NCC 52

Question 52 What hope does everlasting life hold for us?

It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and the new earth, where we will be fully and forever freed from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation.

This catechism doesn’t talk about the rapture of the church. The reason for that is that those who put it together do not believe it is a biblical concept. We do! So we’re going to talk about it.

If we were to sketch out a timeline of the prophetic calendar, we would see that we are currently in the church age, and at some point God is going to call his church home through what is known as the rapture. After that there will be a 7 year tribulation on earth, which is an outpouring of God’s just wrath, followed by His Second coming and 1,000 year reign on earth.

So let’s walk through this.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

13 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, 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.

The english word rapture is not used. However, the Greek word harpadzo, ἁρπάζω is used, and the latin translation of ἁρπάζω is rapturo, from which we get the English word rapture.

Notice. This rapture is designed to be a comfort to us.

Those who have already died in Christ will be resurrected, and then we will join them to meet the Lord in the air.

Now. Is this escapism? Sometimes we’re accused of being escapists, that we’re just sitting around biding our time until the end of our time and we’re gone. Is that true?

If it is, we need to stop it. This should actually be a source of zeal for us for Gospel proclamation!

2 Peter 3:14–15 ESV

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

After the rapture is a period of God’s judgment on earth. We believe this is a 7 year period known as the tribulation.

This is because of Daniel 9, which talks about 70 weeks, which refer to 70 seven year periods.

We also see this reflected in Revelation 13.

After the sever year tribulation period, we have the second coming of Christ, when he will defeat the armies of the Antichrist

Rev 19.

Then we have what is called the Millennial kingdom. When Jesus Christ returns, he sets up his Kingdom for 1000 years.

Why do we believe that?

Because the text says, that he will reign for 1000 years.

Revelation 20:4 ESV

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6 ESV

6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

And then, oh look, it says a third time.

Revelation 20:7 ESV

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison

Then is the great white throne judgment when everyone is finally and eternally judged, and then God makes everything new!

Rev 21-22 describe the greatness of what things will be like.

Revelation 21:1–7 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation 22:1–5 ESV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.