[This is the tenth in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith.] In this series of articles we have discussed the resurrections and judgments as they appear in the sequence of … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 10: The Resurrections and Judgments
Theology
Why Matthew 24:36-25:30 Describes the Rapture of the Church, Not the Second Coming of Christ
Pretribulationism underwent a subtle, yet significant transformation in the first half of the twentieth century. The earlier pretribulationism of J.N. Darby and C.I. Scofield began to be replaced by the pretribulationism of Henry C. Thiessen and Lewis Sperry Chafer, and later John F. Walvoord. The dividing line between these two forms of pretribulationism centers on … Continue reading Why Matthew 24:36-25:30 Describes the Rapture of the Church, Not the Second Coming of Christ
How Did the Moral Fall of Adam Affect the Human Race?
How did Adam’s sin affect the human family? Historically, three positions have been given to answer this question; they are: total depravity, Pelagianism, and semi-Pelagianism. The view one takes with regard to how Adam’s sin affects his posterity has radical consequences with respect to the doctrines of salvation. This is really where the dividing line … Continue reading How Did the Moral Fall of Adam Affect the Human Race?
The Fall of Man Into Sin
An understanding of the moral fall of man and it consequences is essential in understanding many other important biblical truths. We cannot understand or accept the concept of original sin, referring to the initial sin of Adam, apart from a literal (objective) understanding of the Genesis account of man’s direct creation by God. Those who … Continue reading The Fall of Man Into Sin
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 9: Notes on Tribulation Chronology
[This is the ninth in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] Just as it is important to … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 9: Notes on Tribulation Chronology
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 8: The Rapture of the Church
The rapture refers to Christ’s return for his Church, when he will resurrect the dead in Christ and transform the bodies of living saints into their glorified form, instantly calling his Church out of this world and into Heaven; it is an event that is to be completely without warning or signs.[i] While the Bible […]
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 7: The Tribulation Described
[This is the seventh in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] In the previous article we discussed … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 7: The Tribulation Described
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 6: Background to the Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week)
[This is the sixth in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] Both the Old and New Testaments … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 6: Background to the Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week)
Does the Bible Teach That Christ is God?
Does the Bible teach that Jesus is God, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit? Before launching into an examination of Christ’s deity, it is important to define two terms. The first is “deity.” As used here “deity” refers to “absolute” deity—not that Christ is “a god,” but that he is “the eternal God”—Jehovah. … Continue reading Does the Bible Teach That Christ is God?
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 5: What Will the Millennium be Like?
[This is the fifth in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] In the previous article (Biblical Future … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 5: What Will the Millennium be Like?
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 4: The Biblical Basis for Belief in a Future Earthly Kingdom of God
[This is the fourth in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] The kingdom of God is one … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 4: The Biblical Basis for Belief in a Future Earthly Kingdom of God
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 3: Understanding Apocalyptic Literature
[This is the third in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] The word “apocalyptic” comes from the … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 3: Understanding Apocalyptic Literature
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 2: How Interpretive Frameworks Affect Our Understanding of Future Prophecy
[This is the second in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] Scripture in general, and future prophecy … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 2: How Interpretive Frameworks Affect Our Understanding of Future Prophecy
Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 1: Introduction to Biblical Future Prophecy
[This is the first in a series of articles on biblical future prophecy. The material has been adapted from the author’s book, What the Bible Says About the Future, second edition, 2011, by Sam A. Smith. To jump to the next article in this series tap or click here.] One of Jesus’ final teachings before … Continue reading Biblical Future Prophecy –Part 1: Introduction to Biblical Future Prophecy
Chronological and Topical Index to Biblical Future Prophecy
This index is a virtually exhaustive listing of biblical future prophecy passages in chronological-topical order. (Prophecies related to the first advent of Christ are also listed in this index since the eschatological age i.e., the "last days," began at the first advent, cf. Heb. 1:2. ) Passages are grouped according to time and topic, so … Continue reading Chronological and Topical Index to Biblical Future Prophecy
The Importance of a Dispensational Perspective
What is a “Dispensation”? A dispensation is a historical era in which God has particular expectations of man. Each dispensation includes a test to see if man will fulfill the divine expectation. In each dispensation man fails due to his sinfulness. The dispensations are not means of salvation; rather, they are a means of blessing. … Continue reading The Importance of a Dispensational Perspective
Why Amillennialism Isn’t Biblical
Amillennialism views the millennial kingdom as a present reality, while acknowledging that some elements associated with the millennium are still future. Thus, amillennialists view the age between the first and second advents of Christ as fulfilling the prophecies of both the tribulation and the millennium. Typically they view Satan as having been bound at the … Continue reading Why Amillennialism Isn’t Biblical
An Overview of Rapture Theology
The rapture refers to Christ’s return for his Church, when he will resurrect the dead in Christ and transform the bodies of living saints into their glorified form, instantly calling his Church out of this world and into Heaven; it is an event that is to be completely without warning or signs.[i] While the Bible … Continue reading An Overview of Rapture Theology
Why There Must Be a Future Kingdom of God on Earth
The Old Testament concept of an earthly kingdom emerges first from the Abrahamic Covenant, and is then expanded upon in the Palestinian, Davidic, and New Covenants. These four covenants shape the Old Testament idea of the visible kingdom of God, both in its millennial and eternal aspects, which as we will see is inseparably tied … Continue reading Why There Must Be a Future Kingdom of God on Earth
What the Bible Actually Says About the Future
Does the Bible tell us what the future will be like? Most Christians believe it does, but differ widely as to what the Bible’s promises and prophecies mean. In the following paragraphs we will look at what the Bible actually says about the future. After all, until we know what the Bible actually says about … Continue reading What the Bible Actually Says About the Future
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