As I’ve been studying and writing for this series, it’s been captivating to review and learn afresh from Biblical prophecies about the End Times. The retrospect has prompted me to tell you a bit about my past, and I’m excited to share a few of my latest perceptions about events to come. 

My Testimony

I first became a believer in my early twenties through a co-worker who shared his faith in Jesus. One of his interests was learning prophecies about the end of the age or Eschatology. He didn’t know my tendency to enjoy history, but he happened to share a book called The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey.

 

Not being familiar with the Scriptures during my early years, I had never known that Bible prophecy was so relevant to human history and the age we live in. I’ve always been interested in the march of time – past and future – so I immediately began reading the book and was hooked on what it disclosed. It brought me to life in Christ.

 

I was not raised in what some would call a religious home. My parents believed in God, but we didn’t talk a lot about Him as a family. I’m still not sure whether Mom and Dad even realized it, but they always encouraged Christian conduct in our household. They just didn’t use all the Christian buzzwords in our interactions.

 

We were not steady churchgoers, but we did sometimes go to services, particularly at Christmas and Easter. Occasionally, we would participate by invitation from a friend or if my Mom thought it would be worthwhile for our family at the time.

 

Before my teen years, not knowing much about church or how to behave there made me feel uncomfortable in that setting. I liked the idea of reading the Bible to learn more, but it always seemed too lengthy to understand its main point. Needless to say, I didn’t realize the astonishing Bible prophecies people could know from the prophets’ unveilings.

 

The closest I came to hearing about the future was the daily astrology section in the newspaper if I happened to run across it. I also knew various acquaintances or friends who had visited fortune tellers and “found out the future.” However, I was not convinced of their experiences, and I always wondered if the information was reliable or just baloney. Later, I found out these are not good sources for us, being channels through which the forces of darkness can work.

 

In an exciting way, Hal Lindsey blew me away with his down-to-earth facts about Bible prophecy and the prophets who wrote it. For weeks, in my spare time, I would carefully read his book and then use the Bible I had recently bought to check out and confirm the verses Hal Lindsey suggested about all the prophecies. I was becoming a believer but didn’t even realize what was happening in my inner heart.

 

Through all this, I began to realize I was morally bankrupt, even though my parents had tried to raise me right. I had done things wrong in relationships and knew that. I had a hard time putting into words, all I was learning and thinking about. But through it all, I was feeling that I wanted to know God and live rightly. One night during that time period, I had a realistic dream. I was tied down with chains and had metal bands on my wrists and ankles. I was struggling to free myself, but I could not break the chains holding me down.

 

All of a sudden, in the middle of the night, I awoke, quickly sat up, and physically shouted, “I love Jesus Christ”! Wow, I had never been one to be so outwardly emotional. My brother was out that night, or I would have been pretty embarrassed. And I hoped my parents hadn’t heard me yell. But it was then that I realized my desire to live for God, and my life changed. I made my commitment to Jesus known to others in the days to come, but waking up in bed that night was a defining moment of forgiveness and salvation for me.

 

Prophecy and the Prophets

As I continued reading The Late Great Planet Earth, I found that prophets had to accurately predict both short-range and long-range events.[i] If a prophet was 100% accurate and represented the Lord with integrity, Yahweh would sometimes have them speak about events hundreds of years into the future. They were reliable because they were tested according to some distinguishing attributes God had provided. He didn’t want the Israelites to believe just anyone claiming to speak for Him.

God said He would put words in a prophet’s mouth. Therefore, among other traits,[ii] a true prophet had to speak consistently with the Law and could not contradict previous revelations of truth. Astonishingly, Moses stated that if a prophet falsely claimed to speak for the Lord, they were subject to the death penalty. 

 

Deuteronomy 18:18b-20 (selected portions) I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.

 

In other words, if a seer provided anything less than total accuracy, then the person trying to fake it would encounter death. The rules Moses laid down may sound harsh, but God instituted them so that His people could truly know what to believe and what to ignore as background noise. Had the requirements of a prophet been less stringent, the Israelites would have had less reason to believe their message. 

