The document discusses different views on the end times and the rapture, including pretribulation, midtribulation, posttribulation, and partial rapture views. It also covers views on the millennium, including premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. While Christians disagree on timing, the essential doctrines are Christ's bodily second coming and salvation through faith in His atoning work. Minor differences should not divide believers as all will seem inconsequential when with Christ in heaven.

1. IN essentials unity, in none essentials, liberty; and Joel 1:15 - "The day of the Lord is at hand; it shall 4. The Pre-Wrath View- the rapture occur toward
in all things, charity. come as destruction from the Almighty." See also the end of the great tribulation before the great
An essential doctrine is one connected with our Isaiah 13:6. wrath of God fall. Rapture must take place
salvation. For it is these doctrines that are The Second Coming of Christ - called the Parousia between the sixth and seventh seals (Revelation
implanted in the great early creeds of Christendom. (Greek: coming presence, arrival) and will be for 6:12-8:1). This view is only a slightly modified
This definition is confirmed theologically as well, for the judgment of his enemies and the salvation of version of the Midtribulation Rapture view.
it is the gospel – defined theologically in Scripture those who await his return (Hebrew 9:24).
(1 Corinthians 15:1-6; Romans 1:16) – that is FIVE PRIMARY VIEWS ON RAPTURE 5. The Pretribulational View – the views hold that
essential to our salvation. 1. The Partial Rapture View – this view is based on Christ will rapture the entire church before any
While significant differences exist among Christians the parable of the ten virgins, which depicts five part of the Great Tribulation begins. The Rapture
regarding the end times, the key characteristics of virgins who are prepared and five who are and the Second Coming are Separate Events. The
historic Christianity’s essential doctrine about the unprepared (Matthew 25:1-13). This passage is rapture is in the air to meet the Lord. The Second
end times is “CHRIST’S BODILY SECOND COMING” interpreted to mean that only faithful and watchful Coming is with Christ to come back to the earth. A
(Acts 1:11) and the order of second-coming events Christian will be raptured. Unfaithful Christians will division of time must exist between the Rapture
are the none essentials. In today’s issue we are be left behind to suffer through the Great and the Second Coming. Believers are in their
going to discuss the different views of the end Tribulation. The Great Tribulation will “purify” the prepared places (John 14: 1-3). The Bema Seat
times but first of all we will consider some of the Christians and they are called “overcomers.” (1 Judgment (2 Cor. 5:10). The Marriage Supper of
terminologies. Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). This view holds that the
The Rapture – is that event in which the dead in 4:8; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:11; Hebrews church will NOT experience any form of God’s
Christ will be resurrected and Christians who are 9:28; Luke 21:36) Denies the distinction between wrath. Paul said, “For God hath not appointed us
still alive on earth will be instantly translated into Israel and the church. to wrath” (1 Thessalonians 5:9) for Jesus has,
their resurrection bodies - both groups will be “delivered us from the wrath to come” (1
2. The Posttribulational View – this view states that Thessalonians 1:10). The Church and Israel are NOT
caught up to meet Christ in the air (John 14:1-3; 1
Christ will rapture the church after the tribulation at identical.The church and Israel has two separate
Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
the second coming of Christ. This means the church programs. This is indicated by Daniel 9: 24-27, a
The Great Tribulation – a definite period of time
will go through the day of the lord prophesied in the key passage giving an overview of the Great
and that will be characterized by great travail
book of Revelation, but believers will allegedly be Tribulation. According to this view, the church is
(Matthew 24:29-35), it will be of such brutality
kept through Satan’s wrath during the great NEVER mentioned or eluded to in ANY passage
that no period in history, past or future, will
tribulation (Revelation 3:10). They make no dealing with the Great Tribulation. They cite the
equal it (Matthew 24:21). It is called the time of
distinctions between the church and Israel. fact that it is clearly evident in Revelation chapters
Jacobs’s trouble, for it is a judgment on Messiah-
rejecting Israel (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1-4). 6-19 where Israel and the nations are mentioned,
3. The Midtribulational view – the view that Christ
Scripture says it will last seven years (Daniel but the church is conspicuously absent.
will rapture the church in the middle of the great
9:24, 27).
tribulation period. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) the church
The Day of the Lord – was used in the Old
will be delivered from God’s wrath which will be
Testament as an expression to warn hearers that
poured out during the second haft of the great
God's Judgment was about to come upon them.
tribulation. (2 Timothy 3:12).
