SANDTON BIBLE CHURCH

15 Leslie Road, Douglasdale, Sandton

PO Box 2518, Fourways, 2055
(011) 462-3206
sbc@iburst.co.za

(Constitution: Part 2)

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Introduction
The Constitution of the Sandton Bible Church consists of three parts:

Part 1

Incorporates the statutory aspects

under which the Sandton Bible Church
functions in relationship to society in
general and the State of the Republic of
South Africa in particular.

Part 2

Constitutes the statement of faith of the

Sandton Bible Church to which all
members subscribe and give assent.

Part 3

Embodies the internal rules governing

the functioning of the Sandton Bible
Church.

SANDTON BIBLE CHURCH

STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. THE BIBLE
We believe:
that the sixty-six books of the Bible constitute the complete and full written
revelation of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-14, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Revelation 22:18-19).
We believe:
that the Word of God is an objective revelation (1 Corinthians 2:13) to be
taught and applied (1 Timothy 4:13).
We believe:
that the Bible is the only infallible authority in matters of faith and practice
(Matthew 5:18, Matthew 24:34, John 16:12-13, John 17:17, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Timothy
3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12).
We believe:
that Gods written revelation came to us by a process of dual authorship.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit human authors with their individual personalities and styles of
writing, recorded Gods word to man (2 Peter 1:20-21).
We believe:
that the original documents were kept free of error (Isaiah 30:8). Every word
was verbally inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and the Bible is without any error in any single
part or the whole (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 5:18).
We believe:
that while there may be several applications of any given passage of
Scripture, there is only one true interpretation. By diligent study using the method of historical
and grammatical analysis, anyone part of the Scripture will harmonise with ant other part and
with the whole as the Holy Spirit teaches (John7: 17, 1 Corinthians 2:7-15, 1 John 2:18-21).
2. GOD.
We believe:
that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:5-7, 1
Corinthians 8:4). He is spirit, without limit, intelligent (John 4:24), and absolutely perfect in all
His attributes. He is eternal (Psalm 90:2), living in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthinas13:14) and one in essence, each deserving the same worship
and obedience (Acts 17:24-29, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Revelation 19:10). He is omnipresent
(Psalm 139:7-10), omniscient (Isaiah 40:13-14) and omnipotent (Romans 15:13).
2.1 GOD THE FATHER.
We believe:
that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity. He controls and
energises everything according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145: 8-9, 1 Corinthians
8:6).
We believe:
that, being the absolute Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation
(Genesis 1:1-31), providence and in redemption (Job 1: 6, Psalm 103:19, Romans 11:33). His
Fatherhood denotes a spiritual relationship, firstly within the Trinity (John 17) and secondly
with mankind; in terms of creation the relationship is to all men (1 Corinthians 8:6), but
spiritually only to believers (Matthew 5:16).
We believe:
that He has willed all things for His own Glory (1 Chronicles 29:11). In His
sovereignty He is in no way the author of sin or approving it (John 8:38-44), nor does He in
any way reduce the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures for their sin (1 Peter 1:17).
He graciously chose from the eternity past all those whom He would have as His own
(Ephesians 1:3-6). He saves from sin all who come to him through Jesus Christ adopting
them as His own children thereby being their Father (John 1:12&18, Ephesians 1:3-6,
Hebrews 12:5-9).

