To my readers, please understand that this post is not to be understood to be unique or as spoken directly to me as a prophecy. It is the result of prayer, careful study and research of several conservative writers on the topic of Eschatology or The Study of End Times. My own thoughts are clearly identified as my personal opinion or thoughts when they are included. I list several scriptures for each sub-topic so that you are able to read them for yourself. I do understand that the subject of Eschatology is fraught with controversy, but “Somebody has got to say something…so I’m just saying”. If this post helps one person to get saved and “Rapture-Ready” it has done its job. I am not thin-skinned and welcome your opinion. If we disagree, let’s do it like Saints, Amen? Also I welcome your researched answers but no personal opinions without a biblical basis please. ALE
Contrary to what some may believe, God wants us to understand his prophecies about future events. The Prophet Daniel of the Book of Daniel was told to seal up the information concerning future events until later. (Dan. 12:9). Apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, however, was told to “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand”. (Rev. 22:10). We who are alive today are able to understand Bible prophecy in ways that have not been possible in times past. God is speaking to both the saved and unsaved alike in letting us all know that something major is about to change. People everywhere can feel the paradigm shift that is about to take place all over the world. Road rage, the evil manner in which people treat each other, increased interest in the supernatural, including the occult, the weather fluctuations and the heavenly signs such as the Blood Moons and earthquakes in diverse places all let us know that “something” is about to happen. There is an increased interest about future events in the media. The emergence of recent television shows such as Lucifer and the return of the X-Files lets us know that some new things are on the horizon. Some of the television shows that were at one time X-rated and hidden until after the children were asleep now appear in Prime Time. Satan, through such TV shows as these, is attempting to interject himself into our normal lives and desensitize the populace to the negativity of his existence. He is slowly removing his mask in a manner that makes his evil nature commonplace and therefore acceptable. The return of the X-Files television show after having been gone for fifteen years may even be an attempt on the part of Satan to prepare the people to believe that aliens will be the responsible party when millions leave earth by way of the Rapture. I also believe that the push of homosexuality into mainstream life in America and all over the world is no accident, but a direct attempt to normalize and prepare the people for the possibility of a homosexual leader in the form of the Antichrist.
God rains on the just as well as the unjust. (Matt. 5: 45). In the same manner, He is able to speak to the unsaved as well as the saved. I find it interesting that God gave the first dream concerning future events to a Gentile king, King Nebuchadnezzar, in Daniel chapter 2. Further, it is interesting that not only could Nebuchadnezzar not interpret the dream, but also that he actually forgot the dream and needed a man of God to recall and interpret it for him. (Romans 10:14 KJV).
(My opinion): Going through the King, however, brought the information to the forefront of more of the people of that time. Nebuchadnezzar’s threat to kill all of the men who were supposedly able to interpret his dreams but could not must have caused an outcry in the land, possibly raising the dream to the status of household discussion. Had God simply given Daniel the dream first, getting the information out to the masses might have been less efficient.
(My opinion). God gave pretty much the same information to Daniel in chapter 7 in a vision to confirm the dream of chapter 2. I also find it intriguing that God dealt with King Nebuchadnezzar in such a severe manner after he became lifted up in pride about his accomplishments. Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony of living in the fields like a wild beast, then coming to himself after seven years, glorifying God and having his kingdom returned to him is a testimony to God’s authority and His matchless mercy. But to whom much is given, much is required. (Luke12: 48).
Chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel contains some amazing details about major world powers, beginning with the Medo-Persian Empire and continuing through the time just before the Second Coming of Christ. The angel let Daniel know what would happen to his people, the Jews, in the last days. (Daniel 10:14).
We are in that time period in which the locks on the mysteries of the future are unlocked, and the doors, which once were sealed, are unsealed. Why? Because what was once future is now our present. The Bible presents many many prophecies that have been fulfilled. Because of the accuracy of those prophecies we have no reason to doubt that the unfulfilled prophecies presented in the Book of Daniel and other Books of the Bible will also be fulfilled. Following is a presentation of several unfulfilled prophecies.
The Rapture describes the resurrection of Christians who have died in the past, and those who are alive at the time of its occurrence. Christians who are alive will be translated from mortal bodies to immortal bodies and all will rise to meet Jesus Christ in the air. This event will occur before the Tribulation period and can happen at any time. It will initiate the beginning of the Tribulation. (1 Thess. 4:16-18; John 14:1-4).
The Tribulation will be a terrible seven-year period of unbelievably horrid events that will occur such as war, plagues, earthquakes, and catastrophes, during which about ¾ of the population will be destroyed. The 12th chapter of Daniel predicted that “. . . and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time . . .” (Dan. 12:1). Jesus himself confirmed that these events would take place when he stated, “For there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:22). The Tribulation period will end with Jesus’ Second Coming at the Battle of Armageddon.
