BIBLIOLOGY

               The Teachings of God's Word concerning God's Word

         I believe that the Holy Bible is that cannon (recognized list) of 66 books from Genesis to Revelation; that it, in it's original manuscripts, is the inerrant([1]) and infallible([2]) Word of God; and that, as such, it is unique in it's authority, integrity and authenticity([3]).  I believe that it was verbally([4]) and plenarily([5]) inspired([6]) by God and that, as such, it is truth and is the only source of "primary truth" against which all other truth must be measured.  I believe that the Bible was given to us by God and through human vessels; that it came by the will of the Father([7]), was the mind or thoughts of the Son([8]) and was written through the agency of the Holy Spirit's control.([9])  I believe that the Bible is the revelation ([10]) of God to all mankind, but, that only through the direct illumination([11]) of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the individual, can it's message be truly understood.  I believe that the Bible is God's Word in it's entirety; that it has been sufficiently preserved([12]) to accomplish God's purpose and that it shall remain and continue it's work until the end of the age.  I believe that it is the ultimate and final authority for all human thought and action and that it must remain as the only true center of all Christian Union.

                                 HERMENEUTICS

                      (The Interpretation of God's Word)

         I believe that the way in which Scripture is approached and the method which is employed in it's interpretation will, to a great degree, determine the sense of it's message.  I believe that all people, whether deliberately or not, hold to some form or method of interpretation. 

         While I believe that it is essential to guard against approaching the Bible with preconceived ideas of what it is and predetermined opinions of what it will say, I do, however, believe that we must approach it with the standards and guides that it sets for itself.

         I believe that the 1st "Rule of Interpretation" is to "Let Scripture interpret Scripture"; that the Bible is the best commentary on the Bible; that Scripture must be compared with Scripture and that all doctrines must be formulated on the basis of a majority of proof texts if and when possible. 

         I believe in a literal, historical and grammatical ([13]) interpretation of Scripture; that each word and verse must be taken in it's context;  and the original languages convey the clearest sense of each word's intended meaning.  I believe in a "dispensational"([14]) approach to the Bible, whereby a passage must be interpreted in light of God's "house order" or “economy” in which it was written. 

     I believe that the following things must be considered when interpreting any passage:  dispensation; literary form; author; author's purpose; who is speaking; to whom are they speaking; immediate context; remote context; tense; emphasis; connectors; proper nouns; figures of speech; parables; allegories; symbolism; types and prophecy.([15])

         I believe that the paraphrase([16]) must be occasionally employed when translating a word for which no correlating word exists in the secondary language, but, that when verses or entire passages are paraphrased the impact and importance of the original words becomes obscure, and should therefore be avoided.

      While I am not a “King James only” person, I have found that for my personal study and for consistent teaching that the best and most reliable source texts are those often referred to as the “Majority Text” or “Received Text” from which the KJV was translated.  I prefer to preach from the KJV, but I may occasionally read from or quote from other versions. 

                                   THEOLOGY

                      (What the Bible teaches about God)

         I believe that there is one (and only one) true and living God; that He is an Infinite Spirit([17]), the Creator([18]), Sustainer([19]) and Supreme Ruler([20]) of heaven and earth; that He is eternal, uncaused and self-existent([21]).  I believe that He is inexpressibly glorious in His holiness and that the human mind is unable to completely comprehend who and what He is([22]).  I do believe, however, that He can be known as He wishes to be Known through His work, His Word and by His Spirit.

         I believe that He created all things for His own glory and that His glory is chiefly manifested in His divine attributes.  I believe that among those attributes He is : eternal, infinite, immutable([23]), holy, just, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, good, true, merciful, gracious, faithful and loving ([24]).  I believe that He is perfect and that all that He is and does is the standard for perfection.  I believe that He is bound by nothing beside His own will, which is absolute, perfect and totally free.

         I believe that the Godhead is but one person which, being one, is a trinity of three equal persons([25]); that the three persons of the Godhead are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  I believe that these three co-exist eternally as God; that they are co-equal in  glory, attributes and in essence; that each executes a distinct and different office that is in perfect harmony with the other, thus complimenting and magnifying each other (not 1+1+1=1, but 1x1x1=1); that the three persons are mutually and simultaneously engaged in all operations of the Godhead, in the common goal of redemption, and in God's eternal "Master Plan".

            CHRISTOLOGY

                  (What the Bible teaches concerning Christ)

     I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God the Son([26]); that He is the second person of the Trinity and, as such, is co-equal in all essence and attributes with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  I believe that He was fully God and fully man united in one person; that as such, He fulfilled the offices of Prophet, Priest and King([27]).

