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                What in the World Is Going To Happen?                        
                         By: Charles R. Swindoll                             
                                                                             
  For many individuals, prophecy is something to be ignored - or, at best,   
  to be viewed with suspicion. Because foolish predictions have been proven  
  false or erroneous information has led to fanaticism, the popular          
  attitude today toward prophetic teaching is skepticism. However, the fact  
  remains that God has revealed to us a great deal about the future. Though  
  some things have not been revealed, many details have been set forth in    
  plain, unmistakable terms which God wants us to know.  In this study, we   
  want to uncover and place into proper perspective those pieces of the      
  picture clearly predented to us in Scripture.  Before we survey God's      
  future plan, we shall briefly review the potential dangers of prophetic    
  study, as well as the basis of the skepticism aimed at prophetic events.   
                                                                             
  I.  Dangers of Prophetic Study.                                            
      As we commence this series, it is necessary to remind ourselves of     
      those traps into which students of prophecy often fall:                
                                                                             
       A. Setting Dates and Making Dogmatic Declarations.                    
          Per Jesus' instruction to His disciples, "It is not for you to     
          know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own         
          authority" (Acts 1:7).                                             
                                                                             
       B. Making the Study of Prophecy an End in Itself.                     
          In most every New Testament mention of prophetic happening, there  
          is an accompanying reminder to live a godly life.                  
                                                                             
       C. Answering Questions that Nobody is Asking.                         
          One can pore over prophetic material and gloss over the essential  
          issues.                                                            
                                                                             
  II. Skepticism toward Prophetic Events (2 Pet. 3:3-7).                     
                                                                             
  Skepticism is nothing new: the problem was evident in Peter's time.        
  Familiar with the lives of the first century mockers, he wrote, "...In     
  the last days mockers will come ...saying, 'Where is the promise of His    
  coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it   
  was from the beginning of creation'" (vv. 3-4). Skeptics of all time have  
  adhered to the theory of uniformitarianism, which teaches that since the   
  origin of matter and time, there has never been an interruption in         
  natural phenomenom or pattern. Peter's evaluation twenty centuries ago is  
  still on target today: "For when they maintain this, it escapes their      
  notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth  
  was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that      
  time was destroyed, being flooded with water" (vv. 5-6). The flood of      
  Noah cuts the heart of the skeptics' theory, for God did interrupt         
  natural phenomenon and pattern...and nothing prevents Him from doing it    
  again. His Word declares that He will.  Within this context, Peter added,  
  "...The present heavens and earth...are being reserved for fire, kept for  
  the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (v.7). Skepticism is   
  in trouble when placed against the historical backdrop of the Flood.       
                                                                             
  III. Survey of God's Prophetic Plan.                                       
       As we look at this panorama we will begin with the present, then      
       identify and describe ten prophetic events that lead right into       
       eternity:                                                             
                                                                             
       A. The Church. The term church comes from two Greek words which,      
          when put together, mean "to call out" or "called out ones."        
          Before Jesus left this earth, He promised Peter that He would      
          personally build His Church - an organism which would not be       
          threatened by hell's forces (Matt. 16:16-18). The fulfillment      
          of that promise began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and        
          since then the Lord Jesus Christ has been calling out of the       
          world those whose hearts are turned toward Him: Jew and Gentile,   
          male and female, bond and free, child and adult. Today we are      
          living at the end of this era.                                     
                                                                             
       B. The Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13-17). This will occur at   
          the end of the Church Era. All those believers - found in every    
          part of the earth - who will have lived and died during the        
          Church Age will be raised up, leaving behind only unbelievers.     
          Paul informs us that the dead will be raised first (vv. 15-16),    
          and the living believers will be caught up with them in the air    
          to meet the Lord together (v. 17).                                 
                                                                             
       C. The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). This will transpire in  
          heaven for those children of God raised at the Rapture. This       
          judgment does not deal with salvation, but with rewards. Our life  
          and conduct on earth will be evaluated and, according to our       
          obedience, particular eternal rewards will be given to us by the   
          Lord Jesus Christ.                                                 
                                                                             
       D. The Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; 2 Thess. 2:1-8; Rev. 4-19). This     
          seven-year period on earth will unfold simultaneously with         
          believers receiving their rewards in heaven. The first 3 1/2       
          years will be ones of relative peace, while the last 3 1/2 years   
          will be ones of tremendous chaos. Satan, who will be               
          unrestrained, will establish his unholy trinity: Satan will        
          assume the place of God the Father. The Beast (Satan's right-hand  
          man, mentioned in Rev. 13) will occupy the position of God the     
          Son; he will make a peace pact with Israel which he will later     
          break, promising unity and prosperity to them and all world        
          citizens; also, he will place on his followers a particular mark   
          or identification without which they will be unable to buy or      
          sell. The False Prophet (the Beast's right-hand man) will take     
          the position of God the Holy Spirit and will act as a deceiver;    
          he will draw the world together under one great and unified        
          religious and governmental system. This era will climax with the   
          infamous Battle of Armageddon.                                     
                                                                             