2.2 GOD THE SON.

We believe:
that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine
attributes and in these is co-equal with the Father (Philippians 2:5-6). He is of the same
essence and is co-eternal with God the Father (John 10:27-30, John 14:9-11).
We believe:
that when He became Jesus the man, He willingly gave up only the
prerogatives of His Deity and nothing of His divine essence, either to a degree or in kind. At
conception, Christs divine nature united with the nature of perfect man in an indissoluble
union becoming the God-man (Philippians 2:5-8)
We believe:
that in the incarnation of Jesus Christ is the union of humanity and Deity in
absolute oneness (Micah 5:2, John 14:9-10, Colossians 2:9, 1 John 5:20, Jude 25).
We believe:
that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:25, Luke
1:26-35). As God incarnate (John 1:1, 3, 14&18, 1 John 1:3) He came to earth for the purpose
of revealing God, to redeem men and to rule over Gods Kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9, Isaiah 9:6,
John 1:29, Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 1:19 & 2:22).
We believe:
that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished the believers redemption through
His death on the cross. His death was voluntary, substitutionary, propitiatory and redemptive
(Romans 3:25, 5:8, 1 Peter 2:24).
We believe:
that the believers justification is assured by Christs literal, physical
resurrection from the dead, having ascended to the right hand of the Father where he is now
serving His Church as Advocate and high Priest (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:38-39, Acts 2:30-31,
Romans 4:2, Hebrews 7:25& 9:24).
We believe:
that in Christ resurrection from the grave, God confirmed His deity and the
acceptance of Christs atoning work on the cross. Christs bodily resurrection is the guarantee
of the future bodily resurrection for all believers (John 5:28-29, 14:19, Romans 1:4, 4:25& 6:510, 1 Corinthians 15:20& 23).
We believe:
that the Lord Jesus Christ will return for His Church, His Body of which He is
head, at the rapture and subsequently return to earth with the Church in glory to establish His
millennial Kingdom (Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20).
We believe:
that the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Mediator between God and Man (1 Timothy
2:5), and that God will judge all mankind throughout all ages through Jesus Christ the Lord
(John 5:22-23), firstly the believers (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10); secondly the
people living on earth at the time of His glorious return (Matthew 25:14-46, Acts 17:30-31);
and thirdly the unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15).
2.3 THE HOLY SPIRIT.
We believe:
that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, possessing the entire
divine characteristics and qualities. He is co-equal with the Father and the Son and of the
same essence (Acts 5:3-4, compare Isaiah 6:8-9 with Acts 28:25-26, Matthew 28:19, 1
Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 3:14,). He is intelligent, (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) is capable of
emotions (Ephesians 4:30) and has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), working purposefully in
unison with the Father and the Son (Jeremiah 31:31-34 compare with Hebrews 10:15-17). He
is the Spirit of truth (John 6:13).
We believe:
that the work of the Holy Spirit is to execute the divine will with regard to the
world of men. He was sovereignly active in creation (Genesis 1:2), in the incarnation
(Matthew 1:18), in written revelation of the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:20-21), and is active in the
work of salvation (John 3:5-7).

We believe:
that the work of the Holy Spirit in this Church age began at Pentecost when
He came from the Father in accordance with Christs promise (John 14:16-17 & 15:26) to start
and complete the building of the Body of Christ, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy
Spirits divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, of judgement. He came to glorify the
Lord Jesus Christ and to transform believers into Christ-likeness (John 16:7-9, Acts 1:5 &2:4,
2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 2:22).
We believe:
that the Holy Spirit supernaturally regenerates all believers, being the agent
of baptising them into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 13). He permanently indwells all
believers from the point of salvation, sanctifying, teaching, empowering for service and
sealing them for the day of redemption (John 16:8-11, Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 3:6,
Ephesians 1:13). Its is the duty of all those born of the Spirit, in obedience to the command, to
be filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:9, 1 John 2:20 & 27).
We believe:
that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the Apostles collectively
into all truth as they submitted to Gods revelation in the Holy Scriptures. (John 16:13).
We believe:
that the Holy Spirit administers the spiritual gifts to the Church (to each
individual believer) according to His will. The purpose is not to glorify Himself or the gifts but
to glorify Christ and to implement His work to redeem the lost and to build up believers in the
most holy Faith (John 16:13-14, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 2 Corinthians 2:18).
Consequently, God the Holy Spirit, sovereignly bestows all His gifts for perfecting (maturing)
of the saints, having gradually ceased the bestowing of the sign gifts as the new Testament
Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 2
Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:7-12, Hebrews 2:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
3. MAN
We believe:
that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and
likeness which does not refer to the physical form but to the fact that man was created without
sin, given a rational nature, intelligence, given a will with self determination, given domination
over all things on the earth and a moral responsibility toward God (Genesis 1:26-28 & 2: 1525, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, James 3:9). While retaining this image it became marred in the fall
(1 Corinthians 11:7).
We believe:
that Gods purpose in creating man was that he should glorify God, enjoy His
fellowship and live his life in accordance with His will. (Isaiah 43:7, Colossians 1:16,
Revelation 4:11).
We believe:
that when Adam sinned by disobeying the revealed will of God, man lost his
innocence and incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death becoming subject to wrath
of God. Man is inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing what is
acceptable to God outside of Gods grace. Man is powerless to extricate himself from his
hopelessly lost position and is totally dependent for salvation upon the redemptive work of the
Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 2:16-17 & 3:1-19, John 3:36, Romans 3:23 & 6:23, 1 Corinthians
2:14, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 Timothy 2:13-14, 1 John 1:8).
We believe:
that in Adam all men have their human origin. Consequently mans sinful
nature has been transmitted to all men of all ages with the only exception being the man
Jesus Christ. All men are sinners by Gods declaration, by nature and chose to sin by
rejecting Gods standard (Psalm 14:1-3, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:9-18, 3:23, 5:10-12,
James 2:10).