         I believe that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of Mary who was a virgin([28]).  I believe that in taking a human body, He laid aside the visible manifestation of His glory and that He freely gave([29]) the exercise of certain of His attributes over to the Holy Spirit's control between His conception and His death.  I believe that He did so in willful obedience to His Father that He might become the perfect Lamb of God, who, through His death, would provide for man's salvation([30]).

         I believe that He was tempted just as we are, but that He was totally without sin([31]); that He was the only perfect and sinless man.  I believe that His death on the cross was not merely provisional, but, was the vicarious, (voluntary and substitutionary), atonement for our sin, the just dying for the unjust([32]).       I believe that He physically died, that He was buried and that the third day He was raised from the dead by His own power; that by doing so He might conquer death for every man.  I believe that, after His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven where He currently sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on behalf of the saints([33]).                          

      I believe that His death is of such an infinite value that it is fully sufficient to save all men should God have chosen to do so, and that His power to save is in no sense limited. 

         I believe in the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial([34]), personal return of Christ to the earth; that it will be a 2-part event which will mark the beginning (rapture of the saints) and the end (visible return to Armageddon) of the Great Tribulation; that at His return he will vanquish His enemies and set up His 1000 yr. reign on earth.

                                 PNEUMATOLOGY

                (What the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit)

         I believe that the Holy Spirit is a person and the third person of the Trinity([35]); that He is co-equal with the Father and the Son in essence and in attributes, but, distinct in personality.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is God and as such, has been and is involved in all aspects of God's work.([36])

     I believe in the dispensational character of the Holy Spirit's work; that He has acted in different capacities at different times according to His own will.  I believe that in the O.T. He came upon individuals temporarily in order to prepare and enable them for periods of service([37]); that in the "Church Age", (Pentecost - Rapture), He works primarily through believers and His Word to accomplish a variety of tasks:

1) To the unbelievers & world - He restrains evil, while He acts to convict the individual of sin, righteousness and judgment. (Jn.16:8)

2) In the believer - He is the agent of the "new birth"; He regenerates, indwells, seals, baptizes, infills, empowers, guides, teaches and sanctifies (among other things).([38])

     I believe that a believer can quench, grieve and lie to the Holy Spirit([39]); that, while he can not lose Him, he can, by living a life of sinful disobedience, put himself in such a position that the Holy Spirit can no longer effectively work in his life (except to chastise)

until that believer repents.

     In regard to "gifts of the Spirit", I believe that all things are possible by reason of the Holy Spirit's power, but, that there are also certain limitations by reason of His own will.  I believe that no "list" of gifts is conclusive nor has to be permanent, either in the body or in the individual.  I believe that the Holy Spirit employed certain sign gifts as a witness to unbelieving Israel; that such sign gifts have ceased because God is no longer dealing with Israel at this moment([40]); and that such gifts may possibly be re-instated during the Great Tribulation.  I believe that among the sign gifts were such gifts as the ability to speak to persons of other tongues, healing and apostleship.([41])

                                 ANTHROPOLOGY

                   ( What the Bible teaches concerning man.)

I believe in the "Genesis account" of creation and that such account must be accepted literally; that man was created directly by God and was made in God's own image; that God's creation covered an actual seven days and that all forms of evolution are false.([42]) 

     I believe that man was created as a 3-part being (trichotomous),

composed of spirit, soul and body([43]).  I believe that He was created in innocence and holiness([44]); that He was sinless, but not unable to sin; that Adam, by his own volition, transgressed and rebelled against God, thus committing sin and earning all of its consequences.([45])

     I believe that the result of man's fall was death (separation); that he was separated from communion with God through the immediate death of his spirit([46]); that he was separated from the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life; and that he was eventually separated from his body at his physical death([47]); that all who die in their fallen condition apart from the salvation of God shall be eternally separated from their spirit, their body, from God and from all hope.([48]) 

     I believe that Adam was the natural head of the human race and that the substance of every living soul was created in him; that each person's soul is individualized at conception but, existed seminally in Adam at the time of creation; and that each person is therefore a direct participant in the fall of man, not by conscious choice, but by man's corporate nature([49]).  I believe that because of Adam's dead spirit, he passed along a corrupted nature to his seed whereby all of Adam's race are born with the curse of death and a corrupt nature; that because of man's corrupt nature he is totally depraved([50]), thus being unable to be righteous, to save himself or to receive any of the things of God apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit; and that because each individual is born with a sinful nature that they are sinners by reason of their nature before they are ever sinners by reason of their deeds. 

