End-Time Timeline
This generation stands upon the precipice of the wrap-up of human
history. We can say this upon a platform of certainty. Our end-time
stage is built upon a solid structure of knowledge. It provides strength
of understanding from which no other generation of human beings could
have spoken.
The prophet Daniel predicted precisely this time on God's prophetic
timeline, I am convinced: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4).
The Book Opened
Those who studied Bible prophecy throughout the decades since the close
of the second century did so in the dark, from the point of history not
shedding much illumination on how God's prophetic Word would unfold. The
angel had told Daniel the prophet that this would be the case--that the
book (the understanding of end things) would remained closed until the
time of the very end was reached.
Bible prophecy was then put on the back burner, for the most part, as
far as any endeavors into understanding end-times matters was concerned.
The Catholic Church in its various manifestations, then the Reformation
church derivatives of Martin Luther and the others, drifted far from
the early church fathers' devotion to studying the part of the
Scriptures that dealt with prophecy yet future. It was, in my view,
intellectual and spiritual laziness, as much as luciferian influence,
that caused this callous disregard for prophecy to infect the Body of
Christ.
Some would say that this must have been the way God wanted it. He must
have desired for believers to not have understanding, so doused the
light of understanding during this long period -longer even than the
400-plus year drought of prophetic activity just prior to Christ's first
advent. That's one way of looking at the dearth of prophetic
enlightenment during the almost 2,000 years since Christ's resurrection.
However, I believe the words of the angel to Daniel telling the old
prophet to "shut up the book" was more akin to the Bible's telling about
Abraham, David, and Solomon having multiple wives, and even concubines.
God reported these things, but He did not cause them to happen. Nor did
God approve of these goings on. The Lord used reports of these sins to
show His children down through the ages the folly, even deadly
consequences, of disobeying their heavenly Father. The lessons of these
sinful activities of even the greatest of the Bible heroes is that we
are fallen, and without staying close to the Creator "our Father" we,
too, can and will slip into egregious activities that push us away from
God's loving, directing hand.
This disobedience, He is telling us through such reportage, causes
severe repercussions and ramifications. There is no better example of
those repercussions and ramifications than what has happened since
Abraham and Sarah decided to get ahead of God's will when Sarah sent her
handmaid, Hagar, into her husband to produce an heir. And, this is
where that disobedience and prophecy yet future converge and merge. The
whole world faces the consequences of that sin today in the hate-filled
conflict between Arabs and Jews that is gushing humanity toward man's
final conflagration - Armageddon.
So, the angel's instruction to Daniel to "close up the book" (of
understanding end-time things) was God's reporting, in my view, the
deliberate intellectual and spiritual slothfulness - even callous
disregard - that would clutch the minds of even God's best Bible
students until the very end of days. God was reporting this dearth of
His people being able to ascertain end-time matters. God did not cause
the book of understanding to be closed so they would't comprehend.
The vital, glorious thing to see is that now that book has, I'm
convinced it is overwhelmingly obvious, been open, and each and every
hour seems to bring increased understanding. Knowledge is indeed
increasing, and at an exponential rate!
Timeline Issues and Events
Signals that we are in the end times are so ubiquitous, and at the same
time proliferating at such a profound pace, that it is sometimes
difficult even for those of us who watch diligently to fully gather
within our eschatological radar scopes all that is occurring. But Jesus,
right after giving those signals that would be prevalent leading up to
His second coming, concluded, as reported in the book of Mark: "And what
I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mk. 13:37).
It is therefore incumbent upon us "all Christians" to discern the signs
of the times. We will look at them, trying to put them in the order
given us by Jesus and the prophets as they foretold these end-time
things. Those who consider such things calculate that about 27 percent
of God's Word is given to prophecy. Roughly half, those who figure these
things believe, has been fulfilled. Therefore about 14 percent of Bible
prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.
Careful study of the historical record validates Bible prophets as 100
percent accurate, in considering prophecies already fulfilled. We can,
through application of human rationale, therefore, think the rest of
prophecy will likely be fulfilled. Christians should trust, without
reservation, that their Lord, the "Word" (John 1:1-2), will accomplish
fulfillment of the remaining prophecies - those yet future.
