Dogma for PrServants DG 11CR 8The Second Coming

Dogma for Pr-Servants DG 11_CR 8_The Second Coming Oct 15, 2011

The Creed CR 1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who created heaven and earth: v v God (CR 1) Trinity (CR 2) CR 3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten not made, One essence with the Father : v Divinity of Christ CR 4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became Man. v Incarnation of Christ

The Creed “Cont’d” CR 5: And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens; and sat at the right hand of His Father and also He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom has no end: v Christ Redemption CR 6: Yes we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets

The Creed “Cont’d” CR 7: “And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess one Baptism for the remission of sins” CR 8: “And He shall come again in His glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the coming age”

The Second Coming 1) Introduction 2) The Physical Death 3) Millennium (1000 years) 4) Christ’s Second Coming

1) Introduction + Eschatology • Greek Term = Second Coming • The last stage of God’s plan of grace: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification • Justification (Christ’s salvation; baptism) • Sanctification (Holy Spirit; confirmation and Eucharist) • Glorification (Second Coming)

1) Introduction “Cont’d” + After Christ’s redemption & resurrection • Christ opened the Paradise, Luke 23: 42 -43 • “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” • “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” • Christ went to Hades and freed the captives taking them to Paradise, 1 Peter 3: 18 -20 • “…being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison. . ”

2) The Physical Death It is the death of the body not the spirit (Matthew 10: 28); it is the separation of body and spirit (Ecclesiastical 12: 7). What happens after the physical death? • Paradise (Rev 6: 11) OR Hades (2 Peter 2: 9) • No such claims in the Orthodox faith about purgatory or sleeping of souls or private judgment (the parable of Lazarus and the rich man; Luke 16: 19 -31) • Where is Paradise?

3. The Millennium • It is a heresy of the 1000 years based on the wrong interpretation of Revelation 20: 1 -7 • The Orthodox Church believes: a) Not literally 1000 years but any length of time. b) Binding of Satan in Rev 20: 1 -7 means that Satan has lost his grip on the souls. c) The 1000 year reign of the souls of the “elect” with Christ is called the first resurrection. The second resurrection is the reunited of the soul with the new heavenly body.

4) Christ’s Second Coming a) Where in the bible? b) The events preceding the Second Coming c) The Second Coming itself and its purpose

4 a) Where in the bible? • The 2 nd Coming of Christ was referred to by: v The Lord Christ (Matthew 24: 30), v The angels (Acts 1: 11), v In the Epistles (Philippians 3: 20).

4 b) Events before the Second Coming 1. Calling of the Gentiles; Matthew 24: 14 2. The Conversion of the full number of Israel; Romans 11: 25 -29 3. The Great apostasy and tribulation; Matthew 24: 12, 21 4. Coming of the Anti Christ; 1 John 2: 18 5. Signs of wonders; Matthew 24: 29 -30

4 c) Second Coming itself 1. No one knows when? Matthew 24: 36 2. In the body to be seen by all; Matthew 24: 30 3. Surprising; Matthew 24: 37 -44 • The purpose of His coming is to start the eternal state; John 5: 25 -29