Antichrist’s Appearance. For the first half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will take his position and establish himself as a great and compassionate leader. He will be a great orator (Dan. 11:36); a political and commercial genius (Dan. 11:41; Rev. 13:16-17); and a clever liar and deceiver (2 Thess. 2:9-10). However, at the end of the first three and a half years, he will reveal who he really is: the cruelest dictator the world has ever known. He will gain political and economic control over all the world (Rev. 13:7, 16-17), declare himself to be God and then demand, on penalty of death, that everyone worships him as God (Rev. 13:8; 2 Thess. 2:3-4).
Middle East Peace Treaty. According to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will guarantee a peace agreement or covenant between Israel and its enemies. But, this will not happen. As a matter of fact, it is this very false peace treaty that will initiate the Great Tribulation period, the final three and one half years of the Tribulation.
Abomination of Desolation occurs when the Antichrist stands in the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on worldwide television and declares himself to be God. This ultimate abomination will be committed in the Temple according to Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15; and 2 Thess. 2:3-4. The “desolation” will be atomic wars in which all grass will be burned up; one-third of the trees will be burned up; oceans and rivers will be contaminated and cities will be burned. (Ezek. 29:9-11; Matt. 24; Luke 21; Rev. 5-19).
Mark of the Beast. After the Antichrist becomes the dictator of the world and is worshipped as God, he will demand that every person be assigned a number and a mark. Only those who are assigned a number will be able to work, buy, or sell. Only those who acknowledge Antichrist as God will get the mark, and an attempt will be made to kill everyone who does not have the mark (Rev. 13:16-17).
The Two Witnesses. According to the prophet Malachi, Elijah must come back to precede the Messiah when He comes in power and glory to bring in the Kingdom (Mal. 4:4-6). There is speculation about who the Two Witnesses will be, but there is thought that they may be Moses and Elijah.
Battle of Armageddon. After the Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation, he will make a final attempt to kill every Jew. To escape, the Jews in Jerusalem must immediately run for the mountains for safety. The Battle of Armageddon will end the Tribulation period. This last battle will include armies from all nations. Both the Old and New Testaments describe this battle. (Zech. 14:2-3; Zeph. 3:8; Isa. 65; Rev. 19, etc.). The purpose of this battle is to destroy Jerusalem and prevent the return of Jesus Christ. However, Jesus Christ and the armies from heaven will destroy the entire army. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast alive, into the Lake of Fire.
The Second Coming. When Jesus ascended into Heaven after His death, burial and resurrection He promised to return. Angels on the Mt. of Olives said that He would come back to the Mt. of Olives (Acts 1:9-12). Zechariah said at the time of His return that the mountain would split (Zech. 14:1-5; Ez. 44:1-3), and the Eastern Gate that had been shut would open. When Jesus comes for his Christians at the Rapture He will not come to the Earth. At the Second Coming at the Battle of Armageddon, He will come down to Earth, and every eye of every person who survives the Tribulation, including the Jews, will see Him (Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:27). Jesus will establish His Throne upon Mt. Zion in Jerusalem and rule the nations with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15; Mt. 25:31,32) for a thousand years.
The Millennium. During this entire thousand-year reign The Devil will be bound. There will be no war (Isa. 2:4). The earth will return to a pre-flood state and people during the Millennium will live to be hundreds of years old (Isa. 65:25). The ground will be blessed to produce everything that man will need (Ezek. 34:27; Isa. 65:25; Rom. 8:18-23). Jesus’ law will be enforced and criminals will be quickly executed (Isa. 65:20). At end of the Millennium Satan will be loosed for a little while and there will be one last rebellion of the nations. This rebellion will end suddenly, however, when the Earth and everything in it will be burned up (II Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:9,11). Satan will then be tossed into the Lake of Fire.
The Great White Throne Judgment. The saved of the Millennium will live to be almost 1,000 years old and then they will go into the New Heaven and New Earth. Because death will be eradicated they will not experience death. All the unsaved dead of all ages will be raised to be judged according to their works. Everyone who is raised at the Great White Throne Judgment without Jesus will go into the eternal Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:12-15; Mt. 25:41).
New Heaven and New Earth. God will create new heavens and a new Earth. The redeemed will praise, love and worship Him forever. The beauty of the new heaven and earth will be so awesome that our finite minds can not even fathom the glories that God has in store for us. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come .. .” (Rev. 22:17). Now is the time to be saved.
This is a time of excitement for those of us who are saved and who love the Lord with our whole hearts. We must have heavy hearts and work hard to get the salvation message to those who are not saved and who will experience the horror of hellfire, then be banished to the lake of fire forever. While we, the church, cannot stop the coming events, through prayer we can seek God and hold back the hands of time so that one more soul can make it into the Kingdom of God.
Use us O God, for your Glory and Honor.