Personal eschatology.  At death, the body and spirit separate from the body and, with their eternal destiny sealed, enter the intermediate state (Lk. 23:46, Ac. 7:59, 2 Cor. 5:4).  Whereas the righteous consciously enter the presence of God, the unrighteous are consciously separated from God in an intermediate state known as “sheol” or “hades” (Heb. 12:23; Lk. 16:23).  I believe that God’s eschatological plan for the individual is instant glorification at death if he/she has a true and redeeming relationship with Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:1-10, Phil. 1:19-26).  At this time the Christian is completely sanctified and will eventually be given a new physical body (Phil. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:23).  The Bible does not speak specifically to the amount of time between an individual’s death and the corporate resurrection of the dead (Jn. 5:25-29). 

            God’s eschatological plan for the world.  I believe there is a single plan embracing Israel and the church in God’s unfolding kingdom.  Christ will one day return to establish a literal 1,000-year reign on earth.  I believe this return of Christ will occur in conjunction with the end of the tribulation period. Because God uses His church as the primary vehicle for communicating the gospel to the unreached world, I cannot see God removing his church prior or midway through the tribulation, since one of the main reasons for the tribulation is to give nonbelievers one final chance to repent and turn to God.  Without the church, who would communicate the gospel?

I believe there is no future for a national Israel.  There will be no rebuilt Jewish temple.  But since this scheme sees a single plan embracing both Israel and the church, Israel’s believers are included among the resurrected saints and are given the same opportunity for eternal existence in heaven as the church.

            History ends in a final consummation, the bodily return of Christ at the end of the tribulation period (Acts 1:11; 1 Thes. 4:16). At His physical second coming, Christ destroys the forces of evil, resurrects the deceased saints, and raptures all living believers.  This is the “first resurrection.” The saints then return to earth with Christ for his 1,000-year earthly reign (Isa. 2:2-5; Dan. 7:14, 18, 27; Micah 4:1-5; Zech. 9-10). Satan is literally bound and cast into the pit of hell until the final rebellion at the end of the 1,000 years.  After the millennium, the “second resurrection” occurs; the unsaved are bodily resurrected for the final judgment of believers and unbelievers (Dan. 12:2-3).  Satan, his demons, and those who are not elect will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity (Rev. 20:14).  Those chosen into heaven will enjoy an eternal existence of rest and worship in the New Jerusalem (Heb. 3:11, Rev. 19:1-8, Rev. 21:2).