4. SALVATION
We believe:
that salvation is wholly of God, by grace through the Lord Jesus Christs work
of redemption on the merit of his shed blood and not on the basis of any human merit or work
(John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7, & 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

We believe:
that the certain consequence of Christs death is that the believing sinner has
been freed from the consequences of sin and its power, and will one day be freed from the
very presence of sin. He has been effectively declared righteous, been given eternal life and
been admitted to the family of God, all at the point of Salvation (John 10:15, Romans 3:25 &
5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Peter 2:24 & 3:18).
4.1 REGENERATION
We believe:
that regeneration (or re-creation) is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by
which the divine nature and eternal life is imparted to man (John 3:3-7). It happens in an
instant and is achieved solely through the Word of God (John 5:24) by the Holy Spirit securing
voluntary obedience to the Gospel. Repentance, faith and righteous living evidence
regeneration. The evidence of good works is the proper consequence (fruit) (1 Corinthians
6:19-20, Ephesians 2:10). The degree to which this becomes evident is directly related to the
extent to which the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his or her life through
faithful obedience to the Holy Scriptures (Ephesians 5:17-21, Colossians 3:16, 2Peter 1:4-10).
This obedience causes the believer to be progressively conformed to the image of Christ (2
Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 John 3:2-3).
4.2 ELECTION
We believe:
that election is that sovereign act of God by which before the foundation of
the world He chose in Christ those whom He graciously saves, regenerates and sanctifies
(Romans 8:28-33, Ephesians 1:4-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1-2,).
We believe:
that Gods election is consistent with the responsibility of man to receive the
Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:37 and 44, Acts 13:48).
We believe:
that Gods act of sovereign election is not exercised in some abstract
separate way but in total harmony with all His attributes and character, especially His
omniscience, justice, holiness and wisdom (Romans 9:11-16) as revealed in Jesus Christ
(Matthew 11:25-28, John 1:13, 2 Timothy 1:9).
4.3 JUSTIFICATION
We believe:
that Gods act of justification is effectively declaring righteous those who have
saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:33). This righteousness is apart from virtue or
work of man (Romans 3:20, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21). It enables God to be fully
just toward those He justifies on the basis of faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:26 and 4:3-5).
4.4 SANCTIFICATION
We believe:
that every believer is sanctified (set apart unto God) by the death of the Lord
Jesus Christ and therefore declared to be Holy and identified as a saint. This is a positional
non-progressive sanctification and has to do with the believers standing before God and not
his present, practical state (Acts 20:32, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1:30, 6:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:13,
Hebrews 2:11, 3:1, 10:10, 14 and 13:12, 1Peter 1:2, Jude 1).

