All About the End

Before the End

Last Days and End Times

The last days begin at the Day of Pentecost and ends at he beginning of the end times (Acts 2:16-17). We are currently living in the last days.

Jesus tells us conditions that happen during the last days before the end times (Matthew 24-25; Luke 21). These things are happening right now but will happen more often and get more intense.

False Christs (Matthew 24:4-5)

Wars and Rumors of Wars (Matthew 24:6-7)

Famines and Earthquakes (Matthew 24:7)

Tribulations, Persecution, and Death for Christians (Matthew 24:9)

The Great Falling Away (Matthew 24:10-12)

The Great Revival (Matthew 24:13-14)

Jesus teaches us to judge when the end times are about to come by watching the seasons of time.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35)

Interpreting the signs of the times (Matthew 16:2-3)

The End for the Earth

Abomination of Desolation

This kicks off the seven years of the Tribulation. Jesus describes this rise to power as the “abomination of desolation” first talked about in Daniel 9:24-27, 11:31, and 12:11 (Matthew 24:15-28).

Paul also describes it, calling the Antichrist the Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5.

The Antichrist will:

Stand in the Temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be God (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

False Christ’s will try to deceive the Church (Matthew 24:23-26).

Jesus will return in the clouds (Matthew 24:27).

The Second Coming Part 1

No one knows when Jesus returns (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7).

Jesus did not talk about the first part of His second coming in Matthew 24. We understand these things from other parts of Scripture.

The Bible describes two separate events as the second coming of the Lord. One shows Jesus in the clouds and the other time He is on the earth.

The Rapture

We call when Jesus comes in the clouds to take the saints with Him the Rapture. Rapture is the Latin word for “catching up,” the word used in the Bible.

We understand the rapture from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 which is described in the same way in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-53.

We know that the Church and Christians will be raptured because we are not children of God’s wrath () that will happen during the Tribulation and because Paul said so in 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

Here is a basic understanding of the order of the rapture:

Jesus comes in the clouds

Jesus will shout and a trumpet will sound

those who are already dead Christians will rise first

Christians who are still alive will rise second

The Tribulation and Great Tribulation

When the Antichrist declares himself to be God in the Temple he will begin seven years of ruling the whole world. Jesus calls this the Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-28).

Jesus concentrates on the fact of God’s judgment during this time. Everyone will want to flee during this time.

We know this will be seven years because of Daniel 9:24-27 where Daniel has a vision of 70 weeks.

70 sevens of years (490 years)

Daniel 9:25-26 tells Daniel the Messiah (Jesus) will be cut off after 69 weeks of seven years (483 years). This starts after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

It was exactly 483 years from this decree to Jesus’ crucifixion. That leaves one more week of years (7 year period).

Daniel 9:27 tells us some of the things the Antichrist will do during this Tribulation time.

He will confirm a covenant for seven years.

Halfway through the seven years he will end sacrifices and offerings

Set up an abomination of desolation until he is judged (Matthew 24:15)

This abomination of desolation is the Antichrist making the world worship him (Revelation 13:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) (3 1/2 years into the Tribulation)

Since the Antichrist sets himself up to be worshiped as God halfway through the Tribulation, the last half of the Tribulation is called the Great Tribulation. This is when God’s judgment reaches a whole new level.

In Revelation, John describes the Great Tribulation with three types of God’s judgment, the seals, the bowls, and the trumpets in Revelation.

During the Great Tribulation the Antichrist will have a false prophet that will make people worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:12-13). He will force people to take the mark of the beast. This keeps people who don’t have it from buying and selling (Revelation 13:16-17).

The Antichrist will also suffer a wound that kills him and he will rise from the dead, trying to say he is like Jesus who died on the Cross and rose from the dead three days later (Revelation 13:3).

Many other things will happen during the Great Tribulation. Jesus is giving a big picture of what will happen, not filling in every little detail.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (In Heaven)

When we have communion today we are looking forward to when we will eat with Jesus in heaven (Revelation 19:5-9).

We will eat this special meal with Jesus to celebrate the happiness when Jesus and His Church are united together.

No one knows what we will eat with Him. But we at least know we will have communion like never before.

The Second Coming Part 2

Jesus will set his feet on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4).

Jesus returns to the earth on the white horse in the battle of Armageddon with the saints and angels against Antichrist, False Prophet, and the nations (Revelation 19:11-16).

The Battle of Armageddon

Jesus rides a white horse into battle with the saints and the angels to fight against the Antichrist and all the nations of the world (Revelation 19: 11-21).

Jesus strikes down the nations with the sword of His mouth. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is an overwhelming victory for Jesus over the nations.

The Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire.

All the soldiers of the nations Jesus kills with his sword and the birds eat them.

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Because Jesus wins the battle He will rule the nations. He will be completely in charge of them and no one will be able to resist.

Jesus begins his thousand year reign with an angel chaining Satan int a bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-6).

Thrones are set up for some of the saints to judge with Jesus.

First Resurrection – Those who were persecuted and died for Jesus, and those who did not take the Mark of the Beast came to life and reigned with Jesus. The rest of the dead in Christ are raised after Jesus reigns for a thousand years.

Second Resurrection – All unbelievers are raised to life for judgment at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Satan’s Defeat

Satan is released from the bottomless pit after Jesus’ reign for 1000 years.

He deceives the nations and gathers a giant army to defeat Jerusalem. But fire comes from heaven and consumes them all.

Satan is thrown into the lake of fire with the Antichrist and the false prophet. They are tormented day and night for eternity.

The End in Heaven

The Final Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

For Unbelievers – Great White Throne Judgment

They will be judged according to their works and thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Death itself and Hades (the place of the dead) were thrown into the lake of fire. There will be no more death in the new heavens and the new earth.

For Believers – Judged for their works

Their names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They live with Jesus for eternity.

Their works will be rewarded by Jesus.

The New Heavens and New Earth

Revelation 21:1 says that God made the new heavens and new earth. This one we know now will go away.

Isaiah prophesies about the new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65:17-25). He says that the things we know now we will not remember. It will be a place of happiness, a place for us to enjoy.

He also says that we will all worship God in the new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Peter mentions the promise of a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).

The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21-22 describes the New Jerusalem. It is a city that comes out of heaven and lands on the mountain of God.

John describes it with impossible building materials that we don’t have on earth today.

See-through metals like gold, jasper, and many other precious metals and gems.

God and Jesus will be the light of the city. There won’t be any need for the sun.

There is no temple because God will be with us personally and physically.

The New Jerusalem is both the bride of Jesus (the Church) and a city.

The city is very large, able to house around 15 trillion people. New York City is the biggest city in America and it has about 8.5 million people.

Right from God’s throne flows a river that feeds the tree of life in rows on both sides of it. The tree of life was last seen in the garden of Eden in Genesis.

This is where all of God’s people will dwell with Him forever.

Conclusion

When you study the end times, no Christian should be afraid. We will not go through God’s judgment like the world does.

You and I, and every Christian, wins in the end with Jesus. Studying the end times shows our victory with Jesus.

Studying the end times shows us how Jesus is always with us.