                                 HAMARTIOLOGY

                     ( What the Bible teaches about sin.)

     I believe that sin is all of that which exists as separate from God's holiness in the exercise of volition; that it is anything which is less than God's standard or contrary to His will; that it manifests itself by its position as being separated from God or by it's action of disobeying His command, discrediting His character or even by neglecting Him([51]); that the essence of all sin is selfishness.([52]) 

     I believe that sin was first manifested in Lucifer; that it spread to those angels which followed him in rebellion against God; and that it was eventually manifested in the heart of Adam, who passed  it along to his seed after him.([53])

     I believe that man is accountable for his sin; that it is not an involuntary inheritance for which we carry no guilt, nor is it a creature weakness for which we can not be held responsible, but, that we have a personal involvement and direct responsibility in that we are the producers (cause), the propagators (spread) and the proponents (support) of sin on this earth.([54])

     I believe that all men, by their nature (the basic elements of their personality which were corrupted in Adam and then passed along to each individual from their parents), are separated from God at birth (Adam, who had a corrupted soul and a dead spirit could not pass along a pure soul and a living spirit) and that they can not perform actions which are contrary to their nature; that they commit sin because they are already sinners from the moment of conception.([55])

     I believe that all who sin shall be under God's judgment and shall be required to accept the consequences for that sin; that the consequences of sin are three-fold (judicial, moral and tangible);([56]) that the judicial penalty for sin is death (which is separation); and that death is manifested in three forms (physical, spiritual & eternal); that the moral consequence is the offending of God and man;  and that the visible or tangible consequences will vary with the individual sin.  I believe that eternal death involves an eternal existence of punishment in the Lake of Fire.([57])

     I believe that man, in his natural condition, can do nothing to help or save himself from his condition.([58]) I believe that the only "unpardonable sin"(Mk.3:29) is the ultimate and final rejection of Jesus Christ (the sin of unbelief).

               SOTERIOLOGY

                     ( What the Bible teaches about salvation.)

Sovereignty of God:  I believe that man's redemption is wholly initiated, executed and completed by God alone; that His only motive for saving man is His love; that His decision to provide salvation for man was pre-determined before the foundation of the world.([59])

     I believe that God's election concerning man's salvation is that sovereign choice according to His purpose whereby He graciously  regenerates and sanctifies certain individuals; that His election is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man; that it comprehends both the means and the end; and that it may be ascertained by it's effects in all of those who truly believe; that the only purpose for understanding God's election is for personal retrospect and not for extrinsic speculation.([60])

     I believe that God, in His graciousness, extends not one, but, two calls to man; that calling is the act of God whereby He invites men to accept His free offer of salvation by faith in His Son; that the first call is a "general" call to mankind as a whole and that this call is totally ignored; that the second call is the specific or personal call whereby the Holy Spirit speaks to the heart of the individual to bring him to Christ.([61])

Sacrifice of the Lamb :  I believe that the death of the Son of God upon the Cross of Calvary completely satisfied the demand of God's justice and was the full propitiation for the sin of man; that the death of Christ was sufficient to save every human being, had God chosen to do so; that only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith shall be participants in the efficacy of that sacrifice; that Christ's blood is the "payment in full" for all of the believer's sin,(past, present and future).([62])

Supply of the Remedy:  I believe that God's salvation is supplied to man by grace and grace alone; that grace is that unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor or benefit of God bestowed by Him upon the recipients of His own choosing; that grace and law (works) are in direct contrast to each other and that there can be no combination of the two.([63])

Seed of new life:  I believe that the Scriptures are the "seed" of the new life; that no man can be saved apart from the knowledge of God and the message of the gospel that is derived from God's Word.([64])

Spirit of new life:  I believe that the Holy Spirit is the "agent" of the new birth; that He works in conjunction with the Word to convict the un-regenerate heart prior to conversion and that He indwells the same heart at the moment of conversion; that a person can not be saved apart from receiving the Holy Spirit.([65])

Salvation :      The Event

     I believe that the pre-requisites of salvation are faith and repentance; that they are both the direct work of the Holy Spirit and are the gift of God; that when they are fully developed, they will compel a man to confess Christ.