We believe:
that there is an experiential or practical sanctification which is the work of the
Holy Spirit in a believers life whereby the believer is progressively brought closer to his or her
positional standing. Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy
Spirit a believer is able to become more Christ-like and thus live a life of increasing holiness in
line with the will of God (John 17:17-19, Romans 6:1-22, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 5:26,
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 and 5:23).
We believe:
that the believers life is therefore a life of conflict between the new creation in
Christ and his flesh. God has, however, made adequate provision for victory through the
power of the Holy Spirit. The conflict remains with the believer throughout his or her earthly
life.
The Bible does not support claims that sin can or will be totally eliminated from the believer
during his or her earthly life but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory to the believer over it
(Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 4:22-24, Philippians 3:12 Colossians 3:9-10, 1 Peter 1:14-16,
1 John 3:5-9).
4.5 SECURITY
We believe:
that from the instant of redemption the believers salvation is kept totally
secure by the power of God (John 5:24, 6:37-50, 10:27, 30 and 17:15-20, Romans 5:9-10,
8:1, 8:31-39, 1 Corinthians 1:4-8, Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 7:25, 13:5, 1 Peter 1:5, Jude 24).
We believe:
that while the believer can rejoice in the assurance of his or her eternal
security through the testimony of the Word of God, it is clearly forbidden for the Christian to
misuse this liberty for sinful living and carnality (Romans 6:15-22 and 13:13-14, Galatians
5:13, 5:25-26, Titus 2:11-15).
We believe:
that the general pattern of a Christians life should reflect a progression
toward Christ-likeness. An obedient Christian is one who continues in the faith and visibly
demonstrates this in life (1 John 2:5-6).
4.6 SEPARATION
We believe:
that the doctrine of separation from sin is clearly taught in the Holy Scriptures
(2 Corinthians 6:14 to 7:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Therefore, the saved should live in a manner
which will not bring reproach on their Lord and Saviour, in harmony with Gods command of
separation from all religious apostasy, worldly and sinful practices (Leviticus 19:2, John 15:15,
Romans 12:1-2 and 14:13, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, Galatians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 2
Timothy 3:1-5, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 1:9-11).
5. THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST
5.1 THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
We believe:
that the Church is made up of all those who have placed their faith in Jesus
Christ. At the moment of Salvation a believer is baptised by the Holy Spirit into the one united,
spiritual Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Whose Head is Christ (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians
1:18). The Church is Christs espoused bride (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-32,
Revelation 19:7-8).
We believe:
that the formation of the Church began on the day of Pentecost (Acts2: 1-21
& 2:38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the time of the
Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:15-47, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We believe:
that the Church is a unique spiritual body (Matthew 16:18) made up of bornagain believers in the present (church) age (Ephesians 2:11-22, 3:1-6). It is distinct from
Gods programme for the Jewish Nation, Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed
until this dispensation (Ephesians 3:1-6, 5:32).

5.2 THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe:
that the establishment and continuity of the local church is clearly taught and
defined in the New Testament (Acts 14:23, 14:27, 20:17, 20:28, Galatians 1:2, Philippians
1:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1). Those belonging to the one spiritual Body are
instructed to meet together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20, Hebrews 10:25).
We believe:
that the only and supreme authority for the Church is the Lord Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18). Order, discipline and worship in the
churches are appointed through Christs sovereignty through a plurality of biblically
designated officers. These are the elders, also called overseers, bishops, pastors and pastorteachers (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 4:11) and deacons who must meet the biblical qualification
of office (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5).
We believe:
that the local church is autonomous, free from any external control. It has the
right of self-government and the Bible does not support any form of denominational hierarchy
of individuals or organisations (Titus 1:5). It is scriptural though for true churches to cooperate with each other in the common aim of presenting and spreading the Faith. Each local
church through its elders is the sole judge of the extent and method of its co-operation and all
matters related to membership, policy, discipline, benevolence and government (Acts 15:1931, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 5:13, 1 Peter 5:1-4).
We believe:
that the elders and deacons lead or rule in the place of Jesus Christ (1
Timothy 5:17) and have His authority in directing the church following His revealed example.
This submission is required as the leaders are ultimately answerable to God for the individual
members of the Congregation (Hebrews 13:7, 13:17).
We believe:
that as sin has no place in the Church, sinning members are to be disciplined
according to the biblical standards with view to loving restoration (Matthew 18:15-22, Acts
5:1-16, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Titus 1:10-16).
We believe:
that the primary purpose of the Church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by
building itself up in the Faith (Ephesians 4:11-16) through the teaching of the Word (2 Timothy
2:2, 2:15, 3:16-17) through fellowship (Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:3) by keeping the ordinances
(Luke 22:19, Acts 2:38-42), and through involvement in taking the Gospel to the whole world
(Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, 2:42).
We believe:
that all saints (believers) are called to the work of the ministry (1 Corinthians
15:58, Ephesians 4:12, Revelation 22:12).
We believe:
that God has chosen to accomplish His purpose in the world through the
Church having equipped it by way of divine enablements or spiritual gifts. In the first instance
He gave gifted men to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the
ministry (Ephesians 4:7-12) but He also gives a unique spiritual gift to each member of the
Body of Christ (Romans 12:5-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 1 Peter 4:10-11). At the Moment of
spiritual birth every believer receives his or her gift being unique combination of all the
permanent spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-13). This combination of spiritual gifts is
sovereignly bestowed and cannot be sought (1 Corinthians 12:11). It is essential that every
believer discovers, develops and uses his or her spiritual gift for the purpose of edifying the
Body and for carrying on and accomplishing the work of the Lord until He comes (Romans
12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11).
We believe:
that at the time immediately following the formation of the Church, there were
two kinds of spiritual gifts, the temporary, confirming (or authenticating) gifts (Mark 16:17-18)
and the permanent, edifying gifts. (Hebrews 2:3-4).
We believe:
that the purpose of the authenticating gifts ceased with the completion of the
New Testament revelation (1 Corinthians 13:8-12) while prior to its completion, God chose to
authenticate His chosen men and their message by way of these special sign gifts.

