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In Part 4 we’ll talk about the different views on the timing of the rapture and which one I believe most lines up with the Bible. Head HERE to read.

Does the thought of Jesus coming back freak you out? It’s okay to be honest. It used to freak me out. We’ve all been slightly traumatized by cheesy Christian end of the world movies, haven’t we? 🙂 And chances are your understanding of what actually happens at the end is more shaped by works of Christian fiction than it is by the Word of God. Don’t worry; that used to be me too.

So let’s attempt to break down the big pieces of this puzzle and outline the end times events from what we see in God’s Word. Heads up: this is intense stuff, so make sure you read Part 2 of this series to understand Jesus’ heart behind His plans for the end of this age.

What are the major events surrounding the return of Jesus?

In Part 2, we figured out that we’re in that preliminary birth pains stage right now but how far into it we are, we don’t know. Since the Bible is super clear on the major events surrounding the return of Jesus, though, when we transition into the 7-year Tribulation you’re gonna know. If you’ve read what Scripture says about end times, there won’t be a whole lot of room for confusion on that front.

7-Year Tribulation Begins (first 3 ½ years)

• Antichrist: A demonically inspired human political leader comes on the scene globally, initially as person of peace. (Daniel 9:26; Revelation 6:1-2)

• Peace Treaty: This event begins the 7-year Tribulation. The treaty will be signed amongst Antichrist, Israel and several other nations. It leads to false world peace, the Jewish Temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Temple sacrifices being reinstated. (Daniel 9:27)

• Harlot Babylon: An influential city/political, economic, spiritual, cultural system will emerge that appears peaceful but seduces the nations into sin and violently persecutes Christians. (Revelation 17-18)

The Great Tribulation (final 3 ½ years)

• Antichrist Takes Over As World Ruler: At the 3 ½ year mark, Antichrist will break the peace treaty. He will turn on the Jewish people, stop the Temple sacrifices he helped them reinstate and will begin to persecute them. He will overthrow the Harlot Babylon with his own alliance of ten nations, over which he is the leader. He’ll declare that he is god and will rule over all the nations in the world for a time, and he’ll demand that everyone must worship him. (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 13)

• Abomination of Desolation: The False Prophet, who performs counterfeit, deceptive miracles on behalf of the Antichrist, will set up a statue of the Antichrist in the Temple in Jerusalem and commands that anyone who refuses to worship it must die. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 13:11-18)

• Mark of the Beast: Antichrist will require everyone in every nation to receive a mark representing his name on their hand or forehead in order to buy or sell anything. Anyone who takes this mark has to make an intentional choice to worship the Antichrist and to reject God, which means they are automatically destined for eternal punishment at the final judgment with no more opportunity for repentance or salvation. (Revelation 13:16-18; Revelation 14:9-12)

• Persecution of Believers: Throughout this time, those Christians who remain faithful in their testimony of Jesus and continue to proclaim His Word will be persecuted and martyred by the Antichrist and those who hate God and hate His people. Christians will experience God’s boldness and strength to maintain their faith in Jesus even in the face of death. (Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 12:7-11, 15-17; Revelation 14:12-13)

• Judgment Events: God uses various spiritual, economic, natural/cosmic events as judgment on the Antichrist, sin in general, and sinful people who stubbornly persist in their sin and refuse to trust in Jesus for salvation. Jesus, in His justice, will begin the process of removing sin and its effects from the world as He prepares to set up His Kingdom. (Revelation 5-9)

• Jesus Returns: Jesus will descend from Heaven on the clouds in a physical body, and every eye will see Him. (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2; Revelation 1:7)

• Christians Raptured and Resurrected Bodies: Jesus will send his angels to gather his saints from all over the world so we can meet Him in the air. (Matthew 24:29-31) First, believers who have died will be raised from the dead. Then, together with them, believers who are alive will be given eternal, resurrected bodies and caught up to meet Jesus in the air as He descends to earth. From that point, we’ll be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10)

*Different groups of Christians place the rapture before, halfway through, or after the 7 years. We’ll talk in more detail about the rapture in Part 4.

• Judgment Seat of Christ and Believers Rewarded: At some point after Jesus gathers the Church, Christians are judged (or evaluated) and given eternal rewards and roles of service in Christ’s Kingdom as we reign with Him, based on how we lived for Him in this life. (Luke 14:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 11:17-18)

• Jesus Defeats the Antichrist: The Antichrist along with the kings and armies from the nations gather in Jerusalem to fight against Jesus, but Jesus will defeat them. (Revelation 16:12-16; Revelation 19:11-21)

• Antichrist and False Prophet thrown Into The Lake of Fire: Jesus will throw the Antichrist into the place of eternal punishment forever, along with the False Prophet who performed counterfeit miracles on Antichrist’s behalf. (Revelation 19:20)

• Satan Thrown Into Bottomless Pit for 1,000 Years: Satan will be captured and locked in the bottomless pit to keep him from deceiving people for this period of time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

• 1,000 Year Reign of Christ (Millennial Kingdom): Jesus will rule the earth as King from Jerusalem, with His people reigning alongside Him. Every ruler will serve and obey Jesus. Jesus will usher in peace and righteousness and His teaching will disciple the nations. (Revelation 20:4-6; Isaiah 2:2-4)

• Satan Released from the Bottomless Pit: Satan will be released at the end of the 1,000 years and allowed to the opportunity to deceive the nations one last time. Then, he’s thrown into the lake of fire forever. (Revelation 20:7-10)

• Resurrection of the Unbelieving Dead and Great White Throne Judgment: People who have died without accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation will be raised from the dead, judged by God, and then thrown into the lake of fire forever, bearing the punishment for their sins. (John 5:29; Revelation 20:5, 11-15)

• New Heaven and Earth: The earth will be renewed and heaven will descend to earth. God will remove sin, pain and suffering from the world forever and lives on the earth with us, His people, for eternity. (Revelation 21-22)

Okay, that was a lot, but I hope you learned something. 😉  As with every topic we discuss–and especially with debated ones–I encourage you not to just take my word for it or anyone else’s but to prayerfully search this out in Scripture for yourself.

Here are some resources you can use to study this topic more:

• Key Bible chapters about the end times: Daniel 7-12 / Zechariah 9-12 / Matthew 24-25 / Mark 13 / Luke 21 / 1 Corinthians 15 / 1 Thessalonians 4-5 / 2 Thessalonians 1-2 / 2 Timothy 3-4 / 2 Peter 3 / Revelation / There’s a bunch more and some scattered throughout the Old Testament prophets as well.
  
  -General overviews and commentaries: All Nations, Tribes, People and Tongues by Phylicia Masonheimer, Revelation by Gordon Fee, The NIV Application Commentary Series: Revelation by Craig Keener
  
  -Pre-trib: Revelation by Greg Laurie, Tipping Point by Jimmy Evans and Perfect Ending by Robert Jeffress. Revelation sermon series by Greg Laurie and The End sermon series by Craig Groeschel, and these sermons from Pastor Jimmy Evans and Pastor Jeff Lasseigne.
  
  -Post-trib: When Jesus Returns by David Pawson and I’m Not Afraid of The Antichrist by Michael Brown and Craig Keener
  
  –Recapitulation view: Matt Chandler’s Revelation sermon series and The Overcomers book

In Part 4 we’ll talk about the different views on the timing of the rapture and which one I believe most lines up with the Bible. Head HERE to read.

Let’s Talk: As you take a first look at this overview of end times, what did you learn that was new information to you, or what part of God’s plan was most surprising to you and why? Discuss this post in the comments below.