Lesson 9
LESSON IX – THE FUTURE

What does the Bible call the age in which we now live?
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the
god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house
or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the
gospel’s who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and
sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come,
eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And
Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 21:24

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even
when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in
His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles – if indeed you have
heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by
revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by
which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs,
of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I
became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective
working of His power. Ephesians 3:1-7

We are living now in ‘the time of the Gentiles’ (also called the Age of Grace or the
Church Age).

What and when is The Rapture?
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor
does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when the corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed
up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting
of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in
vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the
coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with
the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put
in His own authority.’ Acts 1:7

According to His promise, Jesus will come close to the earth and call His own people,
living and dead, out of the world, at a time which we know not.

What is The Tribulation?
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come…2 Timothy 3:1

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell
us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them; “Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And
you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these
things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in
various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And
then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then
many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.


And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14

The great tribulation will be the worst of times ever upon this earth. God will pour out
His wrath upon the earth. A gospel of repentance will be preached and all who call out
to Him will be saved.

When is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a
cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven
as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of
Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up
from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell
us when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?’ And Jesus answered and said to them; ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And
you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these
things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in
various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And
then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then
many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come.’ Matthew 24:3-14

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from
fear and the expectation of these things which are coming on the earth. For the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with
power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:25-28

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this,
that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have
watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44


Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil
in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all
slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: behold, the bridegroom is
coming; go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but
go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the
door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:1-13

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His
appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; do not let your prophets and your
diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to
be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the
Lord. Jeremiah 19:8-9

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write
to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in
the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon
them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you,
brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all
sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let
us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering
together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or
by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one
deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes
first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself
above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of
God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Jesus’ second coming ends the seven year Great Tribulation: it is the timing of the start
of the Tribulation that we are not told.

What and when is the Millennium and for whom is it primarily promised?
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon
will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will
be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death
has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years. Revelation 20:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His
shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no
end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with
judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The
cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned
child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. Thy shall not hurt nor destroy on all My holy
mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the
people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him and His resting place shall be glorious.
Isaiah 11:6-9

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be
established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all
nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and
we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall
not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:2-4

And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against
Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to
keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth
do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be
no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain;


they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up
to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the
punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. In
that day ‘HOLINESS TO THE LORD’ shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The
pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in
Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall
come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in
the house of the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 14:16-21

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as
we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God
and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Immediately after the Tribulation, the Millennium will be one thousand years of very
good times upon this earth, with Jesus as King. This period fulfills the balance of the
unfulfilled prophecies of God’s Old Testament chosen people the Jews, but New
Testament believers will also have a part.

What is the Satanic Rebellion?
And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a
great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil
and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit,
and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till
the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little
while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for
the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his
mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first
resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years
have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations
which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to
battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth
and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from
God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the
lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:1-10

Even after one thousand years of the best of times on this earth, with Jesus Himself as
king, there will be many who will eagerly rebel against God and His anointed. The
Devil, who was bound for the thousand years, will be released for a short time during
Copyright © 2004 Soul Winners for Jesus Christ
non-denominational evangelistic association
which he will go out to deceive and gather his hoard to do battle with Jesus at
Jerusalem. At that moment, God will send fire down to destroy them. Satan will then
be permanently cast for eternal torment into the lake of fire.

What will happen at the Great White Throne Judgment?
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of
your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a
nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who
is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are
wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to
righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small
and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the
things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and
Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each
one according to his works. Revelation 20:11-13

This is the Great Day of Judgment, when God will judge the unrighteous.

Is there really such a place as Hell?
And being in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus I his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am
tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you
received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and
you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so
that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
Luke 16:23-26

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed,
rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched –
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:43-44


The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who
were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and
Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found
written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the
everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me
no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take
Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”
Matthew 25:41-43

The Bible tells us that Hell (or Hades) is a temporary place of torment created
specifically for Satan and his hoard of fallen angels; but is also used for unrepentant
sinners awaiting The Judgment. Hades and its inhabitants will eventually be cast into
the eternal lake of fire; the permanent address of the lost.

Will this world ever end?
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will
be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the
former things have passed away.’ Revelation 21:1-4

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and
the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

Yes, the heavens and the earth we know will all be destroyed by God.

What will happen to me in the future?
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being
on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness." 2 Peter 3:12-13

And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the
throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river,
was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more
curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve
Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be
no night there; They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.
And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also I Me. In my Father’s
house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you
to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious
body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Habakkuk 2:14

"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters
cover the sea." 1 John 3:2

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;
and his servants shall serve him: Revelation 22:3

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The
city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated
it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light,
and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at
all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of
the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an
abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 21:22-22:5

God will replace the current heavens and earth with new heavens and a new earth,
where believers will live with God forever in peace and joy
Copyright © 2004 Soul Winners for Jesus Christ
non-denominational evangelistic association
In summary

Jesus will continue as our Advocate until “the time of the gentiles be fulfilled.” Then
Jesus will call all the Saints who ever lived, living and dead, change them physically
into glorified bodies such as He now has, and take them to be with Him in Heaven.
After seven years of the most horrible times on earth, He will make His second
appearance on earth as its King of Kings. He will bind Satan and rule for a thousand
years of some of the best of times on this earth. At the end of that time, Satan will be
released and there will be a very brief and final battle where God puts evil to an end.
Then follows the Judgment of the unrighteous, after which Satan and unbelievers will
be cast forever away from God. Death and Hell will be cast into the lake of fire. The
universe and the earth as we know it will pass away, and God will create a new
universe and a new earth. Heaven, with the glorified saints in it, will descend to the
new earth as the capitol city, the New Jerusalem. And there God, in His three persons,
all human saints who ever lived, the angels who love God, and many other creatures of
which we know very little, will live productively together in peace, joy, and harmony
forever. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.