I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into

1
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his only
Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried
he descended into hell the third day he rose
again from the dead he ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the
quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost
the holy catholic church the communion of
saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection
of the body and the life everlasting. Amen
The Creed
I BELIEVE in CHRISTS RETURN
2
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his only
Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried
he descended into hell the third day he rose
again from the dead he ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the
quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost
the holy catholic church the communion of
saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection
of the body and the life everlasting. Amen
3
The Tools God Used to Save Me
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
4
Key Question What does the Future Hold?
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
5
Eschatology The Study of the End Times
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
6
Why Should We Believe Anything the Bible Says
About the Future?
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
7

• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates the omniscience
  of God
• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates that the Bible is
  a supernatural Book
• Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates that Jesus is the
  Messiah and God
• Fulfilled prophecy gives Christians confidence in
  the future predictions that the Bible makes

The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
8
Peter Stoner in Science Speaks calculates the
odds of just eight prophecies being accidently
fulfilled in the life of one man.
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (one hundred
quadrillion 1017)
Statisticians say anything past 1 to 1050 power
is no chance. This is exceeded once 20
fulfilled prophecies is considered (and Jesus
fulfilled 109).
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
9
One Example of Fulfilled Prophecy
So you are to know and discern that from the
issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks it will be built
again, with plaza and moat, even in times of
distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the
Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the
people of the prince who is to come will destroy
the city and the sanctuary. - Daniel 925-26,
500 B.C.
Sabbatical Years
449
442
435
428
14
21
28
35
70
1
2
3
67
68
69
BC
AD
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
10
The Bibles Emphasis on Christs Coming
109 distinct prophecies that concern the
Messiahs first coming
All fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth
There are over 200 prophecies that predict
Christs second coming. Truly, truly
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
11
The Bibles Emphasis on Christs Coming

• Prophecy takes up 1/5 of the Scripture of that
  1/5, 1/3 refers to the 2nd coming of Christ
• There are over 660 general prophecies 333 about
  Christ
• 109 were fulfilled in His first coming
• 224 are for His second coming
• Of the 46 Old Testament prophets, less than 10 of
  them speak of His first coming, but 36 speak of
  His second coming
• 1,500 passages in Old Testament that refer to 2nd
  coming
• 1 out 25 verses in New Testament refer to 2nd
  coming
• For every time the Bible mentions His first
  coming, it mentions His 2nd coming 8 times
• For each time the Atonement is mentioned once,
  the 2nd coming is mentioned twice
• Jesus refers to His 2nd coming 21 times
• Over 50 times it tells Christians to get ready
  for His 2nd coming

The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
12
Approaches to Bible Prophecy (Primarily the Book
of Revelation)

1. Preterist means the past. A Preterist
   interpretation of prophecy holds that most of the
   New Testament prophecies of the book have already
   been fulfilled.
2. Historicist believes prophecy (especially
   Revelation) is a foretelling of all history from
   the time of the first coming of Christ unto the
   end of the age.
3. Idealist doesnt look for specific fulfillment
   of the prophecies of the book rather, the
   Revelation is perceived to contain spiritual
   lessons that may find recurrent expression in
   history.
4. Futurist prophecy describes events that are
   largely future to all but those living just
   before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
13
Preterism

• The term preterist is Latin for past. Thus,
  preterists believe that Bible prophecy was
  fulfilled in the past.  Therefore, they view the
  major prophetic passages of Scripture, such as
  the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation,
  as already fulfilled.  There are 2 flavors of
  preterism
• Extreme believe all prophecy was fulfilled in
  the past no return of Christ to the earth
• Moderate - believe in a future Second Coming, but
  still insist on interpreting the Olivet Discourse
  and the Book of Revelation as basically already
  fulfilled in the past. 

