Premillennial return of Christ; literal bodily resurrection; pretribulation rapture common
The Church of God (Cleveland) affirms the premillennial second coming of Christ — his literal, bodily, visible return to earth before a thousand-year reign. This belief is central to Pentecostal and Charismatic eschatology. The Church teaches that Christ will come suddenly and unexpectedly, that his coming is literal and visible (not merely spiritual), and that he will raise the dead and gather the living church.
While there is some diversity within the Church on the exact timing relative to the tribulation, pretribulation rapture doctrine (belief that believers will be caught up before the tribulation period) is common among Church members. The second coming is the hope of the Church, the culmination of God's redemptive history, and the event that motivates urgency in evangelism and holy living.
Key Distinctions
- Return expectation:
- pretribulation rapture commonly held; some diversity on tribulation timing
Scripture References
Sources
- Church of God in Christ Jesus Book of Doctrines and Discipline
- Church of God (Cleveland) official statement on eschatology and Christ's return