First Baptist Church of Tumwater
Statement of Faith and Teachings
(Adopted 5/31/23)
Our faith is based on the belief that the Bible is the authoritative, infallible word of God to all mankind. It reveals the principles by which God holds mankind accountable. As such, the bible is the supreme standard by which all matters of faith and conduct will be judged. Our teaching is based on this fundamental truth.
The Scriptures (The Holy Bible)
We teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to man. He oversaw the writing of each of the 66 books so that, as originally written, they are absolutely without error, unchangeable, and reliable in matters of which they speak.
We teach that God directed the writing of His Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit inspired and oversaw the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man without error in the whole or in the part.
(2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16)
We teach the literal interpretation of scripture including: the six days of creation; the virgin birth of Jesus; and the end times prophecies. (Revelation)
We teach that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice. (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 31:17; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God
We teach that there is one and only one living and true God. He is an infinite and all knowing Spirit. He is the Creator and Sovereign ruler of all the heavens and the earth. He is perfect in all His attributes. He is all powerful (omnipotence), present everywhere at the same time (omnipresence), all knowing (omniscience), just, eternal, all loving and all wise. His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present and future.
(Romans 15:13; Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:13-14; Deuteronomy 32:4; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 4:16; Romans 11:33; Exodus 20:2-3)
We teach that within the unity of the Godhead, He exists eternally in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal in every divine attribute and without division of nature, essence, or being. The three exercise distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of salvation. Each equally deserves all possible honor, worship and obedience. (Genesis 1:1; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; Psalm 83:18; Exodus 15:11; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11)
God The Father
We teach that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and determines all things according to His own purpose and grace for his eternal glory.
(Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6)
We teach that He is sovereign in all of creation. He has unlimited power and is the absolute Ruler of the universe. His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men, but He is a spiritual Father only to believers. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. He continually directs and governs all creatures and events. In His sovereignty He is neither the author nor approver of sin. He is morally fair and just and therefore holds all men accountable for their actions.
(Ephesians 4:6; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 1:11; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47; 1 Peter 1:17)
We teach that He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own. He saves from the penalty of sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ and adopts them as His own. Upon this adoption, He becomes Father to all believers.
(Ephesians 1:4-6; John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9)
God the Son (Jesus the Christ)
We teach that God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine attributes of the Father and is coequal, and coeternal with the Father.
(John 10:30; 14:9)
He was with the Father in the beginning and was the Word by which all things were created in heaven and earth. Through Him, all creation is held together
(Col 1:16-17, John 1:1)
We teach that Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; His birth joined together His two distinct natures, the divine and the human. He was God in the flesh, both fully God and fully Man.
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-14; 1 Timothy 3:16)
We teach that at His birth (incarnation) as Jesus Christ, God the Son put into effect the Father’s plan for redemption of all mankind from the bondage and penalty of sin. (Matthew 26:39-42; John 1:1-14; John 18:34; Luke 19:10)
We teach that His sacrificial death on the cross completed the work of reconciling us to the Father by paying the price for our sins (atonement). This reconciliation means that the believer in Christ is declared righteous (justification), given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God.
(Hebrews 9:26-28; 1 John 2:1-2; John 19:30; Romans 3:25; 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18)
We teach He was physically resurrected the third day after His death and burial; and that He ascended into heaven to be the Head of the Church; and is our High Priest and Intercessor to the Father.
(Luke 24:1-7, 39, 46-48; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Hebrews 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5)
We teach that He will come again (the rapture) for his Church before the Millennium and before the Tribulation. He will return with His Church in glory at the end of the Tribulation and establish His millennial kingdom on earth.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 12:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:52, 57; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Hebrews 9:28; Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30; Revelation 20:1-4)
We teach that He is the final Judge at the Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
(Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31)
God the Holy Spirit
We teach that God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine attributes of the Father and the Son and is coequal, and coeternal with the Father and the Son.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Jeremiah 31:31-34 with Hebrews 10:15-17)
We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the Father’s divine will in relation to all mankind. He was active with the Father and the Son in creation. He inspired and oversaw the writing of scripture. He was the divine agent in the incarnation of Jesus.
(Genesis 1:2; 2:7; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 1:18)
We teach that He is active in the Father’s plan of redemption. He convicts men of their need for God thereby causing them to believe. He brings them out of their lost position as a sinner in rebellion against God and replaces their “heart of stone” with a heart of flesh. He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ; He provides assurance of their salvation and seals them until the day of our redemption (the Rapture). He intercedes for believers with the Father in their prayers and guides them in all truth.
