Preamble
We recognize that any doctrinal statement is but a fallible human attempt to summarize and systematize the riches of an infallible Divine revelation. But this in no way detracts from the importance of such a statement. The affirmations that follow, carefully specify our beliefs and teaching position with regard to the major biblical doctrines, and thus provide a framework for preaching, instruction, and curriculum at Community of Faith Bible Church. They also provide an anchor to protect this church against theological drift. For this reason, each and every person, in order to become and remain a member of CFBC shall be required to agree in principle with this Statement of Faith.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to mankind, and thus the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit make up the Word of God (1 Cor. 2:7-14; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
We believe and teach that the Bible is an objective, propositional revelation, verbally inspired in every word, equally inspired in all parts, completely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed. We believe and teach the literal, grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture, which affirms the belief that the opening chapters of Genesis present creation in six literal days (1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Gen. 1:31; Ex. 31:17).
We believe and teach that the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice for the Church (Matt. 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35;16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
We believe and teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so controlled the human authors that, through their individual personalities and writing styles, they composed and recorded God’s Word to mankind without error in the whole or in the part (2 Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:16).
We believe and teach that, whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is therefore the responsibility of every believer to discover the true intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of people; never do people stand in judgment of it (John 17:17; 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20).
God
We believe and teach that there is but one living and true God, an infinite, all-knowing Spirit, unchanging and perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father , Son, and Holy Spirit—each deserving our worship and obedience (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 45:5-7; 1 Cor. 8:4; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; John 4:24; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).
God the Father
We believe and teach that God the Father, the First Person of the Trinity, orders and places all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is the Creator of all things. He is the only absolute and omnipotent ruler of the universe, and sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His fatherhood involves both His designations within the Trinity and His relationship to humanity. He is Creator and Father to all men, but He is spiritual Father only to believers. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. In His sovereignty, He neither authors nor approves of sin, nor does He overlook the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. He has graciously and eternally chosen those whom He would have as His own—He saves them from sin, adopts them, and becomes their Father as each comes to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (Ps. 145:8-9; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gen. 1:1-31; Eph. 3:9; Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:36; Eph. 4:6; Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 6:18; Eph. 1:11; 1 Chron. 29:11; Hab. 1:13; 1 Pet. 1:17; Eph. 1:4-6; John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Heb. 12:5-9).
God the Son
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the attributes and excellencies of God, and in these He is coeternal, coequal, having the same nature with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9).
We believe and teach that God the Father created all things through the Son in accordance with His own will, by whom also all things continue in existence and operation (John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:2).
We believe and teach that in the incarnation, the Second Person of the Trinity temporarily laid aside His full prerogatives of coexistence with God, became a man while never ceasing to be fully God. Taking the form of a slave with all characteristics of humanity He so became the God-man. Thus, through the incarnation Jesus Christ represents full humanity and full Deity in indivisible oneness (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9).
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ was virgin born as God incarnate, the purpose of which was to reveal God, redeem sinners, and rule over God’s kingdom (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23, 25; Lk. 1:26-35; John 1:1, 14; Ps. 2:7-9; Isa. 9:6; John 1:29; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 7:25-26; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
We believe and teach that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished redemption through the shedding of His blood and the sacrificial death on the cross, and that His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive. Consequently, the efficacy of Christ’s death frees the believing sinner from the punishment, the penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin; and that the sinner is declared righteous, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God (John 10:15; Rom. 3:24-25;5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1 Pet. 3:18).
We believe and teach that our justification is made sure by Christ’s literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matt. 28:6; Lk. 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Rom. 4:25; 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1).
We believe and teach that by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the Deity of His Son and gave proof that He accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection unto life for all believers (John 5:26-29; 14:19; Rom. 4:25; 6:5-10; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23).
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ will return to receive the Church, which is His body, unto Himself at the Rapture, and, returning with His Church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20).
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and as such, God has given to His Son Headship of the Church, Kingship over the universe, and all authority to make final judgment on all mankind (1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 1:18; Is. 9:6-7; Ezek. 37:24-28; Lk. 1:31-33; Matt. 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and Deity, including intellect, emotions, will, eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and truthfulness. In all the divine attributes and excellencies He is coequal and of the same nature as the Father and the Son (1 Cor. 2:10-13; Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:11; Heb. 9:14; Ps. 139:7-10; Isa. 40:13-14; Rom. 15:13; John 16:13; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14).