FAITH :   I believe that faith, in order to be understood, must be viewed as being like a two sided coin; the two sides of faith being:

1) Foundational Faith - (the ability to believe, faith in God)

     After hearing the message of God's Word, He gives us the ability to believe that it is true.  It is believing that God is everything that His Word says that He is; it is recognizing Christ as God.([66])

                (This one-sided faith is insufficient for salvation.)

2) Operational Faith - (the ability to achieve, the faith of God)

     After hearing God's promise, we must act upon those promises by trusting God and stepping out on their credibility as though they were already accomplished.  It is believing that God will do everything that His Word says He will do; that He will accomplish our salvation and supply our every need according to His power and His grace.

     This side of faith is the supply of His power which can heal the sick, conquer the enemy, build the church, move mountains and save souls.  Without this second side of faith, our faith is dead and so are we.  ([67])

REPENTANCE:  I believe that repentance is that realization of the need to change and the desire to do the same; that the accomplishment of change is entirely in the power of the Holy Spirit; that repentance includes a change in such things as; the way that we view God, self, sin and our future.([68])

CONFESSION:   I believe that confession is that compelling force of the heart that forces us to cry out to God; that the confession of sin involves more than merely admitting to the act of the sin, that it is a willingness to accept the consequences of our sin as being just and deserved; that the confession of Christ as Savior and God should be made before God and before man as an open and unashamed witness.([69])

Conversion:   I believe that anyone who turns to God by faith; who desires to change both who and what they are; who acknowledges Christ as the only begotten Son of God; who puts their total trust in Christ that He alone can and will save them, shall be saved.  I do believe, however, that only God can or does know who is saved, apart from the individual being assured of their own salvation; that God is not obligated to save anyone on the basis of the words of their mouth, but on the basis of the attitude and message of their heart.  I believe that salvation and all of it's effects are obtained instantaneously at the very moment of regeneration; that there are not necessarily any visible or outward signs which must take place; that it is completely an act of the heart and action of God.([70])

Salvation :  The Effects

     I believe that the results of being saved are manifold both in number and in character; that a few of the effects of salvation are:

Regeneration:  I believe that at the moment of salvation, our spirit,

which had been dead, is made alive; that the curse of death is lifted from the believer; and that the gift of eternal life (eternal unity with God) is given to them as an immediate possession.([71])

Forgiveness:  I believe that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and who is saved, shall be forgiven of their sin; that God's forgiveness is instantaneous and is based completely upon His grace and not upon any act of confession, sacrament or ordinance.([72])

Justification: I believe that at the moment of salvation we are imputed to be righteous; that our debt as a sinner is put to Christ's account and that Christ's righteousness is put to our account; that God's demand for justice is satisfied and that we are restored to a position of favor with God as was Adam.([73])

Gift of the Spirit:  I believe that at the moment of salvation we receive the gift of God the Spirit as the permanent indweller of our heart; that as a permanent resident He accomplishes a multitude of different tasks:  He regenerates our spirit, He is our anointing, He is our "seal", He infills us, He baptizes us into Himself, He begins to sanctify us, etc., etc., etc.([74])

Adoption:  I believe that every person prior to being saved is a child of Satan; that upon receiving Christ we are given the power to become the children of God; that we are adopted into His family and become joint heirs with Jesus Christ.([75])

Assurance and Eternal Security:  I believe that it is the privilege of every believer to rejoice in the assurance of his salvation; to know beyond any shadow of doubt that he is held eternally secure by the power of God; that as we did not earn our salvation by being holy and righteous, likewise we do not keep it by being holy and righteous.  I believe that the redeemed person is held securely by God in order that the believer might be ready to be revealed at that last day.          This assurance of security is not presumptuous, but is based upon the clear testimony of God's Word which forbids the use of our liberty in Christ as an occasion to the flesh; that if we sin as believers, while we are protected from any judicial penalty, we are liable for the moral and tangible consequences of our sin.([76])

     I believe that the true mark of any believer is that they will persevere to the end; that those who supposedly "fall away" from the faith were never truly believers from the very first.([77])

      SANCTIFICATION : 

     The Process :  To set apart

     The Position : Separated

     The Person :   Holy

Immediately - In the spirit:  (positional) I believe that we are immediately set apart in the spirit; that we are separated from the unbeliever in God's eyes; that our position in heaven is established; that our spirit is made holy because it is united in an eternal bond with the Holy Spirit of God; that it is a bond which can not be broken.([78])

