The Return of Christ
We believe in the blessed hope of the church—that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven, and believers will be caught up to meet Him and be with Him always (1 Thes 4:16–17; Tit 2:13). This return for His church is imminent and distinct from His coming in judgment during the Great Tribulation (Mt 24:21; Rev 7:14), and those who are caught up are not appointed to God’s wrath, but are delivered through Him (1 Thes 1:10; 5:9). We further believe in the personal, visible, and certain return of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish and reign over His kingdom on earth in fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the nations (Mt 24:30; Acts 1:11; Rev 19:11–16; Isa 9:6–7; Zech 14:9; Rev 20:1–6).
Resurrection and Judgment
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked (Jn 5:28–29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor 15:42–44). All people will stand before God in final judgment (Rev 20:11–15). Those who belong to Christ will enter into eternal joy in the presence of God (Mt 25:34; Jn 14:2–3; Rev 21:1–4). Those who reject Him will face everlasting punishment in hell (Mt 13:41–42, 49–50; 25:41, 46; 2 Thes 1:7–9; Rev 14:9–11; 20:10).
The State of the Soul After Death
Believers
We believe that at the moment of physical death, the souls of those who have trusted in Christ immediately enter His presence, experiencing conscious joy and fellowship with Him (Lk 23:42–43; 2 Cor 5:6–8; Phil 1:23). Their bodies will be raised in glory at Christ’s coming, and they will dwell with Him forever (1 Cor 15:51–53; 1 Thes 4:13–17).
Unbelievers
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery, separated from God, awaiting the final judgment (Lk 16:19–26; Jude 6–7). At the final judgment they will be found guilty and cast into the lake of fire—not to be annihilated, but to endure eternal punishment (Dan 12:2; Mt 25:41, 46; Rev 20:10).
The Certainty of Future Realities
While recognizing that faithful believers may differ on the timing and sequence of end-times events, we affirm these future realities as clearly revealed in Scripture.