We believe and teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the Divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation, the incarnation, the written revelation of Scripture, and the work of salvation (Gen. 1:2; Matt. 1:18; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; John 3:5-7).
We believe and teach that a unique work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the body of Christ, the Church. His activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers into the image of Christ (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-9 Acts 1:5; 2:4; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:22).
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, the means by which Christ baptizes all believers into His body. The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers for service, and seals every believer unto the day of redemption. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Lk. 3:16; Acts 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 8:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13; Eph. 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27).
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit sovereignly administers spiritual gifts to the Church. He glorifies neither Himself nor His gifts by ostentatious displays, but He does glorify Christ by executing His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in the faith (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:18).
We believe and teach, in this respect, that the Holy Spirit’s bestowing of gifts is for the perfecting of the saints today and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the infant stage of the Church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of Divine truth, and were not intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers in this age. And while we recognize that other faithful brothers and sisters do not hold to this position, we believe and teach that gifts of tongues, miracles, and healings ceased at the end of the Apostolic age (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; Heb. 2:1-4).
Man
We believe and teach that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God. 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 (Gen. 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9; Isa. 43:7; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11).
We believe and teach that in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his 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 Divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Thus, man’s salvation is wholly of God’s free grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8).
We believe and teach that because all men were in Adam, his guilt and corrupt nature has been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by Divine declaration (Ps. 14:1-3; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12).
We believe and teach that God created mankind with the capacity for sexual intimacy and that it is only to be expressed between one man and one woman within the bonds of biblical marriage. Therefore, we believe and teach that any other form of sexual intimacy is both immoral and a perversion of God's gift (Genesis 2:24-25; Proverbs 5:18; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; Leviticus 18:1-30; Proverbs 6:32; Matthew 19:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Romans 1:26-27).
Salvation
We believe and teach that salvation is wholly of God by His grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of any human merit or works (John 1:12; Eph. 1:4-7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 18-19).
Election
We believe and teach that election is the free act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, sanctifies, and ultimately glorifies (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:1-2).
We believe and teach that God is sovereign in election and it does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Nonetheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation and the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Rev. 22:17; John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; James 4:8).
We believe and teach that the unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative on their part nor to God's anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy (Eph. 1:4-7; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Pet. 1:2).
We believe and teach that election is exercised in harmony with God's other attributes; especially, His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love. This sovereignty will consistently exalt the will of God with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:11-16; Matt. 11:25-28; 2 Tim. 1:9).
Regeneration
We believe and teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the Divine life is given. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God, when the Holy Spirit enables the repentant sinner to respond in faith to the Divine provision of salvation in Christ. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as shown in righteous attitudes and conduct, known in the Scriptures as good works (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; John 5:24; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 5:17-21; Phil. 2:12; Col. 3:12-17; 2 Pet. 1:4-11).
Justification
We believe and teach that justification before God is a free act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man. It involves the placing of our sins on Christ and the imputation 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” (Rom, 8:30, 33; Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11; Rom. 3:20; 4:6; Col. 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:26).
Sanctification
We believe and teach that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification, resulting in his declaration as holy and subsequent identification as a saint. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the believer's standing before God, not his present walk or condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Pet. 1:2).
We believe and teach that there is also the work of the Holy Spirit in progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer enjoys positionally through justification. Through the empowering of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God, the believer can live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, progressively becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17, 19; Rom. 6:1-22; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 5:23).
We believe and teach that every saved person is involved in a daily conflict—the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh—but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, the struggle stays with the believer throughout this earthly life and is never completely ended. All claims of complete eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural, and yet, the Holy Spirit does provide the grace for each believer to walk in victory over sin (Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Phil. 3:12; Col. 3:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
Security & Assurance
We believe and teach that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 13:5; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; Jude 24).
We believe and teach that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the internal witness of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (Rom. 6:15-22; 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13, 16-17, 25-26; Titus 2:11-14).
Separation
We believe and 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 apostasy and worldliness shall increase (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).
We therefore believe and teach that out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, all Christians should live in a way that proves our adoring love to God so as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:9-13).
We also teach that separation from religious apostasy is commanded of us by God (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).
Unity
We believe and teach that there are secondary matters of doctrine and practice, such as eschatalogical perspectives, church government, and spiritual gifts, which faithful Christians do disagree over, but we believe and teach that as believers we are called to strive for unity and to not allow these matters to be issues of rancorous contention and unnecessary division within the body of Christ (Mark 9:38-40; Rom. 12:18; Eph. 4:1-6).