 

Because of the traits a prophet had to exhibit, the Bible has an impressive record of accuracy and integrity, which should give us confidence and cause us to embrace prophetic messages.

 

The First Coming of Jesus Christ

Years ago, I was shocked to discover so many prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled by the life of Christ, hundreds of years after the prophets gave them. It is said that J. Barton Payne has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to, describe, or reference the coming Messiah.[iii]

 

The details about Christ’s birth described below are just one example out of dozens of similar prophecies about Him. Because this was Jesus’ first coming, it’s an appropriate passage because we’ll be talking about the second coming of Christ in this blog as well. I’ve chosen this one story out of many to show how a prophecy was made about Jesus, and it was fulfilled.

Seven centuries before it happened, the prophet Micah, who was active in his ministry between 742 and 687 BC,[iv]actually foretold the place where Jesus would be born.

 

Micah 5:2 (NASB) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”

 

Amazingly, the emperor of the Roman Empire seemed to make God’s plan happen but the ruler was not aware he was cooperating with Yahweh. By decreeing a census, Caesar caused Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus, even though they resided elsewhere. Fantastically, Caesar’s order caused the prophecy to be fulfilled.

 

Luke 2:1-5 (NASB) Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 

 

Immanuel – God with us – came first to humble shepherds.  Not that they were necessarily of low social status, but surely they were not kings. One would expect that if the Son of God were to come to earth, some fanfare would accompany his birth. But His first coming was nothing like His second coming will be. 

 

Luke 2:8-9 (NASB) In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 

 

Although they were afraid, the angel assured them not to be frightened. It was a time to rejoice.

 

Luke 2:10-12 (NASB) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

True to the significance of this celebration of birth, a lone angel was not sufficient.  The prophecy reveals that God had prepared for centuries to make the nativity happen at this time and place. This major event required a host of angels to satisfactorily announce what God was doing.

 

Luke 2:13-15 (NASB) And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 

 

The shepherds went to see Jesus, and He was in a manger, just as the angels had said.  Then they glorified and praised God for all they heard and saw.

 

Only the Father Knows

Now that we’ve reviewed Jesus Christ’s first coming, we will transition. Let’s do a quick overview or timeline that shows the landmark events leading to His second coming. The occasion will bring about the millennial kingdom, the restoration to a new heaven and a new earth, and the letting down of a completed, breathtaking city of New Jerusalem, where God will live with us.

 

Just as there were many Scriptural details surrounding Jesus’s first coming, there are many particulars about future events and the world to come. However, nobody has the sequence of events nailed down perfectly, just as they didn’t know it all back then. I say that straightforwardly because many people get overly dogmatic about sequences of events and even detailed timelines. As far as the timing of these events, Jesus said only the Father knows.

 

Matthew 24:36 But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

 

The events in the Book of Revelation are meant to be heard, read, and kept in our hearts.

 

Revelation 1:3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

 

I think it’s good for God’s people today to share and discuss our various views of prophecy. Conversely, there can sometimes be a tendency to be overconfident about the timing and exact details of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Some think they have it all figured out, in a nutshell, so to speak. But I advise using the conversations to encourage each other, not to argue details.

 

I prefer to acknowledge that my views are under construction. At least, we should all be seeking to improve our comprehension of the Bible, which may require slight adjustments in our understanding here and there. Even as we gain insight, we must be honest and admit the mirror we gaze into is dim.

 

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

 

Big-Picture Overview of End-Time Events

Given the way events and technology are escalating in our world, it’s possible that some of the most important events in history are imminent. That’s not to say we know when, but an End Time occasion may be about to happen or take place soon. 

Maybe it will happen within a decade, or maybe the predicted events are more than 100 years away. Although we’re not sure, we must be vigilant and faithful.

 

Matthew 24:42-44 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

 

As the Bible records, a major event is imminent and will eventually happen. I recommend reading all of Matthew 24. The words from Jesus help us prepare ourselves emotionally and spiritually.