Gradually - In the soul:  (progressive) I believe that we are set apart gradually in the realm of our heart or mind which resides in the place of our soul; that it is the desire of God that we become conformed to the image of His Son in the way that we think, speak and behave; that such a setting apart is the accomplishment of the Holy Spirit and can not be done by human effort; that He sets the believer apart from sin and its grip; that He separates the believer from the sinful world's people and their ways; that this process of being set apart is furthered and quickened by our desire to be closer to God, by our communion with God (through prayer and the Word), and by our total submission to the Holy Spirit;  and that it is hindered by our failure to do the same.([79]) 

     I believe that holiness ought to be the primary goal of every Christian above all else; that holiness is not an external position, but rather, an internal condition; that sinless perfection is not an a reachable goal on this earth, but is a standard against which we must constantly compare ourselves; that, while we can never reach sinless perfection in this world, we can always attain a position which is closer than what and where we are.([80])

Eventually - In the body:   (Final)  I believe that all believers, as well as all creation, anxiously await the future restoration of the world to all that God intended it to be; that, meanwhile, at the day of the resurrection, we will receive a new and living body; that this body will not be fashioned from earthly materials, as was the first, but, will be fashioned like unto the body of our risen Lord.([81])

                                    ECCLESIOLOGY

                     ( What the Bible teaches about the church.)

     I believe that the church is the "body of Christ"; that by it's very name it is the "called out" company of those who have responded to the invitation of Christ's salvation.([82])

The Universal Organism

     I believe that the universal church is the corporate body of all persons who have received the gift of salvation between the day of Pentecost and the day of the rapture; that the head of this body is Christ alone; and that entrance into this body is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit; that this one body which is composed of many members is singularly the "Bride of the Lamb".([83])

     I believe that this universal church is united by the common bond

of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God; that all believers are responsible to their fellow brother or sister in Christ regardless of denomination; that all Christians should be striving for unity in purpose, but, not at the expense of the purity of doctrinal integrity.

The Local Organization

     I believe that the local church is that body of immersed believers who are associated by their doctrinal view of Scripture, their covenant of faith and their mutual Christian love([84]); that the purpose and responsibility of the local is three-fold:

1) WORSHIP: Prayer, praise, Bible study, and the observing of the church's two ordinances: Believer's Baptism & The Lord's Table([85])

2) SERVICE: Partnership with other believers for mutual education, edification, encouragement, examination, enjoyment, etc. ([86])

3) EVANGELISM: Reaching out to the "LOST" world when we...

     Manifest Christ's holiness to a world in sin and darkness.

     Affirm Christ's love to a world full of emptiness and loneliness.

     Proclaim Christ's "good news" to a world with no other hope.([87])

     I believe that the church is governed primarily by Christ and secondarily through the offices and government of the local body; that the two offices of the church are pastor (elder or bishop) and deacon; that the church government must be Biblical in it's constitution, congregational in it's form, and democratic in it's representation; that the local body must be independent and autonomous.([88])

     I believe that it is the responsibility of the local church to "earnestly contend for the faith; that each local body must be continually  willing to examine itself and to do that which is necessary, (through discipline, repentance and separation), for maintaining our standards of faith.( Jude 3; ICor.5; Rom.16:17-18)

     I am a Baptist by personal conviction; I regard my affiliation with other Baptists and those, who though not Baptist in name are clearly baptistic in doctrine, as vitally important to my spiritual growth and welfare.  This position includes the following convictions which collectively distinguish Baptist churches (and Baptistic doctrine) from others:

                                BAPTIST    Distinctives

   B - Biblical authority: 2Tim.3:16-17; Titus 1:9

   A - Autonomy of the local church: 1Cor.5:12; 1Tim.3:15

   P - Priesthood of all believers: 1Pet.2:5; Eph.1:1

   T - Two Ordinances: Believer's baptism by immersion (Ac.2:41,8:38)

                       The Lord's Table (1Cor.11:23-27)

   I - Individual soul liberty: Ac.17:30-31; Rom.14:10-12

   S - Saved church membership: Ac.2:22-41,47

   T - Two offices: Pastor(1Pet.5:1-4) Elder(Ac.20:28)Bishop(1Tim.3:1)

                    and Deacon (Acts 6:2-7; 1Tim.3:8-13)

   S - Separation of church and state: Mt.22:21

                                     ANGELOLOGY

                       ( What the Bible teaches about angels.)

