The End of the World? Understanding What’s next
This is part of a series giving an overview of theology and Neighborhood Church’s doctrinal statement. (Introduction, The One True God, The Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, Humanity, Salvation, Church, Christian Life, Angels, Satan, Demons, Future Life)
Have you ever been driving on an unfamiliar road, navigating curves and corners, wondering what's around the next bend? Many of us feel that same uncertainty when we think about the future - especially when it comes to life after death and the end times.
Recently, someone who doesn't even go to church brought up "end times" in casual conversation. It’s interesting that even people who don't follow Jesus seem to sense that something bigger is coming. The truth is, knowing what the future holds is vitally important - and it should drive us to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we know.
At Neighborhood Church Ocala, our mission is clear: until Christ returns, we're inviting our neighbors to meet and follow Jesus. Let's explore what we believe about future life and why it matters so much.
The Mission Behind the Message
Before we dive into what's coming, we need to understand why this matters. Jesus gave us a clear mission in Matthew 28:18-20: to make disciples of all nations. And John 3:16 reminds us that "whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
This isn't just theology - it's urgent. The future we're about to describe shows us exactly why we can't wait to share Jesus with the people in our lives.
What's Next: The Return of Christ
So what are we waiting for? What are we preparing for? The next major event for believers is what the Bible calls the "rapture" - when Jesus calls his church to meet him in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes an amazing scene: "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
Now, if you're a believer and you're alive when this happens, don't panic! Do brace yourself though, because you're about to witness something incredible. Bodies of believers who have died will be reunited with their souls (who are already with Jesus), creating complete, glorified bodies. Bodies from graves, from oceans, from battlefields - even cremated remains scattered across the earth - will all be restored.
If you're a believer when this happens, get ready for the ride of your life. It'll be more exhilarating than any roller coaster you've ever experienced as you get caught up with all of those resurrected saints. While Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" from that moment on, we will be with Jesus forever.
But here's the thing - 1 Thessalonians 5:2 warns us this will come "like a thief in the night." Those living in darkness, who haven't surrendered their lives to Jesus, will be absolutely terrified.
After believers are taken up, we'll appear before what the Bible calls the judgment seat of Christ (the "Bema seat"). This isn't about salvation - that's already settled. This is about rewards for the works we did for Jesus versus the works we did for ourselves. As 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 explains, our works will be tested by fire. What we did for Jesus will earn rewards; what we did for ourselves will be burned up - though we ourselves will still be saved.
What Happens on Earth: The Great Tribulation
Meanwhile, back on earth, those who were left behind will experience seven years of tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen. This period is described throughout the book of Revelation, starting in chapter 6.
During this time, earth will experience judgments that come in three waves: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. These judgments will include war, famine, natural disasters, and supernatural plagues. One-third of the sea will die, one-third of fresh water will be poisoned, and one-third of the sun, moon, and stars will be darkened (Revelation 8).
This isn't meant to scare us - it's meant to motivate us. Our friends, neighbors, and family members who don't know Jesus will experience this. We don't want anyone to go through such terror and destruction.
The Return of the King
At the end of the seven-year tribulation comes the most epic moment in history. Revelation 19:11-16 describes Jesus returning - not as the gentle baby in a manger, but as the conquering King.
This time, Jesus comes with "eyes like a flame of fire" and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" written on his robe. The first time Jesus came, they stretched him out on a cross and mocked him until his last breath. But not this time He will not permit them to mock him. He has come this second time to put them in their place.
With his church (that's us!) following behind him, Jesus will defeat all evil in what the Bible calls the Battle of Armageddon. The result? Finally, the peace on earth we've all been praying for.
The Thousand-Year Kingdom
After defeating evil, Jesus will establish his thousand-year kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1-6). Satan will be bound and thrown into the abyss. All the promises God made to Abraham and David will finally be fulfilled. Old Testament believers will be reunited with their resurrected bodies.
Even when we can't see through the fog of our daily troubles, we need to remember: God has a plan. It's perfect, and God never fails. He has a 100% success rate every single time.
The Final Judgment
At the end of the thousand years, there will be one final judgment. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the "Great White Throne Judgment," where everyone whose name is not found in the book of life will face eternal separation from God.
Jesus told a story in Luke 16:19-31 about a rich man who ended up in torment, begging for just a drop of water to cool his tongue. This is why we must urgently share Jesus with others - again, we don't want anyone to experience this kind of anguish.
The reality is simple: the decision we make on this side of eternity determines where we end up. Live a life of faith in Jesus, and you have eternal life with him. Live a life of faith in yourself, and you get yourself in the end - eternal separation from Jesus.
The New Heaven and Earth
But for those who know Jesus, the story has the most incredible ending. Revelation 21:1-4 describes a new heaven and new earth where "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore."
We'll live in the New Jerusalem, prepared like a bride for her husband. God himself will dwell with us. We'll have his name on our foreheads - a constant reminder to the angels of how far God will go to save his people.
As Psalm 16:11 promises: "In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Why This Matters Today
We have something incredible to look forward to - and that should change how we live today. We're not meant to get caught up in chaos or fear about the future. Even when things appear chaotic, God is in control. He's always been in control, and his plan is perfect.
As children of the light, we can see the truth that others miss. This drives us to share Jesus with everyone we know. The conviction for us is that there are too many people in our lives who don't know about the hope and salvation available through Jesus.
Until Christ returns, our mission remains clear: inviting our neighbors to meet and follow Jesus. We should not want anyone to experience the coming judgment. Instead, we want everyone to experience the joy and peace of eternal life with God.
Take the Next Step
If you're reading this and wondering about your own relationship with Jesus, we'd love to help you explore what it means to follow him. The decision you make about Jesus determines your eternal destiny - and there's no more important choice you'll ever make.
We invite you to join us for our Welcome to Neighborhood Class on the last Sunday of each month from 4-5pm. It's a great place to ask questions, meet others, and learn more about who we are as a church. Save your seat today by filling out this form.
We're waiting for the blast of the angel's trumpet so we can be with Jesus forever. Until then, Neighborhood Church is here to help you discover the hope and peace that comes from knowing him. God makes known to us the path of life, and in his presence there is fullness of joy.
That's something worth sharing with everyone we know.
This is part of a series giving an overview of theology and Neighborhood Church’s doctrinal statement. (Introduction, The One True God, The Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, Humanity, Salvation, Church, Christian Life, Angels, Satan, Demons, Future Life)