The Bible warns that they can be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even believers
(Mark 13:22, Revelation 13:13-14).
We believe:
that a careful examination of the New Testament Scriptures reveals that the
temporary confirming gifts of healing, speaking in tongues (unlearned languages),
interpretation (translation) and miracles gradually ceased as these writings were completed
and became established as the authority of evaluation (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 2 Corinthians
12:12, Hebrews 2:3-4, Acts 19:11-12 to be read with 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). Consequently,
no one possesses the biblical gift of healing or the other temporary gifts today. This is not in
conflict with the fact that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith on the part of every
believer. His answer will be in accordance with His perfect will for the sick, the suffering and
the afflicted (Luke 18:1-6, John 5:7-9, 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, James 5:13-16, 1 John 5:14-15).
5.3 ORDINANCES
We believe:
that the Lord has commanded the local church to observe two ordinances:
Baptism and the Lords Supper (Acts 2:38-42).
We believe:
that Christian (believers) baptism (by immersion) is the testimony of a
believer to the fact that he or she fully identifies himself or herself with the crucified, buried
and risen Saviour in this symbol of their union with Christ in death to sin and resurrection to a
new life (Romans 6:1-11, Acts 8:36-39). Water baptism is not the act of salvation but merely a
testimony of the prior baptism by the Holy Spirit when the believer was placed into the Body
of Christ. It is therefore also a sign of fellowship and identification with the Church (Acts 2:4142).
We believe:
that the Lords Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of Jesus
death until He comes and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination and
confession (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). The Lords Supper is a special communion with the risen
Christ Fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16). The elements of bread and wine
are the symbols of and not actually His flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
6. ANGELS
6.1 HOLY ANGELS
We believe:
that God created angels to serve and worship Him and although they are a
higher order of creation than man they are not to be worshipped (Luke 2:9-14, Colossians
2:18, Hebrews 1:6-7, 1:14, 2:6-7, Revelation 5:11-14, 19:10,22:9).
6.2 FALLEN ANGELS
We believe:
that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin (separation from God).
When Satan incurred Gods judgement because of his rebellion against his Creator, one third
of the angels (demons) were involved in his fall (Job 1:6-7, Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-19)
and he introduced sin into the Human race by his tempting of Eve (Genesis 3:1-15).
We believe:
that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man and works with
the destruction of man as his aim (Matthew 4:1-11, 25:41, 1 Peter 5:8). He is the prince of this
world though defeated through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
(Colossians 2:14-15) and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 14:12-17,
Ezekiel 28:11-19, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10).