 

Below, I will present a quick overview of prophetic events in the Last Days. I’m doing this to show a big-picture, at-a-glance perspective. Below that, I’ll provide some more details about the Rapture. Then, in some later Blogs, we’ll dig into more End Time and future events.

 

As you can see in the Schedule of End Time Events below, I show the Rapture in three different time slots. There are actually five main views of the timing of the Rapture[v], so don’t take the time slots too literally. Some believe the Rapture will be the first event on the schedule, but others think it will happen in the middle of the tribulation. Various people think it’s afterward, and there are still other views. They all have their reasons. 

 

Also, many are in disagreement about the time of Jesus’s return in relation to the Millennial Kingdom (1,000-year reign of Christ). The amillennial position (the ‘a’ at the beginning means ‘no’) means the millennium is not literal and is happening now. The Premillennialist crowd believes that Jesus’s second coming is before the millennium. Postmillennialists believe Jesus will return to earth after the millennium.

 

There are also various views regarding a seven-year tribulation. Some think there will not be a tribulation; others think the first half of the tribulation will be peaceful, and then the second half will be filled with tragedy. Others think the whole tribulation will be agony for humanity.

 

My intention is not to be ambivalent in my views about these events and their sequences. It’s that I’ve studied End Time events and sequence of events fairly thoroughly and I’ve found the mirror we see into is dim. One time, a certain view seems right, and the next time, I see valid points of a different view that also seems to make sense.

 

Whichever way we each believe, it’s important to at least know the various components of the schedule of events that will bring us into the Eternal State – which will be Heaven on Earth.

 

Schedule of End Time Events

   Rapture – Pre-Tribulation?

First Half of the Tribulation – 3 ½ Years

   Rapture – Mid-Tribulation (Pre-wrath) ?

Second Half of the Tribulation – 3 ½ Years

Battle of Armageddon

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

   Rapture – Post-Tribulation?

Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ

1,000 Years (Satan Restrained)

Judgments of the End Time

Great White Throne Judgment (Satan Released Temporarily)

Eternal Kingdom of God – A Supernaturally Restored Earth

After the first event, a chain of supernatural episodes will begin, eventually ushering in a new heaven and a new earth for humankind. I tell the story because I hope to increase our faith and comfort others with God’s plan for the joining of a new heaven and a new earth in the future restored creation.[vi]

One Author has said, “Our distorted view of heaven has led to a distorted view of this life,”[vii]  which is possible. My hope for this series about the new heaven and new earth is to give my readers solid hope for the future that may otherwise be unclear or fuzzy in their minds. 

 

The Rapture of the Church

Even though there may be confusion around when the Rapture will happen, it is definitely described in the Bible. My advice is not to squabble about timing. The Rapture describes the moment when Jesus will snatch away all of His true children from this Earth to be with Him in the air. As mentioned, in the big picture of End Time prophecy, there are various views on when the Rapture will happen.

 

We’ll delve into the rapture first because it could be the first step in the chain of events that brings in the Tribulation or Millennial Kingdom. Reading the Biblical descriptions of meeting Jesus in the air is a fitting introduction to the Rapture event.

 

Luke 12:40 (ESV) You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (ESV) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up [harpazō] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

Harpazō [viii]– Strong’s # G726 Definition – to seize, carry off by force; to snatch out or away.

 

In Latin, rapio[ix] is the standard translation of Paul’s original Greek word, Harpazō. The English translation of rapio is “rapture.”

 

Paul said the Lord will snatch away (rapture) all His people who are dead as well as those who are still alive at that time. Which is to say, those who had died (fallen asleep) in Christ during a previous time will be resurrected to be with Jesus.

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

 

Jesus will rapture believers who sleep in death and those who are currently living. Thus, all believers (raised from the dead and currently living) will meet Him in the air. As Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (above), I hope to encourage you with these words, dear reader.

 

Various Thoughts About the Rapture:

There are at least five views about when the Rapture will happen.

– According to a 2016 Survey published by Christianity Today, the Pre-Tribulational Rapture is the most popular view among pastors who believe in the Rapture.[x]

– If the Rapture does not take place before the Tribulation, the Mid- or Post-Trib Rapture will be more anticipated and less like the unexpected timing prophecied in Luke 12:40, above.

