The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

1 3 0 /

T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

In regard to the biblical teaching on death, we know that death is real and inevitable for all people, that the nature of death is both physical (the ending of life and separation of the body from the soul) and spiritual (the separation of the person from God). All death, whether physical or spiritual, is the result of sins committed and God’s judgment upon them. While death is a tragedy and a penalty for the unbeliever, death is no longer a curse for the Christian, since Jesus has become a curse for us. While physical death may be certain for believers, to die as a Christian is to be transported instantaneously into the presence of the Lord. For the unbeliever, neither soul sleep nor purgatory appear to be biblical alternatives to their intermediate states, but rather some kind of conscious torment in Hades awaiting judgment. The Kingdom of God will be consummated in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which will be definite, imminent, unknown to all but the Father, personal, physical, visible, full of splendor and glory, and unexpected. It is to be a unified event, although the one event of his coming may involve different phases and stages. The millennial question seeks to answer whether there will be a millennium (a 1,000 year period of earthly reign of Jesus Christ), and if so, when will it occur (before or after his coming). Postmillennialism believes the preaching of Jesus will be so successful that the world will be converted. Premillennialism believes Jesus will return before the 1,000 year period, resulting in a literal earthly reign on the earth. Amillennialism suggests that there will be no millennium or earthly reign of Christ. While all views hold some difficulty, the premillennial view appears to harmonize the scriptural teaching best. The tribulation question asks whether Jesus will remove his people from the world before, ( pretribulationism ) during ( midtribulationism ), or after ( posttribulationism ) the tribulation. Regardless of the timing, God has promised to supply his people with all the strength needed to endure trials for his greater glory. The Bible teaches unequivocally the resurrection of the dead. This resurrection will be definite, will involve the work of the triune God, and be a literal and physical resurrection. There will also be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. In the same vein, the final judgment will be

4