Last Things

Understanding Gog from the Old Testament enables us to understand what John’s meaning when he speaks of Gog in Revelation 20.

"Gog" (660 B.C.) never invaded the Promised Land with a multinational army. What explains this? Intervening Historical Contingencies do!

God often announced potential futures that were alterable by the subsequent actions of the hearers.

Ezekiel, speaking from exile in Babylon, teaches of a war that would come to God's people, Israel, when they returned to the Promised Land.  This war was parallel to the final battle that will occur at the end of this age between Jesus, leading His Church, and the world.

In Revelation 20, John speaks of "Gog,” of whom the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel had spoken.  Who was he?

John speaks of "Gog and Magog" in Revelation 20. History and the Book of Ezekiel inform us what he's talking about.

After this era, when all the elect have been brought to faith, Satan will gather the world to come against the Church; but Jesus will then appear, resurrect all His people bodily, and lead His people in victory over all who are against Him and them.

What happens when the last of individuals to be saved is saved and this era (the "thousand years") comes to an end?

Prophecies:  Declaring an unchangeable future or warning of a potential one?

Aspects of our era in heaven and on earth, during the "thousand years" between Jesus’ ascension and His Second Coming.

The Apostle John gives reason to keep your faith rather than your earthly life.

Effectual calling (& regeneration) before faith; and the first resurrection for believers at death.

A summary of the events Scripture reports from Christ's ascension to the New Heavens and New Earth.

The souls of believers now, prior to Jesus' return, are in heaven with Jesus.

What happens at final judgment?

During our era, Satan and his demons are bound from deceiving the elect throughout the nations from believing in Jesus.

Starting with Jesus’ ascension, Satan and his demons have been prevented from deceiving the elect throughout the nations of the earth from believing in Jesus.

Who’s fighting in the final battle, when Jesus appears again?

1. When is justification in our lives, and when is sanctification? 2. When is saving faith in our lives, and when do we look to God's law?

Bullet-pointing the Bible's teaching on justification and on sanctification. That is, the difference between being saved (and forgiven) by Jesus, on the one hand, and growing to be more like Him, on the other.

How does the Bible speak of the law (God's commands) in regard to justification and in regard to sanctification?

"One box" in Catholicism combines justification and sanctification, so that one is seen to be justified (saved) by their sanctification (law and church obedience).

God’s commands—the things God tells us in the Bible to do and to avoid—are better than our vague, man-made, "Christian" laws.

Jesus and Scripture show us that works have no part in salvation (justification), but much to do in the realm of sanctification, after one has been saved.

How did an Old Testament believer view his own justification and his sanctification?