Time Line for the Final Days
My first intent upon beginning this blog was to try to help people better understand the Biblical prophecies regarding the Final Days they might not have otherwise known about. While there are several views of the actual timeline of when and how these events will unfold, I find it interesting there is a general consensus of opinion between Christianity, Judaism and Islam of certain major events foretold to occur in the Final Days. All three religions believe in a coming “messiah”; a super war at the end of time that will see their “messiah” take control of the earth for some period of time; and, eventually a heaven and a hell for eternity. Of course Christians believe Jesus was our Messiah; Jews believe Yeshua (their messiah) has not yet come but will to fulfill the promises God made to them as part of the Abrahamic Covenant; and, the Muslims believe they must first make the world (or caliphate) ready for the coming of their Mahdi or Twelfth Imam BEFORE he arrives. One of the biggest reasons today for the tremendous turmoil between the Christians and Jews versus Muslims is that we believe our Savior will come when He is ready and only on His terms while Muslims believe they must first make the world ready for their messiah to appear.
In this blog I would like to give you a brief summary and glossary of those things prophesied to occur between today and eternity from a Christian viewpoint. I will explain each in much greater detail, God willing, in the weeks and months coming. For now, I will simply explain the major events. Later I will give you the Scriptures where these promises were made and how they will be fulfilled. Most of what I will present is the consensus of most Christian writers I have studied over the past 40 years. Some of it will be my interpretation along with current events that hopefully makes it all flow evenly. Most importantly, I encourage you to take what I and other writers have said and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the understanding of what the Holy Bible says. Those events into eternity are as follows (pretty much in chronological order):
The Rapture
As I explained in my blog a short time ago (and still posted on this site), God promised that He would take the believers out of the world like He did Noah and Lot so we/they would not have to go through the terrible Judgements listed below on the unbelieving world. While there is no need for any other Biblical prophecy to be fulfilled prior to the Rapture, there is ample evidence that the Jews had to first be back in their land for the End Times countdown to begin. They are now!
The War of Psalm 83
One of the lesser known prophecies in the Bible, one that some believe may have already occurred, is the invasion of Israel by her surrounding neighbors. As we all know since the founding of Israel on May 14, 1948, she has been viciously attacked by those countries on her immediate borders in 1948; in the early 50’s; the 6 day war in 1967; and, in 1973. Even today, she is constantly attacked by Hamas and Hezbollah, proxies of Iran (Persia). What has not happened, but will is that Israel will take control of many of those lands and enlarge their nation. Of course, this would infuriate the rest of the Muslim world and the U.N. As the Bible says, in the Last days Israel will be a stone around the neck of the world. All one has to do is look at the recent U.N. vote #2334 (which the U.S. should have vetoed under President Obama but instead abstained from) to see the ENTIRE world is against Israel. It is truly sad that the United Nations has issued 20 condemnations of Israel for their various actions but have only done the same a total of 6 times against countries like Cuba, North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, etc. I believe that will set the stage for the still forthcoming war of Gog and Magog.
The Total Destruction of Damascus
The Bible says in the last days, the city of Damascus will be totally destroyed, never to be occupied again. Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world and has never been totally destroyed. Damascus is in Syria where there is currently a terrible Civil War going on between the Assad regime (and their allies Russia, Turkey and Iran); a coalition of opposing forces (helped to a small degree by the U.S.) and ISIS (who is intending to form their global caliphate with the hope of the return of their Mahdi). I will leave this topic for now with a possible scenario. If the Rapture were to occur, America could be decimated with the loss of millions of Believers which would strike the country and world with an economic crash unseen in history. That, along with a potential Syrian attack on Israel with chemical weapons could result in an Israeli response that would destroy Damascus forever and cause others to punish Israel.
The War of Gog and Magog
This war, often confused with Armageddon, is simply an attack by Russia, Persia (Iran), Turkey and 3 other named countries on Israel. I personally believe that this will occur after the Rapture but before the Tribulation period because there must be a worldwide political vacuum that would open the door for the rebirth of the Roman Empire (EU?). This group of 6 countries will be destroyed on the hills of Israel in one day with 5 of every 6 invaders dying. It will not be Israel that will defeat them but God through hailstorm, earthquake and turning them upon each other. With the Rapture having already potentially occurred and with Russia and her primarily Shite allies being decimated, there will be a global void that must be filled. To put it into the timeline, the Bible says it will take 7 months to bury the dead and 7 years to burn the implements of war. Check out the Abomination of Desolation below because for the Jews to burn the implements of war for 7 years and know they will depart Israel 3 ½ years before Christ’s return tells me this war has to occur at least 10 ½ years before Christ’s return at Armageddon.