       E. The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; 19:19). In this military     
          campaign, those who join forces with the beast-like ruler will     
          attempt to carry on a worldwide conquest. They will ultimately     
          rise up in the Valley of Megiddo.                                  
                                                                             
       F. The Second Advent (Matt. 24:29-31). At the conclusion of           
          Armageddon Jesus Christ will return and judge the earth.           
                                                                             
       G. The Sheep-Goat Judgment (Matt. 25:31-44). All unbelievers will be  
          judged and removed from the earth. The believers will enter the    
          Kingdom Age.                                                       
                                                                             
       H. The Kingdom Age (Isa. 11:1-9; Dan. 2:44; Rev. 20:4-6). This        
          period, known as the Millennium, will span one thousand years.     
          Satan will be bound and placed in the abyss. Those believers who   
          were put to death during the Tribulation will join those who       
          already appeared before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and together  
          they will reign with Christ over the world as judges, governors,   
          mayors,etc. Christ Himself will reign as the righteous and         
          universal Judge over the entire earth, directing a perfect         
          judicial system. He will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   
          During this time, the curse will be removed both from the earth    
          and from the animal kingdom; the desert will blossom as a rose     
          and there will be no need to fear the carnivorous animals. There   
          will be plenty of food. The knowledge of the Lord will permeate    
          the whole earth and the heart of man; however, in spite of all     
          this, the heart of man will not change...as we shall see in the    
          next event.                                                        
                                                                             
       I. Satan's Release (Rev. 20:7-9). At the end of the Millennium,       
          Satan will be freed, and deceiving the nations once again, he      
          will lead to destruction those unbelievers (born to believers      
          during the Millennium) who choose to follow him.                   
                                                                             
       J. Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:10-15). The earth will be     
          destroyed (2 Peter 3). and the final judgment of all unbelievers   
          will take place. Along with Satan, all those whose names do not    
          appear in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.   
                                                                             
       K. Eternity (Rev. 21-22). A new heaven and earth will replace the     
          old; sorrow, pain, death, and night will cease to exist. This      
          is the ultimate destiny for all believers.                         
                                                                             
                    THE NEXT EVENT OF THE FUTURE                             
                                                                             
  The Lord is continuing today to build His Church - just as He told Peter   
  nearly two thousand years ago: "...I will build My church; and the gates   
  of Hades shall not overpower it" (Matt.16:18). That process began in Acts  
  2 and will conclude with the next event of the future foretold in          
  Scripture: the Rapture of the Church. The Church Age, in which we're       
  currently living, could end at any time. When the Rapture occurs, the      
  Church of Jesus Christ will be lifted up from the earth and the building   
  of the Church will cease. Let's look more closely at this event.           
                                                                             
  I. THE PROMISE GIVEN BY CHRIST (John 14:1-3).                              
       First delivered to the disciples, this promise is fitting for         
       Christians of all times. First He addressed an attitude, then He      
       offered an assurance.                                                 
                                                                             
       A. OUR ATTITUDE (v.1). "Let not your heart be troubled." In           
          practical terms He was saying, "As you consider your present       
          life marked by difficulty and trouble, don't let your heart        
          and mind get wrapped up in those things." This was particularly    
          meaningful to His men, who suddenly looked upon a bleak future     
          as their Savior was about to die. They had expected to enter       
          His Kingdom as charter members, but they had been informed         
          that the Kingdom was not yet to become a reality: other events     
          had to happen before it would begin. As we, from our individual    
          perspectives, face our own often uncertain futures, these words    
          should continue to carry weight with us.                           
                                                                             
       B. AN ASSURANCE (vv.2-3). Jesus continued, saying, "In My Father's    
          house are many dwelling places...for I go to prepare a place for   
          you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,   
          and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be       
          also." The words (dwelling places) simply refer to "a place of     
          residence, a dwelling." The phrase may be literally translated,    
          "In My Father's house are many apartments." We must note that in   
          this assurance Jesus didn't just promise heaven, but also          
          personal union with Himself.                                       
                                                                             
  II.  THE EVENT EXPLAINED BY PAUL.                                          
         We're indebted to this apostle for the help he's provided us in     
         understanding this event that will occur without announcement,      
         abruptly.                                                           
                                                                             
