What We Teach

We teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to man, and thus the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, constitute the Word of God. That is, we teach the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture, that every word is equally breathed out by God in all its parts.

1 Corinthians 2:7–14 · 2 Timothy 3:16 · 2 Peter 1:20–21

We teach that the Word of God is an objective, propositional revelation, infallible, and absolutely inerrant in the original documents, being free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 · 1 Corinthians 2:13 · John 10:35 · Psalm 12:6; 119:160 · Proverbs 30:5

We teach that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice and is true and reliable in all the matters it addresses.

Matthew 5:18; 24:35 · John 10:35; 16:12–13; 17:17 · 1 Corinthians 2:13 · 2 Timothy 3:15–17 · Hebrews 4:12 · 2 Peter 1:20–21

We teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man without error in the whole or in the part.

2 Peter 1:20–21 · Matthew 5:18 · 2 Timothy 3:16

We teach the literal, grammatical, historical interpretation of Scripture, which affirms that, whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently and consistently applies this interpretive method with the aid of the illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is the responsibility of believers to ascertain carefully the true intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that proper application is binding on all generations. Yet the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it.

John 7:17; 16:12–15 · 1 Corinthians 2:7–15 · 1 John 2:20

We teach that literal, grammatical, historical interpretation yields the affirmation that God created the world in six literal twenty-four-hour days, that He specially created man and woman, and that He defined marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. Scripture elsewhere dictates that any sexual activity outside of marriage is an abomination before the Lord.

Genesis 1:1–2:3; 1:26–28; 2:24 · Exodus 20:11; 31:17 · Matthew 19:5 · Malachi 2:14 · Exodus 20:14 · Leviticus 18:1–30 · Matthew 5:27–32 · 1 Corinthians 5:1–5; 6:9–10

We teach that there is but one living and true God, an eternal, infinite, absolute Spirit, without parts, perfect in all His attributes, including incomprehensibility, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability, and aseity.

Deuteronomy 6:4 · Isaiah 45:5–7 · 1 Corinthians 8:4 · Revelation 1:8 · Job 11:7–10 · John 4:24 · Exodus 3:14 · 1 John 1:5; 4:8 · Romans 11:33 · 1 John 3:20 · Genesis 18:14 · Psalm 139:7–10 · Malachi 3:6 · John 5:26

We teach that this God is one in essence, eternally existing in three coequal and consubstantial Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each uncreated and distinct, and each equally deserving worship and obedience. Therefore, we teach that the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14 · John 5:26; 1:14, 18; 3:16; 15:26

We teach that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is the Creator of all things. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator, He is Father to all men, but He is spiritual Father only to believers.

Psalm 145:8–9 · 1 Corinthians 8:6 · Genesis 1:1–31 · Ephesians 3:9 · Psalm 103:19 · Romans 11:36 · Ephesians 4:6 · Romans 8:14 · 2 Corinthians 6:18

He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin, nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would save; He saves from sin all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own all those who come to Him.

Ephesians 1:11 · 1 Chronicles 29:11 · Habakkuk 1:13 · John 8:38–47 · 1 Peter 1:17 · Ephesians 1:4–6 · John 1:12 · Romans 8:15 · Galatians 4:5 · Hebrews 12:5–9

We teach that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, is eternal God, coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father, possessing all the divine perfections. All creation came into being through the eternal Son and is presently sustained by Him.

John 1:1; 10:30; 14:9 · 1 Corinthians 8:6 · Colossians 1:16–17 · Hebrews 1:2–3

We teach that in the incarnation the eternal Son, without altering His divine nature or surrendering any of the divine attributes, made Himself of no reputation by taking on a full human nature consubstantial with our own, yet without sin. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and thus born of a woman, so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the divine and the human, were joined together in one person, without confusion, change, division, or separation. He is therefore very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.

Philippians 2:5–8 · Hebrews 4:15; 7:26 · Luke 1:35 · Galatians 4:4–5 · Colossians 2:9

We teach that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished the redemption of His people through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross. His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive. On the basis of the efficacy of His death, the believing sinner is freed from the punishment, the penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin; and is declared righteous, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God.

Isaiah 53:3–6 · John 10:15, 18 · Romans 3:24–25; 5:8–9 · 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18 · 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

We teach that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes as our Advocate and High Priest. His bodily resurrection confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross; it is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers.

