An overview of the end...

We discussed last week that the end time was about the God’s chosen people not living as he directed. The end will be the final 7 years of a series of 70-7’s

While there is much debate surrounding the end times, we all agree that Jesus Christ is returning again, soon! AMEN?!  Here is one list of events on a timeline to consider from a purely pre-millennial, pre-tribulational biblical perspective.

#1 – The AGE OF GRACE or THE CHURCH AGE – (Luke 21.24)

Luke 21:23–24 (NKJV) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Jesus told Peter that He would build His church, calling out for Himself a people, a bride.  This is time in between the 69th & 70th weeks of Daniel 9.

#2 – THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 4)

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NKJV) “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The time where Jesus comes FOR His saints and all believers will be caught up together in the clouds with Jesus.

#3 – BEMA SEAT JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS (1 Corinthians 3:9-15 & 2 Corinthians 5)

1 Corinthians 3:9–15 (NKJV) “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

This is where believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and our works and motives will be judged, some burned away.

#4 – The MARRIAGE SUPPER of the LAMB (2 Corinthians 11:2 & Revelation 19:6-8)

2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV) “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Revelation 19:6–8 (NKJV) “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

#5 – THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD  (Revelation 6-19)

This 7-year period begins at or shortly after the rapture of the church.  Satan is unrestrained and the salt of the earth is removed.

He will wreak havoc throughout this time and this period will culminate with the Battle of Armageddon.

not on diagram - #5 – THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON  (Revelation 16.16 & 19:19)

Revelation 16:16 (NKJV) “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”

Revelation 19:19 (NKJV) “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

The nations of the world, in cooperation with the Antichrist will come against Israel (Zech 12).  Jerusalem will become a cup of drunkenness to the world.  But Jesus will have something to say.

#6 – The 2nd COMING OF Jesus WITH HIS SAINTS (Matthew 24.29-31)

Matthew 24:29–31 (NKJV) ““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

The battle of Armageddon ends quickly with Jesus wiping them out!

#7 – KINGDOM AGE & MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST (Rev 10, Isa 11 & 35)

Satan is bound and put into the abyss, for this time.  During this time the martyred believers will join the raptured church and together we will rule and reign for 1000 years.

The curse will be removed (Isa. 11) and the desert will bloom, our kids will play with snakes, and the lion & lamb will hang out.

not on diagram - #8 – Satan IS RELEASED (Rev. 20:7-9)

Revelation 20:7–9 (NKJV) “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”

At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be released to deceive the nations.  There are those born in that time that will need to make a choice for themselves.  Some will choose God, others will reject.

#9 – GREAT WHITE THRONE ( FINAL) JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:11-15)

Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV) “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The books are opened and the dead stand before God and if their names aren’t in the book of life, they are cast away forever.

not on diagram - #10 – Destruction of Present Heavens & Earth (Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:3-12, Revelation 21:1-5)

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

2 Peter 3:3–9 (NKJV) “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Revelation 21:1–5 (NKJV) “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.””

The books are opened and the dead stand before God and if their names aren’t in the book of life, they are cast away forever.

#11 – ETERNITY (Revelation 21:9-22:5)

A new heaven and a new earth.  All the saints of God are looking forward to this time of eternal bliss and blessings!