Those who read this article following the disappearance of millions of
people, the rapture of all believers in Jesus Christ, are urged to
examine the history of these matters. Those who read this post-rapture
will have considerable, and quite recent, history to look to and
consider whether God's Word is true, about end-times matters.
As this is written, the world stands on God's prophetic timeline facing
the apocalyptic storm in the distance while it approaches. If you are
reading this following the rapture, you are likely actually in the early
stages of that prophesied storm of evil - the last seven years of human
history that lead to the second coming of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth.
There are no prophecies yet to be fulfilled before the rapture of
Christ's Church. That is not to say prophecies yet future will NOT be
fulfilled before the rapture, just that none are given that MUST BE
fulfilled before that stunning event.
We will not address here all of the many geophysical and even societal
and cultural "perilous times" signals we see all around us in this
generation. We will look at specific major events scheduled to unfold.
However, it is unavoidable to think of the birth-pang like convulsions
of earthquakes, record hurricanes, and the upheavals of violence that
seems to fill the whole earth, while thinking on the following.
Israel: Prophecy Fulfilled
Many of us who carefully study these matters believe that Israel's once
again being a nation in its ancient homeland, and with its ancient
language, Hebrew, is a fulfillment of prophecy. I don't see how it can
be otherwise. Israel has to be back in the land for the final prophecies
to roll out as foretold. That nation is at the very heart of end-times
things to come. The most profound prophecy in that regard is the fact
that the Messiah - the returning Lord of Lords and King of Kings will
set His throne atop Zion once He returns. That will be a dramatic
topographically changed Mt. Moriah, with Christ's millennial temple set
high above the city of Jerusalem.
But, before that happens, Israel will have to endure the time of
"Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). It will be the worst time ever in history
for that people, according to Jesus, himself. As a matter of fact, His
prophecy indicates the same degree of horror for the whole world at that
time. He said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be"
(Matt. 24:21). Zechariah the prophet foretold there would be an Israel
and a Jerusalem during that period of tribulation. God spoke the
following through His prophet: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a
burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it
shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered
together against it" (Zech. 12:3).
Israel today is already the center of attention, and of much scorn from
its neighbors and the rest of the world. As I often say when
interviewed, no matter which way the news microphones and cameras turn
to capture other stories, they always swing right back to Israel,
Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas. That is because that region offers
the greatest threat to spark thermonuclear conflagration. The Bible
foretells that it WILL host the most horrific conflict of human history -
Armageddon!
End-Times Order of Things To Come
With that framework --that Israel is back in the land, which is surely a
fulfilling of prophecy-- let us look at where things unfold from here
on God's end-Times timeline.
Rapture - While the storm clouds of apocalypse gather and approach,
Christians attuned to God's whole word should watch, according to the
Lord Jesus Christ. They should be aware of the elements of that
approaching storm of tribulation. Things of society, cultures, in every
endeavor of life, will, at the same time, seem to be business as usual.
Times will be like the days of Noah and Lot at the moment of His next
intervention into the affairs of humanity, according to Jesus. (Read
Luke 17: 26-30.) It will be a catastrophic intervention. Jesus will step
out on the clouds of glory and shout "Come up here!" (Rev. 4:1-2). All
Christians - those who accept Christ's blood atonement for salvation
(born-again believers) will instantly be with Jesus above the earth.
(Read 1 Cor. 15: 51-55 and 1 Thes. 4:13-18.) Millions of people (those
raptured) will vanish, will disappear from the planet before the
astonished eyes of those left behind. Those who have gone to be with the
Lord will be taken back to heaven, where He has prepared a place of
eternal dwelling for them (Jn. 14:1-3). The bema judgment (to give
rewards for service to the Lord while on earth) will take place. Crowns
will be handed out to God's family. The marriage supper of the Lamb will
occur (Christ's Bride made ready for the wedding), then the Wedding
Feast (Revelation 19:9). Things on Planet Earth will be gearing up for
the great end-time storm. God, the Holy Spirit, according to 2
Thessalonians, chapter 2, will remove as restrainer during the times
following the rapture.
World Leader Comes Forth - The nations of earth will be in chaos.
