Question: From a Reformed Theology standpoint, and knowing most Reformers reject an actual rapture itself, what are the next prophetical events on a Reformer’s calendar?
Answer: Greetings and thank you for your question.
As a pastor in a reformed denomination (Reformed Church in the United States), there is much I can say about this subject. However, I do want to correct a misunderstanding before answering.
I don't think it's fair to say "most reformers reject an actual rapture." The reason I say this is twofold:
- The doctrine of the "rapture" as it's understood in Dispensational Theology didn't originate until the 19th century. John Nelson Darby is credited with being the "father" of Dispensationalism, and his work was done in the first half of the 19th century. So, it's anachronistic to say that the Reformers "reject an actual rapture" as the rapture (as it's currently understood) would have been foreign to anyone alive during the Reformation.
- Second, if we remove "rapture" from its Dispensational baggage, I think the Reformers would affirm a "rapture." I would say this confidently because I believe most, if not all, Reformers would affirm passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that believers alive at the return of Christ will be "caught up" with the dead who will rise in Christ.
Now do Reformed Christians believe something different about the rapture and the progression end times events than, say, Dispensational Christians? Yes. Most of that has to do with events surrounding the "Great Tribulation" and the "Millennial Kingdom."
With that out of the way, let's address your question: What are the next prophetical event on a Reformer's calendar?
Again, I think I am safe in saying that most, if not all, Reformed Christians would affirm what is confessed in the Ecumenical Creeds of the Christian Church: the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. These two creeds lay out what can be called "core Christianity." Our church confesses both of these creeds in our service, as do many other Christian denominations. In those creeds, you will see the events surrounding the return of Christ laid out in an orderly fashion.
Apostles' Creed: [Jesus Christ] ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Nicene Creed: [Jesus Christ] ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
From these two credal statements, we see that the "next events on the calendar" are the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. At His return in glory, three things will happen:
- There will be a general resurrection of all people.
- There will be a final judgment of all people.
- There will be the inauguration of the eternal state.
I believe the order of events recorded in Matthew 24-25, as well as Revelation 20, corroborate this. Jesus Christ will return at the end of this current age. At His return, all the dead will rise. Jesus will then execute judgment on all people according to what is written in the books. Those whose names are in the Book of Life will go on to the New Heavens and New Earth. Those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will go into the Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
One of the best statements on the Reformed view of the end times comes from the Belgic Confession of Faith (1561). The Belgic Confession of Faith is one of the earliest Reformed confessions of faith and to this day still serves as the confessional document of many Reformed denominations (including mine). It's long, but worth considering in its entirety.
Belgic Confession of Faith: Article XXXVII - The Last Judgment
Finally, we believe, according to the Word of God, when the time appointed by the Lord (which is unknown to all creatures) is come and the number of the elect complete, that our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, corporally and visibly, as He ascended, with great glory and majesty to declare Himself Judge of the living and the dead, burning this old world with fire and flame to cleanse it.
Then all men will personally appear before this great Judge, both men and women and children, that have been from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, being summoned by the voice of the archangel, and by the sound of the trump of God. For all the dead shall be raised out of the earth, and their souls joined and united with their proper bodies in which they formerly lived. As for those who shall then be living, they shall not die as the others, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and from corruptible become incorruptible. Then the books shall be opened, and the dead judged according to what they shall have done in this world, whether it be good or evil. Nay, all men shall give account of every idle word they have spoken, which the world only counts amusement and jest; and then the secrets and hypocrisy of men shall be disclosed and laid open before all.
And therefore the consideration of this judgment is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect; because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed, and tormented them in this world, and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and shall become immortal, but only to be tormented in the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.
But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor; and the Son of God will confess their names before God His Father and His elect angels; all tears shall be wiped from their eyes; and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates as heretical and impious will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God. And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory as never entered into the heart of man to conceive.
Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire, to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN. Amen, come, Lord Jesus.
I hope this helps.
