Comments: In what can only be deemed a miracle, the peoples of earth have managed to pass through a fourth blood moon this year without the apocalyptic events.
The Bible has a lot to say about the end times. You will note that all the action takes place in the Middle East.
Nearly every book of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times. Taking all of these prophecies and organizing them can be difficult.
Following is a very brief summary of what the Bible declares will happen in the end times.
Christ will remove all born-again believers from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
At the judgment seat of Christ, these believers will be rewarded for good works and faithful service during their time on earth or will lose rewards, but not eternal life, for lack of service and obedience (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Antichrist (the beast) will come into power and will sign a covenant with Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:27). This seven-year period of time is known as the “tribulation.”
During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness.
The tribulation will include the appearance of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.
About halfway through the seven years, the Antichrist will break the peace covenant with Israel and make war against it.
The Antichrist will commit “the abomination of desolation” and set up an image of himself to be worshipped in the Jerusalem temple (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10), which will have been rebuilt.
The second half of the tribulation is known as “the great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
At the end of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist will launch a final attack on Jerusalem, culminating in the battle of Armageddon.
Jesus Christ will return, destroy the Antichrist and his armies, and cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21).
Christ will then bind Satan in the Abyss for 1000 years and He will rule His earthly kingdom for this thousand-year period (Revelation 20:1-6).
At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released, defeated again, and then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10) for eternity.
Christ then judges all unbelievers (Revelation 20:10-15) at the great white throne judgment, casting them all into the lake of fire.
Christ will then usher in a new heaven and new earth and the New Jerusalem—the eternal dwelling place of believers.
There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death (Revelation 21–22).
Posted by chasmatic at October 5, 2015 11:55 PM
Chas,
The theology you have just presented is known as "chiliasm". It was universally condemned as heretical 500 years ago by the Protestant Reformers, especially Luther and Calvin. This theory of a "secret rapture" and that Christ would return to rule a thousand years on our present earth is today called Premillenial Dispensationalism. Most of its many adherents read and believe in the "Scofield Bible" which was but a King James version of Scripture with a miriad and hodgepodge of interpretive and so called authoritative sidelines concerning the multitude of prophetic passages in the Scripture.
Posted by Dennis Myers at October 6, 2015 6:34 AM
Dennis: Yikes, I didn't realize that this is not acceptable. I found some essays online and used what I thought was correct. I reckon I should study some on this topic before I go shootin' my mouth off.
Thanks for letting me know.
Is this essay any better? I am open to suggestions.
The Thousand Years (Millennium)
At the second coming God's people will be taken to heaven. I Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
At the time of the second coming of Christ the wicked are overwhelmed with terror and despair. Revelation 6:16-17, NIV. "They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
The leader of the wicked is destroyed with the brightness of Christ's coming and the rest of the wicked are killed by His sword. II Thessalonians 2:8, NIV. "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." Revelation 19:21, NIV says, "The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse."
Since the righteous ascend to be with the Lord and the wicked are destroyed at His appearing, the earth stands for a time without human inhabitants. Jeremiah 4:23-25, NIV. "I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away."
The wicked remain in their graves for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-5, NIV. "[God's people] came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)"
While the saints are in heaven and the wicked are dead, the devil is confined to the desolate earth for 1000 years. Revelation 20:1-3, NIV. "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him in the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations any more until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time."
At the close of the 1000 years the holy city of God will descend from heaven to earth. Revelation 21:1-3, NIV. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."
With the wicked resurrected and Satan released they attempt to take the city of God. Revelation 20:7-9, NIV. "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand of the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves."
Then they are destroyed by hell fire. Revelation 20:9, NIV. "But fire came down from heaven and devoured them."
Posted by chasmatic at October 6, 2015 7:00 AM
Chas,
Better, but the Church still is embroiled in the controversy about the "thousand years". There are still many different camps and arguments concerning the return of Jesus. It's strange how the right interpretations of the prophetic passages have been confused and misinterpreted throughout history. Most of The Jews did not (and still don't) recognize Jesus at His first coming. This is even after reading the great prophecies about Him for hundreds of years in the Old Testament, for instance, Isaiah 53, and the Psalm 22.
Posted by Dennis Myers at October 6, 2015 7:41 AM
Dennis, I admit I get confused about the End Times, the Millenium, the Apocalypse, even about the four horsemen. Man oh man, Revelation is awfully dense with all the visions.
The obscure and extravagant imagery has led to a wide variety of Christian interpretations:
historicist interpretations see in Revelation a broad view of history;
preterist interpretations treat Revelation as mostly referring to the events of the apostolic era (1st century), or, at the latest, the fall of the Roman Empire;
futurists believe that Revelation describes future events;
and idealist or symbolic interpretations consider that Revelation does not refer to actual people or events, but is an allegory of the spiritual path and the ongoing struggle between good and evil.
Thanks for your input. I pray that God reveals His will for me and gives me the power to carry that out.
Posted by chasmatic at October 6, 2015 11:27 AM
When the time comes, make sure you are armed. For all you know these Prophets are Bullshitting. It might be the return of Obama.
Posted by Vermont Woodchuck at October 6, 2015 11:40 AM
Hey Dennis Myers: get in touch with me on my blog site (email found in my profile).
I need some direction regarding Revelation.
VW: not to worry, I am always armed.
Posted by chasmatic at October 6, 2015 9:50 PM
Chas,
I clicked on EMAIL on your profile page and nothing happens?
Posted by Dennis Myers at October 7, 2015 6:10 AM
OK, some issue with cookies.
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