The Peace Covenant with Israel
After all the wars that have been fought over the years against Israel with never a single victory by any of Israel’s opponents, an individual will arise out of what is believed by most Biblical scholars to be the European Union (former Roman Empire). He will get the world to sign a peace treaty with Israel guaranteeing them their right to exist in their God given land. Know this! The Bible is very clear that exactly 7 years TO THE DAY after the signing of this treaty, Jesus will return to defeat all at Armageddon. This individual is the Antichrist and the 7 years is the Tribulation period.
The Antichrist and False Prophet
As mentioned above, the individual who will establish a peace covenant between the world and Israel will be relatively unknown prior to this agreement but we Believers know through Biblical prophecy that this same individual is the Antichrist who will attempt to rule the world and destroy God’s Chosen people. In order to fill the vacuum left with the Christian departure at the Rapture and the mass destruction of so many Muslims and Russians at the War of Gog and Magog, the Antichrist will have an “assistant” known as the False Prophet who will help in trying to establish a one world religion.
The Tribulation
The Tribulation is an exactly 7 year (to the day!) time period where Satan through the Antichrist will attempt to disprove God’s plan and promise for the Jews, all of mankind and to attempt to take control of the earth. It is estimated that during the first half of this 7 year period with all of the various judgements that will come down on this earth, over one half of all of humanity will be destroyed (remember, those who accepted Christ prior to this time will be taken out during the Rapture and those left on earth will be only the unbelievers and those who have accepted Christ during this time period).
144,000 Jewish Witnesses
During the Tribulation period, in an act of love for all of mankind, God will send 144,000 Jews (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Judah) indwelt with the Holy Spirit to try to influence the remaining unbelievers to accept Christ and to repent of their sins. Untold millions will listen to them and be saved! Unfortunately, many will not and will continue to follow the Antichrist.
The Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem
One of the parts of the Peace Covenant signed by Israel and the Antichrist (on behalf of the world) will be the ability to rebuild the Jewish Holy Temple and allow the Jews to again worship and sacrifice there, something they have not been able to do since 70 AD when Titus dispersed them to the four corners of the earth. As you may know, even though the Jews today are in control of all of Jerusalem (a “gift” of the 6 Day 1967 war), they have not been able to rebuild the Holy Temple because on its original site today sits the Dome of the Rock, Muslim’s 3rd holiest shrine. So, there must be some sort of agreement, probably as part of the Peace Covenant to allow the Temple to be rebuilt because we know the Antichrist will 3 1/2 years later enter it and demand to be worshipped as God.
The Abomination of Desolation
As stated above, the Antichrist (by now Satan has been thrown out from Heaven and will be indwelling the Antichrist) will enter the rebuilt Jewish Temple and demand to be worshipped as God. Of course this will desecrate the Temple! The Bible says this will happen exactly at the midpoint of the Tribulation (7 years, so to the day we know from the Bible that the Abomination of Desolation tells us that Jesus will return EXACTLY 1260 days or 3 ½ years later at Armageddon to defeat the Antichrist). The Jewish calendar is 360 days to a year so halfway through the seven year time period is 3 ½ years. Multiple that by 360 days to a year and we know exactly when Christ will return! Also, the Bible says that the Jews will flee Jerusalem for safety. Many think they will go to Petra in Jordan and be Divinely protected from the Antichrist by God for the duration of the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation
The Great Tribulation is considered by most to be the second half of the Tribulation period during which the vast majority of God’s judgements will be unleashed on the earth. In fact the Bible says that if God had not shortened those particular days (3 ½ years or 1260 days), basically man would eliminate himself throughout the world. It is said that the horror that will occur in this period is so great, even Heaven will be silent in anticipation.
The Mark of the Beast
When the Antichrist tries to take over the world he will require all men to take the Mark of the Beast (also known as the number 666) and that without that number on your right hand or in your forehead, you will neither be able to buy nor sell anything. Think of the technology today that makes such a “mark” capable through inserting an electronic chip into the body. I look forward to writing this one up because of the overwhelming selling points that will be made to encourage all to take the “mark”. I spent my life in sales and sales management and I believe I could easily convince you to take the “mark” of the Beast. But, DO NOT!!!!!