         A. THE MYSTERY UNVEILED (1 Cor.15:50-55). In Paul's day it was      
            believed that the only way a person could enter God's presence   
            was through death. However, in this chapter dealing with the     
            subject of resurrection, he spoke of the mystery (literally, a   
            secret revealed to him) pertaining to life after death. He       
            wrote to the Corinthians that some would actually enter God's    
            presence in a living state since they would be alive at the      
            moment of rapture. Here are his words:"...We shall not all       
            sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the          
            twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will   
            sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall    
            be changed." Paul doesn't tell us when the Rapture will          
            happen, but he states it as a fact of our future.                
                                                                             
        B. THE PROCESS REVEALED (1 Thess. 4:13-18). This is the crucial      
           passage dealing with the Rapture. Paul introduces it with these   
           words:"...We do not want you to be uninformed, brethern, about    
           those who are asleep..." (v.13). In his letter to the             
           Thessalonians, he introduces the subject with truth about those   
           who had died in Christ: "...We who are alive, and remain until    
           the coming of the Lord, shall not procede those who have fallen   
           asleep" (v.15). A close look at the text helps us to answer       
           three important questions.                                        
                                                                             
            1. WHAT ABOUT THE SIGNS? The Bible does not give us any signs    
                to look for that will precede the Rapture: it is to be both  
                sudden and unannounced. However, we are given signs that     
                will occur just before the Second Advent of Christ. Thus,    
                if we see these signs occurring, we can be assured that the  
                Rapture is soon to take place (such events as making of a    
                one-world religion, and the making of a one-world            
                government headed by the beast-like dictator).               
                                                                             
            2. WHAT ABOUT THE DEAD? For certain we can say three things      
                regarding them: They will not be forgotten (v.14). They      
                will go before the living (vv.15-16). They will go "in the   
                clouds...in the air" to be with the Lord (v.17).             
                                                                             
            3. WHAT ABOUT THE LIVING? Those alive at the time of the         
                Rapture will be caught up together with the risen believers  
                just mentioned (v.17). Also, very small children (who have   
                not yet come to an age of understanding the claims of        
                Christ) will be raptured with their believing parents (1     
                Cor.7:14). Quite likely, those living when the Rapture       
                occurs will hear its introductory shout of the Lord, the     
                voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God, and then they    
                will be caught up into the air.                              
                                                                             
        C. THE EVENT APPLIED (Titus 2:11-14). It is man's tendency to think  
           only of the sensational aspects of this marvelous event.          
           However, its purpose is not sensation. In this text we find that  
           the Rapture teaches us two things:                                
                                                                             
             1. NEGATIVELY. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly    
                desires.                                                     
                                                                             
             2. POSITIVELY. It teaches us to live sensible, righteous,       
                and godly lives at the present time.                         
                                                                             
  III. THE PROBLEM SOLVED BY JOHN (Rev.3:10).                                
         We are given every indication of a promise that the Christian will  
         avoid going into the Tribulation. Here is the promise delivered to  
         the believers of Philadelphia: "Because you have kept the word of   
         My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing,     
         that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test      
         those who dwell upon the earth."                                    
                                                                             
                     HOW TO BUILD A FIREPROOF LIFE                           
                          1 Cor.3:10-15; 2 Cor.5:10                          
                                                                             
  A great deal has been said about the Rapture of the Church. We sing about  
  it, speak about it, and anticipate it. But what happens once it occurs?    
  After we are taken into our Lord's presence, what then? In this study we   
  want to consider the answer to that question. On the basis of three New    
  Testament passages (Rom.14:10; 1 Cor.3:10-15; 2 Cor.5:10), we believe      
  that all Christians will appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ.       
  Let's carefully examine this event together.                               
                                                                             
  I.  INTRODUCTION OF THE EVENT.                                             
      Other judgments are mentioned in Scripture; so in order to chart a     
      clear course in considering this particular judgment, let's establish  
      some boundaries:                                                       
                                                                             
        A. WHO...WHEN...WHERE? The Judgment Seat of Christ is for believers  
           only. This judgment will occur immediately after the Rapture and  
           will convene in the Lord's presence.  Simultaneously, the         
           Tribulation will be in progress on the earth.                     
                                                                             
        B. FURTHER CLARIFICATION. This will not be a time when our sins are  
           paraded before us; the Bible reveals that God has chosen to       
           forget our sin. Also, this judgment will not determine whether    
           we stay in heaven or leave. Ultimately, only one concern will     
           prevail: Do we receive rewards, or do we lose them? The basis     
           for this judgment will be the quality of life we lived during     
           our days on earth.                                                
                                                                             
  II. EXPLANATION OF THE EVENT (2 Cor.5:10).                                 
        The context of this verse is the earthly body contrasted with the    
        new body which we will receive when we enter the Lord's presence at  
        the Rapture. In nearing the end of his thoughts on the resurrected   
        body, Paul remind his readers on the Judgment Seat of Christ. Here   
        are the details:                                                     
                                                                             
        A. ITS CERTAINTY. "We must." This judgment is not optional, "For we  
           must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...."           
                                                                             