Angels:

     I believe that angels are spirit beings that were created by God; that they were created perfect and given a period of probation; that they are personal beings of superior intelligence and strength; that these beings are of various strengths and ranks; and that they occupy differing positions of responsibility.([89])

     I believe that a certain great number of these angels fell by the exercise of their will against God when they chose to follow Satan; that those who did not follow Satan are confirmed in righteousness, (His elect or good angels) the ministers of God, doing His will in carrying out His Master Plan; that they are currently personally involved in the lives of God's children.([90])

Fallen Angels (DEMONS)

     I believe that the fallen angels are divided into two groups; those that are chained in darkness, and those that presently serve Satan; that these demons can possess the bodies of the unregenerate; that there is no hope of redemption for a fallen angel.([91])

SATAN:

     I believe in a personal devil, Satan, who was created as Lucifer and who enjoyed the position of highest honor beneath the throne of God.  I believe that through his pride and lust he desired to be as God and by doing so he fell, taking with him a host of rebelling angels.  I believe that he is now that malignant prince of the power of the air, the god of this world; that he is the enemy of God, the false imitator of God and the accuser of the saints; that he is the author behind all false religions, false doctrines and all works of darkness.

     I believe that he has already been judged and is ultimately defeated at the hands of God's Son; that he will suffer the greatest punishment in his eternal death in the lake of fire.

     I believe that Satan has a limited power; that he can not make a believer sin, but, can only tempt; that while he can oppress a believer, he can not possess them; that he and all that he stands for must be conscientiously avoided at all times; that he has no strength in comparison to the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.([92])

                                     ESCHATOLOGY

                   ( What the Bible teaches about "Last Things".)

     I believe in and accept the sacred Scripture's account of these things as literal and not allegorical, except when clearly indicated.

End Times

     I believe that a great apostasy will come in the end days; that many false teachers will appear with doctrines that oppose the Word of God and that many will depart from the faith.  I believe that the world will become gradually more corrupt; that people will become more calloused to the truth and to the things of God; that there will be a form of godliness, but that it will deny the power of God.([93])

Rapture:

     I believe in the pre-tribulational rapture of the church.  I believe that Christ will come at an appointed time which is known only unto God; that at His coming He will bring all of those who sleep in Christ; that they will be joined by those who remain alive and will be caught up together in the air; that at this time we will receive our resurrected or glorified bodies and that we will be permanently joined to Christ for all eternity.([94])

Great Tribulation:

     I believe that the "Great Tribulation" is that 70th week spoken of by Daniel during which the raptured saints who are in heaven will be glorified, will attend the "Bema Seat" judgment (for rewards or the loss thereof) of Christ and will be the "Bride" at the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb."([95])

     I believe that concurrently here on earth the Tribulation will begin with the rise of the "anti-Christ"; that the first 3 1/2 years will be a period of time where the anti-Christ will conquer and establish his kingdom; that the temple will be rebuilt and a pseudo-

prosperity will seem to take place; that at the mid-point of the Tribulation the "abomination of desolation" will occur , the scales will be lifted from the eyes of Israel, and the great persecution of God's wrath will begin; that the judgments of God will be poured out and that the climax of the Tribulation will occur at the Battle of Armageddon.([96])

The Revelation:

     I believe that at the end of the 7 years of the Great Tribulation that Jesus Christ will appear with all of His saints for the ultimate defeat of the un-holy trinity and the enemies of God; that this appearing will be a visible and bodily return in which Christ will appear in all of His glory as the King of Kings; that Christ will vanquish His enemies and will establish His kingdom (the throne of David) here on earth for 1000 years.([97])

The Millennium:

     I believe that Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord Supreme here on the earth for 1000 years; that His saints will reign with Him as His servants that have been appointed to authority; that there will be a great number of persons who will come out of the Tribulation in their "natural" state; that there will be a rebellion against God at the end of the millennium when Satan is temporarily loosed; and that God will immediately judge all those who rebel.([98])

Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne:

     I believe that at the end of the millennium there will be a second resurrection in which God will raise all the wicked (men and angels) who have died apart from God; that this resurrection is for bringing them to the place of the final judgement known as the "Great White Throne"; that at the White Throne all will be accurately accused and justly condemned to an eternity of death in the Lake of Fire.([99])

New Heaven, New Earth & The New Jerusalem:

     I believe that, following the Great White Throne, this present heaven and earth will be destroyed and that God will create a new heaven and a new earth as an eternal home for His eternal family; that the Lord will bring to the new earth a new and holy city known as the "New Jerusalem"; that this city will be the dwelling place of God and His saints (The Bride of the Lamb); and the center of all worship on the earth; that those who are in Christ will enjoy an eternity with Him in the glory of His new world.([100])

                                    AMEN and AMEN