We believe in One God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternal and unchanging. He is called the "Godhead" (Rom.1:20), "elohim" a plural noun translated as "us" - "Let US make man in OUR image" (Gen.1.26), or "the trinity" a term coined by the Christian church. This triune nature of God is also revealed in the three articles which Moses placed inside the Ark of the Covenant (Heb.9:4):
The Ten Commandments, the moral code of FATHER GOD (Exod.20:1-17)
Manna, the spiritual Bread, the "Word" of God--JESUS CHRIST(John 1:1)
Rod of Aaron, the HOLY SPIRIT as God's chosen leader to show people the way to Jesus (John
16:13-14), indwell their hearts (John 3:5-7) and unite them (Eph.4:3-4).
Jesus lived on earth as the PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GOD in creation (I Tim.3:16), and after His resurrection as the Holy Spirit, the INVISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF GOD in creation (II Cor.4:7). Therefore God is BOTH OUTSIDE CREATION (transcendent) and INSIDE CREATION (immanent), making Him a unique God. The liberal church sees God as only outside of themselves as Creator of the world, and New Age doctrines believe He exists only within themselves giving them power to act independently of God and to create a new world order.
The God of the Christian is more than either of these. He is BOTH outside and inside creation. More than Creator of the world, the Creator Himself can be born into any heart willing to receive Him through an act of God's Holy Spirit. It is an essential experience to becoming a Christian because the Bible says we cannot enter God's kingdom without it (John 3:5-7).
Those who have the resurrected Spirit of Jesus Christ within them (a born-again experience), may then also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an enduement of power from heaven (Matt.3:11; Luke 24:49; John 7:38,39; 14:16,17,26; Acts 1:5-8). This baptism is accompanied by the same signs as on the day of Pentecost when Christ's followers spoke in other tongues, healed the sick, and cast out demons (Mk.16:17-18; Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 19:6; I Cor.14:21,22). These signs and manifestations of God's power are still in His church today because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13:8), and His name is "Immanuel--God with us" (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23).
We believe the removal of Christ's church (rapture) will precede His return to govern the earth, and that they are two distinct and separateevents:
"Rapture" simply means "snatching away." This happens in one instant, when the purified church or Bride of Christ, both living and dead, will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air (Jn.14:1-3; I Cor.15:51-52; I Thess.4:13-18), and after a time of "great tribulation" or "time of Jacob's trouble" (Isa.26:20-21; Jer.30:7; Dan.12:1: Matt 24:21,22,29; Mk.13:19; Rev.9 and 16) both those 'raptured'and the bodies of dead Christians will return to help Jesus rule the world from Jerusalem for 1,000 years of peace (Rev.20-1-2). After the wicked are judged (Rev.20:11-15), there will be everlasting peace with no more pain, sickness or sorrow (Rev.21:1-5).
We need not fear the future; God has a great plan to deliver the world from evil. Today's troublesome "signs of the times" are merely a warning that the time of Christ's return is near (Matt.24:8), and we can therefore "lift up our heads" in this assurance (Luke 21:28).