The Seven Seals
During the first half of the Tribulation, God tells us the judgements that will come down from Heaven to destroy the unbelievers and to give credibility to those still on the earth that have accepted Jesus as their Savior that Redemption is still available. More in a later blog but basically the first six seals are a cold war, open war, famine, death, martyrdom and a great earthquake. The seventh seal opening is that showing the seven trumpets. As has occurred so many times in the Bible, God warns us what He is going to do unless we turn from our sins and then He does it!
The Seven Trumpets
After the seven seals have been opened, there will be seven trumpets that will bring on hail; the burning of 1/3 of all the vegetation on the earth; the poisoning of the water; the darkening of the sun and moon; locusts on the earth; and, an army of warring horsemen. The seventh trumpet unleashes the seven vials.
The Seven Vials
The seven vials are unleashed when the Antichrist enters the rebuilt Temple at the Abomination of Desolation. We are told these judgements will be comprised of boils, the sea will turn to blood; rivers will turn to blood; there will be great heat; and, many other things to punish the unbelievers.
The Destruction of Babylon
The Antichrist will make Babylon (believed by many Bible scholars to refer to Rome) his home site and in the Final Days, Babylon will be destroyed in one hour by fire and will be totally devoid of all activity. Even with the Iraq war over the past 15 years, Babylon still exists as of the writing of this blog but the day is coming when it will exist no longer as the HQs of the Antichrist.
The Second Coming of Christ
As prophesied throughout the Bible, Christ will return in visual glory to the earth and assume the role assigned by God to Him to rule the earth and its people. Unlike the Rapture where He will meet the Believers in the air, this time He will place His feet on the ground.
Armageddon
The final battle against the Antichrist by Jesus. He will return and utterly destroy all the armies of the world that have gathered in Megiddo (in Israel). This will not be done by the armies of Heaven but rather by the Word of Jesus that will strike all unbelievers like a sword.
Satan’s 1000 Year Bondage
At Satan’s defeat at Armageddon, he and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire for 1,000 years, the length of the prophesied Millennial rule of Jesus over the earth. With Satan absent from the earth, there will be no sin and earth will be what God intended when He put Adam and Even into the Garden of Eden prior to man’s Fall.
The Millennium
The 1,000 year time period on the earth where mankind will be able to live as originally intended to by God. While no one knows assuredly what exactly we will be doing during this period, remember the earth during the 1,000 years will be occupied by both risen saints that died or were Raptured in Christ and living humans that were alive and followers of Christ when he returned at Armageddon. I read an interesting book that said that life during this period would look very similar to life as it was in the Garden of Eden days and that those still alive when Christ returned will marry and have families; will work; and, yes even die although the Bible says a 100 year old will be like a child so I assume death will not be the normal during this time. It will be Peace in Heaven and on Earth! With so much of the human population destroyed during the Tribulation, this time period will see an incredible rebirth of humanity.
Satan’s Release and Final Defeat
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released for a very short period of time and will apparently be able to sway a number of those born during the 1,000 year Millennium. It is said that will Christ will rule the earth during this time with a rod of iron and I assume that some that perhaps didn’t know what the world was like before the Millennium will listen to the lies of Satan and will not accept the Christ they grew up with. Anyway, Satan will be allowed to do his thing for a very, very short time and then for eternity be punished.
Great White Throne Judgement
Those of us saved through our faith in Jesus had our sins redeemed with His blood. This judgement is not for us! It is not for Christians! Our names are in the Book of Life! Rather, those that grew up in the Millennium and followed Satan will be judged, along with all other unbelievers throughout history, and their fate and punishment will be doled out by a just and righteous God.
Eternity – Heaven and Hell
Upon the conclusion of the history of the earth since the garden of Eden and including everything that has happened (and, was said would happen) the unbelievers will go their eternal damnation and the rest of us that accepted Christ will join Him and God in Heaven for eternity. We don’t really know what that means other than we will spend eternity with a Lord that loves us and died for us and I have no doubt it will be far better than the alternative. I DO NOT expect to be sitting on a cloud playing a harp! To say Heaven is this or that would be misleading. I trust that God has many, many Blessings for those of us that have put our faith and trust in Jesus.
For many, this short summary of those things predicted to occur in somewhat of a timeline of events might be scary. Think about it for a moment. In the first half of the Tribulation more than one half of all of mankind will die from a variety of events. The second half will be even worse! But we have been given a promise by God that he will snatch us away, as he did Noah and Lot, at the Rapture so we WILL NOT have to endure those horrible things prophesied in the Bible. And please don’t ever forget, we are told by God to:
“Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Originally posted January 7, 2017