THE END-TIMES TIMELINE

THE END-TIMES TIMELINE: (SCRIPTURE IN SEQUENCE) God is not vague about the future. He does not give His people a puzzle with missing pieces. He gives a revealed order, line upon line, so that believers are not shaken, deceived, or moved by fear when events begin to unfold. We are presently living in what Scripture calls the Church Age, the period of grace that began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to dwell within believers. During this time the gospel is preached to all nations, the Church functions as Christ’s body on the earth, and restraint is in place. Paul explains that something 'or Someone' is currently restraining lawlessness until the proper time, and that restraint must be removed before the man of sin can be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7). This age continues until the Church is gathered to Christ. The next prophetic event is the Rapture. Scripture describes this gathering plainly. The Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ rise first. Those believers who are alive are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Paul calls this a mystery, a moment in which believers are changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). This event is not the wrath of God. Believers are explicitly told that they are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9). After this gathering, the Church is no longer seen on earth in the book of Revelation. What follows is the fulfillment of Daniel’s final prophetic week. Daniel was told that seventy weeks were determined upon Israel and Jerusalem, and that the final week would begin when a covenant is confirmed with many for one week, or seven years (Daniel 9:24–27). This period is not focused on the Church. It is focused on Israel and the nations. The first half of this seven-year period is marked by deception, false peace, and the early judgments described by the opening of the seals in Revelation 6. Jesus referred to this time as the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8). At the midpoint of the seven years, everything changes. The covenant is broken, the abomination of desolation is set up in the holy place, and the man of sin is revealed for who he truly is (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). Revelation describes this moment as Satan being cast down to the earth, knowing that his time is short (Revelation 12:9–12). From this point forward, the world enters what Jesus Himself called the Great Tribulation, a time of distress unlike anything that has ever occurred before or ever will again (Matthew 24:21). The final 3½ years are marked by intensified judgment. The bowl judgments of Revelation are poured out. The Beast system dominates the world. Worship is demanded. Loyalty is enforced. These judgments are repeatedly identified as the wrath of God, not merely the persecution of men (Revelation 15:1; 16:1). This is why Scripture consistently distinguishes the Church from this period. At the climax of this time, heaven opens and Jesus Christ returns visibly and powerfully. He does not come for His saints - He comes with them. Revelation describes Him riding forth as King of kings and Lord of lords, striking the nations, destroying the Beast and the False Prophet, and bringing the war of Armageddon to an end (Revelation 19:11–21). Every eye will see Him, and His return will be unmistakable. After His return, Christ establishes His kingdom on the earth. Satan is bound for a thousand years, unable to deceive the nations during this time (Revelation 20:1–3). Christ reigns, righteousness is enforced, and the promises made to Israel are fulfilled exactly as God declared. This is the Millennial Kingdom. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released briefly, a final rebellion occurs, and God brings human history to its final judgment. The Great White Throne judgment takes place, and all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life are judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11–15). Finally, God creates a New Heaven and a New Earth. The New Jerusalem descends from God out of heaven. God dwells with man, death is no more, sorrow is gone, and all things are made new (Revelation 21–22). This is not fear-based teaching. This is not speculation. This is the revealed order God gave so His people would understand the times and trust His word. The end was written at the beginning, and God is never early, never late, and never wrong. - More Joy Ministries - Tony Campbell #morejoyministries