The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
14
Amillennialism no millennium
The amillennial view teaches that there is
currently a spiritual reign of Christ over the
church and it will continue until He returns for
His saints. The thousand year period spoken of
in Revelation is symbolic and not literal. There
is no tribulation, no earthly millennium, and no
eternity on a new earth Christ simply returns
and eternity in Heaven begins. It is the view
held by Catholics and many Protestant
denominations.
Jesus
The Church Age
Unknown Period of Time
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
15
Postmillennialism after millennium
The postmillennial view teaches the Church age
will eventually evolve into a golden age where
the Church will rule over all the world. This
will be accomplished through the
Christianization of the nations. Once the
Church has carried out its mission of redeeming
the world, Christ then returns and eternity
begins in Heaven.
Jesus
The Church Age
The Golden Age
Church Expanding
Church Reigning
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
16
Premillennialism before the millennium
The premillennial view teaches that the Church
age will end with the Rapture, after which starts
the tribulation period. The tribulation lasts
seven years and climaxed by the second coming of
Christ, who establishes a reign upon the earth
that lasts 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years,
the last earthly rebellion is crushed, God
creates a new earth for His people, and eternity
begins.
Jesus
The Church Age
The Tribulation
The Millennium
Unknown Period of Time
Seven Years
1,000 Years
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
17
Premillennial Amillennial Postmillennial
Literal Millennium Yes No No
Resurrection before Millennium One None None
Thousand Years in Revelation Future Present Present
Resurrections Two (at least) One One
Literal interpretation of Prophecy Yes No No
Unconditional Old Testament Covenants with Abraham Yes No No
Distinctions between Israel and the Church Yes No No
Messianic Kingdom Future Present Present
Rapture / Second Coming Separate Same Same
Binding of Satan Future Present Present
Moral Progress Decline Decline Improve
Major Judgments Two One One
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
18
What are the series of events that lead up to
Christs return His Parousia?
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
19
The Re-Gathering of Israel
" Then it will happen on that day that the Lord
Will again recover the second time with His hand
The remnant of His people, who will remain, From
Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar,
Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. And He
will lift up a standard for the nations And
assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will
gather the dispersed of Judah From the four
corners of the earth." (Isaiah 1111-12)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
20
The Re-Gathering of Israel
"Before she travailed, she brought forth Before
her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. Who has
heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can
a land be born in one day? Can a nation be
brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion
travailed, she also brought forth her
sons."(Isaiah 667-8)
Some theologians believe this prophecy describes
what happened on May 14, 1948 - when the Jews
declared independence for Israel as a united and
sovereign nation for the first time in 2900
years. During that same day, the United States
issued a statement recognizing Israel's
sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United
Nations mandate expired, ending British control
of the land. During a 24-hour span of time,
foreign control of the land of Israel had
formally ceased, and Israel had declared its
independence, and its independence was
acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was
literally was born in a single day. Within hours
of the declaration of independence in 1948,
Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries
of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi
Arabia. The birth pains (fight for independence)
came after the birth of the nation.
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
21
The Rapture
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you
that we who are still alive, who are left till
the coming of the Lord, will certainly not
precede those who have fallen asleep. For the
Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the archangel and
with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in
Christ will rise first. After that, we who are
still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
forever. (1 Thess. 415-17)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
22
Marriage Supper / Rewards
    If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
is work will be shown for what it is, because the
Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed
with fire, and the fire will test the quality of
each man's work. If what he has built survives,
he will receive his reward. If it is burned up,
he will suffer loss he himself will be saved,
but only as one escaping through the flames. (1
Cor. 312-15)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
23
The Antichrist
    And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He
had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on
his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet
like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a
lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his
throne and great authority. One of the heads of
the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but
the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world
was astonished and followed the beast. Men
worshiped the dragon because he had given
authority to the beast, and they also worshiped
the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who
can make war against him? (Rev. 131-4)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
24
Birth Pains
    I watched as the Lamb opened the first of
the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four
living creatures say in a voice like thunder,
"Come! I looked, and there before me was a white
horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a
crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on
conquest.  When the Lamb opened the second seal,
I heard the second living creature say, "Come!
Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its
rider was given power to take peace from the
earth and to make men slay each other. To him was
given a large sword. (Rev. 61-4)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
25
Abomination of Desolation
"And he will make a firm covenant with the many
for one week, but in the middle of the week he
will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering
and on the wing of abominations will come one who
makes desolate, even until a complete
destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out
on the one who makes desolate."(Daniel 927)
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will
not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the
man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of
destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above
every so-called god or object of worship, so that
he takes his seat in the temple of God,
displaying himself as being God." (2
Thessalonians 23-4)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
26
The Great Tribulation
    Let no one on the roof of his house go down
to take anything out of the house. Let no one in
the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful
it will be in those days for pregnant women and
nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not
take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then
there will be great distress, unequaled from the
beginning of the world until nowand never to be
equaled again. (Matt. 2417-21)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
27
Armageddon
    Then I saw three evil spirits that looked
like frogs they came out of the mouth of the
dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of
the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits
of demons performing miraculous signs, and they
go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather
them for the battle on the great day of God
Almighty. Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed
is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with
him, so that he may not go naked and be
shamefully exposed. Then they gathered the kings
together to the place that in Hebrew is called
Armageddon. (Rev. 1613-16)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
28
The Second Coming
    I saw heaven standing open and there before
me was a white horse, whose rider is called
Faithful and True. With justice he judges and
makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on
his head are many crowns. He has a name written
on him that no one knows but he himself. He is
dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name
is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were
following him, riding on white horses and dressed
in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth
comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the
nations. "He will rule them with an iron
scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of
the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on
his thigh he has this name written       KING
OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 1911-16)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
29
Beast False Prophet Doomed/ Satan Imprisoned
    " And the beast was seized, and with him the
false prophet who performed the signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and those who
worshiped his image these two were thrown alive
into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
And the rest were killed with the sword which
came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse,
and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,
holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in
his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the
serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years and he threw him
into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over
him, so that he would not deceive the nations any
longer, until the thousand years were completed
after these things he must be released for a
short time." (Revelation 1920-203)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
30
Sheep/Goat Judgment
    " But when the Son of Man comes in His
glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will
sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will
be gathered before Him and He will separate them
from one another, as the shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats and He will put the sheep
on His right, and the goats on the left. Then
the King will say to those on His right, Come,
you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world. Then He will also say to those on His
left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the
eternal fire which has been prepared for the
devil and his angels "(Matthew 2531-34, 41)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
31
Christs Millennial Reign
    "Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them,
and judgment was given to them. And I saw the
souls of those who had been beheaded because of
their testimony of Jesus and because of the word
of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast
or his image, and had not received the mark on
their forehead and on their hand and they came
to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand
years. The rest of the dead did not come to life
until the thousand years were completed. This is
the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the
one who has a part in the first resurrection
over these the second death has no power, but
they will be priests of God and of Christ and
will reign with Him for a thousand
years." (Revelation 204-6)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
32
Satan Released / Last War
   " When the thousand years are completed, Satan
will be released from his prison, and will come
out to deceive the nations which are in the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather
them together for the war the number of them is
like the sand of the seashore. And they came up
on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded
the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and
fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And
the devil who deceived them was thrown into the
lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are also and they will be
tormented day and night forever and
ever." (Revelation 207-10)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
33
White Throne Judgment
   "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who
sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven
fled away, and no place was found for them. And I
saw the dead, the great and the small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened and
another book was opened, which is the book of
life and the dead were judged from the things
which were written in the books, according to
their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead
which were in them and they were judged, every
one of them according to their deeds. Then death
and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This
is the second death, the lake of fire. And if
anyones name was not found written in the book
of life, he was thrown into the lake of
fire." (Revelation 2011-15)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
34
New Heaven and Earth
   "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for
the first heaven and the first earth passed away,
and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned
for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from
the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of
God is among men, and He will dwell among them,
and they shall be His people, and God Himself
will be among them, and He will wipe away every
tear from their eyes and there will no longer be
any death there will no longer be any mourning,
or crying, or pain the first things have passed
away. And He who sits on the throne said,
Behold, I am making all things new. And He
said, Write, for these words are faithful and
true. (Revelation 211-5)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
35

