourage you in this way:
- That you would invest your time wisely in the things that matter: Your relationship with the LORD, your family, your coworkers and your school-mates, by sharing the Gospel.
If you’ve ever been excited about your relationship with the Lord Jesus, you have something to look forward to, because as wonderful as it is now, it will only be better in eternity: 1 John 3: 2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
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