Matthew 28:6 · Luke 24:38–39 · Acts 2:30–31 · Romans 1:4; 4:25; 8:34 · 1 Corinthians 15:12–23 · Hebrews 7:25; 9:24 · 1 John 2:1

We teach that Jesus Christ will return to receive the church, which is His Body, unto Himself at the rapture, and, returning with His church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom God will judge all mankind — believers, living inhabitants of the earth at His glorious return, and the unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne.

Acts 1:9–11 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 · Revelation 20 · John 5:22–23 · 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 · 2 Corinthians 5:10 · Matthew 25:31–46 · Revelation 20:11–15

We teach that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is eternal God, coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Son, possessing all the divine perfections. The Holy Spirit is not merely a force or a power but a distinct divine person who thinks, wills, speaks, and can be grieved.

Matthew 28:19 · Acts 5:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 · 2 Corinthians 13:14 · Hebrews 9:14 · Psalm 139:7–10 · Isaiah 40:13–14 · Romans 15:13 · John 16:13 · 1 Corinthians 2:10–13; 12:11 · Acts 28:25–26 · Ephesians 4:30

We teach that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost, when He was sent by the Father and the Son as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ; and transforms believers into the image of Christ. He is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them, sanctifying them, instructing them, empowering them for service, and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

Acts 1:5; 2:4 · John 14:16–17; 15:26 · Ephesians 1:21–22; 2:22 · John 16:8–11, 14 · Romans 8:9, 29 · 2 Corinthians 3:18 · Titus 3:5 · 1 Corinthians 12:13 · 1 John 2:20, 27 · 1 Corinthians 12:4, 9 · 2 Corinthians 1:22 · Ephesians 1:13; 4:30

We teach that the Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher, who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they wrote God’s special revelation, the Bible. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit.

John 14:26; 16:13 · 2 Peter 1:19–21 · Romans 8:9 · Ephesians 5:18

We teach that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the perfecting of the saints today, and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church have now ceased, having fulfilled their purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth. The miraculous gifts were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers. No one possesses the gift of healing today, but God does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 13:8–10; 14:33 · Ephesians 2:20; 4:7–12 · 2 Corinthians 12:12 · Hebrews 2:1–4 · Romans 12:6–8 · Luke 18:1–6 · James 5:13–16 · 1 John 5:14–15

We teach that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness, free of sin and endowed with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, and moral responsibility to God. We teach that mankind was created by God as either male or female, distinct sexes that are biologically defined and divinely imparted to each individual at conception. Attempting to confuse the two sexes is an abomination to God.

Genesis 1:26–28; 2:7, 15–25; 5:1 · James 3:9 · Genesis 1:31 · Job 3:3 · Psalm 139:13–14 · 1 Corinthians 11:3–15 · Leviticus 18:22 · Deuteronomy 22:5 · Romans 1:26–27 · 1 Corinthians 6:9–10

We teach that God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life according to the will of God, and by this accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world.

Isaiah 43:7 · 1 Corinthians 10:31 · Colossians 1:16 · Revelation 4:11

We teach that, in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence, incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man’s salvation is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because all men were in Adam, the guilt of sin was imputed and a corrupt nature was transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration.

Genesis 2:16–17; 3:1–19 · John 3:36 · Romans 3:9–18, 23; 5:10–12, 18–19; 8:3 · 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:22 · Ephesians 2:1–3 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · Jeremiah 17:9 · Psalm 14:1–3

We teach that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ — the merits both of His life of perfect righteousness and His atoning blood — and not on the basis of human merits or works.

John 1:12 · Romans 5:18–19 · Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–10 · 1 Peter 1:18–19

We teach that election is the sovereign act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He unconditionally chose in Christ all those whom He would ever graciously regenerate, save, and sanctify. Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father has elected He will effectually call; all whom He effectually calls will come in faith; and all who come in faith the Father will receive.

Romans 8:28–30; 9:11–16 · Ephesians 1:4–11 · 2 Thessalonians 2:13 · 2 Timothy 2:10 · 1 Peter 1:1–2 · Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11 · John 3:18–19; 5:40; 6:37–40, 44 · Acts 13:48 · Romans 9:19–23; 9:11, 16 · Ephesians 1:4–7 · Titus 3:4–7

We teach that God’s election of totally depraved sinners is unconditional, grounded only in the sovereign freedom of God’s own will. Election is an expression of God’s unmerited favor and is not related to any initiative of the sinner’s own part. It is not grounded in God’s anticipation of what sinners might do by their own will, nor even in response to their foreseen faith. Rather, election is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy. Nevertheless, God exercises this sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love.

