We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:22-25; Revelation 6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23), that there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24), and that such separation will continue until the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-16) when spirit, soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Until that time, the souls of the redeemed remain in joyful fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; John 5:29).

We teach that the souls of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (Luke 16:2224; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15) when the soul and the resurrection body will be united (John 5:28-29). Then they shall appear before the great white throne to be judged by Christ and will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15), cut off from the life of God forever (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

We teach the personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ before the seven year tribulation (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13) to remove His Church from this earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and to reward believers according to their works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10), with sufficient time elapsing between this event and His glorious return with His Church to allow for the judgment of believers’ works.

We teach that immediately following the removal of the Church from the earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), there will be a time of great tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; Matthew 24:21) during which the righteous judgments of God will be poured out (Revelation 16:1-21) upon an unbelieving world (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). These judgments will be climaxed by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (Matthew 24:15-31), at which time the Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (Daniel 12:2; Revelation 6:9-11, 20:4-6).

The pastors of Calvary Virginia Beach Church teach that the Rapture’s and the Tribulation Period’s position in the chronological order of the events surrounding the Return of Christ is the best understanding of the Bible’s revealed truths regarding this topic. At the same time, we do not teach that the Bible’s statements about this topic are so biblically certain and absolute that it should be used as a sole measure of orthodoxy with regard to every member at Calvary Virginia Beach Church or other churches.

We teach that after the tribulation period Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:29-30) and establish His Messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth (Revelation 20:1-6). During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-28) and all the nations of the earth (Daniel 7:13-14, 22, 27; Revelation 19:11-16). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and the removal of Satan from the world (Revelation 19:20; 20:1-6).

We teach that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17) to restore them to the land which they forfeited through disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-69; 30:110). The result of that disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-25), but through repentance will be awakened again to enter into the land of blessing (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:26-27). We teach that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness and long life (Isaiah 11:1-9; 65:17-25), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (Revelation 20:7).

We teach that following the release of Satan after the thousand-year reign (Revelation 20:7), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:8-9). Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10), whereupon Christ, who is the Judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-12).

We teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment, they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15).

We teach that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan and the judgment of the unbelievers (Revelation 20:7-15), the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God. The elements of this earth will be “dissolved” (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells (Ephesians 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). The heavenly city that comes down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) is to be the dwelling place of the saints where they will enjoy fellowship with God and one another forever (John 17:3; Revelation 21:1-4). The Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), that in all spheres the Triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).