The turmoil will cause severe ramifications while governments seek to
restore civil order and regain governmental and economic equilibrium.
Profound shifts of power will likely take place, with the EU becoming
the new superpower, absorbing America's power and authority, the U.S.
having lost the most people in key places, thus having suffered the most
loss of control. According to prophecy, one man will step forward to
proffer a plan to quell the fears of war in the Middle East (Daniel
9:27). This prophecy correlates to Revelation 6: 2, with the rider on
the white horse riding forth.
Peace Covenant Confirmed - The great world leader will arrive just
in time to look to be the shining knight on the white horse. He will
have the answer to the looming all-out war in the Middle East. He will
be able to sell a seven-year peace plan that is already available,
apparently. Israel will agree to the covenant, as will her enemies, and,
in effect, the whole world will accept the European leader's masterful
sales pitch. But Israel's acceptance will fly in the face of God. This
"covenant made with death and Hell," as it is called in Isaiah, chapter
28, will cause God's judgmental wrath to begin to fall.
Attack upon Israel - The Gog-Magog attack prophesied by Ezekiel is
one that is controversial, so far as to where it will fit into the
end-times timeline is concerned. Some has the event just before or in
conjunction with the rapture, while others believe it will happen right
after the rapture or nearer the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation
period. Russia is destined to present some of the most fearsome trials
and tribulations for Israel. Gog, "chief prince of Rosh," is the leader
of Russia described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In ancient language, Gog means
"leader." "Rosh" is the ancient name for the land of Russia. In the
last days, Russia will be the leading nation of the Gog-Magog coalition
of nations that will make a move against Israel and be defeated by a
supernatural act of God. Persia (Iran) comes right along beside Russia,
in prophetic parlance. According to Ezekiel 38:5, Iran will aid Russia
in attacking Israel before or during the tribulation. Even now, Iran
acts as a destabilizing force in the world.
144,000 Evangelists - The Lord will not allow the dark, satanic
realm to go unchallenged. God will seal (protect from Satan and his
minions) 144,000 Jewish men with the gospel message of Jesus Christ, the
only way to salvation, redemption, and reconciliation to God, the
Father. (Read Rev. 7: 3-8.) These will proclaim the gospel message
throughout the world. Millions upon millions of people will hear the
message and become Christians of the tribulation period.
Two Old Testament-Type Prophets Preach - Two Jewish men will be
placed during this period for preaching then Gospel, and for pointing
the finger of judgment if repentance isn't forthcoming. No one knows for
sure who these men will be, but there seems good evidence that at least
one of them will be Elijah, the Old Testament prophet whom God took up
from earth in a fiery whirlwind. The Satanic governmental regime will
seek to kill these men, but will not be able to do so until God allows.
Anyone who tries to kill them will, in like manner, be killed, according
to the prophetic Word. Finally, the regime will be able to kill them.
There dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days,
then they will be resurrected to life, and will lift into the sky before
the astonished eyes of their murderers and of the whole world.
Antichrist Revealed - The great world leader , who confirmed the
seven-year peace covenant, convincing Israel and its enemies to rely on
him and his regime to keep the peace, will be struck with a deadly head
wound. But, he will resurrect, supposedly, from death. He will,
following this, in what I believe will be a false resurrection (possibly
following the defeat of the Gog-Magog forces), suddenly walk into the
Jewish temple atop Mt. Moriah at Jerusalem and declare himself to be
God. He will demand worship from all of the world's inhabitants. (Read 2
Thes. Chapter 2 and Revelation, chapter 13.) He is then revealed as
Antichrist, the son of perdition, the man of sin. He will cause all to
accept his mark or be cut out of the economic system - all buying and
selling. He will order all killed, who will not worship him. The chief
method of death dealing will be beheading. His partner in the satanic
duo will point all worship to the beast - Antichrist. The false prophet
will be AntiChrist's John the Baptist figure.
Jews Flee - Jesus forewarned the Jews who will occupy Jerusalem at
the time of AntiChrist's revelation to flee to the mountains. (Read
Matthew chapter 24, and Revelation, chapter 12.) This era, the mid-way
point of the seven-year tribulation era, will begin the time of Jacob's
trouble (Jer. 30: 7) - a time Jesus says will be the worst time of all
history (Matt 24: 21). Antichrist will begin the greatest genocide ever
to be visited upon the planet.