The Church
We believe and teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized by Christ in the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the Church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the head (1 Cor. 12:12-13; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32; Rev. 19:7-8; Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18).
We believe and 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 (Acts2:1-21, 38-47; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
We believe and teach that the Church is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present age. The Church is distinct from Israel, a mystery not revealed until this age (Eph. 2:11-3:6; 5:32; 1 Cor. 10:32).
We believe and teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one scriptural body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Cor. 11:18-20; Heb. 10:25).
We believe and teach that the one supreme authority for the Church is Christ and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are male elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-5).
We believe and teach that these leaders lead as servants of Christ and have biblical authority in directing the local church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (1 Tim. 5:17-22; Heb. 13:7, 17).
We believe and teach the importance of discipleship, mutual accountability of all believers to each other, and the need for disciplining sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:2; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16).
We believe and 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. We also believe and teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Local churches, however, through their pastors and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation (Titus 1:5; Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
We believe and 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 and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Eph. 3:21; 4:13- 16; 2 Tim. 2:2, 15; 3:16-17; Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3; Lk. 22:19; Acts 2:38-42; Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8).
We believe and teach the calling of all saints to the work of service (1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 4:12; Rev. 22:12).
We believe and teach the need of the Church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, He gives the Church spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:7-12; Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).
We believe and teach that there were two kinds of gifts given the early Church: miraculous gifts of Divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the Apostolic era to confirm the authenticity of the apostles' message and ministering gifts given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man's message, and the confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message. Therefore we further believe and teach that the only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4; 1 Cor. 13:8-12; Matt. 24:24; Rom. 12:6-8).
We believe and teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper/Communion. 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 union with Him in death to sin 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; Rom. 6:1-11; Acts 2:41-42).
We believe and teach that the Lord's Supper/Communion is the commemoration and proclamation of Christ’s death until He comes. Participation should be always preceded by solemn self-examination. We also believe and teach that whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord's Supper is nonetheless an actual communion with the risen Christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with His people (1 Cor. 11:23-32; 10:16).
Angels
Holy Angels
We believe and teach that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. They were created by God to serve and worship Him and to minister to believers (Lk. 2:9-14; Heb. 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Rev. 5:11-14).
Fallen Angels
We believe and teach that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God when he rebelled against his Creator and took numerous angels with him in his fall, and introduced sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:1-14; Gen. 3:1-15).
We believe and teach that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man, the prince 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 (Isa. 14:13-14; Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:9-10; Rom. 16:20; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
Eschatology
Death
We believe and teach that physical death involves no loss of our incorporeal consciousness, that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, and, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the Rapture which initiates the first resurrection, when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven (Rev. 6:9-11; James 2:26; Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 20:4-6; 1 Cor. 15:35-44, 50-54; Phil. 3:21; 2 Cor. 5:8).
We believe and teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (John6:39; Rom. 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Cor. 4:14; Dan. 12:2; John 5:29; Rev. 20:13-15).
We believe and 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 (Lk. 16:19-26; Rev. 20:13-15; John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 25:41-46; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).
The Rapture of the Church
We believe and teach the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ to reward believers according to their works (1 Thess. 4:16; John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
The Tribulation Period
We believe and teach that immediately following the signing of a seven-year treaty between the Antichrist and Israel that the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world. This period is called in the Bible the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan 9:24-27; Jer. 30:7; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 16).
The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
We believe and teach that after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His Messianic kingdom for a thousand 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 (Matt. 25:31; Lk. 1:32-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30; Rev. 20:1-7; Dan 7:17-22; Rev. 19:11-16).
We believe and 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 and faith in Jesus Christ to enter the land of blessing (Isa. 65:17-25; Ezek. 37:21-28; Zech. 8:1-17; Deut. 28:15-68; Rom. 11:1-16; Jer. 31:31-34; Rom. 11:25-29).
We believe and teach that this time of our Lord's reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life, and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (Isa. 11; 65:17-25; Ezek. 36:33-38; Rev. 20:7).
The Judgment of the Lost
We believe and teach that following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, then Satan and his army will be defeated by God.
Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone upon which Christ, who is the judge of all men, will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne judgment (Rev. 20:7, 9; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10; John 5:22).
We believe and teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, upon which receiving their judgment, they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:11-15).
Eternity
We believe and teach that after the end 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 in which 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 fellowship forever 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 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:7-15; 2 Pet. 3:10; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 20:15, 21, 22; 21:2; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 15:23-28; Rev. 21, 22).