        B. ITS SCOPE. "All...each one." First, it is (universal): all        
           believers of the Church Age will be included. Second, it is       
           (individual): each believer will be personally evaluated.         
                                                                             
        C. ITS LOCATION. "Before the judgment seat." The Greek term Paul     
           used here is (bema). In his day this was a raised platform        
           positioned in the canter of an arena where athletic games were    
           held. From this platform officials observed those running around  
           the track and issued the winning contestants their hard-earned    
           rewards. This is the word picture behind Paul's description of    
           Christ's Judgment Seat.                                           
                                                                             
        D. THE JUDGE. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who in both justice and   
           righteousness mot only knows the deed, but also its accompanying  
           motive.                                                           
                                                                             
        E. ITS PURPOSE. "That each one may be recompensed." The word         
           (recompense) means "to receive back; to recover." Each Christian  
           will receive rewards according to the godliness of the earthly    
           life he or she lived.                                             
                                                                             
        F. BASIS OF THE REWARDS. "According to what he has done, whether     
           good or bad." There are only two categories of deeds in our       
           lives: (1) the useful; (2) the useless. Those things done in the  
           power of the Holy Spirit will be rewarded; those things done in   
           the power of the flesh will be ignored.                           
                                                                             
  III.EVALUATION AT THE EVENT (1 Cor.3:10-15).                               
        Calling attention to the quality of one's work and the judgment      
        which the believer is to face, Paul spoke in terms of building       
        construction. The context of this chapter has to do with the         
        problem of the carnal perspective - which Christians often become    
        trapped in as they compare preachers. (In this case, the             
        Corinthians were comparing Paul, Peter, and Apollos.) Exposing the   
        problem, he indicated that God's work was like a building, and       
        those leaders being compared were, in a sense, subcontractors        
        building under God's direction. Keep the Judgment Seat of Christ in  
        mind as you move through the development of Paul's thoughts.         
                                                                             
        A. THE FOUNDATION (v.1). "Jesus Christ." He is the only foundation   
           that will count in eternity.                                      
                                                                             
        B. THE CONSTRUCTION (v.2). Only two kinds of building materials are  
           cited: (destructible)...such as wood, hay, and straw; and         
           (indestructible)...such as gold, silver and precious stones.      
                                                                             
        C. THE INSPECTION (v.13). "The fire." Every building must undergo    
           an inspection. Paul wrote,"...The fire itself will test the       
           quality of each man's work."                                      
                                                                             
        D. THE DECISION (vv.14-15). "Reward" or "loss." Jesus Christ, our    
           righteous Judge, will examine the structure of each of our        
           works. He alone will determine the quality of our works, and we   
           will be rewarded accordingly. It's not quantity, but (quality)    
           that counts with Him. The motive is as significant as the act.    
                                                                             
        E. THE REWARD (v.14). The meaning of the term is "prize, award;      
           earned, achieved." As Paul uses it, it is associated with both    
           honor and dignity being bestowed on the overcomer. Throughout     
           the New Testament, at least five rewards are promised:            
                                                                             
             1. THE IMPERISHABLE CROWN (1 Cor.9:25). This is given to the    
                one who consistently brings the flesh under the Holy         
                Spirit's control, refusing to be enslaved by the sinful      
                nature (cf. Rom.6:6-14).                                     
                                                                             
             2. THE CROWN OF EXULTATION (1 Thess.2:19). Also called the      
                soul-winner's crown, this will be given to those who are     
                faithful in declaring the gospel, leading people to Christ,  
                and building them up in Him.                                 
                                                                             
             3. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Tim.4:8). This will be         
                awarded to those who live each day anticipating Christ's     
                imminent return...those who conduct their lives with         
                eternity's values in view.                                   
                                                                             
             4. THE CROWN OF LIFE (Rev.2:10). This will be presented to      
                those saints who suffered in a noble manner during their     
                earthly life (cf. James 1:12).                               
                                                                             
             5. THE CROWN OF GLORY (1 Pet.5:4). This is promised to the      
                undershepherds of the flock.                                 
                                                                             
        F. THE LOSS OF REWARDS (v.15). The works will be burned up, but the  
           believer will be saved "so as through fire." The point is that    
           salvation is a gift that is not based upon works; therefore,      
           works themselves will never keep someone out of heaven, nor will  
           they help someone enter.                                          
                                                                             
  IV.THOUGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EVENT.                                        
                                                                             
        A. WORKS ARE IMPORTANT. The fruit of your life reveals its root.     
                                                                             
        B. QUALITY IS ESSENTIAL. It's not so much what you do as why you     
           do it.                                                            
                                                                             
        C. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SECRET. Whatever work is done must stem    
           from the person and power of the Holy Spirit.                     
                                                                             
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