Romans 9:11–16 · Matthew 11:25–28 · 2 Timothy 1:9

We teach that the Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience and sacrifice of Himself, which He offered up to God through the eternal Spirit, has fully satisfied the justice of God, propitiated the wrath of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those the Father has given to Him.

Hebrews 9:14; 10:14; 2:17 · 1 John 4:10 · Romans 3:25–26; 5:10 · John 6:39; 10:14–15, 28–29; 17:2, 9, 24

We teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which a renewed nature and spiritual life are given. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God. As a result of this divine illumination, the repentant sinner, so enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith in Christ.

John 3:3–7 · 2 Corinthians 4:6; 5:17 · Titus 3:5 · John 5:24 · James 1:18 · 1 Peter 1:23 · 1 John 5:1

We teach that justification before God is the act of God in which He declares righteous those who, by His irresistible grace, repent of their sins, turn to Christ in faith, and confess Him as sovereign Lord. The righteousness of justification is not infused into the believer, nor is it attained by any virtue or work of man, but is the legal declaration of right standing with God. Justification consists in the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us, through faith alone apart from works. In this way, God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Romans 8:33 · Luke 13:3 · Acts 2:38; 3:19; 16:31 · Romans 1:16; 2:4; 3:20, 22, 26, 28; 4:4–6; 5:1 · Galatians 2:16; 3:11, 22, 24 · Deuteronomy 25:1 · Romans 8:1, 33–34 · Colossians 2:14 · 1 Peter 2:24 · 1 Corinthians 1:30 · 2 Corinthians 5:21

We teach that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God at conversion, declared to be holy, and is therefore identified as a saint. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition.

Acts 20:32 · 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11 · 2 Thessalonians 2:13 · Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12 · 1 Peter 1:2

We teach that there is also, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought into greater conformity with the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification. Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Every saved person is involved in a daily conflict — the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh — but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural.

John 17:17, 19 · Romans 6:1–22; 8:29 · 2 Corinthians 3:18 · 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4; 5:23 · Galatians 5:16–25 · Ephesians 4:22–24 · Philippians 3:12 · Colossians 3:9–10 · 1 Peter 1:14–16 · 1 John 3:2–9

We teach that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. Those who once professed faith and subsequently deny the Lord demonstrate by their going out from us that they were never truly saved in the first place. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality. Genuine salvation is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct.

John 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–30 · Romans 5:9–10; 8:1, 31–39 · 1 Corinthians 1:4–8 · Ephesians 4:30 · Hebrews 7:25; 13:5 · 1 Peter 1:5 · Jude 24 · 1 John 2:19 · Romans 6:15–22; 13:13–14 · Galatians 5:13, 25–26 · Titus 2:11–14 · 2 Corinthians 3:18 · Romans 8:17 · 1 John 3:2–3

We teach that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that the Scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days apostasy and worldliness will increase. Out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God, bringing no reproach upon our Lord and Savior. We teach that separation from all religious apostasy and worldly and sinful practices is commanded of us by God. We teach that believers should be separated unto our Lord Jesus Christ and affirm that the Christian life is a life of obedient righteousness that reflects the teaching of the Beatitudes and a continual pursuit of holiness.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 · 2 Timothy 3:1–5 · Romans 12:1–2 · 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 · 1 John 2:15–17 · 2 John 9–11 · 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 · Hebrews 12:1–2, 14 · Matthew 5:2–12 · 2 Corinthians 7:1 · Titus 2:11–14 · 1 John 3:1–10

We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the Head. The formation of the church began on the Day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture. The church is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all regenerate persons in this present age. The church is distinct from Israel, a mystery not revealed until this age.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13; 10:32 · 2 Corinthians 11:2 · Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23–32 · Colossians 1:18 · Revelation 19:7–8 · Acts 2:1–21, 38–47 · 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 · Ephesians 2:11–3:6; 3:1–6; 5:32

We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught in the New Testament and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies. The one supreme authority for the church is Christ, and church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called overseers and pastors) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications. The eldership consists of spiritually qualified men who lead as servants of Christ. The congregation is to submit to their leadership.

Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28 · Galatians 1:2 · Philippians 1:1 · 1 Corinthians 11:18–20 · Hebrews 10:25; 13:7, 17 · Ephesians 1:22; 4:15 · Colossians 1:18 · 1 Corinthians 11:3 · Acts 20:28 · Ephesians 4:11 · 1 Timothy 2:11–12; 3:1–13; 5:17–22 · Titus 1:5–9 · 1 Peter 5:1–5

We teach the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government. We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith, by instruction of the Word, by fellowship, by keeping the ordinances, and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world. We teach the calling of all saints to the work of service.

Titus 1:5 · Acts 15:19–31; 20:28 · 1 Corinthians 5:4–7, 13 · 1 Peter 5:1–4 · Ephesians 3:21; 4:13–16 · 2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16–17 · Acts 2:47; 1:8 · 1 John 1:3 · Luke 22:19 · Acts 2:38–42 · Matthew 28:19 · 1 Corinthians 15:58 · Ephesians 4:12 · Revelation 22:12

We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism by immersion is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ. We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. Whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer.

Acts 2:38–42; 8:36–39 · Romans 6:1–11 · Acts 2:41–42 · 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, 28–32; 10:16

We teach that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him.

Luke 2:9–14 · Hebrews 1:6–7, 14; 2:6–7 · Revelation 5:11–14; 19:10; 22:9

We teach that Satan is a created angel who was the efficient cause of the first sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, by taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Adam and Eve. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man; he is the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.

Isaiah 14:12–17 · Ezekiel 28:11–19 · Matthew 25:41 · Revelation 12:1–14 · Genesis 3:1–15 · Isaiah 14:13–14 · Matthew 4:1–11 · Revelation 12:9–10 · Romans 16:20 · Revelation 20:10

We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness, that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, that there is a separation of soul and body, and that, for those in Christ, such separation will continue until the rapture, which initiates the first resurrection when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord. We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. The souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment in the intermediate hell until the second resurrection, when the soul and the resurrection body will be united, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into eternal hell, the lake of fire.

Revelation 6:9–11 · Luke 23:43 · Philippians 1:21–24 · 2 Corinthians 5:8 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 · Revelation 20:4–6 · Philippians 3:21 · 1 Corinthians 15:35–44, 50–54 · John 6:39; 5:28–29 · Romans 8:10–11, 19–23 · 2 Corinthians 4:14 · Daniel 12:2 · Revelation 20:11–15 · Luke 16:19–26 · Matthew 25:41–46

We teach the personal, bodily appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven-year tribulation to translate His church from this earth. Between the rapture and His glorious return to the earth with His saints, He will reward believers according to their works.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 · Titus 2:13 · John 14:1–3 · 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 · 1 Thessalonians 4:15–5:11 · 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 · 2 Corinthians 5:10

We teach that immediately following the removal of the church from the earth the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world, and that these judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth. At that time, the saints of the Old Testament and the tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged. This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.

John 14:1–3 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 · Jeremiah 30:7 · Daniel 9:24–27; 12:1–3 · 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 · Revelation 16 · Matthew 24:15–31; 25:31–46

We teach that, after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth. During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth. This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world. The kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience. This time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life, and it will be brought to an end with the release of Satan.

Matthew 25:31 · Luke 1:31–33 · Acts 1:10–11; 2:29–30 · Revelation 3:21; 19:11–16; 20:1–7 · Ezekiel 37:21–28 · Daniel 7:17–27 · Isaiah 11; 65:17–25 · Zechariah 8:1–17 · Deuteronomy 28:15–68 · Romans 11:1–26 · Jeremiah 31:31–34 · Ezekiel 36:22–32

We teach that, following the release of Satan after the thousand-year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, whereupon Christ will resurrect and judge all unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment. This resurrection of the unsaved dead will be a physical, bodily resurrection in which they will be committed to eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:7–15 · Matthew 25:41 · John 5:22, 28–29

We teach that, after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers, the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 · Revelation 20:7–15 · 2 Peter 3:10 · Ephesians 5:5 · Revelation 20:15; 21–22 · John 17:3 · 1 Corinthians 15:24–28