ESCHATOLOGY
Jesus Christ will return bodily (that is, in person) to the earth (Mt. 24.44; Jn. 14.3; Acts 1.11). His coming will be seen by every eye on the planet, revealing His power and glory (Rev. 1.7; Mt. 24.30). As to when Jesus will return, the NT is clear that it will be a complete surprise (Mk. 13.32, 33b; I Thess. 5.2-3; 2 Pet. 3.10). While the timing of this event may catch Christians off-guard mentally (Mt. 24.37-39, 40a, 41a), it must not catch us off-guard spiritually (Mt. 24.42, 44a; Mk. 13.33a, 37; I Pet. 4.7). We, the church, must be eager and waiting – clinging to the gospel daily – for our bridegroom to return (Rev. 22.17; cf. Mt. 25.1-13; 2 Pet. 3.10-14).
Upon His return, Christ’s power will raise every person who’s ever lived from the dead (Jn. 5.25-26). Subsequently, as the God-ordained Judge of the universe (Mt. 35.31-33; Jn. 5.22-30; Acts 10.42; 17.31; 2 Cor. 5.10; 2 Tim. 4.1), Jesus will enact perfect justice toward both the righteous and the unrighteous based upon how they lived (Mt. 16.27; Jn. 5.22, 26-27; Rev. 2.23; 22.12). Regarding the judgment, the Scriptures seem to indicate degrees of punishment for unbelievers (Mt. 11.22; Lk. 12.47-48; 20.47) and degrees of reward for believers (Lk. 19.17, 19; 2 Cor. 5.10). In sum, those who did not place faith in Christ for salvation will suffer eternally in hell (the lake of fire) forever (Rev. 20.15; 21.8; cf. Lk. 16.22-24; I Cor. 6.9-10; Gal. 5.19-21; Rev. 22.15), whereas those who placed faith in Christ for salvation will enjoy God forever (Jn. 3.16; 10.24-29; 17.3; Rom. 6.23; 10.1-17) in their resurrected bodies (I Cor. 15) in the new heavens and new earth (Is. 65.17-19; 66.22; Rom. 8.19-21; 2 Pet. 3.13; Rev. 21.1-7).
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