The Future Ministry of Jesus Christ
- Sermon By: Rev. Jothson J.
- Categories: Bible Study
Biblical proof of the divinity of Jesus Christ
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The Future Ministry of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ has three future activities:
1. His Return
John 14:3 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.
** Here, Jesus is speaking about His return to take His people (the Rapture). This passage conveys a message of comfort.
-The many dwelling places signify God’s universality. There are no geographical limitations.
-“I go to prepare a place for you” implies God’s omnipresence and His continual presence with His people.
The word “there” refers to heaven, a truth later confirmed by the angels in Acts 1:11.
Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
** This passage expresses Paul’s message of comfort. He was responding to those who doubted the resurrection.
It is important to understand that the return of Jesus will be a time of great joy for Christians, but a terrifying event for those who do not know God.
-The Rapture will be selective: it will involve the dead in Christ and the living Church.
-The Rapture will be miraculous: everyone will hear the sound. It will therefore be a worldwide event regardless of time zones.
-The sound will be encoded: it will be understood through spiritual ears. The Spirit of God will enable believers to recognize and respond to that divine call.
2. His Judgment
At the judgment, Jesus will be both Judge and Prosecutor. There will be no advocate for unbelievers. The Church will not participate in the judgment of unbelievers.
a. The Judgment of Believers
The Church will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Why is this judgment necessary if the blood of Jesus has already saved us and removed our sins?
This judgment is not about salvation but about evaluating the faithfulness of believers. God will examine our lives and our conduct. It will be a tribunal where believers receive rewards according to their faithfulness.
Romans 14:10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:10 reinforces the teaching found in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
b. The Judgment of the Nations
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
** This passage encompasses both judgments: the judgment of believers and the judgment of unbelievers.
** This passage gives us a clearer understanding of the Great White Throne Judgment, where unbelievers will face eternal death.
Another book was opened—the Book of Life, which contains the names of believers.
Other books were opened—containing the works of unbelievers.
4 groups will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire:
1-The Beast;
2-The False Prophet;
3-The Dragon (Satan);
4-Unbelievers
3. His Reign During the Millennium
The 7 Dispensations
1-The Dispensation of Innocence, which ended with the expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden.
2-The Dispensation of Conscience, which ended with Noah’s Flood.
3-The Dispensation of Human Government, which ended with the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel.
4-The Dispensation of Promise, beginning with Abraham.
5-The Dispensation of the Law, beginning with Moses.
6-The Dispensation of Grace, beginning with Jesus Christ, in which He is the Savior and the Lamb of God.
7-The Dispensation of Judgment, the Millennium, in which Jesus will reign as Judge and the Lion of Judah.
Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
The Millennium
Revelation 20:3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
Satan will be imprisoned for one thousand years. Afterward, he will be released for a short time and will once again deceive and attack the nations.
The Millennium represents the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth. It will be a time of restoration and reconciliation, when the wolf will dwell with the lamb. It will also be a kingdom of peace, justice, and prosperity, where Jesus Himself will be our everlasting Light and our eternal Sun.
