The Baptist Faith and Message Article 10. Last Things

I. Introduction (5 minutes)

Engage the Audience: Begin with a question: "What comes to mind when you think of the end times? Fear, hope, confusion?"

Purpose Statement: Today we will explore what the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BF&M 2000) teaches about the last things, grounding our understanding in Scripture and focusing on hope and readiness.

Our Life Group Teachers can pipe in tonight as they just studied this topic this morning.

Read Article X Aloud:

"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."

Transition: This article reflects biblical eschatology (the study of last things) and reminds us that our lives are moving toward a divine conclusion set by God.

Put another way:

The doctrine of the last things describes the final outworking of God’s purposes and activity, as well as human and angelic destiny, at the end of the present age and the dawning of the age to come.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Eschatology

ESCHATOLOGY The study of the end times, including death, the intermediate state, the afterlife, judgment, the millennium, heaven, and hell. Also refers to the time of Jesus’ second coming. The word eschatology comes from a combination of Greek words meaning “the study of last things.”

II. Understanding the Key Points (15 minutes)

God's Sovereignty Over History

"God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end."

Scripture: Isaiah 46:9-10, Revelation 21:1-5

Key Thought: God is in control. The end of history is not random or chaotic but part of His divine plan.

Isaiah 46:9–10 “9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’”

When you hear this text and you think of sovereignty, how does that cause you to function?

Epictetus, a Greek Stoic philosopher. A closely related version of his teaching is:

"Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens."

Another similar quote from Epictetus is: "We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."

A better way to think about it is do those things God is calling us to do and trust Him in the matters out of our hands.

Revelation 21:1–5 “1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, 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 heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.””

The Return of Christ

"Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth."

Scripture: Acts 1:11, Matthew 24:30-31

Key Thought: Christ's return will not be symbolic but physical and visible to all. It will usher in the final fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Acts 1:11 “11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.””

Matthew 24:30–31 “30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good.

But, there is a readiness in that reality.

Ill. Show the sports position of readiness.

Matthew 25:1–13 NKJV

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Eternal Destinies

"The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell...The righteous...will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord."

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-15

Romans 5:12 “12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—”

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Death > Topics of Eschatology

Death. The Bible teaches that all humans will die (Heb 9:27). The only exceptions will be those who are still alive when Christ returns (1 Thes 4:17). Physical death, or the “first death,” is the separation of the soul from the body. Because of the presence of sin in the world, death has come upon everyone (Rom 5:12).

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible The Intermediate State

The Intermediate State. This refers to the condition of the person between the time of death and the resurrection. The traditional orthodox view is that believers experience a state of conscious bliss in the presence of the Lord, while unbelievers are tormented by separation from the presence of God. This, however, is a relatively incomplete state when compared with the final destiny of each. Some groups, such as Seventh-day Adventists, have held a belief in a type of “soul sleep,” or unconsciousness, between death and resurrection. Still others, notably Roman Catholics, believe in a place of purging in preparation for the future life.

Key Thought: The Bible clearly teaches two eternal destinies. Heaven and Hell are real, and our response to Christ determines our final destination.

Matthew 25:31–46 NKJV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Revelation 20:11–15 NKJV

11 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.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible The Resurrection > Topics of Eschatology

The Resurrection. All who have died will come to life. This will be a bodily resurrection, a resumption of bodily existence of each person. For believers this will take place in connection with the second coming of Christ, and will involve the transformation of the body of this present flesh into a new, perfected body (1 Cor 15:35–56). The Bible also indicates a resurrection of unbelievers, unto eternal death (Jn 5:28, 29).

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible The Resurrection > Topics of Eschatology

The Resurrection. All who have died will come to life. This will be a bodily resurrection, a resumption of bodily existence of each person. For believers this will take place in connection with the second coming of Christ, and will involve the transformation of the body of this present flesh into a new, perfected body (1 Cor 15:35–56). The Bible also indicates a resurrection of unbelievers, unto eternal death (Jn 5:28, 29).

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible The Judgment

The Judgment. There will be a time of judgment, in which the Lord will determine the spiritual condition of all who have lived, based on their relationship to him. On these grounds some will be sent off to everlasting reward and others to eternal punishment. Some theologians distinguish between the time when believers and unbelievers will be judged. Some see as many as seven different judgments occurring.

The Final States. The Bible teaches the existence of heaven, a place of eternal joy, where Christians are in the presence of God, and of hell, a state of anguished separation of unbelievers from the presence of God. These are fixed states, determined by the decisions made within this life.

III. Application and Reflection (10 minutes)

Living with Readiness

Scripture: Matthew 24:42-44

Question for Reflection: How can we live in a way that reflects readiness for Christ's return?

Matthew 24:42–44 NKJV

42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Living with Hope

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Encouragement: The return of Christ is a source of hope and comfort for believers. How does this truth bring peace to your life today?

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NKJV

16 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 NKJV

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. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Sharing the Gospel Urgently

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9

Challenge: Knowing the reality of judgment and eternal separation, how can we be more intentional in sharing the gospel with others?

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

IV. Group Discussion (7-10 minutes)

Break into small groups or facilitate open discussion. Use these prompts:

What aspect of Article X challenges or encourages you the most?

How does the promise of Christ's return shape the way you live daily?

What practices can help you cultivate spiritual readiness?

V. Conclusion (3-5 minutes)

Summarize: The doctrine of last things is not about fear but about living with hope, urgency, and confidence in God's plan. Christ's return is certain, and our response to this truth shapes our eternity.

Call to Action: Encourage the audience to reflect on their relationship with Christ and live with anticipation for His return.

Prayer: Close by thanking God for His sovereign control over history and the hope of eternal life in Christ.