The World To Come

"The World To Come"
-Outline used, New Hampshire Confession (Article 18)

Much of what frames a Christian's world-view is their belief in the end of the world as we know it, and the
future existence of a new heaven and a new earth. The scriptures plainly teach that the world, which we now
see, will be done away when the Lord returns. Paul stated in his first letter to the Corinthians, "If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19) We look for a world
beyond this life that will last for eternity. Truly, this life we are in is just a preperation for our eternal state. This
is why it is so important to teach this world about the new world to come, and the only hope in entering it:
Jesus Christ. Our Eighteenth Article of Faith reads:

"We believe that the end of this world is approaching, that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven,
and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the
wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix
forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness." - Article XVIII

So we will now break down the article and give some corresponding scripture references:

Main Scripture Text: II Peter 3:3-13

I. We believe that the end of the world is approaching.

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." - I Peter 4:7

"And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of
thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a
vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not
fail." - Hebrews 1:10-12

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - I John
2:17

II. We believe that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven.

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." - Revelation 1:7

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one
another with these words." - I Thessalonians 4:13-18

III. We believe that on that Last Day Christ will raise the dead from the grave to final retribution.

Please Read I Corinthians 15:12-59

"And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and unjust." - Acts 24:15

"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him
authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." - John 5:26-29

IV. We believe that on the Last Day a solemn separation will then take place.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the
bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among
the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew
13:47-50

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the
throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but
the goats on the left." - Matthew 25:31-33

V. We believe the wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy, and that this
judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell.

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye
took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty,
and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when
saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels:" - Matthew 25:35-41

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let
him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." - Revelation 22:11