– The surprise timing of the Rapture Jesus described may align more with the pre-Trib view.

     – The 2016 Survey mentioned above reveals many pastors don’t believe in a Rapture at all. 

     – Escape from wrath is not certain, but it is similar to God delivering His people in the past. Noah and the Flood, Esther and Jews from Haman’s Plan, Israelites from Pharoah, etc.

Comparing the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ

What kinds of implications are there when we compare the first coming of Christ that already happened to the second coming that is yet to occur?

 

I cannot help but notice the 2016 Survey by Christianity Today, that many pastors don’t believe in the Rapture at all. Although I understand people disagreeing about timing, the Bible makes it clear there will be a snatching away at some point.

 

People get worn down and begin to lose hope, but we must encourage one another. There were similar times in history. Micah 5:2 and many other prophecies said the Messiah would come. But 700 years later, many Jews had lost hope in a visit from the Savior – the first coming.

 

Very few individuals expected Jesus to arrive when He did. Faith was at a low ebb. That being said, one person who had the great expectation of seeing the Messiah was Simeon. Indeed, the Holy Spirit had told him that he would see the Messiah before he died.

 

Luke 2:25-28 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

 

God rarely revealed such things to individuals. But Simeon was in tune with the Holy Spirit, to the extent that God had promised he would meet Jesus.

 

Another person in tune to receive the first coming of the Messiah was the prophet Anna. She was 84 years old but immediately perceived and had faith in Him.

 

Luke 2:38a She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.

 

Considering the passage below, Simeon and Anna will receive their rewards for being in position, so to speak. Jesus warned you and me to be prepared as well, no matter how or when He returns. Be ready in the middle of the night, just before dawn, or whenever He comes.

 

Luke 12:35-38 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.”

 

Insights From Peter

Being there close to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry gave Peter insights into human attitudes about prophecies. He probably saw more people reject Jesus, not believe Him, or have no hope, than those who accepted Him as the Messiah. Peter was well qualified to prophesy about those who will eventually scoff and ask, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?”

 

2 Peter 3:3-4 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

 

In Micah 5:2 above, the prophecy informs us about the coming of Jesus (a ruler). On top of that, the Jews had many more promises and prophecies that the Messiah was coming. But from the time Micah gave them God’s words until Jesus arrived on this earth, it was about 700 years. Many people had lost patience and faith. Jesus wondered if it would be similar in the last days.

 

Luke 18:8b But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

 

Peter warns us against adopting the typical human attitude: that each day keeps happening, one after the other, without any change. If we look at Biblical history, many of God’s promises seemed like they would never happen. But the hour finally came when God’s supernatural power was exercised to carry out His promises.

 

Think of the Flood Yahweh promised to Noah. Ponder God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would eventually have a baby, even though they were old, and she laughed when God said it. Eventually, the time arrived, and it happened as the Lord Almighty said. And how about the Exodus from Egypt to Canaan’s Land that God had promised centuries before?

 

Yahweh has always been faithful to His long-term and shorter-term promises. We must not reject God’s power to act supernaturally to make events happen. Paul also warned about the difficult times we will experience in the last days. But we must overcome the temptation to give up. 

 

2 Timothy 3:1, 4-5 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 4 [People] will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

 

Granted, not many of God’s promises took centuries to fulfill. And, admittedly, it has been 2,000 years since Jesus and the Apostles told us He would return. But Jesus promised He would come. 

 

Matthew 28:20b …be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

 

The Book of Acts records a promise given in the last minutes before Jesus ascended into the sky while the apostles were watching. They were straining their eyes to see the Lord as He disappeared into a cloud. Then some angels came and stood among them.

 

Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

 

Take heart, my friend, and trust the Lord of heaven and earth to do according to His promises.

 

Thanks for subscribing. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. Feel free to email me at Glenn@GlennLMarx.com.

 

Until next time, all the best to you.

 

Glenn