The Essentials June 2009 The Essentials

2. VIEWS ON THE MILLENIAL KINGDOM
1. Premillenialism – teaches that following the
[This latter view is heretical, denying two of the
essential doctrines of the Faith: the physical
The
second coming, Christ will institute a kingdom of
perfect peace and righteousness on earth that will
resurrection of believers and a literal second coming.]
ESSENTIALS
last for 1000 years. THE TRUTH IS, issues such as the timing of the Rapture )6-1:51 snaihtniroC 1(
2. Amillenialism, which takes a more spiritualized are not worth fighting over. In the long haul – after TSIRHC FO HCRUHC YTINUMMOC EHT
approach to interpreting prophecy, teaches that we’ve been with Christ for countless ages in heaven –
)HCRUHC NAITSIRHC YTINUMMOC(
when Christ comes, eternity will begin with no prior, the question of whatever the rapture happened before
literal 1000-year reign on earth. Amillennial literally or after the Great Tribulation period will truly seem ENIZAGAM NOMRES
means no millennium. According to this view, inconsequential. All this is an intramural debate. So let’s
millennium is metaphorical and says they refer to show some liberty to brothers and sisters who hold to a
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
Christ’s present (spiritual) rule from heaven. different view.
3. Postmillennial View, which also takes a more
The Second Thessalonians
spiritual approach to interpreting biblical prophecy,
Summary
teaches that through the church’s progressive NOITAMROFNI EROM
Work, Wait – “Jesus is coming”
influence, the world will be Christianized before tuoba nrael dna revocsid ot ekil dluow uoy fI
Jesus has work for us to do until He comes back to
Christ returns. According to this view, the )hcruhC naitsirhC( tsirhC fo hcruhC ytinummoC
gather the church to Himself.
millennium will basically involve 1000 years of peace
6977-164-406/7785-385 406 @ su llac esaelP We must work – wait, pray – watch, while waiting
and prosperity that precedes Christ’s physical
3459-159-406/0530-928-877 for Christ to return.
return. th st
# 101-13443-78 Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 0A8 1 Thessalonians was about Christ coming back for
4. Preterism – According to this view, the prophecies
Tel.604 583-5877 His church.
in the Book of Revelation nd
2 Thessalonians is about Christ coming with His
(Especially Chapters 6-18) and Mathew 24-25
mighty angels.
(Christ’s Olivet Discourse) were already fulfilled in
The Thessalonians are undergoing trials,
the past. There are two forms of Preterism: (1)
persecutions. They are also worried that they
Moderate (partial) Preterism and (2) Extreme (full)
missed the coming back and are in the Great
Preterists.
Tribulation.
Moderate (partial) Preterism which they believe the
Overview
literal resurrection and second coming are yet
Who – Paul, Timothy, Silas
future, they say the other prophecies in revelation
What – Correct False teachings about the when “Day
and Matthew 24-25 were already fulfilled when
of the Lord” would happen, reassure them on how to
Jerusalem fell to Rome in A.D 70. Extreme (full)
live and wait.
Preterists goes so far as to say that all New
The Essentials is a monthly publication of the Community When – A.D. 53 or 54, likely within months after 1st
Testament predictions were fulfilled in the past, Church of Christ (Christian Church) at Surrey. The intention of Thessalonians.
including those about the resurrection of believers which is to serve as one of the means of aid in the spiritual Why – Encourage the church in Thessalonica to stand
and Christ second coming. walk of believers in Christ. firm and help them reject false teachings about the
For Pdf. copy email at: ban_nuar@yahoo.ca second coming of Christ.
The Essentials June 2009 The Essentials