Future Events

11. The prophecies and promises of the Old Testament, which prophecy and guarantee the future restoration of the nation of Israel at the time of the thousand year reign of Christ upon the earth, will be literally fulfilled (called “the Millennium”). This will be the long-hoped-for golden era that has been desired throughout all generations. Finally, after scores of centuries God will personally rule the planet Earth. This period is also called the Restoration, for God will restore the planet to its original state as in the Garden of Eden. It will be a time of peace, of health, of prosperity, of justice, and there will be no war, no sickness, no poverty and no injustice.

12. Just as Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave, so also there will be a bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust: eternal blessing for the saved (the believers in Jesus Christ) and eternal punishment for the lost (the non-repentant). There is neither purgatory nor reincarnation, both ideas being merely human inventions. Christ came so that nobody would be forever lost, for God desires that all come to repentance and that no one should perish. God has given to believers the responsibility of spreading the good news of salvation. This hope of eternity in the presence of God encourages believers to act in love and goodness now and also to abstain from all evil. To this end we encourage self-control and we warn against the dangers of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and other life dominating vices that cause sin or misery.