ABOUT THE END

7.1 DEATH
We believe:
that physical death involves no loss of consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11,
Matthew 10:28). The soul of a believer passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke
23:43, Philippians 1:23) while there will be a temporary separation of soul and body (2
Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21-24). The soul of an unbeliever passes directly into hell
(Hades) (Luke 16:19-26) to await the final judgement.
We believe:
that ultimately all men will experience bodily resurrection (Daniel 12:2), the
saved to eternal life in the immediate presence of God (Romans 8:10-11, 19-23, 2 Corinthians
4:14, Revelation 20:6) and the unsaved to appear at the Great white Throne Judgement
(Revelation 20:11-15) and to be cast into the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41-46, Daniel 12:2, 2
Thessalonians 1:7-9).
7.2 RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
We believe:
that the Lord Jesus Christ will personally return in His resurrection body (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18, Titus 2:11-13) for the purpose of gathering from the earth all those
who make up His Church. At that time they will receive their resurrection bodies (John 14:1-3,
1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:15 to 5:11).
7.3 THE TRIBULATION
We believe:
that immediately following the removal of the Church from the earth (John
14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) the just and righteous judgements of God will be poured out
on the unbelieving world (the 70th week of Daniel) (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:27, 12:1, 2
Thessalonians 2:7-12, Revelation 16:1-21). The tribulation judgements will climax in the
glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth (Matthew 24:15-31, 25:31-46, Revelation
19:11-16). At this point in time the Old Testament and Tribulation saints (those who believed
before or after the Church age) will be raised (Daniel 12:2-3, Revelation 6:9-11, 20:4-6).
We believe:
that the Tribulation will end with the overthrow of the Antichrist and the
temporary removal of Satan from the world (Daniel 7:17-27, Revelation 19:20, 20:1-7).
7.4 THE SECOND COMING AND THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
We believe:
that with the end of the time of Tribulation Christs return to earth in glory will
herald His occupying the throne of David (Matthew 25:31, Luke 1:31-33, Acts 1:10-11, 2:2930) and the establishment of His Messianic Kingdom for a thousand years on the earth
(Revelation 20:1-7). During this time the resurrection saints will reign with Him over Israel and
all the nations of the earth (Ezekiel 37:21-28, Daniel 7:17-22, Revelation 19:11-16).
We believe:
that the Kingdom will be the fulfilment of Gods promise to Israel
(Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Ezekiel 37:21-28, Zechariah 8:1-17). Restoring them to the land
which they forfeited through disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:1-10, Ezekiel 37:21-28,
Zechariah 8:1-7) having been temporarily set aside (Matthew 21:43, Romans 11:1-26). They
will be brought back through repentance (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-32, Romans
11:25-29) to enter into the land and realm of Gods blessing (Revelation 20:4-6).
We believe:
that during the Millennial Kingdom there will be harmony amongst the people
of the world; there will be peace, justice, righteousness and longevity (Isaiah 11:1-16, 65:1725, Ezekiel 36:33-38).

7.5 JUDGEMENT OF UNBELIEVERS

We believe:
that at the conclusion of Christs earthly millennial reign Satan will be
released (Revelation 20:7) only to deceive the nations of the earth and to gather them for the
final battle against the saints and the beloved city of Jerusalem. Satan and his army will be
destroyed by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9).
Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10)
whereupon Christ, judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge all unbelievers great
and small at the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-15).
7.6 ETERNITY
We believe:
that after the end of the millennial Kingdom, the temporary release of Satan
and the judgement of unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 20:7-15) the redeemed
will enter the eternal state (Revelation 22:14) of glory with God. The elements of this earth
and the whole of the corrupted creation will be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a
new heaven and earth without any corruption and unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:5,
Revelation 20:15, 21: 1-2), a heavenly city will come down from heaven to the new earth
(Revelation 21:2). In that city the saints will live and forever enjoy fellowship with God and
with each other (John 17:3, Ephesians 2:11-16, Revelation 21-22). The Lord Jesus Christ
having fulfilled His redemptive mission will then give the kingdom to God the Father
(Ephesians 1:18-23, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28) so that in all spheres the triune God may reign
forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).

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