Last Things: Recent Episodes
John Musgrave, M.Div., Pastor, Christ Church, Clayton, North Carolina
A study of how the Bible speaks of the things going on from Christ's ascension 2,000 years ago to Christ's return.
Having finished our series on “Last Things,” we’re continuing to podcast the content of the classes at Christ Church each week. Search “What Does the Bible Teach?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music, and you’ll see it there!
Looking at the view that sees the "millennium" as the entire period between the ascension and the return of Jesus (as the time we're in today).
A fifth view of "the last things," Preterism, focuses on the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Roman army in A.D. 70.
Looking at the historically new, but now dominant view of last things: Dispensational Premillennialism.
An examination of Historic Premillennialism, which teaches a 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ, prior to final judgment and the New Heavens and New Earth.
How postmillennialism doesn't survive the scrutiny of Scripture. (Plus, some extra discussion, up front, on the Lord's Supper.)
Sacraments: visible, sensory ceremonies in the Church that show forth what Jesus did for His people.
Postmillennialism believes the "1,000 years" (taken figuratively) of Revelation 20 is a time in which the gospel will win most on earth to faith in Jesus, such that Jesus' return will be a welcomed event by most who live on earth.
The “1,000 years” of Revelation 20 is interpreted in different ways and as coming at different times. Millennial view #2: Postmillennialism. And, some principles of Biblical interpretation.
The “1,000 years” of Revelation 20 is interpreted in different ways and as coming at different times. Millennial view #1: Amillennialism.
The pattern of that last, final battle when Jesus returns is seen in the Old Testament before the New.
[Apologies: Somehow, this recorded with no audio. I’m sorry!]
The New Testament interprets the Old Testament, telling us how to understand today Old Testament things such as the temple, Jerusalem, Israel, and the king of God's people.
As Gog and his armies were foretold to be crushed by the restored people of God in the Old Testament, so Jesus and His people will crush those who hate her when Jesus returns.
Understanding Gog from the Old Testament enables us to understand what John’s meaning when he speaks of Gog in Revelation 20.
"Gog" (660 B.C.) never invaded the Promised Land with a multinational army. What explains this? Intervening Historical Contingencies do!
God often announced potential futures that were alterable by the subsequent actions of the hearers.
Ezekiel, speaking from exile in Babylon, teaches of a war that would come to God's people, Israel, when they returned to the Promised Land. This war was parallel to the final battle that will occur at the end of this age between Jesus, leading His Church, and the world.
In Revelation 20, John speaks of "Gog,” of whom the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel had spoken. Who was he?
John speaks of "Gog and Magog" in Revelation 20. History and the Book of Ezekiel inform us what he's talking about.
After this era, when all the elect have been brought to faith, Satan will gather the world to come against the Church; but Jesus will then appear, resurrect all His people bodily, and lead His people in victory over all who are against Him and them.
What happens when the last of individuals to be saved is saved and this era (the "thousand years") comes to an end?
Aspects of our era in heaven and on earth, during the "thousand years" between Jesus’ ascension and His Second Coming.
Effectual calling (& regeneration) before faith; and the first resurrection for believers at death.
A summary of the events Scripture reports from Christ's ascension to the New Heavens and New Earth.
During our era, Satan and his demons are bound from deceiving the elect throughout the nations from believing in Jesus.
Starting with Jesus’ ascension, Satan and his demons have been prevented from deceiving the elect throughout the nations of the earth from believing in Jesus.
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When is justification in our lives, and when is sanctification?
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When is saving faith in our lives, and when do we look to God's law?
Bullet-pointing the Bible's teaching on justification and on sanctification. That is, the difference between being saved (and forgiven) by Jesus, on the one hand, and growing to be more like Him, on the other.
How does the Bible speak of the law (God's commands) in regard to justification and in regard to sanctification?
"One box" in Catholicism combines justification and sanctification, so that one is seen to be justified (saved) by their sanctification (law and church obedience).
God’s commands—the things God tells us in the Bible to do and to avoid—are better than our vague, man-made, "Christian" laws.
Jesus and Scripture show us that works have no part in salvation (justification), but much to do in the realm of sanctification, after one has been saved.
How keeping justification and sanctification separate helps us make sense of the commands in Scripture without compromising the grace of the gospel.
Having two "boxes"--one for justification and one for sanctification--enable us to properly handle both salvation and growth as a Christian.
Justification and sanctification are often mistakenly combined into one "box," causing confusion about how God's commands relate to the Christian. When the boxes are seen as two separate boxes, God's grace in justification and loving direction in sanctification become clear and make sense.
The governments of the world do not want the government of Christ, but they will be banished to the Lake of Fire when Jesus returns.
Jesus will return, with all His angels and with all people who've believed in Him, and He and His army will conquer disbelief and disbelievers with finality.
Bodily resurrection, a final battle, final judgment, and the New Heavens and New Earth all come with the return of Jesus.
The order of the resurrection of believers when Jesus appears again (@the Second Coming).
Continuing to examine the number of things that happen at the next great event, the Second Coming of Jesus.
Jesus told believers to "keep watch" until His return. Here we examine what "keeping watch" means.
In view of Christ's return at any time, Christ and the apostles tell Christians to be ready for His return--to "keep watch."
In 2 Peter 3, you see what Christians in A.D. 68 were expecting, perhaps even in their lifetimes: the Second Coming of Jesus, with final judgment and a New Heavens and New Earth. This is no rapture of the Church.
The Apostles and the New Testament points to Jesus’ return (His Second Coming) as the next major event, when final judgment and the New Heavens and New Earth will be established.
The Apostles and the New Testament point to Jesus’ return (His Second Coming) as the next major event, sans Rapture.
The Apostles and the New Testament points to Jesus’ return (His Second Coming) as the next major event, sans Rapture.
After a review of the last seven (and 3-1/2) years of Daniel 9 and of Revelation 12, we look at what the New Testament writers considered to be the next, coming event in Biblical history, namely, the Second Coming of Jesus.
From Revelation 12, we see that God will protect the Church, while it is persecuted between Christ’s ascension and His return.
From Revelation 12, we see that the 3-1/2 years (1260 days/42 months) of tribulation for the Church starts at Jesus’ ascension and will continue until His return.
From Revelation 12, we see that from Jesus’ ascension to His return, the people of the Church will be persecuted, but will overcome even death by the blood of Jesus, spilled for them, and the witness they give on earth of their faith.
"Last Things" Sunday School, October 30, 2022.
In heaven, upon Jesus' ascension, what went on that defines life in this era, prior to Christ's return?