• What begins in Genesis ends in Revelation
• In Genesis the commencement of heaven and earth
  in Revelation the consummation of heaven and
  earth
• In Genesis the entrance of sin and the curse, in
  Revelation end of sin and curse
• In Genesis the dawn of Satan and his activity in
  Revelation doom of Satan and his activities
• In Genesis the tree of life is relinquished in
  Revelation tree of life regained
• In Genesis death enters in Revelation death
  exits
• In Genesis, sorrow begins in Revelation sorrow
  ends
• In Genesis, paradise is lost in Revelation
  paradise regained
• In Genesis, savior is promised in Revelation the
  savior is pre-eminent.

The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
36
What Impact Should Christs Coming Have on Us
Today?
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
37
1 - Obedience
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
in which the heavens will pass away with a roar
and the elements will be destroyed with intense
heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in
this way, what sort of people ought you to be in
holy conduct and godliness," (2 Peter 310-11)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
38
2 - Worship
"And I saw between the throne (with the four
living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing,
as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into
all the earth. And He came and took the book out
of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
When He had taken the book, the four living
creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song,
saying, Worthy are You to take the book and to
break its seals for You were slain, and
purchased for God with Your blood men from every
tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have
made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God
and they will reign upon the earth." (Revelation
56-10)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
39
3 - Proclamation
" And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of
the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong and
the one who is filthy, still be filthy and let
the one who is righteous, still practice
righteousness and the one who is holy, still
keep himself holy. Behold, I am coming quickly,
and My reward is with Me, to render to every man
according to what he has done." (Revelation
2210-12)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
40
4 - Service
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed
for his deeds in the body, according to what he
has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians
510)
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
41
When things get bad and you can't stand to
lookIt's time to read to the end of the
bookDon't put it down 'til you get to the
endWhen Jesus come and His Kingdom begins'Til
He comesGod the SonTeaches us to use the
swordAnd every fightHas a lightWhen you know
we win the war - Michael W. Smith End of the Book
The Creed I Believe in Christs Return
42
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his only
Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried
he descended into hell the third day he rose
again from the dead he ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the
quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost
the holy catholic church the communion of
saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection
of the body and the life everlasting. Amen
The Creed
I BELIEVE in CHRISTS RETURN