Ask the Pastor Anything pt. 3 Biblical Answers to your questions

Is Church membership biblical? Yes! It is assumed in the New Testament by the establishment and regulation of local church leadership 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1 It is an act of identification - you show you are part of Christ’s body 1 Corinthians 12 It is an act of commitment – Acts 2:1-47; Hebrews 10:23-25

Is Church membership biblical? It is necessary for service – we were meant to grow through service to and with each other Ephesians 4 It is necessary for submission – to other believers (Ephesians 5:19-21) and to biblical leadership, including church discipline Matthew 18; 1 Corinthians 5 – 6; Galatians 6:1-2; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5

Premillennialism Rapture Second Coming of Christ Present Age Tribulation Millennial Eternity Kingdom

Second Advent of Christ Rapture 7 years Second Advent of Christ Tribulation Period Begins w/ Covenant Abomination of Desolation: Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel and persecutes them

Christ rules on David’s Throne Earth Eden-like; Ezekiel Temple built Believers rule with Christ Second Advent of Christ Millennial (1,000 year) Kingdom - Israel’s promises fulfilled here and on into eternity

Why a pre-Tribulation Rapture? Daniel’s 70 weeks are all about Israel, not the church. We don’t exist in the first 69, we aren’t present for the 70th. We (the church) is said to be saved from the “wrath to come” 1 Thessalonians 1:10 The church is not mentioned anywhere in the description of the Tribulation judgments

Why a pre-Tribulation Rapture? The church is not mentioned anywhere in the description of the Tribulation judgments The need for a two-part 2nd coming: description of believers being “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians does not match the picture of the 2nd coming of Christ in Zechariah 14, Matthew 24 and Rev. 19

Resurrections Millennium Rapture Second Coming of Christ Unsaved to Judgment (Great White Throne) Church Age Believers Tribulation and Old Testament Saints

If the dead in Christ rise at the rapture and… If the unbelieving dead are resurrected for judgment at the end of the millennium, what about between now and then?

The intermediate state Luke 16:19-31 gives us our best glimpse of what the “in-between” state of man is like: A time of suffering for the unbeliever A time of comfort for the saved A time where both are aware of their surroundings, able to hear and speak, able to feel and be comforted