(John 16:7-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Ezekiel 36:26; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Romans 8:26-27;
John 16:13)
We teach that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church. In His sovereignty, He equips each believer with one or more of these spiritual gifts as He determines. He empowers believers to use these gifts to glorify Christ, build up the church and accomplish the will of the Father.
(John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 3:20)
We teach that some of these spiritual gifts were limited to the formation of the early church. The gifts were given as a sign to validate and authenticate that the message of Jesus and the Apostles was divine truth. With the completion of the cannon of scripture we teach that the Holy Spirit no longer gives to individual believers the gifts of: apostleship, prophet, miracles, healing, and tongues. However, we also teach that God, in His infinite power, mercy and wisdom, is perfectly able to respond to the prayers of His children to heal and accomplish mighty miracles.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:1-4; Luke 1:35; John 14:16-17, 26; Acts 5:30-32; Ephesians 3:20; Hebrews 9:14)
Angels
Holy Angels - We teach that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him.
(Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9)
Fallen Angels - We teach that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, by taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve.
(Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-14; Genesis 3:1-15)
We teach that Satan is the declared enemy of God and man; that he is the unholy god of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.
(Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10, 20:10; Romans 16:20; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:1-3, 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
Creation
We teach that the Genesis account of Creation is a literal, historical account of how the heavens and earth came into being by a direct act of God in six literal days and not through the process of evolution. Adam and Eve were created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life. The entire human race is descended from them.
(Genesis chapters: 1 & 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:1-3)
Man
We teach that God directly and immediately created man in His own image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, with a free will and moral responsibility to God.
(Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9)
We teach that God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world.
(Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)
The Fall Into Sin
We teach that when Adam knowingly and deliberately violated God’s command, he fell from his holy and happy state into sin and condemnation. Because of Adam’s sin, a corrupt nature has been transmitted to all mankind of all ages. Jesus Christ is the only exception.
(Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12; Ephesians 2:12)
We teach that because of this corrupt nature, mankind lost their innocence, incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from His divine grace. Therefore, man is under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
(Nahum 1:2-11, Ephesians 5:6; Genesis.1:27, 1:31, 2:16-17, 3:6-24, 6:12: Psalms 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Matthew 20:15; Acts 17:26-29;
Romans 1:18, 20, 32, 2:1-16, 3:9-18, 5:8-10, 12, 15-19, 8:7; Galatians 3:10, 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3)
We teach that man, through his own merits or work, has no ability to restore a right relationship with God and save himself from the penalties of sin. In and of himself, man is hopelessly lost.
(Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36, 6:44; Romans 3:23, 5:6, 6:23, 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Titus 3:3-5; 1 John 1:8)
Salvation – Atonement (God’s Plan of Redemption)
We teach that God, through His sovereign grace and mercy, made a plan for the salvation of mankind. He sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. At His incarnation, Jesus took upon Himself our human nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience. He was without sin. At His death on the cross He bore our sins and thereby fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God regarding sin (Atonement).
(John 3:16; 1 John 4:14)
We teach that His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust.
(John 1:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Colossians 1:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
We teach that those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved.
(John 3:15-16; 5:24,10:28; Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16)
Salvation - Regeneration
We teach that when a person turns to God and fully places their trust in Jesus Christ they are “born-again” (regeneration). This is a supernatural and immediate work of the Holy Spirit.
We teach that genuine regeneration is made evident by the fruits of the Spirit as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works are the evidence and fruit of regeneration. These good works will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God. This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(John 15:1-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10, 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Salvation - Election
We teach that election is an act of God before time began. He chose, in Christ, those whom He graciously calls, justifies, and glorifies.
(Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2)
We teach that God’s choice does not contradict or negate the responsibility of people to respond to God by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith, and all who come in faith the Father will receive.
(John 3:18-19, 36, 5:40, 6:37-40, 44; Romans 8:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17; Acts 13:48)
We teach that the unmerited favor that God grants to depraved sinners is not based on any initiative of their own will or on God’s knowledge of what they will or will not do, but is solely of His kind intentions, grace, and mercy.
(Ephesians 1:4-7; 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2)
We teach that election is exercised in harmony with God’s other divine attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love. This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 11:25-28; 2 Timothy 1:9)
Salvation - Justification
We teach that the grace of God in justification is an unconditional free gift. The sole means of receiving the free gift is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross as our substitute, fully satisfying the requirement for our justification, and was raised bodily from the dead. Faith is a personal response, apart from our works, whereby we are persuaded that the finished work of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, has delivered us from condemnation and guaranteed our righteous standing with God. Justification is the act of God to declare us righteous when we believe in Jesus Christ alone. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man. It is based on the transference of our sins to Christ and the crediting of Christ’s righteousness to us. By this means God is enabled to “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
(Romans 3:21-4:8; Romans 5:1; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Salvation - Sanctification
We teach that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy by God. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous from the moment of belief and has to do with the believer’s standing in God’s eyes, not his present walk or condition.
(Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2)
We teach that there is also a progressive sanctification of the saints in which the believer becomes more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Through obedience to the Word and the empowering of the Holy Spirit the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God.
(John 17:17, 19; Romans 6:1-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23)
In this respect, we teach that every saved person is involved in a daily conflict—the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh. However, God has made adequate provision for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The struggle nevertheless stays with the believer all through this earthly life and is never completely ended. All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural. Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin.
(Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9)
Salvation - Security
We teach that all true believers are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. They are sealed by the Holy Spirit until Christ returns for His church.
(John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; John 10:27-29;
1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1, 24)
We teach that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality.
(John 5:24, 6:37-40; Romans 6:15-22, 8:1, 35-39, 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:13; Titus 2:11-19)
Salvation - Separation
We teach that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that the Scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days abandonment of faith (apostasy) and worldliness shall increase.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
We teach that all believers should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God. They should live so as to never bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior. Believers should do this out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us, and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total devotion to Him and His Word.
We teach that separation from all worldly and sinful practices, and religious apostasy is commanded by God.
(Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
The Church
We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church which is the bride of Christ and of which Christ is the Head.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8; Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18)
We teach that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture. (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We teach that the church is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present (church) age. The church is distinct from Israel, a mystery revealed by the apostles at the beginning of the church age.
(Ephesians 2:11-3:6, 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:32)
We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies.
(Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25)
We teach that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ and that church leadership, order, discipline, and worship are all authorized through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures.
(1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
We teach that the bible designates two offices serving under Christ and over the assembly. These offices are Pastors (also called bishops, elders, overseers); and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications.
(Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5)
We teach that these leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership.
(1 Timothy 5:17-22; Hebrews 13:7, 17)
We teach the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations.
(Titus 1:5)
We teach that the purpose of the church is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith by instruction of the Word by fellowship by keeping the ordinances of baptism and the Lords Supper and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world.
(Ephesians 3:21, 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:38-42, 2:47, 8:36-39; 1 John 1:3; Luke 22:19; Matthew 28:19)
We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism by immersion is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his death to his sin nature and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ.
(Acts 2:38-42, 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the remembrance and proclamation of His death and resurrection until He comes again, and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination. We also teach that, whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so is present, fellowshipping with His people.
(1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:28-32)
Marriage, Gender and Sexuality
We teach that the term “marriage” has only one meaning defined by God himself in the Holy Scriptures: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single and exclusive union. We teach that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
(Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4)
We teach that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.
(Genesis 1:26-27)
We teach that any form of sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God. These include but are not limited to premarital sex, adultery, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pedophilia, and use of pornography.
(Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Civil Government
We teach that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and general good order of human society. Civil authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 13:1-7; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29, 23:5, Matthew 22:21; Daniel 3:17-18; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17)
Israel
We teach that God in His sovereignty selected Israel as His eternal covenant people but that now she is dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ. We teach that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ.
(Genesis 13:14-17; Romans 11:1-32; Ezekiel 37)
Last Things
Death
We teach that physical death involves no loss of our spiritual consciousness but that the soul of the believer passes immediately into the presence of Christ. There is a separation of soul and body and that, for the believer, such separation will continue until the rapture. The rapture initiates the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. Until that time, the souls of believers in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Revelation 6:9-11; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54;
Luke 16:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:8)
We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.
(John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15)
We teach that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection when the soul and the resurrection body will be united. They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire, cut off from the life of God forever.
(Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 25:41-46; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
The Rapture of the Church
We teach the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation. He will transport His church from this earth to be with Him always. Between this event and His glorious return with His saints, He will reward believers according to their works at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Titus 2:13; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:42-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
The Tribulation Period
We teach that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world. These judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth. At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged. This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.
(John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16; Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12;
Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:4-6; Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46)
The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
We teach that, after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth. During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth. This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world.
(Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; Revelation 20:1-7; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16; Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7)
We teach that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel to restore them to the land that they forfeited through their disobedience. The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing.
(Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29)
We teach that this millennial reign of the Lord will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan from his prison.
(Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; Revelation 20:7)
The Judgment of the Lost
We teach that following the release of Satan after the 1,000-year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone whereupon Christ will judge the lost at the “Great White Throne Judgment”.
(Revelation 20:7, 9-15; Matthew 25:41; John 5:22)
We teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.
(John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:41)
Eternity
We teach that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever.
(2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15, chapters 21-22; 2 Peter 3:10; Ephesians 5:5; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)