Antichrist Institutes Regime - AntiChrist's regime will cause all to
give worship to the beast, the Revelation 13 term for Antichrist. He
will apparently set up some sort of idol, before which all must bow.
This will likely be done by the image of himself being telecast in some
way to all the world. (Read Revelation chapter 13.) His regime will
consist of 10 kingdoms, whose newly crowned kings (political leaders of
the region) will give all of their authority and power to Antichrist. We
might be seeing the formative months and years of the formation of this
10-kingdom development with the various trading blocs beginning to
form. The European Union seems to be the prototype for those that will
follow. The North American Union (NAU) that seems to be underway in
development, bringing America, Canada, and Mexico together in an
economic trading bloc, appears to be one such "kingdom" in the making.
Antichrist will bring together one world government, one world economy,
and one world religion, to some extent - for a brief time, at least.
This is a Babylonian-type system that will all but enslave the entire
world.
Babylon System of Religion, Economy, Government Rules - The
Babylonian system will actually be an extension of the revived Roman
Empire. This was prophesied in Daniel, chapters 2, 7, 9, and 11, as well
as in Revelation, chapter 13. Ancient Babylon's and the ancient Roman
Empire's influence upon this end-time regime of hell on earth are
described in Revelation, chapters 17 and 18. God will completely destroy
the chief city of the end time Babylon in one hour, the Bible
prophesies in Revelation, chapter 18.
Kings of East Threaten, then Move - China, today, is a growing
economic and military behemoth. It exerts hegemony over its neighbors of
the Orient. The Bible predicts a day during the tribulation when the
"kings of the east" will march across the dried-up Euphrates River to do
battle at Armageddon.This juggernaut will consist of 200 million
troops, all, prophecy seems to indicate, demon possessed, while they
cross the area of the Euphrates. (Read Revelation, Chapters 9 and 16.)
All Meet at Armageddon - The kings of the east march toward a
rendezvous with all other nations of the world. God says this about this
meeting: "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall
bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all
nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and
will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land" (Joel 3:
10-2). (Also, read Rev. 16:16, and Rev. 19: 17-18.)
Christ Returns - Just as the battle is becoming so violent that it
threatens the end of all people and animals on earth, the black clouds
of apocalypse unroll like a scroll, and brilliant light from heaven's
core breaks through, revealing the King of kings and His armies and
myriads of angelic hosts. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white
horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of
fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that
no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in
blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which
were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it
he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty
God" (Rev. 19:11-15).
Christ Judges Nations - The conquering Creator of all things will
establish His earthly throne atop Mt. Moriah, which will be
supernaturally reconfigured from topographical renovations made for the
millennium. All the nations of the world will come before the Lord Jesus
Christ. (Read about the sheep-goats judgment in Matthew, chapter 25.)
Those people who have made it alive through the seven-year tribulation
will either be believers or unbelievers. Believers will be ushered into
Christ's 1,000-year reign on earth, while unbelievers will be cast into
everlasting darkness, the Scripture prophesies.
Christ Sets Up Millennial Kingdom - The millennial reign of Christ
will begin, a time during which the false prophet and the beast
(Antichrist), the first to be thrown into the lake of fire, will begin
to serve their eternal sentences. Satan will be confined in the
bottomless pit, and there will be none of his minions to torment and
tempt the millennial earth-dwellers. It will be a time much like the
times of Eden, with the earth restored to its pristine beauty. (Read
Rev. 20-10.) After the 1,000 years, the devil will be released from the
pit for a short space of time. He will lead millions of those who have
been born during the millennium in an assault on Christ at Jerusalem.
God will send down fire and consume them all. Satan will be cast into
the lake of fire. The lost dead will be resurrected (their eternal
bodies joined to their souls), and all will stand before the great white
throne of Christ to be judged. All will be cast into the lake of fire
for eternity. (Read Rev. 20:10-15.) God "Jesus Christ" will remake the
heavens and the earth in preparation for everlasting, ever-growing
ecstasy in God's presence. (Read Rev. 20:16-22: 16.)
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