Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/8/2011

Question
Hello, how are you?

Will there be a final battle between good and evil at the end of time? ( are there any current news/events that indicate this will happen?)  When will the Son of God return to earth?  When will God send the wicked to Hell and the righteous to Heaven?  

thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Kevin,

Thank you for these great questions.  It could take volumes to explore all the Biblical ramifications of each of your questions, but I will try to make my answers as brief and concise as your questions are.

Will there be a final battle between good and evil at the end of time?

There will be a Battle in the valley of Armegeddon between all of the armys of the world and the returning forces from Heaven.  Mankind will have turned so evil that they will fight Jesus as He returns to set up His kingdom.  Mankind will lose.

( are there any current news/events that indicate this will happen?)  

There are no current events yet pointing to Armegeddon because much will have to change in the world before we get there.  The biggest thing is that the Anti-Christ will be revealed.  He will first show up by proclaiming a false peace with Israel.


When will the Son of God return to earth?

Jesus will return in two phases.  First He will come into the clouds and snatch believers up into the clouds with Him.  This event is known as the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (AV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


The second event will be 7 years after the rapture.  Durning that 7 years the Anti-Christ will show up and all kinds of bad things will happen during this time.  It will end with the Battle of Armegeddon and Jesus setting up the Kngdom.

When will God send the wicked to Hell and the righteous to Heaven?  

When someone dies, their destiny is immediate.  As soon as they die, they go to Heaven or Hell.

Luke 16:22–23 (AV)
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Hebrews 9:27 (AV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don