FAITH & DOCTRINE
I. Angels and Demons
Satan and a host of spirit beings called demons are in a state of continual war with God and humanity; being of a nature so corrupt as to be beyond the possibility of redemption. Man relinquished certain of his rights to Satan who temporarily rules as the god of this world. God is surround¬ed by a host of angelic spirit beings who do His will as ministering spirits for those who shall be heirs of salvation. (Eph. 2:2; I Pet. 5:8-9; I John 3:8; Heb.1:14; Ps. 34:7; Ps.103:20; Matt. 25:31)
II. Last Things
When considering the doctrine of last things we must express a Biblical position on Death, the Second Coming of Christ, as well as Heaven and Hell.
A. Death
Physical death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body, until the resurrection. All of mankind will be resurrected; the believer to the resurrection of eternal life, and the sinner to the resurrection of damnation. At the point of death, the believer’s spirit and soul goes into the presence of the Lord, while the sinner’s spirit and soul descends into conscious torment in hell. (Luke 16:19-31; Heb. 9:27; II Cor. 5:1-8)
B. The Second Coming of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ is personal and imminent. The Lord Himself will descend from Heaven. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (I Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matt. 24:36, 44; Acts 1:11) The coming of Jesus Christ with His saints will end the great tribulation and establish the millennial kingdom on earth, when Christ shall rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 1:7; Zech. 14:4; II Thess. 1:7-10, 2:8)
C. Heaven
Heaven is the habitation of the living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all of God’s family, where they shall dwell eternally in joy and security with Him. (I Cor 2:9; John 14:2-3; Rev. 7:15-17; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 22:5)
D. Hell
Hell is a literal place of bitter sorrow, remorse, and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels. There is also a bottomless pit and outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is a lake that burns with fire and brimstone into which shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Matt. 8:12; Matt. 22:13; Matt. 25:30,41; Mark 9:43-44; Rev. 14:10-11; Rev. 20:1-3,10,14-15; Rev. 21:7-8)
III. Resurrection of the Dead
This doctrine must include statements on the Resurrection of Christ, Believers and Unbelievers. Also included is the Millennial Reign of Christ and the New Heaven and the New Earth.
A. Resurrection of Christ.
We believe in the literal bodily resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In His resurrection He became the first-fruits of the resurrection of the righteous. (Matt. 28:1-7; I Cor. 15:1-21)
B. Believers.
Upon the return of Jesus Christ, the bodies of believers will be raised in an eternal spiritual body like Christ’s for when we see Him we shall be like Him. (I Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:16-17; I John 3:2)
C. Unbelievers.
The spirit and soul of all who have not been born-again abide in hell until the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the resurrection of damnation where unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone forever. (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 20:11-15)
D. The Millennial Reign of Christ.
The Second Coming of Christ, which is our blessed hope, is the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace. (Rom. 11:26-29; Rev. 19:11-20; Rev. 20:1-6)
E. The New Heaven and the New Earth.
According to His promise, we look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and where pain, sorrow, crying, and death will pass away forever. (II Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1-7, 22-27; Rev. 22:1-5)